Inspired Living Omaha

A N O M A H A W O R L D - H E R A L D P U B L I C AT I O N

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4 INSPIREDLIVINGOMAHA.COM

ENDLESS SUMMER

HOT PATIOS + COOL POOLS GRAVEL ROADS + CASHMERE GOATS GARDEN FRESH + SAND HILLS SWEET inspiredlivingomaha.com 1

inspiredlivingomaha.com  1

J U LY / A U G U S T 2 0 1 4

Editor-in-Chief Chris Christen 402-444-1094 Chris.Christen@owh.com Assistant Editor Amy LaMar Amy.LaMar@owh.com Creative Director/Designer Heidi Thorson Photo Imaging Specialist Patricia “Murphy” Benoit Content Contributors Chelsea Bailey, Sandra Wendel, Brian O'Malley, Meghann Schense, Cora Coppock, Pat Waters, Christianna Reinhardt, Rachel Cain

402-502-1962 | Legacy West 17650 West Center Road facebook.com/njandcompany

Security • Privacy • Elegance

Photography Contributors Jeffrey Bebee, Hooton Images, Daniel Johnson, Kurt A. Keeler, Tin Box Pictures, Thomas Grady Sales Manager Carrie Kentch 402-444-1448 Carrie.Kentch@owh.com Account Representative Cathleen Vanhauer 402-444-1209 Cathleen.Vanhauer@owh.com Account Representative Kristine Buhman 402-444-1442 Kristine.Buhman@owh.com Events & Custom Publishing Manager Tam Webb 402-444-3125 Tam.Webb@owh.com

Proudly published by

1314 Douglas St., Suite 600 Omaha, NE 68102 402-444-1094 Inspired Living Omaha (ISSN 7447026659) is a publication of the Omaha World-Herald. ©2014, Omaha World-Herald Co. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the specific written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed by those interviewed are their own. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information, no responsibility can be accepted by the publisher for content, opinions or practices, or how the information herein is used.

All materials submitted, including but not limited to images, logos and text that appear, are assumed to be the original work of the provider, and the publisher is not responsible for unintentional copyright infringement.

15803 PACIFIC STREET • OMAHA, NE • 402.333.5722 • WWW.SW-FENCE.COM

2 JULY/AUGUST 2014

ELECTRONICS DESIGN

& Installation Services

We’ll help you make your house a home.

More than 180 years of combined experience means we can handle every aspect of your home project.

• Home Theater Systems • Whole House Audio and Video Distribution • Pre-wiring For New Or Remodeled Homes • Home Networks • Design Services • Intercom Systems • Surveillance Cameras • Lighting Control

For an in-home consultation, contact us at

omahainstall@nfm.com

Audio Video | Home Theater | Home Networks | Intercom Systems | And More

nfm.com 700 South 72nd St Omaha, NE 68114 Phone: 402-548-6356

Mon-Sat: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Sun: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ©2014 Nebraska Furniture Mart, Inc.

CONTENTS Outdoor living spaces

Sand Hills shortcake

A farmhouse "forever"

Farmers market bounty

Urban apartments

Experience local

Writer's refuge in Burwell

Going places

And stay well

Kathy Ireland

PHOTO: JEFFREY BEBEE LANDSCAPE DESIGN: ELITE LANDSCAPING

48

ON THE COVER Threads

Summer's Vagabond MODEL: Hope Dendinger STYLING: Cora Coppock PHOTO: Hooton Images

Bringing Your Beauty to Life

Are you looking for the most dynamic hair salon in the Omaha area?

If so, look no further than Salon Fusion.

Our experienced and professional staff of creative hair stylists are dedicated to taking your vision and turning it into a beautiful reality. From vibrant hair color to trendy cuts – our salon offers a full comprehensive list of services that cater to every style and budget.

[

Salon

your vision... our passion

SalonFusionOmaha.com

3667 N 129th St | Omaha, NE 68164 | 402-934-4747

2567 S 171st Ct | Omaha, NE 68130 | 402-934-2000

[

E D I TO R ' S N OT E

LETTERS WELCOME Send comments to inspired@owh.com, or mail to Editor, Inspired Living Omaha Magazine, 1314 Douglas St., Suite 600, Omaha, NE 68102.

Please include your full name, city and daytime telephone number. Letters must be signed, and we reserve the right to edit them for clarity and space reasons.

DON'T MISS AN ISSUE! Subscribe for $9.99 for a full year (six issues) at inspiredlivingomaha.com.

HOOTON IMAGES

EMBRACE THE DETOURS In this issue, we take you to the western slope of Colorado’s Front Range for a summer fashion feature – in a springtime snowstorm.

That’s right. We worked in snow. It wasn’t a fluffy dusting, mind you. Mother Nature

CHRIS CHRISTEN editor-in-chief

Selects her vehicles by their wheels and exhaust pipes.

FUN FACT Rarely enjoys her own dish of ice cream. She prefers to mooch from her husband’s bowl – to spare him the calories.

dumped four inches upon our arrival – and then tested our mettle with three days of bone-chilling temperatures.

My sister-in-law, who lives near Guffey in Park County (our base camp, elevation 8,600 feet) had warned us that a mid-May photo shoot was risky.

Our creative team rose to the challenge, drawing on collaboration, flexibility, resourcefulness and good humor to make the most out of our ever-changing #HiColorado adventure. I knew we’d salvage the shoot when photographer Heather Hooton said, “I love it when random things happen.”

Local folks helped, encouraged and entertained at every turn.

- In Guffey, population 25 (or thereabouts), Bill Soux invited us inside his Guffey Garage. A collector of oddities and local lore, Soux minds the area's historical sites and looks after the town's unofficial mayor, Monster the Cat. - Cashmere goat breeder Susanne Roth welcomed us to her Jabberwocky Farm for a play date with her barnyard menagerie. The farm's namesake is the Jabberwock beast in Lewis Carroll's 1872 novel, "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There."

Carroll's “Jabberwocky” poem, in part, greets visitors on sign posts along the lane.

- At a Guffey hangout, folk singer-songwriter Lissa Hanner introduced us to her debut album – a love letter to her native Colorado.

And through it all, model Hope Dendinger was a trooper. She embraced every challenge, including wading in 27-degree mountain water for a much-anticipated swimsuit shot at Guffey Gorge.

Our travelogue begins on page 48.

Enjoy!

Chris Christen editor-in-chief Find behind-the-scenes photos from our Colorado adventure on Instagram:

@ I N S P I R E D O MA H A

6 JULY/AUGUST 2014

… m o r F s g n i t e e r G

CELL PHONE RECEPTION The beauty of the Black Hills is evident to all. And while we like to think that the land at Powder House Pass is among the most beautiful in the Hills, many people in the market for a vacation home are even more enchanted by the care we’ve given to planning ��� ���������� ������ ����� ���� ����� ��� ����� ����������� from paved roads to cell phone reception. Talk about beautiful...

