A year ago, my family and I bought our first home, and around the same time, I stumbled upon the addictive world of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. If you haven’t seen it yet, resist the temptation. You’ll find yourself racing to the nearest flea market in search of reclaimed wood and daydreaming about tearing down walls to discover shiplap underneath.
Shiplap? I had no idea what it was until Joanna Gaines turned it into a must-have. Now, I crave shiplap, subway tiles, a soothing warm-gray color scheme, and vintage lighting. I dream of shopping at Magnolia Market, even though it’s a whopping 1,898 miles away from my home (yes, I checked the distance). Maybe I should just move to Waco, Texas!
No one else has the power to make so many people want to pack up and relocate to Waco quite like Chip and Joanna. I have always enjoyed HGTV shows—the charming banter on Love It or List It, the beautiful locales in House Hunters International, and the charming Property Brothers. However, it’s Chip and Jo who awaken my inner DIY enthusiast. Every episode feels like Joanna is tapping into my psyche and crafting my ideal home. She seems to understand my taste so well—it’s uncanny. She is my spirit guide in home design.
I often imagine Joanna breezing through my front door, casually dressed and ready to guide me on which walls to knock down. I picture Chip entering with his playful charm, ready to revamp the entire house while preserving its vintage character. If they showed up at my doorstep tomorrow, I’m confident I would have no qualms about gutting every room to create a masterpiece that reflects our shared vision of home perfection.
Sure, we all know the staging on the show is a bit of a façade. The new homeowners still have to figure out where to put their belongings, and let’s be real—I don’t have $85,000 lying around for a complete overhaul, especially since housing prices where I live are much higher than in Waco. But the allure of shiplap is strong, my friends.
There’s an undeniable charm to home renovation shows like Fixer Upper. I adore them, even while recognizing that they play on our dreams and hopes. We’re naturally drawn to stunning homes, dramatic transformations, and meticulously curated rooms, right down to the books on the shelves. These shows make us want to believe we can achieve that level of perfection.
However, they don’t quite capture the reality of home improvement. My partner and I have tackled a bathroom renovation down to the studs, painted every room, revamped moldings, and refinished furniture. Let me tell you, it takes far longer than an hour with commercial breaks! The process is often stretched thin to fit unrealistic timelines. Why does a kitchen remodel cost $10,000 on one show and $25,000 on another? And don’t even get me started on the endless trips to the hardware store for unexpected supplies!
Yes, the shows throw in a little drama with surprises like unexpected asbestos or load-bearing walls, but those moments are quickly resolved, making it all seem so effortless. In reality, those setbacks could lead to weeks of phone calls and waiting for quotes. A two-minute crisis on television can easily translate into months of stress in real life.
Yet, despite all this, we don’t mind. We love the neat, tidy narratives and the satisfying reveals at the end. Joanna Gaines is stunning and undeniably talented, Chip is the witty husband we all adore, and their picturesque farm embodies a dream life. We can’t help but want to live vicariously through them.
Perhaps they could make a house call? 1,898 miles doesn’t seem too far when you think about it. Come on, Chip and Joanna! I’m ready to embrace my fixer-upper journey.
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Summary
This article reflects on the author’s admiration for Joanna Gaines from Fixer Upper, exploring the desire for home renovations inspired by the show. It discusses the gap between reality and the idealized portrayals of home improvement seen on television, while also expressing a longing to connect with the Gaines family and their design philosophy.