They transformed a house with almost zero character into a perfect getaway that they now manage as a tropical-theme vacation rental. “I wanted each room to have its own personality,” Jenna says, “but I wanted to keep the overall theme consistent. It was definitely the most fun I’ve ever had designing a home. I took more risks and went bold with color.” Overgrown grass and mismatched tile made the original backyard unappealing. Lucas and Jenna LeBlanc “pretty much re-did everything there,” Jenna says. Now the home has an outdoor room complete with seating. New shutters and window frames painted bold black gave the house character. Jenna rehabbed the concrete patio with a medallion stencil, white concrete paint, three layers of sealer, and more than 27 hours of labor. The house afforded the newlyweds lots of opportunities to hone their DIY skills. Jenna had remodeled houses before, but Lucas had never picked up a power tool. “Lucas always had an interest in redoing houses,” Jenna says. “This one was the first chance for him to get his hands dirty.” A mural in the living room features a sweeping outdoor vista, which Lucas and Jenna applied in seven panels. Polyurethane molding (four ornate corners and matching connectors) frame the mural and hide the trimmed edges. A handmade cypress bench that Lucas and Jenna crafted from a log stands in as a console table/bench inside the front door. “I had a vision in my head before I started the living room,” Jenna says, “and the mural and green velvet couch were the two main components.” A lightweight polyurethane medallion visually anchors the chandelier at the ceiling. The extra bit of ornamentation adds character to the living room. The framed art is a city map that Jenna designed herself. She split the map into six segments, had a local print shop put them on paper, framed them, and hung them so the grouping reads as one big-impact piece. Lucas and Jenna took the kitchen down to the studs. No plumbing or appliances moved to save on remodeling costs. The new cabinets came from IKEA. “We painted them green and added custom toe-kicks and door panels to make the cabinets look custom and high-end,” Jenna says. IKEA butcher-block counters finish the look. Elongated subway tile in various shades of white climb from the counter to the ceiling; it’s a low-maintenance, easy-clean choice for a busy rental home. Four open shelves mounted on both sides of the sink replaced wall cabinets. They hold often-used items (bowls, cutting boards, glasses) within easy reach. Jenna nabbed the island (really, a table) from Letgo, painted it black, and installed 4-inch casters to raise it to counter height. Now it’s a mobile prep space and an in-kitchen spot to sit. Lucas and Jenna built a custom cover for the ventilation hood out of plywood and applied grass-cloth wall covering to the surface for a shot of texture. Jenna downplayed the “horrible textured walls” in the primary bedroom by swathing them with floor-to-ceiling velvet curtains in rich green. The bamboo shades are blackout, which vacationers love. Sometimes a small (but memorable) element can inspire an entire room. That’s what happened in the primary bath. The brass swan faucet sparked Jenna’s joy—and a bunch of ideas for the space. This breezy blue bathroom was added to the primary bedroom; Jenna and Lucas carved out space for it from the closets. The new watery blue tile was a bit of a splurge but added a touch of color in a nod to the nearby bay. A shallow wood board caps the tile and doubles as a ledge for vases and toiletries. Inexpensive birch frames set off dreamy artwork, while the brass fixtures add a touch of elegance. Jenna is a primary at matching antique finds with retail purchases, which gives rooms an extra dose of character. Vintage trunks are favorites; they repeat throughout the house. The brass pineapple sconces were the starting point for the kid-friendly bedroom. “I wanted it to be a rain forest, jungle, safari-type of room,” Jenna says, “and I knew it would be the designated kids’ room, so I wanted to go more youthful in here.” A narrow space off of the living room turned into a tropical hangout with additional sleeping space. Lucas and Jenna built a bunk bed into the wall, lofting it to free up floor space underneath. The sofa folds out into a queen-size mattress. This room’s wild wall of greenery is made from faux-fern fence panels from Afloral. The artificial greenery is mounted to mesh backing, which is then screwed into the wall. Jenna stuck in random leaves for variation. With each passing project, their confidence and competence grew. Now, Lucas and Jenna renovate homes full-time, chronicling their adventures online. “It’s fun to look back and see how much we’ve learned and grown,” Jenna says. “It taught us a lot, and the types of projects we’re taking on now are happening because we learned from doing this house. There’s a lot of relief and a lot of pride in it.”
