A Dream come True

June 19, 2019

The river home where Leslie Lewis-Sheets and Tommy Sheets reside in Rose Hill

BY JANICE CARTER LEVITCH | PHOTOS BY CHRISTIAN WATSON

LESLIE LEWIS-SHEETS and her husband Tommy Sheets always dreamt of living on the river. Leslie shared the dream with her mother, Patty McManus, and her husband, Don McManus. Together, the four were able to purchase a special piece of property overlooking the Ohio River that had been an empty lot since the 1970s. _mg_0621

Originally zoned for multi-family purposes, they were able to have it re-zoned for single-family homes. This enabled the property to be split, and each of the two couples purchased their own lots to design and create their homes. With the idea of two homes sharing a common courtyard between them in the historic Rose Hill district in Jeffersonville, their dream soon became a reality.

“We created our own plans for the exterior and interior. Then, we acted as our own general contractors and all of us played a very active role,” Leslie explained. “Don took our project from dirt to the drywall stage. I handled it from that point to completion. Patty acted as our (Chief Financial Officer) and Tommy now acts as our (Chief of Facilities).”

When the quartet purchased the lot, “the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge had just begun its fabulous renovation, and we feel so fortunate to be where we are. We absolutely love it,” Leslie said.

LL&A Interior Design is Leslie’s interior design business, and to add more magic to her personal fairy tale, it is only one block away — located at 247 Spring St. _mg_0549

“the Big Four Pedestrian Bridge had just begun its fabulous renovation, and we feel so fortunate to be where we are. We absolutely love it,” -Leslie Lewis Sheets

“This is the fifth property we have owned and renovated within downtown Jeffersonville area,” Leslie stated.
The breathtaking view of the river has been the focus of the design intent from the beginning of the project. Season to season and sun up to sun down, the ever-changing view is captivating and changes daily. A soothing, neutral color palette was crucial and refrains from competing with the view of the outdoors. Complementing what the homeowners can see from the interior to the exterior bucolic view of the river, the neutral palette also has a pop of color to provide an energizing, positive vibe.

The kitchen is washed in soft shades of white, and the countertops are Danby marble, which add a touch of sparkle as the sunshine reflects from the windows that allow an abundance of natural light to enter the room. Wood floors have a warm driftwood finish that adds texture against the polished chrome accents.

“Our windows act as our art,” Leslie said.

A master bathroom filled with natural light offers an invitation for relaxation and a spa retreat. Adjacent is the master bedroom that has been carefully curated with quality furnishings that provide a tranquil atmosphere. Touches of gray, ivory and a splash of azul — which means blue in Spanish and Portuguese — make the master suite perfect for a restful place to read a favorite novel or nap during the lazy days of summer.

“Our windows act as our art,” -Leslie Lewis Sheets

The perfect home for entertaining, the residence also includes an outdoor living space that opens up to a bar and patio area. A large covered balcony is the absolute ‘piece de resistance’ and commands a masterful view of the mighty Ohio River.