My suggestion is to do what makes sense to you and do not get into all these shows which are IMO not realistic at all . I have no idea why you would paint cabinets on site if you are putting in new cabinets so i have no idea why they do that maybe just for drama

I've often wondered the same thing. Absolutely, I would buy them with a baked on finish (I've have lived with painted cabinets, so I know!).

Maybe when you have that shabby chic thing happening you don't mind the nicks and dings that will inevitably happen to your painted cabinets, but I'm still hoping a pro can provide some insights into my questions.

You have hit upon my HGTV and other "home improvements" programs' pet peeve!!! The methods, and madness of schedule are so very unrealistic and the quality that ends up leaving is sad. So, forget the TV programs. You can get "ideas" for style and colors, but materials, and quality installations, NEVER. So, in answer to your question on painted vs shop baked finishes, shop baked finishes are the ONLY way to go. It is cheaper to do on site painted, but the general quality of wood is very different (not as good) and the durability is light years different. Baked. That cake is done!

For the same reason that on Sell This House they put down unfinished oak floors and 'hand scraped' them because that's the new thing. The problem was that they scraped them with big paint scrapers and did it ACROSS THE GRAIN!

All they did was shred the surface of those floors (and then slapped a coat of finish on it overnight).

Never do anything the way they do it on those kinds of shows.

I wonder if it is to use the Joanna Gaines Paint colors?

Most of TX uses the Cheap, Dirty, And Wrong method of cabinet construction and finishing. Don't ask me why they have an version to doing things right. Other than, Cheap seems to be the thing that ties all the umpteen hacks together. If they couldn't build a 10,000 sf gargoyle McMansion with a star and an armadillo for $1.98, it wouldn't be TX.

"Reality " TV..... there's no such thing. That's why I don't waste my time watching that c**p.

It isn't that we don't have great cabinet makers it is that home buyers want things as cheap as possible. A few understand what quality means. That isn't just in Texas! Don't mess with TEXAS Sophie!! lol

Some pics of "homes" you might see in the future..

Waco really is a fixer upper paradise. Lots of old homes with character that are run down. I moved out from SoCal and sold my tract home for $400 sq ft and bought a 1975 custom built home, it was neglected, for around $70 sq ft. If you follow the show I live in the "Castle Heights" area of Waco. Here is a picture of the Cottonland Castle at the end of my street.

http://wacohistory.org/items/show/94

Got the scoop, tomorrow is "reveal day" on one of the homes. I will get some pics..

I cannot STAND her decorating style! Too much clutter/stuff/dust collector.
Also lately when she has Clint Harp build a custom piece....seriously?? A custom piece that is a knock off of an existing design. Nothing special and too pricey. A recent FU episode, he made a "custom" dresser for a contemporary-ish bedroom. Design was straight from Ikea. So just BUY it from Ikea, then. Good quality and less $$$

More real life stories, please.

I live in Louisiana and don't believe I've ever seen a finished cabinet installed! Our finished cabinets here would come from Lowe's. Maybe, it's because we don't have access to the bigger markets? I had custom cabinets built by a cabinetmaker, painted then glazed on-site by a very skilled painted and wouldn't have had it any other way, solid wood, beautiful finish and $ in my pocket. I love Chip and Joanna Gaines and admire them for their hard work ethic and in my opinion nobody really has exclusive rights to a style , everyone is inspired by something they have seen before for the most part.

I never met this young couple but my gut tells me that while they may embellish for the TV show a bit, they are a real down to earth couple. I love seeing their sweet family and can't wait to see them every week....So refreshing!

Hey typeanrun, I will show Clint your post, he is my next door neighbor. He and his family moved in about a year ago, bought a big fixer and really cleaned it up. He is a really nice, quiet guy, works very hard. Great kids, lovely wife.

Not sure Clint would like to see that post. It isn't very flattering or helpful.

IKEA good quality ? Lol

Hi Julie, Here is one the cabinet guys I see at some of the projects:

http://herreracabinets.com/

And today is a reveal day...

btw, yes it is a TV show. And now a very big show with a huge staff. I see lots of local people working very hard and doing great work.

The episode that got me was the house boat. There was no visible storage closets or pull out drawers for clothes. Then there were the floating shelves with books and potted plants - how will that work when out riding around on the lake? ?There are the dishes stacked on open shelves, all I could see was disaster. We had a camper trailer for many years and everything had to be secured when in motion.

That being said, I watch the show faithfully, but personally do not want live plants on my walls and so many littles everywhere. I do know the homes are all staged I just wonder what the house looks like 6 months after Chip and Joanna leave.

