A Real Fixer Upper Adventure: The Matsumoto House

We’re big fans of Fixer Upper and we all know Joanna has a sort of magic that turns ugly into good design. But if there’s no chance of her coming to redo your house just because you don’t happen to live in the college town of Waco, Texas, then a stay at one of their houses from the show is the next best thing. A lot of their homes are available on Airbnb. The famous shotgun house could be yours, along with a lot of other favorites. We chose the Matsumoto house that just went online for booking because we were travelling with friends and needed more space.

The Matsumoto House was famously the biggest fixer upper on the show. What looked like a one room shack literally about to fall over, was transformed for the show’s producer and his family of four. The price was very reasonable when you compare to the other Fixer Upper houses. So it really was a total gem.

Pro Tip: The site says it sleeps 12. But it really sleeps 5 adults and 2 kids comfortably in a bed. The extra sleeping might be couch pull-out beds. But I don’t count those as comfortable or for adults.

GETTING THERE

The house is at least 20 minutes from Waco and any sort of real civilization. But being in the middle of nowhere is also part of its charm. You’ll want to travel there the first time during the day. There are miles of farm road with no lights to make turns. If you’re driving, be sure to stop at Buc-ees – a Texas institution and a destination in it’s own right. The house is located in Crawford, Texas. And this is where TV magic and camera angles really come into play. The show made it look like the home was off by itself on a big piece of land. This is NOT the case. It’s in town and is close neighbors with streets full of more fixer uppers.

CRAWFORD

The town of Crawford is a quintessential small Texas town. It’s home to George W. Bush’s ranch. And if you ask around, the locals might tell you how to get there. For obvious reasons, directions are not published anywhere. The house is also pretty close to Jimmy Don’s workshop. It’s worth a trip if you have the time. But as with most of the stores and restaurants in Crawford, everything closes down on Sunday and don’t even think about visiting these places on a holiday. Be sure to visit the Cedar Chest Antique Mall.  There is a large main store and an additional outpost a few buildings down. There’s also a weekend flea open with stalls and even more antiques. The mall was a favorite on the show and has a little ice cream shoppe attached. It’s deceptively big and decent prices. I would definitely go back.

Pro Tip: Do everything on Saturday or check hours. Most places are closed Sundays and holidays.

THE MATSUMOTO HOUSE

The Matsumoto house really is like stepping into the show. They’ve done a great job decorating it in the farmhouse style that Chip and Jo made superfamous. The kitchen is easily the highlight. Bring your own groceries, and you’ll adore cooking in there every day. The waterfall concrete countertops are the epitome of kitchen goals. They have also added a slim, antique table for inside dining. There is only one TV in the whole house which can be either good or bad depending on your perspective. There’s also wifi for those who can’t or won’t disconnect.

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The house is really suited for kids with a farm bunk bed and secret door through the closet to a second kids room with a twin-sized bed. The master bathroom is really the second best room in the house and does not disappoint. You absolutely must schedule time for a soak in the generous clawfoot tub.

Outside the house brings even more fun. For adults, enjoy rocking chairs and sipping cocktails on the front porch in real southern style. There’s a tire swing and basketball court for small and big kids alike. Out back, there’s a nice-sized yard with a quaint garden. The “keep” chickens and guineas (to keep away the snakes) that usually escape to the other side of the fence. There’s also a grill and several picnic tables out back for a big outdoor party. A swingset and firepit round out the area nicely. They added a bonus workout shed out back equipped with some exercise equipment, room for yoga and an extra TV and couch.

Pro Tip: The house is VERY close to the railroad tracks and trains run all night. And I mean a full night of train horns, so I can see why they moved and turned the house into a BNB. On the plus side, take a walk and you’ll find plenty of rail ties to take home with you. A little rusty souvenir of your time at the house. But consider yourself warned.

TWO THUMBS UP

The house is gorgeous and even with the train horns and close neighbors, it’s a dream and total house inspiration. You should add this to your list the next time you head to Waco. And be sure to check back soon for our Ultimate Guide to Waco.

Love,

Sara