The Most Expensive House From HGTV's Fixer Upper (And What We Love About It)

Fans of the HGTV show "Fixer Upper" might remember the crumbling ranch-style home built on a couple thousand acres, affectionately dubbed "Paw Paw's house," as being in quite a state of disrepair. Superfans of the show will recall with a grin, the scene in which Chip Gaines discovers evidence that some small animals had taken up residence; and Joanna Gaines' horrified (but comic) reaction. When Gaines was working on the house in 2016, she noted that the project was special, according to her blog, because it was not the usual buy a home and fix it up kind of project. Rather, the team took on the work of breathing life into an old family home, built by the client's grandfather, "Paw Paw".

That is precisely one of the many reasons we love Paw Paw's house; the Gaines' designs and constructions pay homage to the home and clients' histories. Modern design elements are expertly sprinkled in among the worn and storied; local artists are invited to leave their mark; and the client's Southwestern-leaning aesthetic is elevated by modern Spanish styling and Aztec-inspired details. We love the authenticity of the space; the house isn't any one thing, and the effect is a natural feeling environment that has a functional flow and an easy, relaxed vibe. Paw Paw's house went down in "Fixer Upper" history, and not just because of the critters. It was the most expensive house on the show, ultimately listing for more than $1,400,00 in 2020. Unfortunately, the home sat on the market for a year, and was taken back off the market in 2021, per Realtor.com.

These themes are highlighted throughout the kitchen where the floor was crafted with patterned Saltillo tile floors and antique reclaimed beams giving the ceiling a visual lift. The backsplash is made of rock and mortar which perfectly compliments the stucco vent hood, and copper accents — including the sink — brighten up the space. Antique pantry doors ground the design and lend an eclectic touch to the industrial-feeling concrete countertops and black fixtures.

The hardwood floors that Paw Paw himself laid years before were refinished in the primary bedroom, complemented by updated trim around the windows and doors. A live-edge cedar plank accent wall added warmth and incorporated the cabin vibe the current owners (Paw Paw's granddaughter and her husband) were going for. 

In the adjoining bathroom, Gaines added a dark tile shower that creates a stunning focal point at the very end of the room. Hinged, lamp-style black sconces tie into those darker elements and add interest to the bathroom mirror that runs behind the light fixtures and fills the entire wall space above the vanities. Not only does this bring extra light into the room, it also acts to unify the space — particularly important because Gaines leveraged one of her bathroom renovation tips with a multi-level countertop including storage with an elevated central cabinet. If Joanna had elected more traditional, individual mirrors over each sink, it would have felt delineating. Besides, who doesn't love a giant mirror?

The trim and paint colors from the bathroom extend into the living spaces where they provide a calm, consistent background to the real stars of the show: Paw Paw's refinished handmade dining table and a reworked custom built in. Gaines doesn't shy away from things that show their wear; how much they've been loved, so — as she notes in her blog — when it came to the "...dated built-in, and A/C wall vent" she simply removed the doors and painted it a bold color. She enlisted a local artist (and friend) to create a custom metal piece that nested into the bottom, presumably covering the AC vent, and creating a lovely designer focal point.

Perhaps the biggest change to Paw Paw's house, at least from the exterior vantage point, was the decision to move the front door and porch. Originally built in the front left corner of the house, the porch wasn't particularly large, but almost more importantly, it wasn't interesting. The whole front facing aspect of the house was essentially one long, flat line. By moving the front door to the center of the house, and enhancing it with a large front porch and pitched roof, the front of the house now veritably shouts the warm greeting the Gaines' and Fixer Upper are known for: welcome home.