I'd much rather buy furniture and cabinets made by local companies than something that was made in China!!!

I like the show. It's entertainment. I also like Joanna's style and Chip is funny!

I use to like watching the show even though her style isn't really my taste, I even use to think chip had a good sense of humor which I actually love in a person, but now I can't stand watching it "because" of Chip, to me they have now made him into a big goof n I find him completely annoying!! Lol.

Being funny, sharing ur kids, etc. with the tv audience is fine n nice, but only to a certain point, because really I only tune into hgtv to watch decorating shows, if I feel like a comedy show then that's what I put on..

and I don't take what they show on these type shows to heart, because yeah it's still tv, meant to entertain the audience with whatever subject they choose. N we all know it's a lot of fake stuff, look at what's happening now with Christina and Tarik...

In other words, Tv people are human too. we need to just enjoy these shows for what they are - entertainment - nothing more, nothing less.

Hi Julie PH - in the last 15 years I've had two different kitchens gutted and completely remodeled in Texas (Austin area), using two different GC's and woodworkers. Custom cabinetry in both. The cabinets were delivered to my house unpainted and were painted on site. So maybe it is a Texas thing? They used maple and I was very impressed with their quality and have never had trouble with chipping.

Question. How do you find out what materials were used on shows? Specifically, what brand and style of quartz countertops?

Seriously some of the comments are ridiculous. A lot of High-end builders use custom on-site finished cabinets. I see this all the time. You get custom finished cabinets not cookie cutter sizes and colors from manufacturers. I had custom on-site built cabinets. They were solid maple. Stained on site with my color choice. 2 coats stain and 2 top coats top coat all sprayed during construction. I had quiet close drawers before they were a thing and all the drawers were dove tail construction. Solid 3/4" plywood bases. My island was one huge piece, built on-site. Big production builders use stock sized cabinets that come in 3" increments and if you need 4" they use a filler piece to hide that fact and the finished is done at the factory to specific colors. I also had custom trim details that when you use production cabinet makers your fixed to what they have. Custom you get to pick whatever you want. You cannot pick the exact color or stain with production cabinet makers either. You get what they have to offer. And if you have to touch up? Your screwed. With custom you can get the color/stain for needed touch ups. I have production built cabinets in my master bath (did this because it was less expensive than custom built. I have nicked the finish and there is NO way to color match or fix where it won't look touched up. If they were custom I would have the paint to touch them up.

I live in a tiny, tiny, rural town. My custom cabinet guy has a big booth, with the heat lamps (?) to bake (?) the final finish. The cost of my custom painted maple vanity with deep drawers (dovetail / solid wood bottom) was less than what was available at the BB stores 2 hours away. Cabinet guy DID check alcove for square and plumb before building the cabinet (no filler pieces). Talent and skill are out there, you just have to find them.

So agree with chiflipper! A dust free painting environment along with baking capabilities are so important.

Another success by Chip and Joanna, Magnolia Table... I am sure some houzzer can find something wrong with it....

https://www.countryliving.com/life/entertainment/news/g5144/magnolia-table-restaurant-chip-joanna-gaines/

I love this couple and her ability (amazing) to pick up on the client's design style. I don't love the very unrealistic prices! Between construction costs and the equity, much of it is well out of reach across the nation with what they are doing on most of their projects. My wife and I just discovered this show over the weekend on HULU.

I hope that HGTV will get a realistic grip upon the cost of buying, professionally installing/fixing/designing these properties, so that the rest of the U.S. can have an idea of such costs.

At the end when they state that the, "equity" of a property, my question is, "So, they will have to pay the realtor how much and after fees they will profit what? If they decide to sell."

This is not a dis to the Gaines'. This is a dis to HGTV. They serve disinformation. I have seen it on every 'flipping' show and most of their shows.

Does anyone else find the Fixer Upper acronym, FU funny?

no

:(

For you Fixer Upper fans. The historic "Castle" of Waco has just been purchased by Chip & Jo. This place has sat vacant for decades falling into ruins. After so many failed attempts by various owners over the years, finally it will be brought back to life. I heard a film crew is already on site. And if you do not know already the Gaines have their own TV Network to air their shows. btw, I live on "Castle Avenue" the Castle is at the end of our street. Stay tuned, fans, that is........

https://www.wacotrib.com/news/business/chip-and-joanna-gaines-buy-historical-austin-avenue-castle/article_dd4e63ef-1a6d-5fb6-8a5c-36e6cac0cb4b.html