Before and After: “Fixer Upper” Turned a Neglected 1950s Home Into a Cozy, Hotel-Inspired Escape

In every episode of “Fixer Upper: Welcome Home,” Chip and Joanna Gaines complete renovations for others that live in and around Waco, Texas. But the season finale proved to be a bit different: instead of transforming a home for a friend or client, the Gaines decide to flip a property that they purchased to eventually put back on the market.

Chip had been eyeing the home he calls “Minty Green” for well over a decade when the owner finally agreed to sell it to him. The home was vacant for 15 years, and when Chip arrived to take a look at what he had purchased, the neglect was as clear as day even before stepping through the front door.

The nickname “Minty Green” came from the mint green shingles on the house, which were deteriorating just like the roof. The cement stairs and landing were worn down, and the front door and shingles needed some serious TLC. Not to mention the entire yard was bare and had a random rotting tree trunk in front of it.

The “Fixer Upper” duo replaced the old shingles with a hardy siding option that was affordable and pre-painted. Chip and Jo wanted to make sure they honored the home’s original green color, but instead of mint, they went with more of a subtle green that blended with the neutral shutters and two stone chimneys. They also covered the concrete steps and landing in stone, too, that tied in nicely with the rest of the exterior look. And a new roof and some landscaping added extra charm to the outdoors.

Now, onto the interiors. While some of the rooms were cleared out and in decent shape, others — like the den — showed the home’s 15-year-old neglect (as seen in the first photo). Serious water damage ripped through the ceiling, the floor had holes, and there was a lot of work to be done to make the room a cozy space for future homeowners to enjoy.

Joanna’s target audience for this flip was newlyweds and/or young families, so she wanted the interiors to reflect a style that felt like an extension of a vacation or honeymoon — in other words, a hotel getaway vibe. This vision came to life through cream-colored walls and gray baseboards that contrasted nicely with one another. Additionally, the rug and leather furniture added layers of texture, and the large cabinet and wooden floors infused some rustic charm into the room.

This vacation-inspired, cozy theme was seen through the rest of the renovated rooms, too, but you’ll have to watch the finale to see for yourself. Catch all episodes of “Fixer Upper: Welcome Home” on Discovery+.