It's been 10 whole years since Chip and Joanna Gaines' Fixer Upper first aired, but the renovation and design duo haven't lost their touch. Taking on a brand-new project earlier this year – a lake house surrounded by nature in Lake Waco, Texas – the celebrated team turned an outmoded home into a mid-century modern masterpiece.
Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse explores the ins and outs of the design process, showing the project's evolution from start to grand reveal. But if you'd like a closer look at the space, we've broken it down here, room by room.
Featuring a cocooning home library, a quiet luxury kitchen, and a sun-soaked greenhouse, Joanna hasn't let us down, delivering on '70s charm and Spanish revival flair. Here's what we're loving about each and every lake house space.
Entryway
Upon entering the lake house, guests are greeted by an impressive, expansive entryway. The front door itself is gorgeous, blending natural wood with sky-high glass paneling, but the custom staircase is the space's main event. Its retro detailing draws the eye upwards, and the deep tone of the wood makes the entry space feel warm and inviting.
Stone flooring keeps the space functional, but a characterful runner in deep red and orange tones adds a cozy, comforting feel, too. Along with artwork on the walls and a wooden pocket door leading to another room, an entryway bench feels right at home. Its earthy upholstery pairs beautifully with the nature-inspired color palette of the rest of the space, and a small stack of books and a cactus nearby complete the scene.
Library
Just off the entryway, Joanna's designed a sleek yet cocooning home library – complete with the home's characteristic outdoor views. A unique floor-to-ceiling display shelf makes storing and accessing favorite titles easy and adds an eye-catching design element to the room. This accent wall draws the eye, but an asymmetrical shelving system on the other wall – showing snatches of Magnolia's rich and moody Wooded Acres paint – brings even more character (and handy book storage) to the space.
A comfortable seating area in the middle of the space is perfect for focused reading or casual conversation, and the space is grounded by a light-hued area rug. The gold, statement light fixture hanging above it all complements the room's beautiful natural lighting. Simultaneously sun-soaked and enveloping, this space has all the hallmarks of a successful home library.
Living room
The lake house living room is the epitome of mid-century modern style, featuring sleek furniture and a warm, welcoming color palette. A green sofa takes center stage, while comfortable armchairs offer comfortable seating for the whole family.
Floor-to-ceiling views of Lake Waco and the surrounding forest reflect the room's earth-inspired color palette. Every detail, down to the light fixtures, is '60s- and '70s-inspired, but still feels fresh and elevated for the modern day.
A raftered ceiling painted in Magnolia's 'warm beige' tone Blanched makes the room feel expansive and airy, and a statement fireplace with exposed brick detailing only adds to the room's approachable warmth. In the corner, a gorgeous wood console table delivers on vintage charm, and provides a laid-back work station within the living space.
Kitchen
Just beyond the living room, through an elegant wooden arch, lies the lake house kitchen – a gorgeous, sun-soaked space that blends functionality and elevated design with ease. Busy marble countertops and backsplash exude old money charm, while Magnolia's Remote Trail, a deep green hue, gives the cabinetry a down-to-earth style.
Wooden details throughout – found on window and door frames, a small dining table, bar stools, and decorative accessories – make the retro-inspired space pop. Each detail, down to brass wiring placed across the range hood, contributes to the quiet luxury, '70s-inspired look. A glass door that leads straight to the backyard pool makes the room feel larger than life, while still grounded in the great outdoors.
Dining room
Skylights nearly always make a good design scheme great, and the lake house's dining room is no exception. Three deep skylights set in a slanted ceiling illuminate this space beautifully, and the natural light is accentuated by more of the home's stunning floor-to-ceiling windows. A cleverly placed gold light fixture, which hovers gracefully above the table, ensures the ambient lighting doesn't leave once the sun sets, too.
The dining room furniture exudes the home's overall aesthetic, combining modern practicality with sleek, vintage designs. In typical Joanna Gaines fashion, a large tree sits in the corner of the room, and a landscape print – set within a frame that mimics the house's architectural style – brings even more natural inspiration indoors. In this home, it's often hard to tell where exactly the indoor spaces end, and where the outdoor environment begins – a testament to Joanna's design prowess.
Powder room
Though not often the focus of home renovations, the bathroom doesn't have to be boring – and this one certainly isn't. The dark green hue from the rest of the house blends seamlessly into the powder room, and a yellow and white checkered tile adds a bit of levity to the design scheme. Sleek silver details and a sweeping mirror make this moody space feel roomy and calming at the same time.
Greenhouse
Step into the lake house's yard, and you'll find a greenhouse chock full of succulents and other warm-weather plants. With raftered ceilings painted in Magnolia's Juniper Tree shade, the space is a beautiful blend of the indoors and outdoors.
Get the lake house look
Chip and Joanna Gaines haven't let us down yet, and we're loving the resurgence of mid-century modern meets Spanish revival style mastered in this home. With earthy influence and retro-meets-modern details, the lake house is one to beat.
