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The Castle: Exteriors and Living Spaces

by Magnolia
Published on November 19, 2022

Are you ready to see the castle?

After 20 years of putting in offers to buy the castle and one year of renovation, we are thrilled to share the reveal of this century-old property in the heart of Waco! You can watch the finale of Fixer Upper: The Castle here.

With so many beautiful spaces to cover, we divided the castle’s before + afters into sections. Here’s a quick look at all there is to explore:

Behind the Design of the Castle

Kitchen + Dining

Bedrooms

Bath + Laundry

It was an honor to have the chance to pour into this beautiful home. We hope you enjoy seeing its transformation as much as we do!

-Chip and Jo

watch the show

Exterior

Before

After

What we updated on the exterior:

- Cleaned the stone

- Replicated and repaired original windows

- Painted windows with a custom color (Conservatory) to reflect the dark windows seen in historic photos of the castle

- Restored original doors and replicated damaged ones to match original design

- Added exterior lighting

- Added new landscape all around the property

What we updated throughout the whole interior:

- Repaired plaster

- Repaired, replicated, and finished hardwood floors

- Installed new HVAC, electrical, and plumbing systems

First Floor: Foyer

Before

After

(ceiling) Castle Cream Interior Paint in Matte Finish, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines crafted with KILZ; magnolia.com

(crown molding and walls) Castle Cream Interior Paint in Eggshell Finish, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines crafted with KILZ; magnolia.com

What we updated:

- Refinished the original millwork, wall paneling, and front door

- Restored the plaster walls, ceiling, and crown molding

- Removed marble archway as it was not original to the house

- Added new lighting

- Repaired and refinished hardwood flooring

Download Jo’s design sourcebook from the castle

Drawing Room

Before

After

(ceiling) Castle Cream Interior Paint in Matte Finish, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines crafted with KILZ; magnolia.com

(crown molding and walls) Castle Cream Interior Paint in Eggshell Finish, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines crafted with KILZ; magnolia.com

(trim and paneling) Drawing Room Trim, Door + Cabinetry Paint in Semi-Gloss Finish, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines crafted with KILZ; magnolia.com

What we updated:

- Replaced the missing millwork

- Painted the millwork for a more modern look

- Added new lighting

- Repaired and refinished wood flooring

- Restored the pocket doors

- Restored and cleaned the marble mantel

Conservatory

Before

After

(ceiling) Conservatory Interior Paint in Satin Finish, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines crafted with KILZ; magnolia.com

(window trim) Conservatory Trim, Door + Cabinetry Paint in Satin Finish, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines crafted with KILZ; magnolia.com

What we updated:

- Added on to existing foundation where a previous structure stood

- Installed window units to create a conservatory

- Added trim work and millwork to the windows and ceiling

- Cleaned the stone

- Painted the windows, ceiling, and trim the same custom color as the exterior windows for a cohesive look

- Added new lighting

- Restored the original French door entry

- Sourced reclaimed tiles from a historic European chateau and installed them on the conservatory floor

Turret

Before

After

What we updated:

- Restored and refinished the original paneling

- Repaired and refinished the wood flooring

- Added a new antique light fixture and ceiling medallion

Second Floor: Library and Hallway

Before

After

(walls) Castle Cream Interior Paint in Eggshell Finish, Magnolia Home Paint by Joanna Gaines crafted with KILZ; magnolia.com

What we updated:

- Reworked the original sitting room area to create the new library and bathroom

- Modified the original stair railing to work in a new layout

- Replicated original paneling on the stair walls

- Added custom millwork and cabinets

- Added rolling ladder

- Installed new lighting

- Repaired and refinished the plaster, original trim, floors, and exterior door

Download Jo’s design sourcebook from the castle

Basement: Family Room

Before

After

(walls) Silos White Interior Paint in Eggshell Finish, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines crafted with KILZ; magnolia.com

(windows, doors, trim, baseboards) Drawing Room Trim, Door + Cabinetry Paint in Satin Finish, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines crafted with KILZ; magnolia.com

(ceiling) Silos White Interior Paint in Matte Finish, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines crafted with KILZ; magnolia.com

(entertainment unit) Drawing Room Trim, Door + Cabinetry Paint in Satin Finish, Magnolia Home by Joanna Gaines crafted with KILZ; magnolia.com

What we updated:

- Added new tile flooring

- Added new trim for the base, crown molding, windows and door casing

- Repaired original windows

- Installed new ceiling flush mounts and ceiling fan

- Installed new custom cabinetry for the media center by working around existing brick structure that once supported a fireplace and dumbwaiter

- Painted the walls, trim, and millwork

Card Room

Before

After

What we updated:

- Repaired and, where needed, replicated original wood paneling and millwork

- Installed a new tiled fireplace surround and soapstone hearth

- Repaired the original windows

- Installed a new chandelier

- Installed patterned carpet

We hope you enjoyed a first look at the castle!

shop the castle

Before and after photography by Lisa Petrole & Jeff Jones