So by now I’m sure most of the women in this country have seen that Chip and Jo Gaines have launched a new line of products in partnership with Target. If my Facebook newsfeed is any indication of how popular this new venture will be, then I will guarantee my local Target shelves will be empty within 12-hours of being stocked with the Hearth and Hand line.
I only recently jumped on the Fixer Upper bandwagon—not because I didn’t love the look of their projects, but because I wasn’t interested in inspiring myself to “fix up” our house. Albeit, our old farmhouse could use some “fixing,” but our old farmhouse is part of an old farm that is our first priority. My husband has been working to expand his interests in their family farm, and out of support for his plans, I have been trying to keep my honey-do list minimal (and inexpensive). However, we have recently taken on a remodel of our kitchen-laundry-bathroom area, so I found myself binge watching HGTV, specifically, Fixer Upper, while on maternity leave this summer.
Yes, Joanna and Chip Gaines are adorable, hilarious and talented. There is no doubt they are quite deserving of their elite designer status. This post has nothing to do with the merits of this couple and their projects, I can’t say that enough. This post is about why you can’t buy what they are selling.
What do you mean I can’t buy what they are selling, they have a market, a line at Bed Bath and Beyond, and now a line at Target?
Sure, you can buy the things they are selling—but you can’t buy the lifestyle they are most proud of. Let’s take a second and think about what makes Chip and Jo so great … They have a seemingly loving and respectable marriage where each wants the other to meet and exceed their goals and dreams. They support each other, encourage each other, are a great compliment to each other, respect each the others parenting style, and seem to genuinely enjoy each others company. They create these beautiful spaces together because they have trust in the others abilities. You can’t buy any of that.
Their own house is a “fixer upper” and serves as a base for the show. But really think about their house. Is it as big as some of the projects they take on for their clients? Probably not. Is it as fancy as some of the items on their clients wishlists? Probably not. But it is all theirs. Every item in that house is personal and meaningful to them. The appreciate character, history and architectural design—which is what will make their Target line so wonderful, but is also why you can’t just buy their style. Their house was designed to be fun and functional for their adorable family. It was made to be a place they can raise their kids and create memories. You can’t just copy their kitchen verbatim and expect it to bring you the same joy. Their house has joy because they have used their house to create joy—not to be a string of Facebook photos you show off for likes.
Their farm is gorgeous and home to so many creatures. Are the creatures for show and play? Not really. Sure there may be a little play in the spirit of making work fun, but that’s exactly what the farm is for—to help facilitate a helpful spirit of hard work among their children. I have seen Joanna create some beautiful play spaces for the children of her clients—but what have you seen her children doing for fun? Working on the farm, skipping rocks along a riverbank, having a stump nail-driving competition, taking sewing lessons, gathering eggs, helping move cattle, and helping their parents in the final stages when staging a house. I certainly don’t see a TV in their beautiful living area. Now I’m sure these kids of plenty of play spaces and items of entertainment—but that’s not what they are encouraging on their show. They are encouraging a simple life where you work hard alongside your family, and maybe you are rewarded with a puppy or two.
Now, it’s very clear both Chip and Joanna drive nice suburbans … but for the size of their family and the amount of stuff they are clearly moving on a regular basis, that seems fairly practical. You know what you don’t see on the show or across any of their other presences? An extravagant lifestyle with fancy clothes, cars, jewelry, etc. I’m no expert on their assets, but it seems like instead of spending money on the more materialistic items “celebrity” couples are privy to, they spend their hard earned money on continuing to make things beautiful and fixing properties in need. I mean who really buys an old feed mill site with rusty silos? Someone who cares about growing their community and making smart investments into their dreams and goals. The episode where she shows Chip the silos and they eventually buy the silos (I’m not idiot, I know it was staged—but it couldn’t be too far from their true reactions), almost brought tears to my eyes! They really are partners in life and supportive of each others dreams—and their dreams are admirable, not outlandish.
So yes, please go to Target and check out the Hearth and Hand by Magnolia line of products, but don’t think dropping your entire paycheck in one sitting is going to make you Joanna Gaines. Your home is not going to feel like Magnolia Farms buy just copying their style. Instead, try to copy their lifestyle (hey, that’s free!) and spend more time enjoy a simple life and simple pleasures with your family and loved ones. Climb a tree with your kids, skip some rocks, laugh at your partner, be completely uninhibited, and be happy. That’s what Fixer Upper is to me—a show about clean and simply living, creating love and memories. Not shiplap, new hardwood floors and recessed lighting. Which are all things I love.
Whittney Leigh 