Quote Of The Day By Joanna Gaines: 'The Reality Is That Old Houses That Were Built A Hundred Years Ago Were Built By Actual Craftsmen...'

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Joanna Gaines is a juggernaut in the interior design world, and she's certainly put in the time to get there — her rise to fame began when she and her husband, Chip, started their home improvement show "Fixer Upper" on HGTV in 2013. Born in Kansas in 1978, Gaines moved around in her youth and early adulthood before finally settling in Texas, which she now calls home. Throughout their 24 years of marriage, Joanna and Chip have consistently worked to improve theirs and other people's properties, tying in handcrafted touches and details that make average houses feel more like home.

Over her career as a designer and her personal life as a mom of five, Gaines' focus has been on creating beautiful spaces for those in her life. She popularized a modern yet timeless farmhouse aesthetic, using her own Waco-based home, Magnolia House, as inspiration. As a New York Times best-selling author, Gaines has also perfected the art of training others in creating homes that feel like a respite from a crazy and chaotic world. Additionally, Gaines is the current Editor in Chief of Magnolia Journal and has written numerous home design books, as well as children's literature and cookbooks.

When trying to make your house feel like a home, it all really comes down to the finer details. And that's exactly why today's quote of the day comes from Gaines.

Joanna Gaines quote reads: "The reality is that old houses that were built a hundred years ago were built by actual craftsmen, people who were the best in the world at what they did. The little nuances in the woodwork, the framing of the doors, the built-in nooks, the windows — all had been done by smart, talented people, and I quickly found that uncovering those details and all of that character made the house more inviting and more attractive and more alive."

This inspiring quote comes from Gaines' 2016 book, "The Magnolia Story," which she authored alongside her husband. The book outlines the couple's origin story, sharing their triumphs and challenges, offering inspiration for individuals who might have the renovation and home-improvement bug.

Gaines' quote highlights the importance of never overlooking the power of the smallest of elements in a home's design to tie a room together. It's something that is apparent when looking at her own farmhouse home — even the Magnolia House mudroom reflects an immense amount of attention to detail, beauty, and love for the place. You'll also notice this inclination towards taking pride in little things as you peruse over her blogs, where she gently offers inspiration and advice for those desiring a more homey dwelling place.

Gaines' quote encourages us not to overlook little details. Historic houses were built with an intentionality that was unavoidable; to this day, these details remain highly attractive and can be a remedy to the fast-paced, cookie-cutter aesthetic of so many modern homes. Gaines has become obsessed with highlighting those minutia that other people may be tempted to gloss over in favor of grander things; she shows us that paying attention to the full picture paints a far more vivid one.

Those who are unfamiliar with Gaines' work or her upbringing might assume that she has always been privileged or excellent at interior design; the reality, however, is far from that. The famed designer has been open about her struggles with identity during her youth, and since becoming a mother she and Chip have moved over ten times, each move bringing with it a significant upheaval of routine and peace. As her career has taken off, however, her message has been clear and consistent, encouraging people to make their homes a place that they love to be — and that comes down to details as much as anything.

If you're seeking a home that you feel more deeply rooted in, consider taking Gaines' advice to heart. You might not be a craftsman or a skilled builder, but you know your tastes and lifestyle better than anyone else. Be confident about your choices and prioritize creating a home that feels like you. Don't forget the little things, either — incorporating small accent items that you love can make the most profound difference.

• "Create a space where everyone who lives there feels at home. I hope you feel encouraged and emboldened to thoughtfully design a home that tells a story without regard for perfection. It's a story worth telling because it's yours. That is how you create spaces you'll never want to leave." — "Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave," 2018

• "If you can't find happiness in the ugliness, you're not going to find it in the beauty, either." — "The Magnolia Story," 2016

• "Our home is layered with family photos, artwork, and objects that weren't chosen simply to make a design statement, but rather to tell the story of who lives there. I believe that what we surround ourselves with — the colors, the materials, the things — can be random and meaningless or they can convey some of the most important truths if we let them." — "Homebody: A Guide to Creating Spaces You Never Want to Leave," 2018

• "My home is always evolving. Some things come and go, while others — like storied pieces and heirlooms — will always have a place. Embracing the mix of old and new is at the heart of a collected home—and the inspiration behind our collection. Here's to creating a home that reflects who you are and who you're becoming" — from a 2024 Magnolia blog post

• "There's something about doing things the way our ancestors used to do them that kind of puts your heart back into the rhythm of this thing called life." — "The Magnolia Story," 2016