LEARN MORE AT POWDERHOUSEPASS.COM/NEWHOME

THE CONTRIBUTORS

HEIDI THORSON

KURT A. KEELER

assistant editor

creative director & designer

Mom to Zoey and Elliot.

Wife to Tony. Food and organization are her favorite topics.

Amateur photographer.

Self-described craft addict.

Bride to Matthew.

Isn't on Facebook.

Thinks "Pinteresting" is a word.

Confuses Twitter & Instagram.

FUN FACT Amy has had several temp jobs, including paper collator, receptionist and real estate license preparer.

FUN FACT Heidi had never (officially) been to Colorado before this issue's #ILthreads.

FUN FACT Kurt served as chuck wagon boss & caravan leader for our Colorado trip.

CORA COPPOCK

THE HOOTONS

fashion stylist

photographers

PAT WATERS

Bag maker and accessory enthusiast at Artifact Bag Co. Roamed the world in her 20s.

Husband and wife team.

Specialize in weddings, portraits, boudoir and fashion editorials.

Nebraska farm girl.

Married with two children.

Has a dog named Jeeves.

FUN FACT Cora collects brass bells and vintage buttons.

FUN FACT Heather & Jameson saw a bear outside their cabin in Colorado.

FUN FACT Pat is a rabid bridge player – with humans or a computer.

CATHY VANHAUER

KRISTINE BUHMAN

MURPHY BENOIT

Loves her customers.

Known for her laugh & candidness.

Has three children who fulfill her life.

Born and raised Iowa girl.

Baseball fanatic. Loves laughter and craft cocktails.

Born in Illinois; lifelong Chicago Cubs fan. Could spend eight hours a day in her garden.

FUN FACT Cathy's secrets to gardening success are homegrown compost & Oma-Gro.

FUN FACT Kristine’s mom named her Kristine so she could call her “Krissy” like Suzanne Somers on “ Three’s Company.”

FUN FACT Murphy met Chicago Cubs legend Ernie Banks at Wrigley Field.

advertising account executive

8 JULY/AUGUST 2014

advertising account executive

photographer

writer

imaging specialist

PHOTOS: HOOTON IMAGES, DAN THORSON PHOTOGRAPHY, JEFFREY BEBEE, REBECCA S. GRATZ, JAMES R. BURNETT, KURT A. KEELER, TIN BOX PICTURES, DANIEL JOHNSON

AMY LaMAR

WATKINS From barbecues to dinner parties, when it’s time to take life outdoors Watkins has the selection of products to make your dreams a reality.

OUTDOOR KITCHENS | PATIOS | RETAINING WALLS

Be Inspired

Design D ig Y Your Backyard B ky d at the Watkins Designer g Showroom

Watkins Concrete Block Company 14306 Giles Road • Omaha, NE 68138 • 402-896-0900 inspiredlivingomaha.com  www.WatkinsConcreteBlock.com • Mon-Fri 7 am-5 pm & Sat 8-11:30 am

9

CARRIE KENTCH

MEGHANN SCHENSE

CHELSEA BAILEY

Fan of photography.

Soon to be an empty-nester.

Mom to daughters Zoraya & Zabrina.

Owner/creative grit of Esoteric Velvet. Event planner. Personal and commercial stylist.

Writer and editor.

Newlywed. Grammar nerd.

HGTV devotee.

FUN FACT Carrie bakes a fine cookie.

FUN FACT Meghann will attend Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in NYC in September for the second year in a row.

FUN FACT Chelsea could happily eat Mexican food every day.

advertising manager

merchandise stylist

food writer

DANIEL JOHNSON

BRIAN O'MALLEY

JEFFREY BEBEE

chef-instructor at MCC

photographer

Married to Rebecca.

New dad to Harvey, apple of his eye. Loves eating and cooking.

Passionate about sharing his knowledge. Husband to Krista.

Dad to Marin and Finley.

Usually shows up on assignment with a new camera gadget.

Western Nebraska roots.

FUN FACT Dan's infant son has had his own Instagram account since birth.

FUN FACT Brian received his first cooking award, the Silver Spatula, from his Boy Scout troop.

FUN FACT Photography is a passport that has allowed Jeffrey into some interesting situations – a few he would like to forget.

RANDY & LISA WALBYE

TINBOX PICTURES

SANDRA WENDEL

Self-employed making carpentry an art form.

Husband & wife team.

They met in a darkroom, and were married five years later.

Book editor.

Lives in a log cabin with the "catch" of her life. Kayaks daily.

FUN FACT She's the former Lisa Keeler of Bellevue. Randy has climbed the 14,000-foot Pike's Peak 18 times.

FUN FACT Vivian's first love is travel.

Jordan has a crazy passion for lighting and the technical side of photography.

FUN FACT Sandra was the editor of her high school newspaper.

photographer

Colorado hosts + guides

10 JULY/AUGUST 2014

photographers

health writer

inspiredlivingomaha.com  11

D ES I G N D O N E R I G H T

This waterfall is the centerpiece of the Colorado-inspired seating area.

12  JULY/AUGUST 2014

FIRE& Where hot and cool collide.

TEXT BY AMY LaMAR PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY BEBEE

Imagine a backyard living space that's always ready for a party. Ambiance? Check. Multiple seating options for guests? Check. Kitchen and bar areas for food and cocktails? Absolutely. Grab a favorite beverage and make yourself comfortable. Once you see these properties, you’ll want to be the last one to leave the party.

NEIGHBORHOOD

LANDSCAPE

POOL

| Northwoods Estates

| Lanoha

| New Wave Pools & Spas Inc.

inspiredlivingomaha.com 13

This section of the pool can operate independently as a spa – heating up to 104 degrees.

We love this trend: Barstools affixed to the bottom of the pool!

T R AV E L T H E WO R L D – I N A S I N G L E B AC KYA R D Who says you can’t see the world without leaving home?

A homeowner in northern Douglas County has transformed his 10-acre property into settings reminiscent of his travels.

The home’s sprawling front porch has a southern Kentucky feel in the summertime, while the snowy landscape in the winter reminds him of Colorado.

More of a worldwide view is represented in the backyard where you'll find a Scotland-inspired putting green; a sunken

14 JULY/AUGUST 2014

kitchen and swim-up bar like those enjoyed on vacations to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico; and a lounge area that feels like a mountain resort.

Integrated throughout the outdoor oasis are pavers in various shapes and textures, and what Lanoha landscape designer JT Savoie refers to as rustic-style landscaping.

