Before and After: HGTV’s “Down Home Fab” Transforms a Dark Stone Fireplace Into a Statement Piece

published Jan 17, 2023
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Credit: HGTV

When Jessica and Nate decided that they wanted their South Dakota home to better reflect their sense of style, they called on Chelsea and Cole DeBoer to help them add some bold “ranch glam” to their outdated house. In the premiere episode of HGTV’s “Down Home Fab,” Chelsea and Cole gave the kitchen and sitting room some unique, modern updates.

While the original kitchen contained a few stylish details, the space required several updates. The cabinets were in great shape, but they needed some new color and hardware. The floors were made up of large white tiles and the island was abnormally short, which prevented the family from being able to comfortably sit or stand around it during mealtime.

Credit: HGTV

With a kitchen budget of $35,000, Chelsea, Cole, and their team started by demolishing the small island and ripping up the old countertops. They removed the old flooring and later replaced it with dark, sliced french oak hardwood to help bring out the “ranch feeling.” They painted the cabinets black for an affordable way to make a big change. They also tore down the wall that had previously separated the kitchen from the dining area, which created an open concept look with lots of natural light.

Chelsea shared that she thought that “every room should have a magical moment,” so she opted to give the stove a chunky and dramatic black vent-hood-turned-statement piece that could tie everything together. She picked out butcher block countertops for the surrounding spaces and a veined quartz countertop for the new kitchen island. She also used the quartz on the backsplash for the stove. The team wrapped the base of the new island in copper and brought in four light blue chairs to help complete the look.

Credit: HGTV

The original living room was similarly outdated. The focal point of the space was a massive wood-burning fireplace, but the room as a whole was too dark. The walls and ceiling were made out of dark wood and the floor was carpeted. “We love the wood aspect and tones to it, but something, I think, needs a little bit of a new look to it,” Nate said.

Keeping their $15,000 living room budget in mind, Chelsea and Cole added the same wooden flooring from the kitchen into the living room in an effort to add some “rustic warmth” to the space. They painted the walls and ceiling a dark green to add some warmth, but refrained from touching the ceiling beams in an effort to maintain the original cabin vibe of the space. They also installed custom antler chandeliers, which created a chic lodge feel.

Credit: HGTV

The greatest transformation in the living room was the stone on the fireplace, which Chelsea and Cole chose to whitewash. While Jessica was on board for the idea, Nate was initially hesitant because he was afraid of losing the stone’s character. In a compromise, the DeBoers promised to lighten it up in a way that would keep the original texture and color variation. They used a 1:1 paint:water ratio in the whitewash to help keep it on the lighter side. The team painted the outer shelves the same dark green as the ceilings and walls before stacking the shelves with wood. They also replaced the original flagstone hearth with the same quartz that was used in the kitchen. From there, they extended the quartz into a waterfall effect, so that the hearth was completely covered.

“What you’ve done is awesome,” Nate said after seeing the living room. “It feels like ours now.”

“Down Home Fab” airs Mondays at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HGTV and discovery+.