How To Recreate The Design Inspo Behind Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse

As they watched over a gardening crew laying sod in the backyard of their latest project, Chip and Joanna Gaines took a moment to reflect on their incredible journey. "Ten years of 'Fixer Upper' has brought us to this lake house, this view," Chip said, via YouTube, as the couple embraced. After eight months of steady work, renovations on the 1965 home were finally nearing completion. Instead of gutting the entire interior to modernize it, the HGTV stars looked to the home's original blueprints and photos to recapture the 5,000-square-foot retreat's original charm while updating the overall functionality with new colors, textures, and furnishings. By combining Spanish Revival and Mid-Century Modern influences, from terrazzo flooring to minimalist furniture, you can use the design inspo behind "Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse" in your own home.

Paint and lighting played an important role in the exterior transformation of The Lakehouse. Longtime fans may remember that Chip Gaines says painting brick is a controversial design choice you may want to avoid. Instead of painting the original 1960s beige brick, the couple opted to paint the siding, corbels, and trim with exterior paint in Wooded Acres from Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines  It's a trick you can borrow to create more contrast and curb appeal for your own home if you're hesitant to paint brick. The couple also decided to leave the original sconces that flank an archway leading to the front entrance. You can achieve a similar look by mounting two DABMAR Lighting 10" Globes on either side of your front door.

"I love this house. I love this view. Boom! You walk in and, it's like: Showstopper," Joanna Gaines said during the official trailer of "Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse", via YouTube. The easiest way to recreate the show-stopping look in your own home is by selecting a similar color palette inspired by nature. The paint company behind Joanna Gaines' Fixer Upper-inspired Magnolia line released seven colors as part of the "Lakehouse" collection that you can buy at Lowes, Ace Hardware, or online. Gaines relied on Blanched, a warm beige color from the collection, throughout The Lakehouse. She color-drenched several rooms, painting the walls, ceiling, and original trim all the same eggshell finish. The color contrasts beautifully against cherry wood millwork throughout the home. If your home has some warmer wood tones, using Blanched on the walls and trim may help you capture the lakeside living vibe. 

The same Wooded Acres color Gaines used on the exterior trim was echoed in the library. The library has a lot of natural light bringing out the green undertones, thanks to a sliding glass door. If you're concerned it may look too dark in your space, but you still want to create a cozy ambiance, consider using one of the saturated but slightly lighter colors from the Lakehouse collection, such as Remote Trail or Juniper Tree.

Texture is another way Chip and Joanna Gaines brought new life into their latest project. The couple relied on natural materials that reflect both Mid-Century and Spanish Revival styles. Tile played a huge role, showing up on floors, walls, and countertops. The entryway and dining room both feature terrazzo floors, which were laid using large-scale tiles. Beauty and durability are just two of the many advantages of installing terrazzo tile floors in your own home. The pair used volcanic ash tiles set in a checkerboard pattern in the mudroom, laundry, and recreation spaces. If you can't afford new tiles, get a similar look with a peel-and-stick option like Art3d Black & White Marble Vinyl Floor Tiles.

The couple added even more textural interest on the walls. Textured plaster was applied around an existing fireplace and vent hood in the kitchen, as well as the primary bathroom. It's probably not practical to knock down your existing walls in order to replace them with plaster ones. Apart from the high cost, plastering is a project best left to the professionals. Fortunately, recreating the look with paint is one savvy way to make a plaster wall effect in your home. If that sounds like too much work, you can also borrow inspiration from the wallpaper used in The Lakehouse dining room, rec space, and primary bedroom. Get a similar look by hanging WADILE Faux Linen Grasscloth Peel and Stick Contact Paper on the backs of your bookshelves or other nooks. 

Not surprisingly, Joanna Gaines carefully curated a mix of furnishings that complement the colors and textures found both inside and outside The Lakehouse. Because the home was designed in the 1960s, many pieces of furniture reflect the Mid-Century Modern aesthetic of the time. Think simple lines, tapered legs, and organic curves on everything from kitchen chairs to coffee tables. You can recreate the look in your own home with minimalist pieces that are both functional and beautiful. Aim for a mix of materials that includes wood, metal, leather, and even stone. Gaines incorporated several retro-fluted tables in the breakfast nook, living room, and primary bedroom. You can get the look with pieces like the NIUYAO Round Solid Wood Leisure Coffee Table from Amazon or the Madden Smoked Glass End Table from Magnolia.

Architectural light fixtures with a Sputnik-style edge are another nod to the home's original design. Surrounded by organic materials and colors, bold shapes and round globes bring a futuristic look to the kitchen, mudroom, and other spaces in The Lakehouse. Opt for fixtures like the KCO 8-Light Vintage Global Ball Chandelier, a flush-mount option that hugs the ceiling, to recreate the illusion of spaciousness. This effect can be amplified by using low-profile armchairs and sofas, a trick Joanna Gaines used repeatedly with pieces like the Jasmine Chair from Magnolia.

No "Fixer Upper" home is complete without unique and one-of-a-kind accessories. Joanna Gaines looked to tried and true favorites for The Lakehouse that she incorporates into many of her designs: ornate rugs, decorative pillows, and tassel throws. You can find some of the exact items she used online at Magnolia, but more affordable options can be found on Amazon. The Loloi Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines Sinclair Collection Rugs come in a variety of natural colors that hundreds of reviewers love. The MIULEE Beige Velvet Lumbar Throw Pillow Cover is almost identical to Magnolia's Wheat Colored Heirloom Velvet pillows but costs a fraction of the price. The same goes for the HORIMOTE HOME Ultra Soft Sherpa Throw Blanket with Tassels, a highly-rated substitute for Magnolia's $100 Antique White Essential Throw.

If new accessories aren't in your budget, or you just want to dip your toe in the proverbial waters of The Lakehouse style, use what you already have on hand to accessorize your own home. Gaines used large glass vases, terracotta pots, and neutral planters to bring the outdoors in. Along with artfully arranging large blooming branches in the kitchen, library, and living room, she placed tall cacti and smaller trailing plants in nearly every room of the house. It's a look you can easily recreate with a few branches trimmed from nearby trees, cuttings from a friend, or propagating plants to get endless greenery for your home.