Reality star Chelsea DeBoer (née Houska) found more than just a passion for design when she and her husband Cole DeBoer began building their dream home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, back in 2020. She found a new gig on television — one free of the emotional heaviness she endured during her 10-season run on Teen Mom.

The couple's home-building project grabbed the attention of Chelsea's Instagram followers. Millions of fans came along on their reno ride. If you were one of them, you watched Chelsea thrive amid the half-built edgy, “South Dakota-glam” interiors of the expansive farmhouse that sits on a 25-acre compound that’s home to, not just the DeBoer family, but the DeBoer family of farm animals. And even if you haven't been keeping up with the now mother of four via Instagram, one fact remains undeniable: Chelsea has come a long way since her MTV days.

In anticipation of the DeBoers' new renovation show Down Home Fab — which hits HGTV January 16 at 9|8c — we teamed up with Chelsea and put out a PSA: “Ask her anything you want to know ... anything at all.”

Of course, hundreds of you chimed in.

You Asked, Chelsea Answered

The below questions were submitted by fans via Instagram and Twitter.

Fans: How is filming your new HGTV show different from filming Teen Mom?

Chelsea: Filming our new show with HGTV was night and day different. It was lots of work — long days. It wasn’t anything too heavy or personal, and that’s what I love about it. I mean, are you kidding me? I’m designing homes — it’s so much work and long hours, but so, so fun.

Fans: How do your kids feel about being on HGTV?

Chelsea: I don't think my kids fully get what's going on or what we're doing. They haven't filmed a whole lot for this show … a little bit here and there … but I think they’re just rolling with it.

Fans: How did you get into interior design?

Chelsea: Cole and I really found a passion for interior design when we built our house. It's something we always had an interest in.

Fans: What is your go-to color palette in a home?

Chelsea: Black, some more black, some neutrals, gold, cowhide. Cowhide counts as a color, right?

Fans: What are some key pieces you love in your home?

Chelsea: The living room and the big tall windows. I love seeing out over our property. We also love our screened-in back porch. We spend a lot of time out there. The main gathering areas are my favorite.

Fans: What’s been your favorite thing about filming your new show?

Chelsea: It’s been so, so fun to work with Cole and do projects together. Picking out finishes and incorporating other people’s styles with mine has been super fun.

Fans: Do you and Cole ever have disagreements during the renovation process? Who gets the final say?

Chelsea: I don’t know if there’s usually any disagreements, but if there were, I would have the final say. [laughs]

Fans: What does a typical DeBoer day look like without cameras?

Chelsea: No school? We wake up around 7, do some breakfast. It’s always pure chaos from the moment the kids get up until they go to bed. They love to spend time outside checking on the animals and playing. We love just hanging around the house and grilling out. We like burgers, steak and kabobs. We always have friends over to our place because there’s lots of space for all the kids to run around.

Fans: What's it like having farm animals at your house?

Chelsea: If I'm ever having a bad day, I go out and see my goats and my cows, and it instantly makes my mood better.

Fans: What's the key to a happy marriage?

Chelsea: Always have fun together. We don’t take anything too seriously. Anything we do we make the most of it.

Fans: What is the color formula of the red hair you used to rock!? Seriously, need that recipe.

Chelsea: This is the most asked question of my life. It was a Redkin 6RR. It’ll be different for everyone depending on where your hair is. And maybe I will go back to the red at some point. All I know is I’m never going blonde again!

Fans: Messy bun tips?

Chelsea: Flip your hair down — it helps if you have extensions — tie it up and don’t try too hard. If you try too hard it’s not the same. A messy bun by Chelsea DeBoer is always accidental.

Fans: Biggest challenge in home renovation? Do you have any reno tips?

Chelsea: When you have your heart set on changing something and you get into the process and it’s not possible — whether it’s wanting to take a wall down and finding electric [wires] in it … anything. You have to be able to pivot and figure out a new plan, and avoid getting hung up on what’s not working. Don’t dwell on it — think of a new plan. It’s going to turn out beautiful no matter what. Being able to let it go and move on is just part of the process.

Fans: What’s your favorite room to decorate?

Chelsea: I am a living room person. I really like to bring cozy vibes. I love a living room that has a lot of windows and space. A fireplace is game-changing.

Fans: What is your favorite design trend of the moment?

Chelsea: You know what I’ve been obsessed with? The checkerboard tile flooring. I wish we had that somewhere in our house.

Fans: How do you do it all with four kids?

Chelsea: It’s a lot of chaos. But having a very supportive partner helps a ton, as well as a very supportive village. We have grandparents who help a lot, friends if we need them. It’s a lot of learning to ask for help, which was hard in the beginning, but you learn you can’t do it all by yourself.

Fans: Can you show us a tour of your home?

Chelsea: Of course.

HGTV:

Down Home Fab premieres on HGTV January 16 at 9|8c. Follow Chelsea and Cole on Instagram at @chelseahouska and @coledeboer.