For the better part of a decade, Joanna Gaines has been the undisputed queen of modern farmhouse—patron saint of shiplap, vintage tobacco baskets and chippy-paint consoles. Her aesthetic was a love letter to Waco, TX: soulful, homegrown, just imperfect enough to feel real (in the way that made you want to buy everything from Magnolia Market).

But in 2020, something curious happened. The woman who could single-handedly spike Google searches for “white subway tile” started speaking a new design language—one with softer edges, hushed tones and a level of polish that wouldn’t be out of place in a Goop gift guide. The clues? Fluted cabinets. Scalloped velvet chairs. Statement lighting. A creamy, monochrome palette that whispers “quiet luxury” instead of hollering “rustic charm.”

The latest—and boldest—evidence of this evolution comes in the Mini Reni season finale, where Gaines takes on her first-ever renovation in New York City: an office makeover for her friend Hoda Kotb. And while the warmth is still there, the vibe has shifted. This is Jo with her hair pulled back in a silk scrunchie, sipping a turmeric latte between Zoom calls. It’s a mood board that feels Gwyneth Paltrow-approved—her sign to start selling French oak tables on Goop, perhaps?

All in all, if the modern farmhouse era was about comfort and familiarity, this new chapter hints at aspirational living. It’s less casual Sunday bake-off, more Tuesday working lunch with your literary agent—followed by a Pilates class and a stop at the florist. A far cry from silos and shiplap, it’s the kind of space that feels polished without being cold, luxe without losing its soul. And that might be the real magic trick here: Joanna Gaines has pulled off a pivot from Waco farmhouse to urban-cool sophistication without abandoning the warmth that made her a household name. If this is where she’s headed next, consider it her design-world equivalent of a celebrity rebrand—Joanna Gaines has gone a little bit Goop. 

Has Joanna Gaines...Changed Her Style?