They tried to keep their kids out of it. For years, Chip and Joanna Gaines have been clear about that — wanting a normal life for their children, saying they probably shouldn’t have put them on TV in the first place. Chip even called their early approach “naive” in a 2023 interview. But life has a way of nudging plans aside. Recognition, public attention, and a family business that’s… well, a family business — all of it made the idea of total privacy harder to hold onto.
So here’s the twist: their eldest, Ella Rose Gaines, 19, has quietly started to move toward the work her parents are known for. On October 28 the couple released a teaser for their new series, Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House, and Ella appears in it — not as background scenery, but as a design collaborator. The show centers on turning a 1960s mountain house into a cozy retreat, and Ella says, with a sort of smiling acceptance, “I’m accepting the challenge.” People noticed. Quickly.
A small but excited online crowd greeted the news. Fans posted messages that ranged from warm welcomes to full-on celebration: “Welcome to Colorado!” one person wrote. Another fan practically shouted that Ella design signals “a new era.” That reaction wasn’t surprising — fans have followed the Gaines family for years, and many seem glad to see the next generation step forward. Me? I get why they’re excited. There’s something satisfying about watching a kid you’ve seen grow up, tentatively finding their footing — even if, yes, it’s in front of cameras again.
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A natural fit, maybe
You can almost imagine Joanna looking at Ella and seeing reflections of herself. Years ago, when Ella was just around 12, Joanna told People that she thought Ella might follow in her footsteps. The comment wasn’t wild hype; it sounded like a small, affectionate prediction. Ella liked cooking, wanted to be a lead designer, and even joked about running a donut truck. Cute, right? But now, at 19, those early interests look a little less like daydreaming and a bit more like direction.
It’s worth noting that Ella didn’t just get a camera and a title handed to her. Joanna has said that Ella asked to intern with her. That matters. During a break the couple took from Magnolia, Ella spent the summer interning alongside her mom, sitting in on meetings and contributing ideas. Joanna remembers asking the team for vision, and Ella — to her surprise and pride — was right there, absorbing the talk, scribbling notes, and offering thoughts afterward. She wasn’t playing the part of a teenage tagalong; she was participating.
That hands-on time shows two things. One: Ella has enough curiosity to want to learn the process, not only show up for the final reveal. Two: the parents — who once regretted exposing their kids — are now choosing to let Ella in on the business side as a trainee rather than as an exposed, on-screen child. That’s a small but meaningful distinction. It feels less like thrusting a kid into fame and more like mentoring someone who asked to help.
Fans and family reactions — mixed, but mostly glad
There’s always some push-pull when a celebrity family lets a child get more visible. For some viewers, seeing Ella work alongside her parents is heartwarming: a family passing on skills, a new creative voice joining a known brand. For others, it’s a reminder of the earlier mistakes Chip mentioned — that the family’s visibility sometimes came at the expense of the kids’ privacy.
The social media response leaned positive this time. A lot of people seemed excited to watch Ella develop her voice as a designer. Maybe that’s because the Gaines brand has long been about warmth and authenticity; fans assume—or hope—Ella will bring something honest and lived-in to her designs, not something overly staged. I’ll admit I’m curious, too. Sometimes these family-centered shows tread a careful line between genuine collaboration and, well, TV-friendly storytelling. Which side will this fall on? Time will tell.
She’s learning — and that’s important
From the way Joanna described it, Ella wasn’t just shadowing. She was a part of the ideation. They talked through concepts; she wrote things down; she stayed involved after hours. That kind of engagement says Ella cares about the craft. It suggests she’s not there just for a headline. And in a business where design decisions often come down to a blend of taste, practicality, and storytelling, that curiosity matters. It’s a practical apprenticeship, really, and I think Emma—sorry, Ella—benefits from that slow immersion.
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It’s also a reminder that family businesses are messy and rewarding in equal measure. You get pride, you get friction, and you also get these small, private victories: a kid stepping into a role they chose, not one chosen for them. Joanna calling Ella a natural felt genuine; she sounded proud but also realistic. That mix — proud parent, careful business owner — is a tone the Gaines brand has always carried, and it’s evident here, too.
What this might mean going forward
So what should viewers expect? The teaser promises cozy mountain vibes and a hands-on design challenge. If Ella’s involvement continues, we might see her style evolve on screen — tentative at first, then more confident. Will she become a regular designer on future projects? Maybe. Or maybe this is a stepping stone, a single project that helps her figure out what she wants. Either way, it feels like a measured step: not a sudden shove into fame, but an invitation to learn and to contribute.
I don’t have a crystal ball. But I do think this is, in its way, the Gaines family trying to balance two things: protecting the kids and allowing them to grow into their own choices. That balance isn’t perfect — nothing with family and business ever is — but it’s a start. And for viewers who’ve watched this family evolve on-screen and off, it’s another chapter worth watching.
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