If you’ve ever spent a Saturday afternoon spiraling down a Fixer Upper marathon, you know the drill. Joanna Gaines sketches a massive, impossible-to-find dining table on a piece of parchment, and then she heads over to a dusty, sun-drenched workshop to see "her guy." That guy, of course, is Clint Harp. For years, Harp Design Co in Waco TX wasn’t just a business; it was the holy grail for fans who wanted a piece of that reclaimed-wood magic for their own dining rooms.
But if you show up at the famous Sunset Avenue address today expecting to see sawdust flying and Clint hovering over a lathe, you’re going to be pretty surprised.
Honestly, the story of Harp Design Co is a wild ride. It’s a story about a guy who quit a six-figure sales job to scavenge wood from dumpsters and ended up becoming a household name. It’s also a story about knowing when to walk away from a good thing to find something better.
The Shop is Closed, But the Legacy is... Complicated
Let’s get the big news out of the way first. Harp Design Co in Waco TX officially closed its physical storefront and its online shop in January 2023.
I know, it’s a bummer.
For a decade, that little shop was a staple of the Waco "Magnolia" pilgrimage. You could buy a set of those iconic wooden candlesticks or even commission a full-blown farmhouse table made from 100-year-old pine. But by late 2022, Clint and his wife Kelly realized they were basically redlining. Between raising three kids, filming Restoration Road for the Magnolia Network, and Kelly finishing a master’s degree in clinical psychology, something had to give.
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They chose their sanity.
Clint put it pretty bluntly back then: they had reached their limits. Running a massive manufacturing and retail operation while traveling the country to film a TV show is a recipe for burnout. So, they shut the doors, sold off the remaining inventory at 50% off, and Clint signed the last few wooden pieces to roll out of the shop.
Can You Still Visit the Site?
Sorta. While you can't walk into the shop and buy a cutting board anymore, the location itself is still a landmark. The Harp House—the actual home the Harps lived in and renovated on Fixer Upper—is right next door.
The house is still a massive draw for fans. It’s currently used as a short-term rental (you can find it on Airbnb), and it sleeps about 12 people. It’s funny because they actually moved out of that house years ago to get some privacy. Imagine trying to eat breakfast while dozens of tourists are taking selfies on your front porch every day. You’d move, too.
What Clint Harp is Doing in 2026
If you think Clint just retired to a rocking chair, you haven't been paying attention. The guy is busier than ever, he’s just not covered in sawdust 24/7.
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The biggest shift? Real Estate.
In a move that surprised a lot of people, Clint actually got his real estate license. By 2025 and heading into 2026, he joined forces with the 254 Realty Group in Waco. He’s working under Camille Johnson, who is basically a legend in the local Waco market. It makes a ton of sense when you think about it. Who better to help you buy a house than the guy who knows exactly what’s behind the shiplap?
The "Restoration Road" Era
While the physical shop of Harp Design Co in Waco TX is a memory, the spirit of it lives on through his show, Restoration Road with Clint Harp.
Instead of building new tables, he’s traveling the country saving old structures—mills, barns, even ancient stone houses. It’s a different kind of craftsmanship. It’s less about retail and more about storytelling. If you’re looking for his design "vibe" today, that’s where you’ll find it. He’s obsessed with the "contrast" between old and new. Think: a 10-foot kitchen island made of rough barn wood but topped with a crisp, white marble slab.
Misconceptions About the Waco Shop
A lot of people think Harp Design Co failed. That’s just not true.
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In the business world, we’re obsessed with the idea that a business has to grow until it dies or gets sold. Clint and Kelly did something different. They had a "good run," as Clint said on Instagram, and they decided to finish that chapter on their own terms.
- Misconception 1: He stopped woodworking. Nope. He still has a personal shop. He just doesn't have 30 employees and a retail quota.
- Misconception 2: He left Waco. Actually, he’s more involved in the Waco community now than ever, especially with his shift into real estate.
- Misconception 3: You can still order tables online. Don't fall for the old links. The official e-commerce site is dark.
How to Get the "Harp Look" Without the Shop
Since you can’t exactly walk into Harp Design Co in Waco TX and point at a table anymore, you have to be a bit more creative.
Clint has always preached that anyone can do this. He started with a $25-a-month rental space from Habitat for Humanity. If you want that look, he usually recommends starting with the wood first. He’s a big believer in scavenging. Look for reclaimed wood that has a story.
- Find the Story: Look for local architectural salvage yards. In Waco, people used to flock to his shop, but now they head to places like Homestead Heritage or local antique fairs.
- Focus on Contrast: Don't do "all wood everything." It looks like a sauna. Mix that old, beat-up wood with modern elements like glass, steel, or stone.
- Start Small: You don't need a lathe. A simple table is just "nails and wood," as Clint says.
Actionable Steps for Your Waco Trip
If you’re planning a trip to Waco specifically to see Harp Design Co, you need to pivot your itinerary.
First, book the Harp House on Airbnb well in advance. It’s almost always full. Even though the shop is closed, staying in the house gives you the full experience of his craftsmanship—you’ll see the built-ins and the custom touches he left behind.
Second, if you're looking for a house in Central Texas and want that "Fixer Upper" energy, you can actually reach out to Clint directly through his real estate group. He’s active, he’s listing properties, and he’s actually helping people find their own "Restoration Road" projects.
Finally, keep an eye on his social media. While the retail shop is gone, he occasionally does limited-run collaborations or speaking engagements where you can still get insights into his design philosophy. The physical doors are shut, but the brand—and the man—are very much a part of the Waco fabric.