Not to mention the fire and water features.

“I love that fight (between fire and water),” the homeowner

Customize Your Space

says about the fire and water bowls and multicolored bubblers at the edge of the pool.

The most fun from the homeowner’s perspective is operating everything in his backyard with a single button on his cell phone – even when he is vacationing in Australia.

“It’s completely automated through an app,” says Darcy Schatz of New Wave Pools & Spas. “He can turn it all on from anywhere in the world.”

Oriental RugPalace Rugs • Furniture • Accessories Cleaning • Repair • Appraisals

980 S 72nd St. Omaha, NE 68114 (402) 390-1122 • www.orientalrugpalace.com inspiredlivingomaha.com 15

A rolled lava boulder fire pit is designed for year-round use.

Its natural stone lends itself to the home’s natural setting.

Add-ons to concrete pools are limitless, says Darcy Schatz of New Wave Pools & Spas.

This pool features an automatic cover, arch jets and water lights in magenta, red, blue, green and white.

NEIGHBORHOOD

LANDSCAPE

POOL

| West Omaha

| Elite Landscaping

| New Wave Pools & Spas Inc.

The homeowners hit the hot tub in the evenings – when they can fully enjoy the beauty of the waterfall.

JOINT EFFORT G O E S ‘S W I M M I N G LY ’ What happens when next-door neighbors decide to install backyard living spaces at the same time? Less mess, fewer complaints – and the opportunity to throw a party together.

The collaboration began last May when the two families hired the same landscape designer and pool company for their spaces. This family's musthaves: A cover for the pool and a fire pit. The family is thrilled that the space offers so much more, hardly resembling what it looked like just a year ago.

“The kids were not happy" with the formerly boring backyard space, the homeowner says.

This summer, there are plenty of smiles to go around. The baseball team declared the pool a hit.

An island was recently installed in the cabana to add seating and additional space for preparing and serving food.

A TV will be added in the fall.

Football, anyone?

inspiredlivingomaha.com 17

'H U N K E R E D I N,' A N D LOV I N G I T This backyard space with a wooded backdrop is full of activity on warm summer nights. The kids play basketball or volleyball in the pool while the adults relax in the hot tub, by the pool or near the grill.

“It’s a place to hang out and have the kids over,” the homeowner says.

“The whole thing just flows.”

The highlight is a stone fire wall that creates not only privacy, but ambiance.

You can lose track of time watching NEIGHBORHOOD

POOL

| West Omaha

| New Wave Pools & Spas, Inc. LANDSCAPE

| Elite Landscaping

Cottonwood limestone, slate-style Unilock pavers and rock combine for texture and interest throughout the backyard.

18 JULY/AUGUST 2014

the fire dance. In turn, the homeowner has fallen in love with the space’s “hunkered-in" feeling.

A fire wall at the downtown Hilton Omaha inspired the setting. Smitten by the wall, the homeowner asked Jason Decker of Elite Landscaping to design something similar. Decker couldn’t wait to get started on the custom feature.

You can’t beat the coloring of the fireplace’s natural stone, he says. “It’s the real thing.”

Bastille Day Sale JULY 11-19 | 20% Off

The lagoon-entry sun shelf (with the option of an umbrella), is a fresh trend in pool design. The steps feature iridescent glass tiles that coordinate with the tiles on the pool deck.

Exclusively at:

THE LINEN GALLERY AT REGENCY COURT www.LinensandDown.com 402.399.5242

Gran∂

MAKE A

ENTRANC ENTRANCE

SECURIT Y

BEAUT Y

FUNCTION

Formerly Grabow Hardware

13817 Industrial Road 402.445.2596 • www.MoreThanKnobs.com

inspiredlivingomaha.com 19

B E FO R E + A F T E R

‘SOMEDAY’ BECOMES REALITY Couple renovates 128-year-old home into a ‘forever’ retreat.

TEXT BY PAT WATERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY THOMAS GRADY/T. HURT CONSTRUCTION

T

he Victorian Italianate home rises like a ship above undulating farmland near Omaha.

Restoring the grand dame took about 18 months, but the homeowners’ plan for it gestated for 30 years – beginning when they were dating in high school.

“Whenever we would drive by I would say, ‘Someday we have to buy that house and give it some TLC,’” she recalls.

“Someday” came in 2010 when the couple purchased the house. It marked the first time that it had changed hands outside of the family who built it.

It was, perhaps, meant to be. Her in-laws farm nearby. And her husband wanted to expand his

family’s farming operation by the 120 acres on which the house stands.

Renovating a 128-year-old home requires determination, energy and a willingness to commit time and financial resources. The couple were equally passionate about and dedicated to the project.

“We never had one serious problem. We had fabulous contractors. There never was a day when someone wasn’t there. Everyone loved working on the house because it was unique.”

Oh, there were minor problems – like the time when interior designer Libby Pantzlaff of Creative Interiors by Libby stepped through a weak spot in the kitchen floor. And there were bats that stubbornly refused to vacate their attic aerie.

(continued on page 23)

20 JULY/AUGUST 2014

Custom Design Home Technology Echo Systems provides custom design for audio and video products ranging from home theaters to a complete lighting control system, as well as automated window shades for the home. Our superior quality, service and design are what set us apart from the competition.

4315 S. 120th Street

402-334-4900

www.echosystemsomaha.com

inspiredlivingomaha.com  21

A two-sided fireplace between the dining room and TV room (shown opposite page) replaced a single narrow fireplace.

22  JULY/AUGUST 2014

(continued from page 20)

But the homeowners never second-guessed their decision.

“It would have been cheaper to tear it down and build new, but it wouldn’t have had the character,” she says. Adds Pantzlaff: “A new house built to look like this still wouldn’t feel like this house feels.”

The house was structurally sound. The original floors, made of three kinds of wood including quarter sawn oak and walnut, were level; the three-foot-thick exterior brick walls were solid; and only one crack marred the cement floor in the basement.

General contractor T. Hurt Construction was contacted by the homeowners after they read a newspaper article about the firm's 2009 award for renovating a historic house.

“We kept the existing structure and added on around it,” says company founder Terry Hurt. “It was chopped up inside with a lot of walls. We gave it an open floor plan and new functionality.

There’s a lot of steel (support beams) in that house.”

The house needed a new roof, as well as new plumbing, electrical wiring and an HVAC system. The masonry and fretwork required repair, and the original open-air porch that later was enclosed needed shoring up.

Inside, the 4,600-square-foot living space didn’t fit the contemporary homeowners' needs or tastes. There were too many individual rooms on the main floor, and too few bathrooms and closets upstairs.

So, the owner says, “We built a house inside of a house” with help from architect Straight Line Design.

