For their latest project, a roughly 5,100-square-foot lakefront home near Waco, Texas, the couple looked to the structure’s original blueprints for inspiration. The home is featured in the latest season of Fixer Upper (currently airing). Joanna explains, “It always starts with the story of the home. How do I unearth that and bring that back to life?” In the case of the lake house, the original owners blended midcentury modern and Spanish Revival styles. Gaines decided to remove the circa-1990s renovations and honor the original architectural styles from when it was built in 1965. The couple incorporated midcentury modern furnishings, plastered walls, arches, and terra-cotta tiles to bring out the Spanish Revival side of the abode. In the kitchen, they chose terra-cotta tiled floors with marble starburst-shaped accents, inspired by the Atomic Age—a perfect blend of the two styles.
Cherry wood panels with curved radius accents line the walls of the rec room, which is warmed by a retro free-standing fireplace. Black-and-white checkerboard tiles made of pressed volcanic ash line the floors. Skylights were added to increase the natural light.Courtesy of Magnolia Network
The beauty of the wooded landscape around the property and its panoramic view of Lake Waco also influenced the design. Joanna says, “My biggest teacher in this project was what was beyond the windows. How do I connect the interior to the exterior?” In one episode of Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse, Joanna holds up a sample of the cherry wood used in the home against the backdrop of trees in the yard, showing a perfect match. The cherry wood is found throughout the five-bedroom dwelling, starting with the bespoke wood-paneled front door. To enhance the connection to the outdoors, the couple made windows larger, added skylights, and kept the design subtle to complement nature. In the entry area, Joanna replaced patterned floors with white terrazzo tiles to avoid distractions from the lake view.
