So recently I was talking to a friend about how some of the Fixer Upper homes are listed on AirBNB and they are being rented out.  Obviously the intent of Fixer Upper is to have a fun couple with great style make over a home for a family to live in.  They make over these houses to give a family a home that is warm and inviting and not infested with vermin, dry rot or dangerous structures and also for HGTV to have content for a hot tv show.  There are two sides of the fence on this one….the side that says that the owner gets to rent it out if they want as soon as they want, after all….they are the owner….and the other side that says owners are using Fixer Upper the brand as a way to create vacation homes or rentals and that strategy is not great for neighborhood growth or home value as compared to single family permanent dwellings.  I understand both sides.  BUT THAT’s NOT WHAT THIS POST IS ABOUT.

It’s all about seeing the real pictures inside one of these homes.  After all…it is commonly known that the ‘stuff’ that goes into the homes final reveal for tv doesn’t stay.  All of that is just staging.  Of course, the owners have the option to buy those amazing furniture pieces, rugs and decor items….but at the end of the day, they can also decline it and move in their own wares.  Which leads me to my next point….Joanna Gaines….she is one amazing stylist.  And her team of people are equally amazing.  Because seeing these comparisons makes me realize how she has a great sense of scale, balance, texture and contrast.  Personally I wish she used a little more color (because I like a little color in my rooms) but that’s because I just want to blatantly copy her mad skills in my own house.  Jojo, I particularly like blues and navy and green and a little gold if you can swing it 🙂  And you will see those skills in these photos because I am gonna share the HGTV picture of a room and compare it to the AirBnB version taken by the homeowners.  And ya know what else, I will also list the Fixer Upper gallery so that you can peruse more styling photos and the rental link so that you can book it for your next vacay 🙂

Okay….the German Shmear house.

Located in Waco TX, the german schmear house is one that has texture and pattern and loads of charm on the outside.  According to the listing, you can rent the whole house for $340 a night which seems super reasonable for 4 bedrooms.  For the exterior, the show photo shows a medium gray trim with a lush lawn and overabundant window boxes.

But I kinda like this reality picture better.  The trim is darker which gives it a nice contrast.  The bushes aren’t quite the same and the sod didn’t look like it took all the way….but that is reality with big trees.  And honestly, the more contrast to the trim and door makes it for me.

Once inside the house, you can see the gorgeous foyer table and light fixtures that was staged for the show.  I love the scale of the mirror paired with the sconces.

The homeowners opted for a more midcentury/boho vibe with this vintage console (is it a record player?  It looks like it!) and switched for a carved frame mirror.

In the kitchen, the wood accents are brought out even more with warm wood stools and cutting boards.  Also the floors look warmer and the cabinets look like a darker teal.

But in the rental listing, it shows the cabinets looking a little more blue and the floors being gray-er.  Obviously the styling in the top photo is simply perfection….those stools!  BUT the styling by the homeowners is pretty too in a more contemporary vibe.  I like the dark stools and how they tie in with the faucets and light fixture finishes.  And let’s not forget that the waterfall edge on that island is pretty much a show-stopper.

In the dining area, you have a beautiful fireplace with blueish painted molding, a wood and metal dining table and a piano with potted plants.

And in the after, the trim looks much calmer.  It is probably just the photography but seeing the ‘real’ color of the trim and floors actually makes me like Joanna’s choices so much better.  The trim is much more gray and the floors aren’t as pink.  Personally I prefer the homeowners table but like that they stuck with similar chairs.  I like the piano and fireplace styling better in the before picture but the real one is still clean and tidy.  I actually like the homeowners rug better too than the jute.  Also – something to note is that the light fixture looks swagged now….I wonder if that was something that happened during the show or after.

A room that I noticed tons of details being switched was the bedroom.  In the show, the romantic vibes were through the roof with the carved wood, iron bed, floral bedding and those vintage light fixtures.

Now the homeowners switched the room around entirely.  Now the bed is on the opposite wall and the dresser is in between the light fixtures.

In this same bedroom, the bed was across a staged faux fireplace.

Now the bed lives there.  The bedding and curtains are calm and more geometric….and the rug and corner artwork looks the same.  I think this goes to show that a bedroom can be laid out well in two different ways.  And that just because Joanna Gaines does one thing….you can still choose your own path (or furniture layout).  It is just a house after all 🙂

So that was a fun little decor related topic that I spent my weekend looking at.  Do you want to see more comparisons like this?  I love being able to see the Fixer Upper version and the regular photo version….both to see the photography differences and see what choices the homeowners made.  And like I said before….it makes me appreciate Joanna and the Fixer Upper team even more because you can see the colors a little better and styling choices and how they worked.  Also I love seeing the homeowners own choices because I was always interested in what they actually bought from the staged reveal.

p.s.  All the Fixer Upper/HGTV pics are credited to Rachel Whyte here.  And the listing for the German Shmear rental is here.