Joanna Gaines says this often overlooked space is one of her 'favorite spots' in her recent lake house reno
'Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse' wrapped earlier this summer, but Joanna's still revealing spaces that didn't make the show. Here's a look at the lake house landing


Chip and Joanna Gaines' most recent endeavor, Fixer Upper: The Lakehouse, saw an outdated lakeside home from the '60s go from outmoded to outstanding over the course of six episodes.
In the last installment, we were graced with a final reveal of the space – a cozy home library, mid-century modern kitchen, and Spanish revival-style living room were just the beginning of the stunning Lake Waco home.
As it turns out, the televised reveal didn't cover every corner of the expansive, sun-soaked home. A few key spaces were overlooked in the process. But now, Joanna's giving us a second look at some of the underappreciated spaces, including 'one of her favorite spots': the upstairs landing.
The small space, sitting atop an impressive custom staircase, is a '70s-inspired nook with intricate details and inviting appeal. Here's what Joanna has to say about the cozy lake house landing, and what we love about the look.
A look at the lake house's '70s-inspired landing
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'This is after the reveal, but I wanted to show you one of my favorite spots that I don't think really got captured in the reveal,' says Joanna in an Instagram video, standing on the lake house's sprawling wooden staircase. 'Let me show you.'
As she walks up the stairs, she pans the camera to show three large wooden screens separating the landing from the high-ceilinged entryway. Shouting out 'Dwayne and his team' for their 'amazing job' on the stairs, and Marvin for the 'cool screens,' Joanna stops for a moment to admire the panels, calling them 'simple but detailed – very detailed.' The screens extend from the floor, almost to the ceiling, letting a bit of ambient natural light in through the carved details: 'I love these so much, but I don't think you got to see them fully in that reveal,' she says.
Turning the corner, she shows a large, black-and-white photograph of Lake Waco, surrounded by one of the elegant, thin wood frames found throughout the whole house. Opposite the photograph is a mid-century modern green sofa with built-in wooden side tables, a characterful area rug in red and navy blue hues, and a simple black sconce in the corner. 'This area right here I just love,' she says. 'I love this little landing, I think it turned out so good. I'd hang out right there if I lived here,' she adds, pointing to the sofa.
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The cozy alcove feels warm and inviting, and embodies the nature-inspired, '70s-adjacent atmosphere of the lake house overall. With a deep, welcoming color palette, comfortable furniture, and plenty of personality, it's the perfect escape from the chaos of everyday life.
Get the lake house landing look
From the library to the living room, the lake house is chock-full of design inspiration, and this hidden-away landing is no exception. Bringing back '70s style and Spanish charm, it's the perfect accompaniment to a gorgeous outdoor view. We're with Joanna: if this was our home, we'd never leave that spot either.

Abby was the Interior Design News Editor at Homes & Gardens and is now studying for her Master's degree in Journalism at City University, London. Prior to joining our team, she worked with Better Homes & Gardens, where she wrote and edited content about home decor, gardening tips, food news, and more. She studied Journalism and English Literature at New York University and moved to London to pursue her love of writing in 2023.
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