Leslie Jordan Transforms His Friends’ Home Into a Southwestern-Inspired Retreat

Iconic Emmy Award-winning actor and comedian Leslie Jordan brought laughter and joy to all. For decades, he touched the hearts of millions. In one of Leslie's final television appearances before his untimely death, he spread his famous jovial energy by gifting a Celebrity IOU home renovation to close friends, Rosemary and Newell Alexander. “The secret to happiness is to do for others. I kept thinking over the years that if I ever had the chance to do something for people, I wouldn’t hesitate,” Leslie said to Jonathan and Drew Scott. “Rosemary and Newell have been there through all the ups and downs. We became a family.”

Ever since performing in their first show together, Rosemary and Newell have been a big part of Leslie's life. They even produced Leslie's first play, which was a huge success. “We would always show up [for Leslie],” said Rosemary. “He really is lovable.” To give back in a big way, Leslie teamed up with the Scott brothers to transform the couple's kitchen, dining and living rooms into a “Country Casual” Southwestern-inspired ranch.

Rosemary and Newell’s love of travel was obvious inside their charming ranch home, but Leslie knew the couple needed a renovation. “Rosemary has always wanted to open it up,” Leslie said, "but we don’t want to lose their style.” Together, they schemed how they could remove walls to make the home more airy, open and bright.

Jonathan and Drew removed the walls on either side of the fireplace. Now, natural light flows through the space. They also patched up the original hardwood floors and, for a Southwestern aesthetic, refinished the brick fireplace with Roman Clay. The revived dining room has a showpiece wood accent wall and a statement chandelier. In this new, inviting space, Newell and Rosemary can easily entertain their friends and grandchildren.

The old entryway to Rosemary and Newell’s home opened into a dining area and entertaining space. The room showed off travel mementos and Southwestern flair. Large windows filtered daylight through sheer blinds but painted brown walls made the room feel dark and small.

Lush, cream-colored curtains hung high magnify the size of the windows, while white paint brightens the entryway walls. A navy blue-stained wooden accent wall (complete with shelving for displaying little travel treasures) creates contrast between the dining and living areas. Woven leather chairs and a burnt-orange sofa create a chic, relaxing retreat.

Off the living room and adjacent to the kitchen, this area lacked charm and function. Brown paint and light wainscoting didn’t do much to distinguish it from the living room. The bros vowed to turn it into a space where friends and family (particularly grandchildren) could relax, dine and spend time together.

The stunner of the space: A wooden accent wall installed by Leslie and Jonathan. Dark blue-gray stain highlights the wood's natural grain, while floating shelves offer a space for plants, picture frames and other collectibles the duo acquired on their travels. The new, modern dining table includes both woven bench seating and comfortable, upholstered chairs. A statement pendant adds modern charm, and taper candleholders (in the same hue as the wall and the table) promise moody ambiance.

In an effort to improve the design of the media room and create a more well-connected layout, Jonathan and Drew needed to first open up and renovate the kitchen — which was sandwiched between two walls and closed off from the rest of the home.

Jonathan and Drew relocated the family’s eat-in kitchen and created a peninsula accessorized with woven leather barstools. One window was removed from the kitchen but the space is still flooded with natural daylight. Faux-wood beams are installed to retain some Southwestern ambiance. The homeowners can now easily interact between rooms in the home.

The former kitchen included Southwestern-inspired floor tile, dark wooden cabinets and an eat-in dining area. The downside: It lacked prep space. Leslie challenged Drew and Jonathan to create a culinary retreat that would make it easier for the couple to cook and entertain.

The remodeled kitchen boasts modern touches and country-casual charm. The bros moved the gas range to the opposite side of the room and topped it with an adobe-style vent hood. Unique caramel grain on the stone countertops and backsplashes adds sparkle to the space. Wooden cabinetry and new hardwood oak floors add earthy texture.

A secondary sitting area at the back of the house functioned as a cozy media room that Newell and Rosemary used for relaxing. Retaining some of the room's charm was important to Leslie, but he wanted to update it with a fresh, country-casual aesthetic.

Frosted-glass windows create privacy without compromising natural daylight. Linen window treatments add a stylish, textured touch. On the walls, the team eliminated the dark paneling and replaced it with white drywall. A soft area rug and plush, traditional furnishings make it cozy while maintaining the space's original Southwestern, midcentury flavor. The new television doubles as artwork when not in use.