5 min readWhen you’ve renovated so many homes in a town that its name has become nearly synonymous with your own, it takes a special project to really stand out. For Chip and Joanna Gaines, the veritable renovation royals of Waco, Texas, that property is Cottonland Castle.
The 1913 stone manor house, originally modeled after a small German castle along the Rhine River, has a history and foundation dating back to 1890, not to mention a permanent place in local lore. “It sits in the center of a neighborhood downtown, so if you live nearby, you’ve driven past it hundreds of times,” Chip explains. “Ownership changed every few years, and I would make an offer every time it was listed.”
In 2019, the couple’s bid was accepted, and the Gaineses embarked on their most challenging renovation yet: restoring the grand property to its original glory. “If you look past the cracks in the masonry, past the rotted floorboards, past the wilderness taking over the backyard, there is a lot of beauty to be found in this old castle,” Jo wrote in the winter issue of Magnolia Journal that year.
No one was better suited for this project. The Gaineses, who shot to stardom with their hit show Fixer Upper, have gone from charming small-town couple to leaders of a conglomerate that includes a TV network (Magnolia Network), a magazine (Magnolia Journal), and a destination shopping experience (Magnolia Market at the Silos). They oversee all of this from their once-sleepy hometown of Waco, now a pilgrimage site for design buffs from all over the world. They’re hometown heroes, which made taking on a legendary local property both a fitting and nerve-racking endeavor.
“We were both passionate about giving the castle the opportunity to sort of stand back up straight and present itself to the neighborhood the way it was always meant to,” Chip says. Jo went so far as to partner with KILZ on a line of paint specifically for the project, and the couple dug into the local archives to learn about the original design (a process thoroughly documented on Fixer Upper: The Castle, a six-episode series that aired on Magnolia Network). The castle itself, rather than any trends or preconceived ideas, led the way. The result is a true departure from the modern farmhouse style that Chip and Jo have become known for, with not one shiplap wall in sight.
“The best part about restoring a property with this much history is the opportunity to unearth beauty that’s always been there from the beginning,” Jo says. “As we started to clear all the plywood and old debris, we got to really see all of the gorgeous details inside.”
What unfolded was something of a renovation treasure hunt: “We’d open closets or peek into the attic and stumble upon incredible items from over a century ago,” recalls Jo, who incorporated many—including original light fixtures, paneling, fireplaces (eight total!), and doors—into her final scheme. “To capture the essence of the castle when it was originally built, we used all the original materials that were available.”
Of course, a project of this scale included plenty of hiccups, but nothing a little modern ingenuity couldn’t solve. Jo was initially adamant about maintaining the original floors, but history had other plans: Years of sanding had worn the wood too thin to save in many places, so the couple used reclaimed antique planks from the same era instead. A similar problem arose with the worn exterior, where exact matches of the once-white sand- and limestones, now worn with age, were impossible to find. Chip concocted a plan to stain the new blocks with a compost mixture that closely mimics the original patina without a century of aging.
“If we needed a new window or door, it was made by local craftsmen, with the same design and wood species that were original to the castle,” Jo says. “If there was a fixture missing or we had to source materials, we looked for time period–appropriate designs.” That meant doing one of Jo’s favorite things: antique hunting. The couple scoured Round Top Antiques Fair, bringing home treasures like the dining room table and chairs as well as pieces that—with the help of the Gaineses’ woodworker—would become the kitchen and butler’s pantry islands. “I’ve always been drawn to mixing old and new in our projects,” Jo says, “but the castle challenged me to take that design approach a step further.”
Despite all their emotional attachments, Chip and Jo ultimately plan to sell the castle. (It was briefly open for tours after completion.) “Our primary goal was to honor the significance of the home in the neighborhood and the city,” Jo says. “This was a good challenge for me and an opportunity to stretch myself in ways I hadn’t before.”
DINING ROOM
Moody wallpaper offsets the newly restored wood paneling.
The couple worked with Marvin Kegerreis, president of Kent Mill & Supply, to retrofit antiques (like this dining table) into furniture for the castle. A period-appropriate wallpaper adds a touch of pattern and color to the room.
LIBRARY
The Gaineses reinstalled original doors found in the basement
While years of sanding made it impossible to salvage all the floors, they restored nearly all of the original millwork. A rolling ladder lends a fairytale-like feel to the custom bookshelves.
BUTLER'S PANTRY
Custom windows match the originals, down to the weighted sashes.
In the pantry, deep custom shelves offer plenty of room for stashing dry goods, while the countertop boasts extra prep space. The plants in the home came from the propagation wall Jo conceived for Magnolia Market at the Silos.
KITCHEN
A charming stove nook nods to a bygone era.
Though the stone from a onetime fireplace here couldn’t be saved, the Gaineses restored the soaring upper mantel, then adapted the space underneath for a range and dish storage. Ivory tile by Bottega Design Gallery gives the space an updated look that still feels classic.
CARDROOM
Clad in rich wood, this space is perfect for hosting.
Honed black soapstone fireplace surround is a moody juxtaposition to the home’s original millwork, restored to its onetime shine.
CHILD'S BEDROOM
A subtle blush hue adds just enough sweetness.
The Gaineses preserved all eight of the home’s existing fireplaces, adding new tile where necessary.
TEEN BEDROOM
Original window grills add architectural interest.
Custom artwork and antique furniture suit the grand architecture in this teen space, which is swathed in Estate Interior, part of the Gaines' collaboration with KILZ.
HALL BATH
A soaking tub is the perfect spot to unwind.
Jo designed the room's millwork to nod to the era of the home while also feeling modern and fresh.
