A Bathtub Literally Fell Through the Ceiling of This HGTV Star's Home

The article details the extensive and challenging renovation journey of HGTV star Grace Mitchell's Fort Worth home, built in 1919. Mitchell, a language therapist turned designer, purchased the four-bedroom house nine years prior, drawn to its charming period details and prime location. Despite her interior design background, she underestimated the scope of the project, which quickly spiraled into what she describes as a 'renovation horror story,' akin to the film 'The Money Pit.' Six weeks after moving in with her husband, Kent, and their four young children, a second-floor bathroom collapsed through the ceiling, forcing a complete re-evaluation of their renovation plans. This initial disaster marked the beginning of a seven-year-long process, during which the house itself dictated the necessary improvements. Mitchell embraced these challenges, transforming them into opportunities for creative design and expansion. For instance, when the pipes in the master bathroom burst, destroying most of the tile, she seized the chance to gut and enlarge the space, creating a luxurious dressing room suite. Similarly, a dangerously dilapidated back porch, affectionately dubbed 'the shanty,' was demolished and replaced with a garden room, meticulously designed based on 1920s orangerie plans found on eBay. The family even resorted to washing dishes in a bathtub while the kitchen underwent renovation. Throughout this arduous process, Mitchell remained steadfast in her appreciation for the home's original character. She emphasizes the irreplaceable craftsmanship inherent in houses of that era and expresses a sense of privilege in being able to restore and revitalize such a historical property. The article highlights specific design elements and product choices in various rooms, showcasing how Mitchell blended original features with modern necessities and personal style. In the stair hall, lacking a proper mudroom, Mitchell integrated a row of lockers for her children's belongings, using Benjamin Moore's Timid White for walls and Farrow & Ball's Breakfast Room Green for millwork, with Farrow & Ball wallcovering on the ceiling and stairs. The garden room features concrete tiles with a herringbone pattern, an antique factory table from 1stdibs for family meals, a Simple Things sofa, Wisteria side table and stool, a Target basket, and Visual Comfort pendant and sconces, with tiles from Bottega Design Gallery. The kitchen, after floor replacement, skillfully interweaves original and new boards for authenticity. It boasts Horizon Oak Cabinets in Benjamin Moore's Simply White, a Bottega Design Gallery backsplash, honed Borghini marble countertops and hood from Onis Stone, RH stools, and Hudson Valley Lighting ceiling lights. A salvaged $100 steel window, painted in Farrow & Ball’s Breakfast Room Green, allows Mitchell to monitor her children playing outdoors, complemented by a Shaws sink and Waterstone faucet. The dining room features extra-high wainscoting to protect Cole & Son wallpaper, matching fabric on vintage armchairs, lacquered and faux ostrich upholstered side chairs, a painting by Karen Smidth from Maybaum Gallery, antique chandeliers from House of Tuscany, and a rug from Scout Design Studio. The living room's color scheme was inspired by a vintage screen, furnished with a Lee Industries sofa, Simple Things stool, Vintage Ralph Lauren chest, and a Scout Design Studio cocktail table. Finally, the master bath includes a custom-designed 'bathroom island' with drawers and hampers, an antique barbershop sink, Canopy Designs pendants, a Visual Comfort sconce, and a Vintage Tub bathtub. Mitchell's renovation project demonstrates a profound commitment to preserving history while adapting a home for contemporary family life, transforming numerous structural setbacks into an opportunity to create a truly personalized and dream-like living space. #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #GraceMitchell #HGTV #HistoricHomes #DIYRenovation #HomeTours #DesignInspiration #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #GraceMitchell #HGTV #HistoricHomes #DIYRenovation #HomeTours #DesignInspiration