Design Choices HGTV Fans Don't Like On Fixer To Fabulous

Thousands of fans were excited when Dave and Jenny Marrs announced on Instagram that HGTV had renewed their home renovation show, "Fixer to Fabulous," for a 6th season. "We don't have a date just yet," answered Jenny Marrs when asked when it would premiere. "Most likely it'll be in January [2025]!" Although it isn't one of HGTV's top-rated shows, "Fixer to Fabulous" was nominated for a daytime Emmy alongside "Windy City Rehab," and "Fixer Upper: The Hotel," so its renewal wasn't really surprising. The show follows a formulaic approach, where a likable couple sets out to renovate old houses around their hometown. He's the builder. She's the designer. You get the idea. 

Set in Bentonville, Arkansas, no one can deny that many of the homes featured on the show are transformed. But from too much white decor to an unrelenting obsession with green, there are many design choices HGTV fans don't like on "Fixer to Fabulous."

"Always white walls, always white oak floors, always painted cabinets, mostly the same colors over and over," posted a viewer on a Reddit forum, one person said they think the couple has "mastered the Modern Farmhouse look," they were quick to add, "It's time for something new!" Others agree that the home renovations are bland, relying too much on whitewashing brick walls and frequently painting kitchen cabinets green whether or not homeowners have requested (or even liked) the color. 

During the Season 5 premiere of Fixer to Fabulous, Jenny Marrs decided to install gas lanterns to add English cottage-inspired curb appeal to a first-time buyer's new home. Although the overall look of the basic ranch was hugely improved overall, some viewers worried that the gas lanterns were installed too closely to the house, creating a fire hazard. Dave Marrs has also received criticism from viewers. Despite being a general contractor who fans say brings a high level of craftsmanship to the table, some feel he's more concerned with being an entertainer than running safe job sites. 

From simple design choices to serious structural issues, there are also lessons to learn from "Fixer to Fabulous'" unhappy clients. In 2018, the couple's company, Marrs Construction, was sued for $75,000 after a family claimed they were approached about renovating their home for the show but that the work wasn't completed without defects. They also alleged that the Marrs' didn't maintain a contractor's license or secure necessary permits. Although that lawsuit was eventually dismissed several years later, in 2023 yet another lawsuit was filed. This time, a family claims they paid the HGTV stars for hardwood flooring, new windows, deck railing, and various repairs that were never completed and caused damage to their house. According to KNWA Fox 24, a structural engineer who inspected the home on behalf of the couple found "numerous" deficiencies and a "critical safety issue". A trial is scheduled to begin in January 2025.