They are are also coming out with a magazine. I received a small sample insert in my Better Homes and Garden this month. Too much IMHO!

Gag.

But they are popular and their Magnolia silos in Waco have up to 10,000 visitors a day or so I'm told. Fame is fleeting and I don't blame them for taking advantage of it and unlike some celebrities, they are putting some of their monies back into Waco which is good for Waco and the economy of that town. I admire them for that. (Of course, some of what their investing in is another business for them, but, hey, they're saving old buildings!)

I love them, and love her style, but even I'm already fixer uppered-out. There's only so much shiplap, white subway tile and oversized rustic island that one can take, before it tires. Also just got two emails from retailers now selling her overpriced stuff at Bed Bath and Beyond and Pier One. To me that indicates that it's one step out the door. I give it 6 months tops before it starts hitting the clearance racks. Oversaturation.

Curious if anyone has seen the new show 'Hometown'? I think HGTV is banking on them being their next Chip and Jo once fixer upper fizzles out.

they're saving old buildings!

Would you call it that?

It's possible that she could go the way of Martha Stewart or Rachel Ray. As in having her hand in branded collections that are featured in stores, a book every one in a while, etc. By all accounts she is smart, hard working and seems to have some common sense. There will probably be some mistakes along the way but I don't think she will end up bankrupt and estranged from her family like some reality TV stars.

I do think the giant store in Waco is probably not sustainable.

A little OT, but I tried to watch "Home Town" which to me seemed like a copycat Fixer Upper, and just could not get into it at all. Maybe it was my frame of mind when I watched the one episode, but everything about it annoyed me. ;-)

I like their show and I like Chip and Joanna, so I'll definitely check our their newest show. I wish them the very best, but wonder just how much longer it can go on. I hope for many more seasons, with them branching out a bit more design-wise to keep it fresh.

I tired of them and their show VERY quickly. But my 83 yr old cousin, is planning a trip with a friend to Waco to see the silos etc. She is enchanted by them and the fact that they're a "Christian family". Well, my family is also Christian but I don't go around playing that card in my business life! Yuck!

Hope they're saving a lot of that money as this whole deal has an "sell by" date and that may be coming sooner than later. Even Martha couldn't sustain being "Martha"!

"Destination Waco?" I'm a Texan and have no compulsion to see the silos, but that's mostly because that style doesn't mesh with mine.

Once you're in Waco, you might as well keep heading south to wonderful, "weird" Austin. It's only 101 miles more. ;-)

Welcome to my world.

Is there anything else in Waco? Waco is the home of Baylor University, which is not only a very good school, but also the hub of Southern Baptist life in the area. (Truth in advertising: I attended Baylor way back in the day). The town is a huge professional draw for students, professors, ministers, others involved in church life and administration, returning missionaries, and all the families of those associated with the school who come to visit. A few of these people have been customers of the Gaineses. Others will visit various Gaines enterprises and will spend some dollars. So this must be creating a boomlet for the city.

Texas was a revelation to this Chicago girl, with its friendliness and hospitality; I loved the state, and had I not gone overseas I undoubedly would have settled there permanently. The weather was a bit trying at times, though, but we all joked about it.

I have a squickish like for Chip & Joanna - because I suspect their religion-- or religious ties, will make their empire come crashing down one day.

I hope I'm wrong because they seem like a nice, decent couple/people - and I do admire how they're helping their hometown just like the gay Beekman Boys did for Sharon Springs NY.

I suspect their religion-- or religious ties, will make their empire come crashing down one day.

Why?

Writers block -- the old buildings they are saving are in Waco themselves -- those silos, that old bakery and another old downtown building. Certainly the 70s, 80s and 90s houses that they redo are not "old". I was talking about their personal investment in the community not the houses that they redo for their show.

IdaClaire

I suspect their religion-- or religious ties, will make their empire come crashing down one day.
Why?

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The church they're affiliated with has had issues - look at what Fox News did w/Obama and Rev Wright.

Baylor Univ has some too.

No gay couple has been featured on FU that we know of...

I hope I'm wrong because I do give them major kudos for reviving their community.

I have to say, I like what he wrote and it has a little bit more depth than I would have guessed would come from him. I'm neutral about the show, their marriage and as long as they don't try to foist their religious views and values on me and the rest of society, neutral about what their religion is. They seem to love each other, work well together and care about their family. The biggest criticism I would have is the whole gender role thing they do with their kids, but that's their right.

Certainly the 70s, 80s and 90s houses that they redo are not "old".

Ah, I haven't seen that. The early episodes of the show that I've seen all involved gutting nice old (like 20s, 30s) houses to make them look exactly like any modern tract house inside. Maybe they ran out of old ones.

It seems like the ones I've seen are those ranch houses that were so prevalent in the later part of the 20th century. And yes, they do seem to tear out a lot of walls. Writersblock -- have you seen Restored? It's on DIY and he is in California but very sympathetic about redoing old houses.

have you seen Restored?

No, I haven't, thanks. I'll keep an eye out for it.

We don't have cable anymore, so I really miss being able to see seasons 3 & 4. I like her style obviously.

Personally, I believe everyone has the freedom to their own beliefs. I realize that they're on TV and some may feel they should be required to agree to things that go against their Christian beliefs.

But, as a Christian, I see things on TV that I won't watch, but I turn the channel. I've also watched gay designers on TV and didn't turn the channel, and I didn't call for the show to end, even if they talked about their lifestyle that I don't agree with.

Are you watching it to see what their personal life is like, or for financial or investment advice, or for the decorating/remodeling ideas?

I'm sure what goes on the show is not 100% chosen by the couple. They have networks, producers, directors and sponsors to please.

I watch the show on YouTube (for anyone without cable) here and there. I agree. It gets old. I love the show. I love Chip and Jo. But I wish they would decorate differently. I mean, how many people in Waco only love the farmhouse look? I know they have done a few different styles. But I want to see more! :)

I do watch the program but only very occasionally, also because of her decorating style. It is all gray, seems like all the time, with some white and black and a bit of reclaimed wood thrown in. I find all the gray to be depressing, and, since I like my kitchen to be in a separate room, the open concept has no appeal.

I've never paid attention to whatever part religion has in their lives - except to note who their clients tend to be - but early on I figured that Chip is not the clownish dummy he plays on the show. IMO he is a master developer, real estate maven, and business mogul who knows exactly what he's doing. I don't think one goes from rehabbing a little house in a smallish town in central Texas to running the design empire they've built without being brainy!

I am a Chip and Joanna Fixer Upper fan but I only watch about 30-45 minutes each week and so I think y'all know more about them than I do. I did try Home Town but I turned it off, just found it boring I think they need more energy, or something.

As a Christian too, I personally long for the day that the phrase "gay lifestyle" becomes an obsolete part of our collective lexicon. The lifestyle of every gay person I've ever known is absolutely no different than anyone else's.

I appreciate that Fixer Upper has featured at least one biracial couple. This would not have been done in the not too distant past, and I appreciate at least that small nod to diversity. I have my doubts that they'll ever feature a gay couple though. They might surprise me eventually, but I see them as wanting to cater to a certain base that still rejects homosexuality and believes it is incompatible with their faith. That remains a stronghold in this area, and it's quite unfortunate IMO.

I liked the little magazine preview. It was beautifully laid out, and there were no formal ads. It was educational. I read it cover to cover (except for the recipes) and I usually just look at the pictures in BHG. It needs to use thicker paper and a slightly thicker font though. Then it might be a collectable, almost like a coffee table book.

I would consider subscribing if I could be sure that there would be no ads. That probably won't happen.