Chip & Joanna Gaines: The Colorado Mountain House Renovation

By Interior Designer TRACY SVENDSEN | Published on January 05, 2026 |

Following a decade of seasonal retreats in Colorado, the Gaineses transitioned from visitors to homeowners, which began with a mission to curate a bespoke mountain escape that honored their family’s history in the region. According to a December 9th social media update from Joanna, Chip had been informally scouting the Rocky Mountain market when he discovered a property that stood out from the rest. Joanna noted that as they approached the house, they realized it offered much more than just the ideal layout or size; it possessed an immediate, welcoming feeling that felt like a true home away from home.

While this marked their first significant renovation endeavor outside of their home state of Texas, the couple felt compelled to take the leap. Joanna admitted that while the distance would push their team’s typical boundaries, they were confident that the challenge of this particular mountain “fixer-upper” would be a rewarding investment for their family. Image courtesy of  Lisa Petrole Photography / Magnolia Network.

Exteriors of the Main Home & Guest Cottages Painted in Trailhead from Magnolia Home
Image courtesy of Lisa Petrole Photography / Magnolia Network

Mountain Lodge Meets Cottage Charm

Joanna describes the project’s aesthetic as a soulful blend of European influence and rustic warmth. To achieve this, the couple preserved the home’s original hardwood floors, antique brick, and historic fireplaces. To create a seamless look, an artist was brought in to hand-paint the original oak ceiling to match the new, hand-hewn wall beams—a “brave” move that resulted in a perfectly uniform, textured environment.

Chip & Joanna Gaines in the Entryway of Their Mountain Retreat
Image courtesy of Lisa Petrole Photography / Magnolia Network

The Heart of the Home: A Reimagined Kitchen

The original kitchen was far too small for a family of seven, leading Chip and Joanna to relocate it entirely to the former living room. This new culinary sanctuary features soaring, original vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows.

• Material Mix: Custom cabinetry finished with iron hardware, a copper sink, brass fixtures, and honed black soapstone countertops.
• The Gathering Spot: A massive wooden table seating twelve anchors the room, replacing a traditional island to prioritize family connection.
• Charming Details: A hand-painted backsplash and a nostalgic sink skirt add a layer of “cottage core” softness to the rugged mountain setting.

A Long Wooden Table Grounds the Space
Image courtesy of Lisa Petrole Photography / Magnolia Network

This panoramic view of the kitchen highlights the seamless connection between the interior and the rugged landscape outside. Floor-to-ceiling windows and pale wood tones provide a luminous backdrop for the standout feature: a rustic green tiled backsplash that mirrors the deep hues of the surrounding forest. The aesthetic is curated yet cozy, grounded by a black iron chandelier and copper accents that catch the natural light.

Original Vaulted Ceilings, Custom Cabinetry & Iron Hardware
Image courtesy of Lisa Petrole Photography / Magnolia Network

From Galley Kitchen to Cozy Nooks

In one of the home’s most clever transitions, the former cramped galley kitchen was transformed into a moody library. The space features a mix of vertical and horizontal tongue-and-groove paneling painted in Magnolia Home’s Ridge Rock. Adding a touch of their Texas roots, the couple installed antique parquet flooring to ground the reading nook.

A Galley Style Kitchen Converted into a Cozy Library
Image courtesy of Lisa Petrole Photography / Magnolia Network

The Primary Retreat: From Office to Sanctuary

In one of the home’s most functional transformations, Chip and Joanna reimagined what was once a utilitarian office into a restful primary suite. The design emphasizes a “braver” use of architectural salvaged elements and cozy, secluded nooks.

• Architectural Character: The room is anchored by hand-hewn wooden beams that frame a new casing opening. This structural detail creates a seamless, open-concept flow into the adjoining primary bathroom while maintaining a sense of historic weight.
• Material Palette: To maintain the “tone-on-tone” European cottage feel, the space utilizes rustic woodwork and layered neutrals, ensuring the bedroom feels like a quiet refuge from the rest of the bustling household.
• The Layout: By reclaiming the office square footage, the Gaineses maximized the suite’s footprint, prioritizing comfort and natural light—a hallmark of the entire Colorado project.

An Office Converted into a Primary Bedroom
Image courtesy of Lisa Petrole Photography / Magnolia Network

Primary Bedroom
Image courtesy of Lisa Petrole Photography / Magnolia Network

Ella’s Guest Cottage

In a significant milestone, 19-year-old Ella was given full creative control over a 375-square-foot guest cottage. While Joanna initially leaned toward a lighter palette for the small space, Ella insisted on a “moody” and earthy direction.

• The Palette: The cottage is drenched in Magnolia Home’s Wellington Green, paired with unexpected burgundy and pale-blue floor tiles in the bathroom.
• Architectural Whimsy: Ella reimagined standard closets as elegant ceiling arches that provide a “peek-a-boo” view into the kitchen.
• The Result: The bold choices—including plaid wallpaper in the bedroom—inspired Chip and Joanna to be more daring in their own future designs.

Little Guest Cottage with Archways Provide a Peek Into the Kitchen
Image courtesy of Lisa Petrole Photography / Magnolia Network

Ella’s Guest Cottage
Images courtesy of Lisa Petrole Photography / Magnolia Network

Final Thoughts: Three Lessons from the Colorado Mountain House

1. Trust the “Moody” Instinct

Don’t be afraid of the dark. While common design advice suggests painting small rooms white to make them feel larger, Ella proved that saturated, earthy tones like Wellington Green can make a small footprint feel like a cozy sanctuary.

Plaid Wallpaper in a Guest Cottage Bedroom Creates a Lodge-Feel
Image courtesy of Lisa Petrole Photography / Magnolia Network

2. Let Function Dictate the Floor Plan

The Gaineses’ decision to move the kitchen is a perfect example of lifestyle-led design. Don’t be afraid to swap the intended purpose of a room to serve better how your family actually lives.

3. Mix the Found with the Finished

The aesthetic works because it balances the rugged with the refined. Always look for a “vintage anchor”—an old worktable or a sink skirt—to ground your modern upgrades.

Big Guest Cottage with Stone Fireplace & Bay Window
Image courtesy of Lisa Petrole Photography / Magnolia Network

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