“We wanted a bedroom on the main floor,” the homeowner says. “But we couldn’t figure out how to do it, and we didn’t want to give up space.”

Instead, since this is the home that the couple intends to live in “forever,” they created an area where an elevator can be installed if necessary.

Upstairs, the architect and contractor reconfigured the five bedrooms and one bathroom into four bedrooms – each with walk-in closets – and two bathrooms. (continued on page 26)

inspiredlivingomaha.com 23

This antique pendant originally hung in the upstairs stairwell.

This alcove may have once been a chimney. It was left open and bricked for wine storage.

The original wood floors were sanded and stained.

24  JULY/AUGUST 2014

" # $ ! $ " $ $ $

$

We ďŹ x ugly cabinets and save you thousands of dollars vs. new!

“What great people to work with. Travis and his family are awesome and their product and service is ďŹ rst class. We love our new look kitchen.â€?

Renee, Omaha

Call today ffor your FREE iin-home h estimate.

402.884.9600 inspiredlivingomaha.com  25

(continued from page 23)

The goal was to make the house “50 percent new and 50 percent old,” and to preserve the historical details when possible.

“I didn’t want my ‘new-old’ house to look like my other house. I wanted it to look like a farmhouse in the country,” explain the homeowners, who previously lived in Elkhorn.

They went so far as to have Lumbermen’s Hearth and Home create new moldings to match the original moldings that weren’t salvageable.

The designer and homeowners worked carefully during the renovation to integrate their current furniture and window treatments with new pieces and antiques purchased with the house. They selected elements for the kitchen in one day at Crestwood Design Center in Salina, Kansas.

The kitchen is modern and functional, yet the cabinetry’s antique, distressed character perfectly suits the historical home.

When it came to color selection, the creative team chose an “aged earthy green” for the first floor, a blue-gray for the upstairs and taupe for the transitional areas.

“I wanted light and bright upstairs,” the homeowner says, crediting Pantzlaff for the pleasing color palette.

Plans to restore the original color of the brick exterior were abandoned after the homeowners learned that restoration efforts could undermine the soft brick, causing it to crumble. Instead, workers applied epoxy to the entire outside to strengthen the brick.

A coat of creamy white followed, with accent colors of grays and blacks.

The homeowner says she is coming around on the red paint for the front door that Pantzlaff recommended.

“It’s going to happen.”

So is the project complete?

For now, yes. But there’s another 4,600 square feet of space in the basement that the homeowners would someday like to transform into a bedroom, family room, wine cellar and recreation area.

With three grown children and the potential for grandchildren, the couple sees the lower floor getting plenty of use. For now, though, they are enjoying the place that they knew so many years ago would be their forever home.

26 JULY/AUGUST 2014

This lamp once hung above the dining room table.

Vintage doorknobs were reused on new doors or repurposed inside closets as hanging knobs.

inspiredlivingomaha.com  27

S M A L L S PAC ES , B I G ST Y L E

Arah Kleinschmidt’s love of wine shows in her décor. Her favorite label? Mollydooker from Australia.

The name means “left-handed," and Arah is a lefty!

28 JULY/AUGUST 2014

Urban DIGS These downtown dwellings are too beautiful to leave.

TEXT BY AMY LaMAR PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL JOHNSON

In the Midwest, people often think of apartments as temporary places to live – something to get by with until a bigger, better place comes along.

But Arah Kleinschmidt describes her downtown Omaha lifestyle as “everyone’s dream,” and it has everything to do with her apartment on 14th and Farnam Streets.

Arah’s apartment is within walking distance of just about any downtown amenity, which was a priority.

“I was attracted to the apartment because of its location,” says Arah, a speech and language major at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “It’s downtown, but not within the Old Market.”

She loves the one-bedroom unit’s “unique and stylish big-city” feel. Landlord Suzanne Kehm decorated the renovated building’s three units. She incorporated extra touches, including maximized closet space and a built-in desk in each apartment.

“You don’t want a big mess in your living room or bedroom,” she says. “I wanted to create spaces that I wouldn’t mind living in myself.”

Arah filled in with furnishings from Nebraska Furniture Mart and artwork.

Her favorite features of the apartment, which is located above the Kitchen Table restaurant, are the large windows, the kitchen area and the high ceilings, giving it a “very open feel.”

She says she has no plans to move.

“I really enjoy living downtown. I have decorated my apartment with art pieces and furnishings that reflect my style, which give it the feel of a more permanent home.” inspiredlivingomaha.com 29

UNEXPECTED AM E N I T I E S

EL A NI JENN

“It’s beautiful,” Jenna Nielsen says about her 2,000-square-foot loft. “I’ve never seen one like this.”

Features of the two-level, onebedroom apartment include a large deck, a great view and a lot of open space. “People can’t believe how big it is,” says Jenna, who walks to work at her downtown hair salon.

The apartment at 14th and Farnam Streets is so big, in fact, that Jenna had to choose how to position the kitchen table, which has casters on the wheels so it can be easily moved.

“We had fun figuring out that one while we wandered around dusty old warehouses,” laughs building owner Suzanne Kehm about the casters she and her husband, Karl, put on the table. She wanted tenants to be able to move it when entertaining, or even use it to fold laundry.

Originally Kehm’s father-in-law’s first drafting table, it came with the apartment – in addition to what the former two tenants left behind. The first tenant left a decorative metal leaf, which is now in Jenna's living room. The most recent tenant left behind a clock and wind chimes, which are still hanging on the deck.

Jenna already knows where she will leave something when and if she moves.

“I will leave it on the deck,” she says. “There aren’t any decks that big down here. It completely drew me to the apartment.”

30 JULY/AUGUST 2014

SEN

Jenna Nielsen had the kitchen table, which came with the apartment, facing the other way – for about 30 minutes.

She moved it to make the apartment feel more open.

The loft was one of the features that attracted Jenna to the apartment.

The apartment's modern feel made choosing color schemes easy.

Jenna often shares her living room with a neighbor – and her neighbor's friends. They open both of their apartment doors so people can come and go when they entertain.

inspiredlivingomaha.com  31

RIDING THE MOMENTUM The Gerald R. Ford Birthsite apartment building was a mess when it was purchased in 2013. The roof leaked; the floors and plumbing were outdated. But the developer had a vision for those who would live there: Young professionals who work nearby.

When Harvest Development purchased the building – and named it the Newport after a town in Rhode Island – it had been totally gutted.

“There was plaster everywhere. It was in bad shape,” President Jim Rich says.

One of the first tasks was cleaning the plaster off the walls, which revealed beautiful exposed brick throughout each apartment. Also exposed are the fire sprinkler system and electrical conduit, giving each unit an industrial-modern feel.

