Design Army's dynamic Lefebure duo

Jake and Pum Lefebure. (Dean Alexander - )

They pick clients based not on fees but on whether they are compatible and will lead to more business in the long run. "It's the relationships you build."

Design Army grossed about $180,000 in its first six months of business. That number doubled in 2004. Revenue peaked at $2.1 million in 2008 before dropping below $2 million last year. The Lefebures expect this year's revenue to be close to $2 million. They rented office space on Ninth Street NW for $3,000 a month, for a couple of years, when they decided to look for a building to buy.

They started shopping for properties but were repeatedly outbid or too late.

So the Lefebures decided to put together a team of financiers and real estate agents that would allow them to act fast. They approached their lenders, SunTrust Bank, armed with a battle plan.

When 510 H St. NE came on the market, "it took a few quick calls and we had a letter from the bank and our offer on the table from our agent. You have to have a great team in place to move this fast." They paid $400,000 for the building and spent $1.8 million to rehabilitate it, with the help of a Small Business Administration loan (the SBA requires them to occupy more than half the building).

The couple figure that owning their office building saves them $28,000 a year in rent. In 2005, they also bought a home near Catholic University that they are rehabilitating into a rental.

The Lefebures are survivors. They have a successful high-end design business. They are building a small real estate empire. They are prudent spenders. Jake's parents have moved in, helping with errands, doing day-care duty and making deliveries for Design Army.

When other friends and colleagues left the graphics industry during the downturn, the Lefebures dug down, forgoing pay and passing on business initiatives like promotions.

"We are in a husband-and-wife business where there is 100 percent transparency that you don't get from business partners. It allows us to maneuver. Being married, we were in control of everything. And there was really no questioning of motive," Jake said.

Who says love can't pay the bills?

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