Joanna Gaines’s son Drake is taking action after practically deeming one of his mom’s projects to be a fixer-upper. The Magnolia Network cofounder revealed her 19-year-old’s college apartment “now looks like a club” because he hung blue LED strip lights after she carefully decorated it, and the surprising spin may just be the best way for the child of a designer to rebel.
“He wanted more lighting,” Joanna explained on the Today show. “He bought some lights on Amazon and strung them throughout his whole apartment.”
It turns out Joanna only discovered that her son tweaked her work through her other children. "I spend all this time and plan,” Joanna said. “I do it, and then the day I leave, he’ll send pictures to his siblings, and then they’ll show me.”
Of course, Joanna’s husband, Chip, backed up her opinion on the lighting choice. “This place was adorable the day before,” he confirmed on the show. “Now he’s put disco lights in this thing. He’s got a smoke machine in the corner,” he joked.
Joanna clarified that he doesn’t have a smoke machine… at least, she hopes he doesn’t. At this rate, their son may be headed for the dude design aesthetic. Having a designer mom may not be enough to prevent it, but here's to hoping!
Kelly Allen is the Associate Editor at House Beautiful, where she creates design, culture, and travel content online and in the magazine. She’s been on the team since 2019, writing features on dreamy TV sets and movie filming locations, in-depth city guides, and inspiring home tours. From researching ethereal estates to discovering can’t-miss set decoration details onscreen, she’s always eager to answer burning pop culture questions through a design lens. In her five-year career, she’s built a strong network of designers across disciplines to tap for their invaluable expertise. Her background includes honing reporting skills while tackling viral news for Delish and contributing to Cosmopolitan’s entertainment coverage. When she’s not watching every new film and TV show, she’s browsing vintage home stores, attending industry events, and wandering around New York City—highlighting it all on Instagram.
