Fixer Upper is one of my favorite shows. Joanna Gaines has been an inspiration to me since the first time I watched her family show on HGTV a year ago. I could tell they were a Christian family, leading a wonderful and productive life that was gloriously normal and relatable. She has a story that all women should take to heart. It is a journey of love and faith… a journey her wonderful husband Chip has been with her on every step of the way, encouraging her and cherishing her as his wife. I’ve watched them reach out to other families and change their lives. These are good people.
Joanna, born in the wheatfields of Kansas and raised in the Lone Star State, is a modern-day pioneer. She appreciates the old ways of living, simple and hard-working with home at the center. Joanna is Owner, Founder and Lead Designer of Magnolia Homes. She graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Communications and was inspired to join the world of design while interning in New York. Off the beaten path boutiques felt like home in the midst of the big city. These shops were the influence for what came next. Joanna decided to open a shop in 2003, bringing her new ideas and eye for design back to her roots. She soon discovered this emerging passion complemented Chip’s experience and together they started remodeling and flipping homes. Although often self-identified as a driver and workaholic, Joanna appreciates Chip’s hilarious detours. For down time, Joanna enjoys life on the farm and secretly wishes she had her own cooking show. Of the many, many farm animals they have, the goats have won her heart. Gardening soothes her soul and being with her four kids dominates all other favorites. Her design preference is simple and fresh and she prefers a timeless look. She loves the use of industrial pieces that are a glimpse of how life used to be; making old things new and seeing the potential in every project. Preserving and highlighting the character of each home keeps things original and one of a kind. Her passion is to create inspiring spaces that encourage others to do the same thing in their own homes. Without Joanna the show truly would not go on.
Meet Magnolia, we’re all about the home. We’re southern grown and locally sown. We’re a small town business deep in the heart of Texas inspiring folks from all walks of life to take ownership of their spaces and create value where they’re planted.
We were planted by two local entrepreneurs who decided they wanted to start making Waco a more beautiful place, one home at a time. Chip and Joanna broke ground in early 2003 after getting married and watching their passions merge. Chip with his ability to fix and hammer matched with Joanna’s flair to add just the right touch made a dynamic duo to create what is now Magnolia Homes.
Beginning as a creative compilation of construction and quality design, Magnolia Homes is a creative compilation of construction with a heavy emphasis on quality and unique design. Magnolia is a member of the NARI and has won several awards, including the 2014 Chrysallis award. We offer residential and commercial remodeling and design. Magnolia also offers real estate services, drawing on Chip’s expertise, called Magnolia Realty in the Central Texas area. Another branch of their business, Magnolia Villas, offers newly constructed garden homes in a gated community. Going on 15 years experience, the Gaines’ have put their hands to over 200 homes.
Joanna’s knack for design inspired her to start a local boutique and a blog that captured the attention of HGTV. Before they knew it, Chip and Joanna landed themselves a series highlighting the renovation and realty aspect of their business. Tune in to HGTV’s show, Fixer Upper, to watch Chip and Joanna take clients through the process of finding the right home, renovating the imperfections, and revealing the home as it was always meant to be.
After many years of putting their hands to the plow, Chip and Joanna created a foundation that would support the growth of their vision and inspire families across the nation to own and love their homes.
The video below will move any woman I know. It speaks of life as a wife and a mother, lived in her professed faith to God. Joanna walks the walk and I am thrilled for her success. I read that Clint Harp of Harp Design, their carpenter, met Chip Gaines at a gas station and that is how they went to work together. On two men’s word and a handshake. That’s the way it should be. I admire everything about this family and this show. It is one of those rare shows I can watch over and over and it takes me away from all the junk I deal with day to day. Joanna Gaines, thank you for your testimony!
Terresa Monroe-Hamilton is an editor and writer for Right Wing News. She owns and blogs at NoisyRoom.net. She is a Constitutional Conservative and NoisyRoom focuses on political and national issues of interest to the American public. Terresa is the editor at Trevor Loudon's site, New Zeal - trevorloudon.com. She also does research at KeyWiki.org. You can email Terresa here. NoisyRoom can be found on Facebook and on Twitter.