3 min readThe idea of a "turnkey home" may be realtor catnip, but true design lovers know that you can’t put a price on a home with good bones—even if it does need a bit of work. When Ashley Maddox moved to Waco, Texas, to work as Magnolia’s director of styling, she set her sights on finding an unrenovated midcentury home for herself, her husband, and their two boys.
“Waco is seeing a lot of growth now, but it’s been a sleepy town, so homes are sitting there virtually untouched,” she says. She received a tip about one such uncut gem from a friend who noticed a neighbor piling up flooring outside and raced over to investigate. When he told her he was fixing up his home to sell, the pal connected him with Maddox, who begged him not to touch a thing. She did a walk-through with her boss, Joanna Gaines, who agreed it was perfect. “Once Jo said it was good,” Maddox recalls, “it was like, ‘OK, let’s do this.’”
Maddox enlisted the help of interior designer Hilary Walker, her friend and coworker, to transform the outdated layout while preserving its 1950s charm. The pair opened up a wall in the kitchen, replacing it with airy built-in shelving to store what Maddox calls “sit-abouts,” explaining, “We’re not minimalists over here; I like to have pretty things to look at.”
Though other walls were removed, the home’s original hidden storage stayed, and built-ins off the den serve as a toy cache for the boys on the bottom and a display for more tchotchkes up top. Initially, Maddox wanted to carve an office/guest bedroom from the kitchen. “But it would have been, like, a closet, so I said, ‘We’ll have grandma and grandpa stay at a hotel,’ which works out better for everyone,” she recalls. The now-spacious kitchen has walnut cabinets and a paneled refrigerator in keeping with the midcentury palette, plus dark stone counters that pair well with the glossy terrazzo tile floors. “The kitchen feels like a gentleman’s crisp suit to me—it’s the perfect base for the rest of the home,” Walker says.
Throughout, bold hues run rampant: rust in the bedroom, green in the boys’ room, and blue in the bathroom. Furniture from Round Top and Facebook Marketplace was reupholstered using automotive fabric. “It’s our weirdest budget hack—it looks like great nubby tweeds from midcentury offices, but it’s so inexpensive,” Walker says. Nothing in the home is too precious or too bland. After all, “Who has time for safe design choices?” Walker asks. “We want to have fun.”
FAMILY ROOM
A walnut-clad wall and shelves lean into the home’s midcentury roots.
In the cozy family room, avocado green walls keep with the midcentury spirit and create a chill mood for movie nights. An oversized sectional from Magnolia offers plenty of spots for snuggling.
KITCHEN
By skipping upper cabinetry, the room remains airy and open.
Rich walnut cabinetry sets the tone for a classic kitchen. Walnut paneling conceals the fridge, while a richly marbled stone acts as a dramatic backdrop.
BREAKFAST NOOK
A custom banquette makes the most of the sunny corner location.
The original kitchen was awkwardly segmented, so several spots went underutilized. By removing a wall and cabinets, Walker and Maddox carved out a welcoming corner fit for morning breakfasts and casual meals alike.
DINING ROOM
Angular windows add architectural impact.
A pared-down palette keeps the focus on the cantilevered soffit and clerestory windows. Vintage metal chairs bring a striking midcentury silhouette to the scene.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Rich chocolate paint ups the impact of the pitched ceiling.
Rich earth shades create an immersive sanctuary with “a touch of drama,” Walker says.
KID’S BEDROOM
Painted brick provides the perfect backdrop for artwork.
Color and texture reign supreme in the kid’s bedroom, while brick lends graphic appeal. Classic retro lighting ties the room into the rest of the home’s aesthetic.
KID’S BATHROOM
Checkerboard tile adds a graphic punch.
“Because it’s a small space for children, this felt like the right moment to have fun,” Walker says.
