Fixer upper: HGTV star Joanna Gaines and her show 'Fixer Upper' inspired local renovation

Kelley Dempewolf watches a lot of 'Fixer Upper' on HGTV.

She's not alone in her admiration of the design style and renovation prowess of the Waco, Texas based duo of Chip and Joanna Gaines; the couple has gained incredible national popularity both through their TV show and their empire of home design products.

Few people, however, can say as Dempewolf can they took on the Fixer Upper challenge of transforming a home they purchased into their dream home.

When looking for their family's dream home last year, Dempewolf and her husband Ryan shifted their plans from building a custom home to purchasing a pre-existing home and completely renovating it — even taking off the roof — to create a place they are now thrilled to call home.

'I've watched a lot of 'Fixer Upper' and just thought maybe we could do it. I watch so much 'Fixer Upper' in fact that when we came on demo day my son asked where the cameras were,' she laughed.

The Dempewolf's bought the home last May and began construction in July as soon as permits would allow. They were grateful to work with builder Jerry Sunderman, who doesn't usually taken on remodeling projects but was willing to work with the Dempewolfs when they shifted from building new to renovating. 'Our builder had the original house plans for this home and knew our vision for what we had wanted to build so this came together pretty quickly,' Dempewolf said.

In order to pull of their Cedar Rapids fixer upper, they would need to tear out part of the original foundation to make room for expansion. They would have to take off the roof to add a partial second story. They would remove the existing deck and four season's room and replace them with a new deck and screened in porch. And while the renovation plans originally called for not removing any drywall, the Dempewolfs quickly found out that removing it was going to be less expensive in order to bring the home up to current building codes. 'We had to do all new plumbing and electrical and so it was more cost effective to go down to the studs.'

Located on the northeast side of Cedar Rapids, the home was originally built in 1998 and had a layout similar to what the Dempewolf's had been hoping to build. Originally 3,100 square feet, the plans for renovations and expansion added 2,700 square feet onto the home.

The transformation is noticeable as soon as you set foot inside. Visible right when you walk in, for example, is a vintage window Dempewolf refinished which holds the signature Joanna Gaines magnolia wreath above the fireplace.

And as any fan of 'Fixer Upper' would do, Dempewolf made sure to incorporate shiplap in the décor. While it doesn't cover whole rooms, it is used to accent spaces such as the built-in entertainment center, the fire place in the family room and highlighting cubbies in the mud room. 'Our trim carpenters were amazing and did everything by hand,' she said. 'They did look at me funny when I said I wanted shiplap but I really wanted pieces here and there because I really like that style and I just love how it turned out.'

The layout for the master bedroom was not changed much, but Dempewolf selected a deep blue color for the space giving the room a rich glow. The master bathroom got a complete overhaul, however, with all new fixtures, a gorgeous stand-alone bathtub and heated floors. The master closet was also reconfirmed — claiming space that was once a home office — to fit the Dempewolf's needs.

The rest of the home's flow was also reconfigured. The stairs leading to the basement, for example, were originally located in the center of the home and the Dempewolfs decided to close them off to create a better flow from the living room into the kitchen area. They left an existing wall that somewhat separates the living room and kitchen however. 'Our old house was very open concept, but I do like to have a little separation between the rooms,' she said, noting that it makes for a great family photo accent wall.

The kitchen was a major transformation as well and is now a clean and spacious hub for family activity. 'We spend most of our time in the kitchen,' she said noting that designing that space was the biggest deal for them. 'We wanted this to be a space where everyone could be together.' Dempewolf commissioned a custom-built farm table from Spring Run Designs that easily seats eight or more in the space adjacent to the kitchen. 'We have family in town and we have them over often and we wanted to make sure that everyone had space. Another fun touch in the kitchen is the swinging door that leads to the pantry. 'I know how my boys tend to leave doors open and this was a great solution.

'I like the farm house look but in a new way,' she said, pointing out the large, matte subway tile as the kitchen backsplash. 'Everything is clean and simple in terms of design. We didn't want anything to be too modern. We really like craftsman and farmhouse style. My husband and I both had a lot of say in the layout, but he really let me decide on the décor,' she added. Dempewolf said most of her ideas design came from Pinterest and Fixer Upper. 'I had exact pictures of the entertainment center and we just had to draw them out,' she said. 'But then I got a lot of furniture and décor items from Target and Hobby Lobby. I'm a bargain shopper.'

Just off the kitchen is a cozy sitting room with another fireplace. 'My husband and I disagree about what to call it,' she said. Whether they settle on hearth room or parlor room, the comfortable space is a great spot to sit and read a book Dempewolf said. It is also where family members find a new set of stairs leading upstairs and down.

'All three boys' bedrooms are upstairs and when we moved in they each ran into a room and claimed it as their own thank goodness,' she said. There's a landing that's the perfect spot to house Legos, a train table and a small basketball hoop. The boy's bathroom is an innovative design approach that makes sense for growing boys. 'This is my husband's design,' Dempewolf said. 'Basically we created two bathrooms in one.' The bathroom has two sinks and then two separate nooks, one that includes a toilet and a tub/shower and one that includes a urinal and a tub/shower. 'I was really frugal when picking things out,' Dempewolf said, noting that she often shopped at local big box stores to pick out fixtures, mirrors and flooring. 'And I made the hooks myself,' she added, pointing out the towel rack. 'I like to put my touch on things.' A sign reminding the boys to 'brush, flush, wash and aim' hanging on the wall was made by Dempewolf too.

'They love that they each have their own room now,' she said of their son, 'and they love all the space down in the basement.' The basement is, in fact, a great entertainment zone. There is a guest bedroom and bathroom — which includes a shower that now claims the title as the only original item in the home. The existing fireplace got a DIY makeover thanks to Dempewolf. And the bar area got an upgrade and new stone work featuring a Hawkeyes logo. 'My husband is an obvious sports fan,' she said. There's also a theater room, with a unique pass through window for ordering drinks from the bar, where the boys enjoy playing video games and watching movies.

During the renovation, the home got all new windows as well. In the living room, they replaced arched windows around the fireplace with more contemporary squared off windows to give the space a more modern feel. The home also got new exterior siding and stone work to update the look of the home.

Inside, Dempewolf also decided on all white trim instead of the oak the home had when they purchased it, which she has learned requires a lot of cleaning thanks to living in a household of boys. 'It's worth it though because I just love the look.' The grey walls and the dark doors give each room a warm feel as well.

Even the backyard got a major overhaul, Dempewolf said. The home previously had a pool, but they decided to fill it in and re-landscape the backyard to allow for more playing room for their three growing boys.

The Dempewolfs finally moved into the home just this past April but have already settled in. The home, Dempewolf said, was definitely worth the wait. 'It doesn't feel like a new home to me because we were so involved in the process. We were here three or four times a week during construction.'