Current trends in custom interior design are all about personalization, with a surge towards handmade artisanal accents. Meet Jillian and her husband Jesse Le, founding partners of The Painted Caterpillar – a buzz-worthy interior design studio recognized for uniquely handcrafted home transformations and inventive design – serving Waterchase, Westchase, The Eagles, and South Tampa.

Restoring a drab, throw-away chair into a lovely conversation piece is analogous to the common caterpillar morphing into an exquisite winged creature of delicate beauty. It is fitting that Jillian and Jesse, once dabblers in furniture flipping (transforming unwanted furniture pieces into one-of-a-kind works of art), transitioned their homegrown hobby, turned side hustle, into a fully thriving, sought-after interior design firm. 

“We started six years ago as hobbyists flipping furniture,” says Jillian. “It quickly evolved. I like to say it was ‘divinely driven.’ We weren’t seeking to start a business. It happened organically.” The couple were flipping furniture on their back deck just for fun. Friends began encouraging them to sell their amazing creations. “One day, a few showed up with a piece of furniture and said, ‘Flip it, and we’ll split the profit when we sell it.” The side hustle took off, and then a Westchase resident reached out to have her cabinets painted. The idea of a business began to percolate. “We took a deep dive into custom home builds, entertainment units, and eventually upscale home improvement.” 

Extensive does not mean expensive, Jillian asserts. “We fall somewhere in the middle, though we keep to the highest standards of workmanship, striving to deliver nothing less than perfect.” At times, the couple enlists dealers and designers, but no matter the process, their trademark-inspired designs come through in the craftsmanship, elevating each room to its full potential. Unique backsplashes, dimensional accent walls, one-of-a-kind artisan headboards, floor-to-ceiling millwork, and their HOA-approved garage doors are examples of how clients are personalizing. 

So, how did the name come about? “We woke up one day and it was caterpillar season. They were everywhere and on top of some of our painted furniture. It just clicked in my head, The Painted Caterpillar, transforming everything into pretty butterflies, or in our case, design creations.” 

Jillian and Jesse met at Nordstrom as employees, a high-end retail store emphasizing customer satisfaction. “We learned our ethics there and based our business ethos on ‘the customer is always right.’ The Les are a blended family of eight. “We love to travel and take a big family vacation at least once a year, but maintaining the business has to come first.” 

Excellence is what separates The Painted Caterpillar from their competition. “We want to express our sincere gratitude to Waterchase, Westchase, and The Eagles residents for their support and client referrals,” says Jillian. “When we are creative, it makes us happy. When our customers are happy, it makes us proud.”