Epic Homes and J Marie Design are featured in River + Ranch Magazine for two transformative remodels that expand living space, honor each home’s character, and create cohesive, family‑focused interiors ideal for gathering and everyday life.
J Marie Design & Epic Build
This “J Marie Design & Epic Built” article highlights how designer Jean Holwagner and builder EpicBuild transformed a 1965 home to keep its playful character while making it functional for a family of six, including kids with disabilities. Drawing on the home’s original eccentric details and the homeowners’ bold personalities, they preserved features like built-ins and tile while updating finishes, adding over 20 Sherwin-Williams paint colors, wallpaper, and whimsical patterns to create vibrant, family-friendly spaces—from a richly paneled office to a colorful dining room and an accessible, therapy‑ready basement play area.
J Marie Design & Epic Build
This designer spotlight in River + Ranch Magazine profiles Jean Holwagner of J Marie Design, who has spent over two decades creating homes that feel deeply personal to each client rather than defined by a signature look. Jean explains that her process starts with listening to the family and reading the architecture so she can tell their story through layered, timeless design that honors both the era of the home and the way the owners live. She shares that her greatest strength is adaptability—using her expertise to edit and refine while ensuring the client, not the designer, remains the focus—and says she is most proud of building a career that allows her to be present as a wife and mom while cultivating long‑term client relationships and creating spaces that bring joy to others and to herself.
An Epic Remodel
The article “An Epic Remodel” profiles a family who partnered with Epic Homes and interior designer Jean Holwagner (J Marie Design) to transform their too-small main living area into a spacious, cohesive gathering space centered on hosting. The remodel adds about 3,000 square feet with a new kitchen, dining area, larger living room, playroom/sunroom, bar, theater, workout room, and bath, while intentionally blending new spaces with the home’s original character.
Holwagner’s role starts at the construction-plan stage, guiding all hard selections and finishes so the remodel feels unified instead of piecemeal; she emphasizes clean, neutral finishes, layered textures, and repeated black accents to create visual continuity. A dramatic mitered waterfall quartz island becomes the focal point that inspires the open-concept design, and the homeowners describe the process as a creative challenge that ultimately yielded a warm, cozy home that “doesn’t feel giant” despite its size.
Jean Holwagner
This River + Ranch feature highlights designer Jean Holwagner of J Marie Design and her work on a new home built to closely mirror a 1908 house that once stood on the property. The homeowners had a clear vision of recreating the original home’s character, so Jean spent more than two years helping them source period-appropriate materials, from millwork and built-ins to lighting and wallpaper, that feel authentic to the early 1900s. She collaborated with dedicated trades to match historic details as closely as possible, integrating rich woodwork, floral wallcoverings, and vintage-inspired fixtures that make the space feel timeless rather than themed. At the same time, Jean ensured the house functions for a young family of five by modernizing areas like the kitchen—keeping the dark wood island and custom hood as nods to the past, while using light cabinetry and an airy layout for everyday practicality. The article frames the project as a rare opportunity for Jean and the homeowners to create a “once-in-a-lifetime” home that beautifully balances historic reverence with comfortable, modern living.
