Joanna Gaines has set a lot of trends since teaching the world about shiplap and modern farmhouse on “Fixer Upper.”
But it seems like the tables have turned in her latest effort to make the Magnolia Silos a welcoming spot for visitors.
HGTV fans are used to seeing Erin Napier breathe new life into small towns through the strategic placement of colorful murals on building walls. Now Joanna Gaines has done the same at the Silos.
In two new Instagram posts, Joanna Gaines unveils a brand new mural that reads “Meet Me at the Silos.”
The mural sits across from the Gaines’ Hotel 1928.
One of the posts shows Joanna and husband Chip Gaines in front of the mural. Joanna writes, “Date night at Bertie’s @thehotel1928, then we snuck across the street to check out the new Silos mural by @cheracreative. We love it so much! 😍”
Silos Mural Painted by Mural Artist Chera
Joanna Gaines posted a video of the mural being created by artist Chera at Chera Creative. In the caption, Joanna writes, “New to town 👀
Thank you @cheracreative for painting the coolest mural of the Silos right across the street from @thehotel1928! Your process is so fun to watch I’ve got this video on repeat…”
Chera’s website shows that she’s painted murals for Texas Tech, Omni Hotels, It Cosmetics and a long list of others.
In a post on her Instagram account, Chera talks about how the mural came to be, writing, “Magnolia mural reveal 🎨🙌🏻 Back in January, while setting goals for the year, I made a list of dream companies I’d love to work with and Magnolia was right at the top. Just a month later, I got an email from their team about a mural project! I immediately called my family and squealed for a solid day, they all knew how much I’ve always loved Magnolia. This mural was such a fun and meaningful opportunity, definitely one for the books. 🥹🎨”
In that post, Chera gives a shoutout to her dad for helping her paint the mural. In a second post, Chera calls painting the mural a “pinch me moment.”
Erin Napier Showcases Murals on “Home Town” & “Home Town Takeover”
Murals have been a long-time “not-so-secret” weapon of “Home Town” designer Erin Napier.
Her murals are dotted all over Laurel, MIssissippi, where “Home Town” is filmed. They’re also featured in the towns Erin and husband Ben Napier makeover in “Home Town Takeover.”
But Erin’s love of murals started long before she was ever on HGTV.
According to Southern Living, murals were part of the plan to beautify Laurel when Ben and Erin moved home after college.
“When we all came home from college—Mallorie and Jim Rasberry, Emily and Josh Nowell, Ben, and me—we were the only people who lived downtown,” Erin told Southern Living. “It was just us and the feral cats. For the six of us, all in our twenties, it was like a game: How can we make downtown Laurel feel alive again?”
The group founded Laurel Main Street. “We all did what we could,” Erin said. “Josh had done some real estate development. He had a bird’s-eye view. Ben and I were the storytellers. I would take photos of a corner downtown that people might overlook. I kept a journal online, and I mocked up some murals in Photoshop. We put some lights in the trees and had these potluck parties and invited our friends from Hattiesburg. We were just like, ‘Yeah, Laurel’s a cool place—you didn’t know?’ “
Chip & Joanna Gaines Mentored Ben & Erin Napier
While Erin Napier’s love of murals may be rubbing off on Joanna Gaines, when the Napiers got tapped by HGTV to start filming “Home Town,” it was Chip and Joanna Gaines that the couple turned to for advice.
HGTV connected the Napiers with the “Fixer Upper” stars, with Ben and Erin traveling to Waco to meet Chip and Joanna and to celebrate the wrap of Fixer Upper’s second season.
And they’ve stayed in touch, with Chip and Jo advising the Napiers as their fame grew. “Chip and Joanna have been absolutely lovely mentors to us,” Erin told Fox News. “We’re in this really weird adventure, this same crazy journey… We’re all doing our different thing, and our separate thing.”
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Joanna Gaines Takes a Page From Erin Napier’s Design Book