Before & After: “Fixer Upper” Renovated This ’70s Home Entirely, and It’s Unrecognizable
With the official launch of the Magnolia Network comes new episodes of “Fixer Upper: Welcome Home.” In this week’s episode, Chip and Joanna Gaines were tasked with updating a massive home stuck in the ’70s. But after they identified the few details that should stay, the duo was able to base the majority of the changes on those elements and keep the Old World, Mediterranean style that the homeowners fell in love with. In the living room, there was an entire wall made of stone with a built-in fireplace that David and Christina knew they wanted to keep. But other than that, there were a few dated things — well, mostly everything — that needed to go, like the cracking Saltillo floor tile and the white painted beams that blended in with the ceiling. Chip and Jo decided to rip out the destroyed tile and replace it with hardwood to make it feel warm and inviting. They added antique hand hewn ceiling beams that tied in with the dark wood coffee table and floors, and these dark features contrasted with the off-white walls and sofa nicely. Additionally, the team installed new windows with black frames that popped against the back wall, bringing attention to the beautiful scenery in the backyard. While Chip and Jo saw subtle signs of the ’70s in the living room, there was no question of the decade style when they stepped into the kitchen. The wooden kitchen cabinets and fruit wallpaper lining the top was a dead giveaway, with a kitchen island in the middle that made the space feel a bit cramped. David and Christina’s bedroom was another space that was a blast from the past. The spacious room was decked out in brown carpet and walls and was basically split in half, thanks to an elevated platform. Speaking of that platform, it appeared as though it had lights bordering it, an outdated detail that wasn’t welcomed in the 21st century.
When David and Christina had purchased their home a year ago, they planned to renovate it shortly after but — as it goes — life got in the way. Instead of waiting any longer, the couple brought in reinforcements (aka the Gaines) to help update their 
To open up the kitchen, the Gaines knocked down the wall separating it from the living room, making it more of an open concept. They replaced the old island with two new ones, adding ample seating for family gatherings. Joanna added a backsplash tile behind the range that brought in some of that Mediterranean warm, with a wooden beam on top that matched the ceiling beams. The space was complete with new white cabinets, appliances, and wall tile.
To tie the bedroom in with the rest of the home, Chip and Jo built a stone wall that was similar to the one in the living room. They incorporated those hand hewn beams into the bedroom as well and installed some new windows that balanced out the light in the space. Add a massive textured rug, natural wood headboard, reading lights, and some plants, and David and Christina had the zen-filled bedroom of their dreams.
While these three room transformations were some highlights in the episode, there are plenty of others where that came from! Check out the episode to see the rest for yourself — it’s worth the watch, trust.
“Fixer Upper: Welcome Home” episodes air every Friday at midnight on Discovery+