Clint Harp and his wife Kelly made the emotional announcement that they were closing the doors to Harp Design Co., their beloved furniture and home goods business in Waco, Texas. For over a decade, the company had been more than just a business—it was a dream come to life. It had filled homes across the country and beyond with handcrafted pieces full of heart, purpose, and love. But eventually, even dreams need to evolve.
The Start of Harp Design Co.: A Dream Built from Reclaimed Wood
Before Clint Harp became a familiar face on television, before Fixer Upper and national fame, he was a man standing at a crossroads—with a dream in one hand and uncertainty in the other.
In the early 2010s, Clint was working a corporate sales job that paid the bills but left him feeling empty. Deep down, he knew he was meant to create. He had always loved working with his hands—especially with wood—and found meaning in building things that lasted. His wife Kelly, a designer and creative partner, believed in his passion and encouraged him to take a leap of faith.
So he did.
Clint quit his job, and with no safety net, he began pursuing woodworking full time. He and Kelly sold their home, downsized, and moved to Waco, Texas, with their three children. They had little money, no steady income, and only a big dream: to build a life doing what they loved.
It was in their small garage in Waco that Harp Design Co. was born.
Clint started by crafting furniture from reclaimed wood—tables, cutting boards, candle holders—each piece handmade with purpose and personality. His style was rustic yet refined, blending warmth and craftsmanship in a way that stood out. He and Kelly would design, build, market, and even hand-deliver pieces themselves.
At first, sales were slow. They relied on word of mouth, pop-up events, and Clint’s persistence. But then came a life-changing moment.
One day, Clint met Chip Gaines—by chance—at a Waco gas station. That conversation led to Clint joining Fixer Upperas the go-to craftsman for Chip and Joanna Gaines’ renovation projects. His custom furniture became a regular feature on the show, and viewers quickly took notice. His business—still small and family-run—began to explode.
Soon after, Clint and Kelly opened a storefront in Waco, right next to their newly renovated home (later known as the Harp House). Tourists and fans from all over began visiting. The business expanded. They hired a small team, launched a website, and started shipping handcrafted furniture across the U.S. and even overseas.
Harp Design Co. wasn’t just a workshop anymore—it had become a symbol of dream-chasing, hard work, and creativity. It was a company that built more than furniture. It built stories, connections, and community.
Why did Clint Harp Closed down his Business: It wasn’t an easy decision.
The Harps didn’t come to this decision lightly. In a heartfelt farewell letter to their customers, they reflected on the incredible journey that began with salvaged wood, a small garage, and big hopes. Over the years, Harp Design Co. had grown far beyond what they had ever imagined. Their handcrafted furniture was featured on Fixer Upper, sold through their storefront, and shipped to fans across the globe.
But behind the scenes, life had become overwhelming.
Clint and Kelly were juggling more than most people ever see. They weren’t just business partners—they were parents to three children, entrepreneurs running multiple ventures, and individuals with personal and professional goals of their own. Kelly had returned to school, working toward a Master’s degree in clinical psychology. Clint was filming Restoration Road, a cross-country TV series for the Magnolia Network. They were also managing their Airbnb rental property in Waco, which had become its own full-time commitment.
The days were long. The responsibilities kept piling up. And slowly, they began to realize they were stretched too thin.
“Between being partners, being parents, managing HDC, Kelly getting a master’s… and me making a television show across the country,” Clint wrote, “we have discovered our limits.”
That single sentence reveals everything: they reached the point where passion turned into pressure. What had once been a fulfilling pursuit of craftsmanship and community now came with exhaustion and compromise. The joy of creating was getting lost in the chaos of overcommitment.
Rather than let the business—or their family life—suffer further, Clint and Kelly made the hard, but healthy choice to pause.
In their message, the Harps made it clear: this wasn’t just about closing shop—it was about opening space. Space to rest, to dream again, and to rediscover the core of why they started building furniture in the first place.
Clint emphasized that while his energy had been poured into furniture for the past ten years, he was a creator at heart—and that doesn’t stop at tables and chairs. Whether through TV, writing, podcasting, or something yet to be discovered, he planned to keep building—just in new ways.
For Clint, creating is a way of life. And Restoration Road gave him a new outlet to explore that love, allowing him to travel the country, uncover hidden pieces of American history, and connect with craftsmen from all walks of life. He described the show as something he loves deeply—and that love, he said, would be the foundation for what comes next.
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