A Real House With Fixer Upper Style

Right around the time Brittany and Andy York were finalizing construction plans for their 2,000-square-foot Calhoun, LA, farmhouse, Fixer Upper made its debut on HGTV. While Chip and Joanna Gaines revived home after dated home across Waco, TX, Brittany got hooked on Joanna’s fresh design sense. “It was fun to watch a show that so closely matched my own style,” says Brittany, who took cues from the episodes as she picked fixtures and furniture for the new place, from shiplap to subway tile.

Like Joanna, Brittany loves decorating with vintage finds that other people might cast off as junk, and she follows the show closely for inspiration. “I visit Joanna’s blog after every episode and save my favorite photos from the show to my phone. I have an entire album dedicated to Fixer Upper. I hope Joanna would say I did her proud.”

Shiplap-inspired paneling gave the fireplace wall Fixer Upper flair. “I had to have shiplap somewhere,” says Brittany. Light blue-and-white Lacefield Designs pillows and others from Society6 and Target add color to the slipcovered sofa, while a cotton Land of Nod rug warms up the indestructible concrete floor. Brittany bought the tufted club chair on wayfair.com and the coffee table — a shelf system on wheels — at an estate sale. She painted it white (White by Glidden Grab-N-Go), then after it dried, sanded it to give it a distressed look.

Inspired by the Gaineses’ own cooking space, open shelving topped Brittany’s wish list. She says, “I took a photo of Chip and Joanna’s kitchen to all of our meetings” — with cabinetmakers, hardware shops, the tile guy. The butcher-block island, bought from an antiques store, came with a tall wrought iron pot holder. Bright white quartz counters teamed with white cabinets, subway tile and appliances create a clean, seamless look. The couple scored the 1940s Magic Chef range for free from Andy’s boss, who was renovating a house at the time. While the sign hanging above it looks vintage, it’s actually a new find from World Market. 

White subway tile with dark grout: White tiles from The Home Depot, which the couple bought for about $1.70 a square foot, stand out against black grout.
Apron-front sink: This signature Gaines kitchen move says farmhouse. Brittany paired it with an antique-style faucet by Mainline Collection.
Open shelving: Each oak shelf is about 2 inches thick and painted Pure White by Sherwin-Williams.