“It has the feeling of an Old Market loft,” says Courtney Otte, a designer with Modern Hive Design Studio. “It plays off the character of the building and is updated, yet has original features.”

Otte was asked to stage apartment No. 5 for resale. The staged unit has a masculine feel, but can easily be adapted to a more feminine space with pillows, drapes and artwork, she says.

Rich says Harvest Development hopes to ride the momentum that the “pied pipers” have started in the area as well as in Midtown Crossing, where the company recently renovated an apartment building.

32 JULY/AUGUST 2014

Among the features of the 1,100-square-foot apartment is a balcony off the living room. To the right are the kitchen and dining area and the master bedroom.

Apartment No. 5 was designed with a minimalistic approach, incorporating sleek and modern furniture and metal accents.

inspiredlivingomaha.com  33

H O M ES P I R AT I O N

F R OM

TO R E C I P E C A R D S Author finds perfect ingredient for blog and book: A 100-year-old Sand Hills library.

TEXT BY AMY LaMAR PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOOTON IMAGES

A

special birthday gift, a favorite teacher, a puppy – these are a child's typical memories before age 10. But a library? Christianna Reinhardt fondly recalls time spent at the Burwell Public Library with her newspaper publisher dad.

More than 30 years later, it still feels like yesterday. Dad's in Arizona now, but he's still reading the Burwell paper – and sending clippings of interest to his daughter. One in particular, sent in 2005, would be the catalyst for Christianna’s long overdue return to the retired library. This time, she was here to stay. (continued on page 38)

34 JULY/AUGUST 2014

HOMESPIRATION

inspiredlivingomaha.com  35

“Whenever I have time I end up out here,” Christianna says about the 100-year-old library, which she renovated into a writer’s retreat, vacation home and muse for her blog, “Burwell General Store.”

Nope, it's not a library card catalog. It’s a pharmacist’s card catalog once used on a Food Network set. Christianna bought it for $50 at an employees-only props auction.

The Sand Hills retreat has become a “repository” for family treasures, including Grandma’s chairs.

36 JULY/AUGUST 2014

The wood shelving, floors and woodwork – as well as the tin ceiling – are all original.

The space is about 75 percent renovated. The other 25 percent “just kills me,” Christianna says. “It’s a big old building that acts like a big old building.”

inspiredlivingomaha.com 37

ROEDER MORTUARIES

Family Owned for 100 years

(continued from page 34)

It means so much.

Whenever you need us, Roeder Mortuary is here for you.

As a fourth-generation, family-owned mortuary, we know the importance of attentive service to every detail: • Traditional funerals • Graveside services • Memorial services • Video tributes • Cremation services • Pre-planning It’s our family helping yours, since 1912.

2727 N. 108th Street 4932 Ames Avenue 402-496-9000 402-453-5600

11710 Standing Stone 402-332-0090

www.roedermortuary.com

OUTDOOR KITCHEN & PATIO 12100 West Center Road 402.333.2282 www.outdoorkitchen.com

38 JULY/AUGUST 2014

“My dad sent me a clipping about the sale of the library as a joke,” recalls Christianna, who was living in New York at the time. “But I responded very seriously.”

Today, the 3,000-square-foot summer retreat is both a refuge from and a sharp contrast to her life in Los Angeles, where she has a onebedroom apartment and works as a freelance writer and television producer.

Having worked predominately in food production for the Food Network and the Cooking Channel for the last 13 years, she giggles about the irony of her latest accomplishment: A Daytime Emmy Award nomination for “Sea Rescue,” a children’s show about marine animal rehab.

As for her recent book deal, well, that was a “lucky situation,” she says humbly.

And her handsomely renovated summer live/work space had a lot to do with it.

More than a place to “recharge,” the 100-year-old building serves as both inspiration and a backdrop for Christianna’s food and recipe blog, “Burwell General Store.”

In addition to a platform for her original recipes, the blog features pictures and posts about the library, which she describes as a “mix-matchy New York-style loft.”

An editor from History Press noticed the blog in May 2013, and Christianna had a book deal shortly thereafter. In turn, her summer retreat turned into a second home for all seasons.

Christianna spent several months in Burwell researching archives and interviewing farm and ranch women in their 80s and 90s for her book, which offers a history of the Sand Hills from a culinary perspective. She developed 14 of the 16 recipes in the book in response to the stories she heard.

“When you take people down memory lane … food is a great access point,” says the author.

A fried chicken recipe, for example, was inspired by a 91-year-old’s recollection of her childhood school lunch. Her mother would ring a chicken’s neck, pluck the bird, dress it and fry it that morning. The steaming hot chicken would go directly into her daughter’s lunch pail (along with an apple) – with the lid off the pail until the chicken cooled.

Christianna was most struck by the resilience of the scores of people she interviewed.

“They are honest and straightforward. They have unmatched morals and ethics that are tried and true,” she says.

Sand hills Chic Timeless kitchen tools TEXT BY CHRISTIANNA REINHARDT PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOOTON IMAGES

In writing "A Culinary History of the Nebraska Sand Hills: Recipes and Recollections From Prairie Kitchens,” I discovered beauty in the utility of kitchen implements. One-hundred years ago, pioneer women made an art out of making do, and created a legendary rustic simplicity and utility that still resonates in our busy kitchens today. Add a little prairie history to your Nebraska kitchen with these simple and useful kitchen wares.

WHITE ENAMEL DISHPAN

Today, you see these in antique stores and as garden accessories, but the dishpan was a workhorse in Plains kitchens. It was used to make large batches of cookies and breads, and to bring items up from the cellar. The same dishpan was also used to haul water from the well and to wash dishes and linens.

A GOOD KNIFE

The most important tool in your kitchen should be a splurge.

Mark Colburn, a fourth-generation rancher deep in the Sand Hills of Cherry County, crafts stunning carbon steel knives in his spare time. The handles are carved from found wood or antlers, and the hand-wrought carbon steel blades are strong, sharp and will last a lifetime.

MANUAL COFFEE GRINDER

In a sea of $200 gourmet electric burr grinders, this oldfashioned manual grinder uses the same technology.

It grinds between two steel plates rather than pulverizing with blades, and it has been in kitchens for 100 years. In addition to grinding coffee beans, this tool milled dried corn for fresh corn bread.

LINEN SQUARE

A single large linen or burlap square served as an apron, towel and a bag for hauling ingredients around. If in good shape, it could also be used as a tablecloth. Try these natural linen/cotton examples.

inspiredlivingomaha.com 39

H O ST

Authentic TEXT & RECIPES BY CHRISTIANNA REINHARDT PHOTOGRAPHY BY HOOTON IMAGES

R

esearching and writing “A Culinary History of the Nebraska Sand Hills: Recipes and Recollections From Prairie Kitchens” uncovered a common theme in Sand Hills kitchens: Every ingredient or recipe pulled double-duty.

