'Fixer Upper' Stars Chip and Joanna Gaines Announce Exciting New Venture

By Leah Marieann Klett

"Fixer Upper" stars Chip and Joanna Gaines have announced they are building a second vacation rental in Waco, Texas for fans of the creative duo to enjoy.

"We are now opening another vacation rental!" Joanna announced in an Instagram post published Wednesday. "Chip and I had so much fun restoring this old Waco icon and cannot wait to welcome guests starting this fall. This house dates back to 1903 and we definitely kept its old world charm-our hope is that friends and families from all over can make lasting memories here during their visit to Waco."

Joanna also shared a photo of the 4,600-square-foot bed-and-breakfast, named the "Hillcrest Estate." The 114-year-old Greek Revival-style house sits on two acres of land and has six bedrooms and an 800-square-foot servant's quarters, according to the Waco Tribune-Herald.

"The virtual house tour for 3601 Hillcrest Drive shows wood floors, stained paneling and fine furnishings inside, with an ample back porch and various outbuildings and a chapel-gazebo on the grounds," says the Tribune, noting that the Gaines bought the house back in April.

Fixer Upper
Fixer Upper Instagram

Chip and Joanna are at the helm of a home improvement empire that includes a hit HGTV show, quarterly magazine, several books, real estate company, and paint, rug, wallpaper and furniture line. They're also opening a breakfast cafe - named "Magnolia Table" - later this year.

The couple opened their first bed-and-breakfast, the "Magnolia House", in the spring of 2016.

"The design inspiration for this house was taken from my own home, I wanted it to feel like our farmhouse so when guests stay here they feel especially welcome. Because this is a vacation home, the majority of the pieces I chose are from my Magnolia Home furniture line. I want guests to have the full Magnolia experience when staying here," Joanna wrote on her personal blog.

"The Magnolia House was truly a treat to redesign and restore to its original character, and it's definitely one of my favorite projects to-date. It seemed that the further we got into the renovations, the more each and every corner of this home had a story to tell, and I enjoyed every minute of bringing it back to life," she added.

Outspoken Christians, the Gaines are are quick to credit their success to their faith and dedication to putting God first in all areas of their lives.

"Our family has made a commitment to put Christ first, a lifestyle our parents modeled for us very well. They showed us how to keep our marriage and family centered around God," Chip told the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

"As for 'Fixer Upper', we have been surprised at the impact of our faith through the show," he added. "We haven't been overtly evangelical, but the rich feedback we have received on family and love all source from our faith. Jesus said the world would know His disciples by their love for one another, and we've glimpsed this in practice and strive for it every day."

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