How Fixer Upper's Joanna Gaines Makes Original Features Stand Out In A Home

The beauty of interior design and architecture is that they make every home different, and those unique features are ones to celebrate. Contemporary and modern design are among the top trends for homes. However, you often don't want to sacrifice the character of an older home when renovating in these styles. Joanna Gaines from HGTV's "Fixer Upper" believes in highlighting these features rather than removing them or covering them up. In Season 5, Episode 4, Gaines's plan to draw attention to a couple of original features in a Tudor-style home was simple: paint the cased openings to the built-in shelves and arched doorway in a slightly darker shade of paint than the walls. 

"The cased openings on the home matched the arches on the exterior, so I knew I wanted to highlight them by implementing a darker trim with lighter walls," Gaines explained (via Realtor).The simple contrast in colors drew the eye to this home's unique features without commanding all the attention in the room. The slightly darker color on the trim of the built-in bookcases and large doorway also emphasized the shape of the arches, which were prevalent throughout the home and one of its most unique original features. 

Another way Gaines made these built-in bookcases a feature was by not over-stuffing them. Just a few books, plants, and decorative objects adorned the space. "Too much takes away from the whole story of the room," Gaines said (via Realtor). "Minimalizing it a bit, but also giving it some interest. That's the key." 

Many older homes have unique features that some homeowners struggle to design around. These could be anything from ceiling beams to dumbwaiters. Character helps to set a home apart, preventing it from looking like a cookie-cutter design. However, it can be difficult when the characteristic features clash with your personal design style or feel like they date the home. Paint, as Joanna Gaines showed in her redesign, is one of the easiest ways to draw attention to these features while also refreshing or modernizing a space.

Neutral colors complement almost any design and can still draw attention. Warm whites such as Ultra Pure White from Behr, Creamy White from Benjamin Moore, and Harvest Moon from Backdrop offer comforting and encompassing shades that feel updated and modern. Or, to recreate the look Gaines did for her clients in the "Fixer Upper" episode, select a gray like Shark Fin from Behr or Filtered Shade from Valspar.

Using paint is a great way to highlight details, such as arched doorways, decorative window casings, or built-in bookshelves. However, paint isn't the only tool you can use. Consider wood stain to breathe new life into wood features like beams on the ceiling, wood paneling on the walls, or original floors. Even lighting can be used as a way to feature interior details. Consider using accent lighting to highlight recesses in the walls, decorative molding, or ceiling height.

Use a room's features to make the space more eye-catching. In Season 5, Episode 2 of "Fixer Upper," Gaines worked on a house with original coffered ceilings. "Because the original coffered ceilings in this living room almost serve as grid lines, drawing your eye directly to the fireplace, I really wanted to focus my attention on making that back wall the main showstopper," Gaines wrote on the Magnolia blog. She dressed the fireplace up with a new marble surround, which updated the original fireplace to a more contemporary and elegant design. However, she maintained the traditional character by using tiered molding around the marble tile and on the front of the mantel. 

Gaines similarly embraced the rustic charm of a stone fireplace in Episode 6 of "Fixer Upper: Welcome Home." She kept the original stone fireplace and replaced the wood mantel with a restored beam that matched the exposed ceiling beams of the same material. This tied the two elements together, and features like a ceiling beam can help elevate an entire room.

Embracing original features isn't only reserved for the interior of a home. In Season 3, Episode 1 of "Fixer Upper," Joanna Gaines worked on a home for the Dansby family, who wanted to preserve a 100-year-old home and its original architecture. Gaines refreshed the exterior while largely maintaining the original farmhouse style. A fresh coat of paint brightened the exterior, and new railings on the upper and lower levels highlighted the porches, arguably the most eye-catching detail of this home's facade.