These shortcakes are no exception.

They are essentially sweetened dinner biscuits. The fruit topping changed with the seasons. For example, strawberries

40 JULY/AUGUST 2014

were used in May and June; stone fruits, in late summer.

In the prairie kitchen, soured milk (created with fresh cream today) was the last useful stage of cow’s milk. Fruit shortcakes were a great way to use every last drop. The flavor of soured milk lends a surprising tang that balances the sweetness of ripe, late-summer fruit.

With just a few humble ingredients, the complexity of flavors and textures makes this a quintessential Sand Hills recipe.

SAND HILLS SUMMER FRUIT SHORTCAKES

Serves 10-12

BISCUITS

WHAT YOU NEED

SOURED WHIPPED CREAM WHAT YOU NEED

2 cups flour

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon plus ¼ teaspoon baking powder

1 tablespoon lemon juice

3 tablespoons sugar, plus 2 tablespoons for dusting tops ¾ teaspoon kosher salt ¼ cup unsalted butter, chilled and cut into ¼-inch cubes ½ cup heavy cream ½ cup whole milk (any percentage will do), plus 2 tablespoons for brushing tops

WHAT YOU DO

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.

2. Sift flour into a large bowl. Measure out 2 cups sifted flour into a separate bowl. Reserve leftover flour for rolling out the dough.

3. Add baking powder, the 3 tablespoons sugar and salt. Mix until combined.

WHAT YOU DO

1. In a large glass or ceramic bowl, whisk together the cream and lemon juice.

2. Place in the refrigerator, covered, for 30 minutes.

3. Whip the cream with a hand mixer on mediumhigh speed until soft peaks form – about 6 to 7 minutes (It will seem like it isn’t going to whip at first – be patient!). Cover and refrigerate until serving.

FRUIT TOPPING

WHAT YOU NEED 1 pint raspberries

3 large fresh peaches with skins on, pitted and thinly sliced lengthwise ¼ cup sugar

4. Add butter, working through the mixture with your hands until the consistency resembles wet sand.

¼ cup lemon juice

5. Add cream and ½ cup milk. Mix by hand just until the dough comes together – about a minute. (It should look uneven and should barely hold.)

1. Gently toss the fruit, sugar and lemon juice in a large bowl.

6. On a floured surface, gently roll out the dough to a half-inch thickness. Cut the dough using a 2½-inch round cookie or biscuit cutter, and place each disc on the parchment-lined sheet pan.

7. Brush the tops with milk or cream, sprinkle with sugar (a heavy pinch per biscuit) and place on the cookie sheet.

8. Roll the dough scraps once more to make two more biscuits.

9. Bake for 6 minutes, and then rotate the pan. Bake for an additional 4 to 5 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. Remove and let cool.

WHAT YOU DO

2. Place in the refrigerator, covered, for 20 minutes.

FOR GARNISH 1 lemon, zested 10-12 mint leaves (optional)

FOR ASSEMBLY

Halve the biscuits lengthwise, and place two halves on each small dessert plate. Top with a large spoonful of berries, then whipped cream.

Finish with a pinch of lemon zest and a mint leaf, if desired. For a sweeter dessert, sprinkle a little sugar on top. Serve immediately.

CHECK IT OUT! Christianna Reinhardt’s “A Culinary History of the Nebraska Sand Hills: Recipes and Recollections From Prairie Kitchens” is part of the “American Palate” book series.

Coming September 2014.

THE DISH

Get cooking with ingredients as fresh as summer itself.

FRESH THINKING

DISH

RECIPES BY BRIAN O’MALLEY TEXT BY CHELSEA BAILEY PHOTOGRAPHY BY DANIEL JOHNSON

SPICE UP YOUR COOKING WITH EVERYDAY EXTRAORDINAIRE COURSES AT THE INSTITUTE FOR THE CULINARY ARTS. MCCNEB.EDU/CHH/EVERYDAYEXTRAORDINAIRE.ASP

42 JULY/AUGUST 2014

N

othing beats a stroll through a farmers market.

A medley of farm-fresh foods, sweet aromas and vibrant colors, it stimulates the senses, is a source of inspiration – and provides ingredients for your next meal. “It’s an adventure in allium,” says MCC chef-instructor Brian O’Malley, who packed four types of onions into our featured dish.

Golden potatoes and savory lemon yogurt merge with the main course for a locally sourced, melt-in-your-mouth meal.

PULLED CHICKEN SAUTÉ & GLAZED VEGETABLES Prep time: 20 minutes Yield: 4 servings

WHAT YOU NEED 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 4 tablespoons butter, divided ½ cup chopped onion (We used leeks, shallots, pearl onions and yellow onions) 1 mild chili pepper, roasted if necessary* and cut into strips (We used a roasted poblano pepper) Kosher salt to taste 2 cloves garlic, pasted (On a cutting board, work the garlic with salt until a paste forms.) ½ cup sturdy greens, trimmed, blanched and shocked if necessary (We used raw savoy spinach) 8 yellow and 8 red cherry tomatoes ¼ cup dry white wine 1 cup leftover roasted chicken torn into 1-inch pieces Chopped chives for garnish

WHAT YOU DO

1. In a 12-inch sauté pan over medium-high heat, add the vegetable oil and 2 tablespoons butter. Heat until the butter is melted.

2. Add the onions and pepper. Season with salt and toss until coated.

3. Sauté the coated vegetables until the onions are fragrant and soft, but before they take on too much color – about 4 minutes.

4. Add the garlic paste, greens and tomatoes. Season with salt and toss until combined.

5. Sauté the mixture until the greens are tender, about 5 minutes.

Be careful not to burn the garlic.

6. Add the white wine and chicken. Shimmy the pan to release any drippings.

7. Turn off the heat, and mount the remaining butter by rapidly stirring it into the sauce before serving.

8. Sprinkle with chives; taste and adjust seasonings as desired.

9. Serve with sautéed potatoes and roasted lemon yogurt. *To roast or not to roast? It depends on the skin since roasting makes it less tough. Broil in the oven until charred – 5 to 10 minutes on each side. Place the pepper in an airtight container to create steam. After several minutes, remove it from the container and wrap the pepper in paper towels. Use the paper towels to scrape off the charred skin.

(continued on page 44)

inspiredlivingomaha.com 43

(continued from page 43)

SAUTÉED POTATOES WHAT YOU NEED

6 tablespoons olive oil 1 large russet potato, macédoine*, blanched and shocked Kosher salt as needed Fresh ground black pepper from the mill as needed

WHAT YOU DO

1. In a 12-inch non-stick sauté pan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and potatoes (wipe off any moisture first).

