Before and After: Inside Jenny and Dave Marrs' Welcome Inn

What started as an inn eventually turned into a vacation rental. Check out these stunning before-and-after pictures.

By: Rebecca R. Norris

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Dave and Jenny Marrs, builder-designer duo and hosts of Fixer to Fabulous, don't mess around when it comes to home renovations — or inn renovations, it seems. In their spin-off Fixer to Fabulous: Welcome Inn, the couple works to renovate an old home brimming with makeover potential in Rogers, Arkansas. They'd originally intended on turning it into an inn, but the reno process wasn't as simple as they'd hoped. After overcoming *many* obstacles, the couple finally introduced Welcome Inn, a vacation rental full of Dave's builds, Jenny's designs and more. Ahead, you'll see just how stunning the renovation is. For all the details, check out Fixer to Fabulous: Welcome Inn, which premiered on HGTV and discovery+ on March 15.

see more: Dave and Jenny Marrs Have a New Spin-Off: 'Fixer to Fabulous: Welcome Inn'

Before: Front Exterior

One of the biggest challenges Dave and Jenny faced occurred before the reno process even began. Upon further inspection, they discovered the property had an expansive bee infestation that jeopardized the exterior structure of the house.

After: Front Exterior

To address the issue, the couple employed a master beekeeper to rehome the hive. But Dave and Jenny weren't ready to say goodbye to the bees altogether. The beekeeper brought some of the bees back to Welcome Inn to live in a bee box and make honey for guests. While the infestation came with a silver lining, it also required Dave and Jenny to replace some of the home's original beams to ensure the structure stayed sound.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

Before: Back Exterior

When Dave and Jenny first saw the property that would become the Welcome Inn, the back porch was fully enclosed. Still, Jenny couldn’t help but dream of a classic sprawling Southern porchscape for their guests.

After: Back Exterior

To make Jenny’s dream a reality, the couple opened up the porch by removing the windows and molding. They inserted a handrail for safety, removed the original staircase and reinstalled one on either end of the wraparound porch. And, of course, they furnished it with rocking chairs with quintessential southern charm.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

Before: Living Room

The living room presented few, if any, challenges.

After: Living Room

To make it look modern while maintaining the charm of the space, Jenny opted for sophisticated paneling paired with cozy furniture. Now, this bright, light space is oh-so inviting.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

Before: Dining Room

The dining room, on the other hand, presented some major challenges. Originally, the ceiling felt low. Upon further investigation (read: demoing), Dave discovered that the room was outfitted with a faux ceiling. The real ceiling was 16 inches higher up.

After: Dining Room

Dave decided to fully remove the faux ceiling, while maintaining the exposed floor joists. With high ceilings, cane back chairs, natural wood and touches of gold, Dave and Jenny successfully created the coziest eatery. One side of the dining room leads to the kitchen, and the other opens into a Bourbon Room.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

Before: Kitchen

Another huge challenge for the couple was the kitchen renovation. If Dave and Jenny were going to open this bed and breakfast, they'd need to create a commercial kitchen complete with stainless steel appliances (which seemed too bulky for the space and too bleak for their English Country design vision).

After: Kitchen

And so they compromised! By pivoting their plan from a bed and breakfast to a vacation rental, Dave and Jenny were able to sidestep the stainless steel regulations and bring their English Country kitchen vision to life. As stunning as the range is, the custom-made cabinets, herringbone wood floors and a handmade mosaic backsplash further contribute to the overall allure of the space.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

After: Kitchen

In true English Country fashion, Jenny incorporated touches of brass and gold to sparkle in the sunny space, including framed art and glassware, which she displayed on open shelving between two big windows.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

Before: Bourbon Room

When Dave and Jenny saw this small room off the dining room, they immediately envisioned a cozy space to sit back, relax and sip on something tasty.

After: Bourbon Room

And thus, the Bourbon Room was born. Outfitted with dark green paint, wall-mounted sconces, leather chairs and a bourbon cabinet, this room is meant to be a retreat for adults.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

Before: First-Floor Bedroom

The one and only bedroom on the main floor of the Welcome Inn was originally just that: a room.

After: First-Floor Bedroom

Dave and Jenny transformed the bland bedroom into a full suite, complete with its very own bathroom, which features an expansive shower (the couple borrowed space from the dining room). The brick accent, part of the home's original structure, adds character and texture. Even better: everything is ADA compliant.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

Before: First-Floor Bathroom

Originally, the newly-constructed bathroom started like this.

After: First-Floor Bathroom

Enter an oasis. For dramatic flair, Jenny enlisted the help of a friend to create hand-painted ginkgo wallpaper, which pays homage to the ginkgo tree on the property.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

Before: Pink Bedroom

Upstairs, the original home had a bedroom decked in pale pink wallpaper. While it didn't have its own bathroom, it did have a large closet.

After: Pink Bedroom

Dave and Jenny knew it was important their guests have private spaces to shower and get ready, so they turned the closet into a bathroom. Additionally, to maintain the history of the home, they updated the wallpaper (another hand-painted creation) while remaining true to the space's original color palette.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

Before: Pink Bedroom Bathroom

Next to the pink bedroom, there was a full-scale bathroom. This is the space Dave and Jenny extended the pink room into by working through and repurposing the closet.

After: Pink Bedroom Bathroom

Like the pink bedroom, the pink bathroom is a feminine masterpiece, complete with pale pink paint, romantic arched doors, and shimmering tile that makes the shower feel like the ultimate retreat.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

After: The Hallway

The inn is full of small Jenny-approved touches that make it extra-special. Here, a comfy rocking chair sits in a serene reading nook at the top of the stairs. The expansive gallery wall adds extra charm.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

After: The Hallway

This warm vignette boasts a brass lamp, cool vintage art and neutral stacks of books. The collapsable table makes for a great space to play cards, read or relax.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

Before: Blue Bedroom

This is the second bedroom upstairs and the biggest of the two. With that in mind, Dave and Jenny wanted to transform this space into a suite for families.

After: Blue Bedroom

To make it family-friendly, they added custom-built bunk beds to accompany the full-size bed. The room opens up onto a porch, which Dave renovated. He made sure to add a handrail so guests could enjoy a relaxing moment overlooking the front of the property.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

Before: Blue Bedroom Bathroom

Continuing with the trend of bathrooms attached to bedrooms, Dave and Jenny chose to open up the last remaining bedroom into a neighboring room to create an ensuite bathroom.

After: Blue Bedroom Bathroom

The new bathroom (the largest in the house!) features a standing shower and a deep tub. As Jenny's bathrooms always are, the space is relaxing and serene — a great spot to unwind after a fun-filled day with the family.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

Before: Basement

One of Dave and Jenny's favorite parts about the Welcome Inn is the wine cellar. When they toured the property, they immediately started thinking about how they could repurpose the cramped basement.

After: Basement

Decked out for family get-togethers, receptions, anniversaries and more, Dave and Jenny's wine cellar might be the pinnacle of the new space. During the reno, they removed all columns and reinforced the ceiling with white oak support beams. Then, Dave, along with help from his brother and father, crafted a 10-foot dining table to be the centerpiece of the space. He also built ample wine storage along each wall.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

After: The Chicken Coup

The English Country theme extends outside the home. In addition to fresh honey, guests can also enjoy fresh eggs, compliments of the elaborate chicken coop Dave and Jenny included in the yard.

From: Jenny Marrs and Dave Marrs

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