Road Trip: Magnolia Market at the Silos

Adriana Heikkila

When my husband Paul and I decided to extend his business trip in Austin, Texas, for a few days of vacation, the first thing I did was research the distance to Waco. Why a road trip to Waco, you may ask? Because it’s the home of HGTV’s power couple, Chip and Joanna Gaines and their Magnolia Market at the Silos.

Both Paul and I have been fans of the Gaines’ HGTV series “Fixer Upper” since the pilot aired in 2013 and appreciate their “shabby chic” decorating style. Now in its fourth season, the show follows the couple as they turn rundown homes into showpieces adorned with shiplap walls and a signature Fiddle Leaf Fig tree (neither of which I knew existed or wanted until watching their show). Combining my love for making spaces beautiful and my husband’s workmanship, “Fixer Upper” created that additional excitement and new ideas in our ongoing remodeling projects inside and outside our home. Here’s what we saw there.

A Welcoming Sight
We were pretty excited to visit the market on a beautiful day this October and it was better than I expected. Joanna’s style was apparent in all the details—the inviting exterior was mostly white with just the right touches of black, accents of weathered wood, rustic charm and lots of green space and plants. There were picturesque displays of pumpkins, kale and cotton bales, window boxes overflowing with fall plants, fall flowers in wooden planters on the outdoor seating tables and even fall plantings in the ground.

The Signature Silos
When you step onto the grounds the market awaits you with plenty of flawlessly designed displays from which you can shop. There were plenty of friendly staff and a pleasant scent in the air of their signature Magnolia candles and kettle corn that’s also for purchase. Back outside, the Silos Baking Co. sells many delightful-looking baked goods (we tried the cupcakes, they were delicious!) and it also has a cute outdoor seating area.

At the center of the property sits the silos and a large green space where you can lounge on beanbag chairs or play with the many games provided. I especially liked how the Gaines’ incorporated the existing silos’ structural components to create a planter for ferns and ivy, a pergola covered in plants, hanging swings and benches.

Selling Comfort
Situated behind the silos is the Magnolia Seed + Supply store that sells garden-related products for adults and kids and features a garden with a fairy garden and herb displays, a wood teepee covered with greenery and a smaller-sized decorative wooden greenhouse. Towards the back of the grounds are a line of adorable food trucks that offer tasty food and beverages that you can eat under the many covered picnic tables.

Inspirational Takeaways
All in all, we spent several hours there and really enjoyed everything that the market offered. Even our dog Nella had a great time. I particularly loved the experience and would definitely visit again at different times of the year to see how they decorate for the seasons. I left feeling inspired, so much so that I bought more fall plants and pumpkins to decorate the bed around my mailbox. It’s something I’ve always wanted to add to my outdoor fall decorating. GP