2. Season and toss until the potatoes are coated evenly and have a solid-brown crust. *Macédoine is a cutting style. Think diced, only the cubes should be a little larger. The size promotes even cooking and optimal control in the pan.

VOILÀ!

ROASTED LEMON YOGURT WHAT YOU NEED

1 lemon, halved

1 tablespoon olive oil 1 cup plain Greek yogurt 3 cloves garlic, pasted (see instructions, page 43) Kosher salt as needed Black pepper from the mill as needed

WHAT YOU DO

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Combine the 2 pieces of halved lemon and olive oil in a small bowl. Season and toss to combine.

3. Place the coated lemon onto a small baking sheet and roast until the exposed flesh turns brown. Remove from the oven and let rest.

I

n the heart of Dundee, you'll find a captivating shop brimming with blooms and home decor. Owner Ann Étienne's ever-changing inventory of interior accents and small gifts shares space with fresh flowers for every occasion. Everything you see is a labor of love born from a talent and passion that Ann playfully gives her husband, Larry, credit for being the first to recognize. With five grown sons, it was time to do something for herself. "He kept telling me that I needed to open my own business." Ann resisted the idea until the perfect Midtown location became available. "I signed the lease, and had an anxiety attack on my first trip to market," Ann recalls. She was pouring over wholesale catalogs when she saw something she liked, exclaimed, "Voila!" and arrived at the perfect name for her shop. "I wanted it to say everything and nothing at the same time." That was 11 years ago, and she has since expanded her business a half-block east, where she has 6,000 square feet for her gallery and a floral design workroom. Stop in, and you'll understand the heart that Ann puts into her business. "I love making homes and lives more beautiful."

4. In a small mixing bowl, add the Greek yogurt, garlic paste and juice from the roasted lemon.

Season and stir to combine; reserve until service.

4922 Dodge St. 402-991-1970 voilaflowers.com 44 JULY/AUGUST 2014

HARDSCAPE CONTRACTORS

PLAY+ROOMS

ith one call to Hardscape Contractors, you're well on your way to realizing your home's landscaping potential. Owners Scott Butcher and Mike Joneson, partners since 2008, have built a solid reputation for delivering superior start-to-finish services with all the extras. No job is too large or too small for this design-build team that's winning customers over with imagination, innovation and integrity. "If we can't do it, we have the contacts who will get it done," Scott says. Mike and Scott bring complementary skills to the job to ensure that each and every phase of your project comes together according to plan. When you're thrilled, Scott and Mike are thrilled. "We have a lot of happy customers," Scott says. "That's because we take the time up front to listen and to plan with the customer."

On the job site, the Hardscape team doesn't cut corners either. And if you need a total care package, the team has the manpower to oblige. "We enjoy bringing dreams to life and building things to last," Scott says. So what are you waiting for? Put the wheels in motion today, and you could be enjoying your new outdoor living space by fall.

eggy Pawloski is passionate about expanding young minds and encouraging family engagement and learning. Her LeWonderment shop in Omaha's Old Market is a hit with its hands-on educational toys.

Now, Peggy is introducing Play+Rooms by LeWonderment at Rockbrook Village. "There's nothing quite like this," Peggy says of the custom-designed play units. "It's an exciting extension of learning for both children (ages 2 to 12) and adults." The concept is based on the Reggio Emilia project approach to learning. Open by appointment only, the Play+Rooms showroom lets parents and children experience the magic as they decide which units would best enhance playing and learning at home. The Reggio-Inspired Family Lab includes a Theatre Unit for performances, drama, karaoke or even a garage band. The Library Unit features an inhabitable space for an adult and child to cozy up to read. A budding Picasso can play with finger paints, while a future scientist tries out the kinetic play station. As with all Le Wonderment educational toys, there are no stereotypical boundaries. Girls or boys can be astronauts – or anything else they can imagine.

W

17330 West Center Road 402-345-1156 hardscapecontractors.net

P

BY LEWONDERMENT

402-206-9928 lewonderment.com

ANTIQUITY OUTDOOR SUPPLY

CRESCENDO HOME THEATER

here are no antiques here – unless you count the wine barrels that can be bought or rented for your next cocktail party. Omaha's newest landscape supply shop takes its name from the natural materials it carries – stones, rocks, slate and boulders – along with everything else needed for your project. Scott Butcher, Mike Brown and Mike Joneson bring nearly 30 years of combined field experience to their business. Together with Design Coordinator Amanda Gonzales, you can count on them to guide you to the right materials for the job at hand. Along the way, help yourself to an ice cold beverage and tap the team for installation tips and tricks. Antiquity makes it easy to explore options on your own, too. The outdoor showroom is open daily, sunup to sundown.

You'll find a bit of entertainment here, too. Antiquity's materials yard runs parallel to railroad tracks, where trains rumble by with regularity and engineers say "hello" with long whistle blasts. Fitting for a family friendly business that keeps landscape projects on track – whether you're a do-it-yourselfer or a contractor who appreciates the efficiency of a one-stop shop with basic landscaping supplies and more.

aniel Karen has one goal: To enhance your life.

Like the musical progression from which it gets its name, Crescendo Home Theater systems deliver a broad, enriching experience. And that brings families together. “The family dynamic completely shifts when you bring our products into the home,” Daniel says.

Crescendo systems are easy to use, reliable and engineered to perfection to your specifications. “Nothing we do is cookiecutter,” Daniel says. Products are scalable to any size, from a pair of speakers in a single room to 70 speakers on a multisource whole-house network. You can have a ball game on in your family room; your favorite iPod playlist blasting on the patio; and a golf simulator in full “swing” in the basement.

And you can control your entire house from thousands of miles away with the push of a button. In fact, Crescendo was doing “smart home” automation before it became a household term.

Let a mixed-media system follow you indoors, outdoors – or wherever you gather to entertain and live your daily life. It will take home enjoyment to a whole new level.

15353 Chandler Road 402-502-2068 antiquitysupply.com

402-502-4502 crescendohometheater.com

T

46 JULY/AUGUST 2014

D

APPAREL, ACCESSORIES & SPECIALTY Ann Taylor Anthropologie Borsheims Christian Nobel Furs Francesca’s Collections Garbo’s Salon & Spa Hot Mama Learning Express Toys LOFT Parsow’s Fashions Pottery Barn Pottery Barn Kids Rhylan Lang The Linen Gallery Tilly White House|Black Market Williams-Sonoma DINING Bonefish Grill Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar Paradise Bakery & Cafe

SHOP LEMON DAYS JULY 10TH - 13TH 120 Regency Parkway . Omaha, NE 68114 . regencycourtomaha.com

Making Dreams Come True.

