Steve and Emily Leap have turned a large home in the Glebe section of Mathews that was in disrepair into their dream home, with most of the work on the 4,500-square-foot home done by the husband-and-wife team.

The Leaps purchased the property, formerly known as Ample Acres, just over two years ago. They steadily worked on the home, which was formerly owned by the late Maxine Wilson, for about a year before they moved in.

Prior to purchasing the home, the Leaps said it had been vacant for over five years. Emily said the front porch had weeds and trees growing up through the tile and many of the wooden frames surrounding the windows of the home had rotted out.

The couple had been looking to buy a weekend place in Mathews after visiting Eastfields Farms to pick blueberries, which coincidentally neighbors the property the Leaps purchased. When they first started looking, Emily said that they found a home that was perfect. “But it had no projects,” she said.

However, she sai...