Employee Spotlight – Meet Jenna Landess!
One of the most exciting parts of designing your Ernest Home is choosing the details that make your house uniquely your own. At Ernest Homes, we pride ourselves on creating a smooth, stress-free, and fun design experience for every homeowner. To ensure this happens, you work with one of our most talented team members: Jenna Landess, our Design Consultant.
Jenna joined Ernest Homes in November 2015 and quickly became an essential part of our organization. Known for her artistic eye, deep product knowledge, and ability to help families match their personal style with our wide array of design options, she continues to shape the look and feel of Ernest Homes from behind the scenes — even after moving to Ohio in 2019. Today, Jenna works remotely as part of our Design Team, continuing to guide homeowners through flooring, fixtures, finishes, lighting plans, and overall design cohesion.
Originally from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Jenna has lived in Texas, Michigan, North Carolina, Phoenix, Cincinnati, and Georgia. With homebuilding in her blood — both her grandfather and uncle were in the industry — she grew up sketching floor plans during long family road trips. She met her husband, Bo, while living in Phoenix, where he was stationed at Luke Air Force Base. The two married in August 2014. Their beloved boxer, Layla — whom Jenna raised from a puppy — went to heaven in 2021. Today, their home is happily shared with their two cherished cats, Lloyd and Merry, who keep life lively and full of personality.
Jenna’s design style and expertise draw from years of hands-on experience, education, and self-driven learning. She studied Interior Design, Business, and Fashion Design in college, gaining valuable skills that translate directly into the homebuilding and selections process. Her passion for design truly took off in 2012 when she fell in love with “picking” — searching estate sales, flea markets, and antique shops for inspiration, which helped her develop a keen understanding of functional, beautiful, affordable design.
She believes outstanding customer service comes from clear communication, prompt responses, and delivering high-quality products with a smile. Jenna’s favorite part of the process? Creating cohesive design palettes that flow from exterior selections to interior finishes, ensuring every home feels thoughtfully curated.
When offering advice for building a new home, Jenna suggests doing your research, asking questions, and discovering your personal style. She also has two “must-consider” upgrades for every homeowner:
- The perfect kitchen and primary bath – “You spend the most time there. If they don’t make you happy, what’s the point?”
- Lighting or pre-wiring – “Lighting can make or break a room. Planning your electrical layout early will save you headaches (and money) later.”
And for the classic “get to know you” question — what's the most interesting thing in her garage? Now living in Ohio and dreaming of future projects, Jenna laughs: “One day, it will be vintage furniture I’m restoring. And eventually, my husband plans to build an experimental airplane in our garage. That’s definitely more interesting than my old chairs!”
From Georgia to Ohio, Jenna remains a beloved part of the Ernest Homes family — continuing to design homes with the same creativity, care, and passion that homeowners have cherished for years.
