Joanna Gaines Praises Fearless Daughter Ella's Design Skills

The Fixer Upper star opens up about her 18-year-old's lead role in decorating the family's Colorado vacation home.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Joanna Gaines, the star of HGTV's Fixer Upper, has shared a rare glimpse into her family life, praising her 18-year-old daughter Ella's fearless approach to decorating the family's Colorado vacation home. Ella was given the task of taking the lead on designing the guest cottage, and Joanna was impressed by her daughter's style and confidence in the process.

Why it matters

The story provides a unique look into the Gaines family dynamic, highlighting how Joanna and Chip are encouraging their children, like Ella, to pursue their creative passions. It also showcases the family's expansion beyond their famous Waco, Texas home, as they've invested in a vacation property in Colorado.

The details

Joanna explained that Ella had expressed an interest in interior design, so Chip thought taking on the small guest cottage would be a perfect first project for her before starting college. Joanna was impressed by Ella's fearless decisions, like painting the once all-white space a deep green and removing the original closets to create unique archways and nooks. Joanna's younger daughter Mikey also helped choose indoor plants for the space.

  • Joanna and Chip Gaines have been vacationing in Colorado for over a decade.
  • Ella Gaines is a college student who recently left home in September 2025.

The players

Joanna Gaines

The star of HGTV's Fixer Upper and co-founder of Magnolia, the lifestyle brand she runs with her husband Chip Gaines.

Ella Gaines

Joanna and Chip's 18-year-old daughter, who took the lead on decorating the family's Colorado vacation home guest cottage.

Chip Gaines

Joanna's husband and co-star on Fixer Upper, as well as co-founder of Magnolia.

Mikey

Joanna's younger daughter, who helped choose indoor plants for the Colorado vacation home.

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What they’re saying

“In recent years, Ella has expressed interest in design, and Chip thought taking on the small guest cottage would be a perfect first project before she left for college. It was such a sweet, full-circle experience for me: getting to teach her what I've learned, but also watching her come into her own style and take the reins.”

— Joanna Gaines (Magnolia Journal)

“I learned a lot from the way she fearlessly went big in this small space — like her decisions to paint the once all-white box a deep green and to remove the original closets to carve out these archways and little nooks.”

— Joanna Gaines (Magnolia Journal)

What’s next

Ella Gaines will continue her interior design studies as she starts college in the fall.

The takeaway

The Gaines family's investment in a Colorado vacation home and Joanna's pride in her daughter Ella's fearless design approach showcase how the famous HGTV couple is encouraging their children to pursue their creative passions, even as the family expands beyond their Waco, Texas roots.