Dave & Jenny Marrs Partnership, As Seen on HGTV, Case Studies
A 2022 graduate of the University of Arkansas, Jason Gloeckler — along with the generous support of his parents — recently purchased his first home, a 2,272-square-foot brick Ranch home. Located halfway between his parents’ and brother’s home in Bentonville, Arkansas, Jason’s new property will serve as the go-to site for many future family meetups. “The renovation investment in this home is $165,000,” said Jason’s mother, Michelle Gloeckler.
“I’m glad we’re able to help him invest in this home, because Jason has been a good kid, very sensitive, good-hearted and hardworking.”
With building partners such as Cornerstone Building Brands, Jenny felt confident the team could transform Jason’s basic, 1990s Ranch into a modern, youthful home. From modern sliding glass doors and a new metal roof to warm, inviting accents such as vinyl cedar shingles, Dave and Jenny relied on Cornerstone Building Brands’ product suite to create the ideal first home for Jason.
“The challenge is making something that Jason really likes but is also a good investment for mom,” said contractor and craftsman Dave Marrs, who co-hosts the HGTV show “Fixer to Fabulous” with his wife, interior designer Jenny Marrs. “Balancing the money, they have to spend with what we can actually do can be tricky.”
While livable and in working order, the home lacked the personality a 20-something seeks in their home. The exterior brick and roof, which were original to the home, felt basic and dated. Inside, the layout was segmented and maze-like with many odd angles and built-ins reminiscent of the ’90s style.
In the backyard, the Marrs found what Jason affectionately coined “The Shed.” An old woodworking shop, the basic structure was sound, but aesthetically, the space needed new doors, siding and an interior facelift to give it a cohesive look. “I’m going for a modern style,” Jason explained. “Outside, I’m hoping to see a refresh, some of the bushes are overgrown. I love the front porch and have a dog that will also enjoy it, but it needs updating.”
“I agree that we should save a little budget for the shed. A refresh will up the overall property value,” Jenny said. “We can match the exterior to the house and update the landscaping to create a cool, inviting man cave.”
To transform the exterior from just OK to eye-catching curb appeal, the Marrs team started by installing a new metal roof to set the modern tone. The renovation also included updating the front porch design, painting the brick grey and installing fresh, minimal landscaping. To take the interior space from ’90s drab to modern fab, they created an open floor plan and added walnut and moody accents, contemporary fixtures, and engineered hardwood floors.
“We wanted this house to feel more modern so that it fit Jason’s personality,” Jenny explained. “Our design plan marries sophistication and masculinity.”
Dave and Jenny selected Fortify Building Solutions™ Slimline® Concealed Fastener Panels in True Black for three reasons. One, a contemporary metal roof aligned with Jason’s minimalist, modern style. Two, for a first-time homebuyer, the durability and longevity of the roof is ideal, as it will ultimately save Jason upkeep money and time. And three, the paint system is cool roof compliant through the Cool Roof Rating Council-1 Program, providing solar reflectance that will help reduce Jason’s monthly utility bill to cool the home when it is hot outside.
For “The Shed” project, Jenny chose Mastic® Cedar Discovery® siding by Ply Gem® in Misty Shadow, a deep grey, to replace the dilapidated original siding. The new siding has the look of real wood cedar shingle siding without the upkeep, which was a priority for Jason. He won’t have to make room in his budget for routine staining, painting and replacing. Strong and durable, his new premium vinyl siding resists dents, dings and extreme winds all while retaining its natural beauty and color.
“We went with Mastic, because of their product durability and ease of installation,” Dave said. “When our team doesn’t have to allot extra resources toward a difficult installation, it saves us time and money.”
“The deep grey color we chose for the siding paired seamlessly with the house,” Jenny said. “Even the corners and J-moulding matched the siding, which gave us that clean, consistent look we were after.”
As with the main house, the Marrs replaced the asphalt shingle roofing on the shed with black Slimline Conceal Fastener Panels. The sleek lines of the metal roof provide an eye-catching contrast to the texture of the vinyl shingle siding.
Inovo® Sliding Doors by Simonton Windows & Doors were a great choice for the primary bedroom. The two-panel doors seamlessly connect the bedroom with the beautiful backyard, making it easy to let the dog out for bathroom breaks late in the evening or first thing in the morning.
“There are so many things to look at. It’s amazing. You nailed it!” Michelle exclaimed. “It totally exceeded my expectations.”
From the front curb, Jason and Michelle marveled at the paint color, warm cedar posts and metal roof — whose sleek, clean finish thoughtfully contrasted the texture of the brick exterior. Inside, they oohed and awed at the black cabinetry, concrete tile, engineered oak flooring and modern lighting. Out back, Jason grinned while taking in the updates to “The Shed,” already dreaming about his upcoming football tailgates, gym workouts and poker nights that will take place in the remodeled structure.
“I love the metal roof,” Jason noted. “Dave and Jenny hit the nail on the head, finding the right balance to make it flow and make it still masculine enough to where it was a good spot for me to start out my career and life in.”
“Jenny and I love being a part of challenging projects like this one. We took a traditional Ranch-style house and made it completely modern, which can be a hard task,” Dave said. “We hope this is a home Jason enjoys for many years to come.”
Dave and Jenny Marrs featured the Gloeckler home in the sixth season of their HGTV show “Fixer to Fabulous.” Watch the episode “First Home Gets a Modern Makeover” to see how it came together. Learn more about the Marrs’ partnership with Cornerstone Building Brands.
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