402.614.4892

MALL HOURS Mon - Fri: 10 am - 8 pm Sat: 10 am - 7 pm Sun: 12 pm - 5 pm

It’s What We Do...

highrockomaha.com

Get more style per square foot! Call to get started designing your dreams today! inspiredlivingomaha.com 47

THREADS

Sometimes, a girl just needs to do a little soul searching.

ART DIRECTION | Heidi Thorson PHOTOGRAPHY | Hooton Images 48  JULY/AUGUST 2014

WARDROBE STYLING | Cora Coppock

MODEL | Hope Dendinger LOCATION | Park County, Colorado

(on the cover & opposite page)

(this page)

Lumiere top, $38 Doublezero maxi skirt, $48 C.C Exclusives fedora, $38 NOUVELLE EVE NOUVELLEEVE.COM

Handmade top, $25 Three-piece cookware, $18 Picnic basket, $18 Cup and tray, $18 (set of four) WALLFLOWER IMAWALLFLOWER.COM

Earrings, $32 PATINA PATINASTORES.COM Petek necklace, $58 B.JOUE B-JOUE.MYSHOPIFY.COM Wooden beaded necklace, $20 WORLD MARKET WORLDMARKET.COM Ring, $3.50 FOREVER 21 FOREVER21.COM Copper bracelets, stylist’s own

Hat, $15 BLACK MARKET

BLACKMARKETLINCOLN.COM

Multi-strand necklace, $70 RON HERMAN RONHERMAN.COM Wooden necklace, $20 PAPERDOLL Rings, $10-$15 each GOODWILL GOODWILL.COM Boots, model’s own Ax, price upon request FONTENELLE SUPPLY CO. Quilt, price upon request SARI BARI SARIBARI.COM

inspiredlivingomaha.com 49

(this page) Kut from the Kloth maxi dress, $80 Belt, $38 Street Level bag, $98 NOUVELLE EVE NOUVELLEEVE.COM The Cue Pointelle cardigan, $98 ANTHROPOLOGIE ANTHROPOLOGIE.COM 1960s necklace set, $45 Wolf head with turquoise necklace, $85 THE CURIOSITY SHOP Earrings, $4.50 FOREVER 21 FOREVER21.COM Rings, stylist’s own Shoes, model’s own

(opposite page) Bikini top, price upon request KKINI KKINI.COM Denim overalls, $47 LOVE CULTURE LOVECULTURE.COM Earrings, $38 THE SOUQ SOUQLTD.COM CUFF BRACELET, $6 FOREVER 21 FOREVER21.COM Silver spoon rings, $20 each BRASS ARMADILLO BRASSARMADILLO.COM

Red ring Head scarf Mala bracelet, stylist’s own Shoes, model’s own

50 JULY/AUGUST 2014

inspiredlivingomaha.com  51

52 JULY/AUGUST 2014

(this page) Paradise Safari bathing suit, $390 PATRICK T COOPER PATRICKTCOOPER.COM

Silver Stacked bracelet, $15 BLACK MARKET BLACKMARKETLINCOLN.COM

Necklace, Stone bracelet, stylist’s own

(opposite page) Futura Couture dress, $45 WALLFLOWER IMAWALLFLOWER.COM String bikini, price upon request KKINI KKINI.COM Head scarf, $18 PAPERDOLL Trifari necklace, $18 THE CURIOSITY SHOP Earrings, $3 GOODWILL GOODWILL.COM Silver spoon rings, $20 each BRASS ARMADILLO BRASSARMADILLO.COM

inspiredlivingomaha.com 53

54 JULY/AUGUST 2014

(opposite page) Jungle fruit bikini, $200 PATRICK T COOPER PATRICKTCOOPER.COM

Haute Society tank, $16 MARSHALLS MARSHALLSONLINE.COM

Sanctuary pant, $110 NOUVELLE EVE NOUVELLEEVE.COM Necklace, $48 URBAN OUTFITTERS URBANOUTFITTERS.COM

Ring, $28 THE CURIOSITY SHOP Earrings, $25 PS I LOVE YOU Boots, model’s own (this page) Umgee blouse, $42 Umgee vest, $55 Ya Los Angeles shorts, $45 ME & ME MEANDMEOMAHA.COM

Gold bangle, $16 SCOUT DRY GOODS AND TRADE ILOVESCOUT.COM

Earrings, $38 ANTHROPOLOGIE ANTHROPOLOGIE.COM

Silver bangles, stylist’s own

inspiredlivingomaha.com 55

AU CO U R A N T

JET SET CONFIDENTIAL TEXT & ST YLING MEGHANN SCHENSE ART DIREC TION CHRIS CHRISTEN PHOTOGRAPHY TIN BOX PICTURES MODEL KAKHA "G" GIGITASHVILI LOCATION SKYWERX AVIATION, BLAIR

It’s what to wear everywhere!

Upgrade your business travel style with knit ties, round or mirrored shades and a signature pen. Travel in comfort with leather tennis shoes by day and sandals or slip-ons with a rolled pant cuff by night.

56 JULY/AUGUST 2014

(opposite page) Wool suit, $795 Dress shirt, $95 Zenio tie, $45 JERRY RYAN

JERRYRYANCLOTHING.COM

Mondaine Swiss Railways watch, $250 GADGETEER GADGETEERUSA.COM

Cessna Citation II, $795,000 SKYWERX AVIATION SKYWERXAVIATION.COM

(this page) Laban fountain pen, $280 GADGETEER GADGETEERUSA.COM

Leather satchel briefcase, $890 JERRY RYAN JERRYRYANCLOTHING.COM

Jack Georges writing pad, $125 LANDMARK LUGGAGE & GIFTS LANDMARKLUGGAGE.COM

Schnuchel sunglasses, $549 ROBERT MAX OPTICIANS Thom hat, $72 JERRY RYAN JERRYRYANCLOTHING.COM

inspiredlivingomaha.com 57

Be Well TEXT BY SANDRA WENDEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY HEIDI HOFFMAN

CALORIES + GRIDIRONS Maintenance Free Manufactured in the U.S.A. Lifetime Warranty

visit www.omarail.com and click on Free Estimates 2117 S. 156 Circle | 402.216.9911

This visual might make you think twice about what you eat: You’d need to walk the length of one football field to burn off one M&M. A 12-ounce beer is the equivalent of 36 football fields. A Snickers candy bar is 54 football fields. A potato chip can be burned off by walking the length of two football fields, but who eats just one chip?

A fast food Whopper-sized cheeseburger, fries and a shake is the equivalent of 400 football fields.

iFEEL

BETTER Feeling neck pain when you use your iPad or tablet? Get the device out of your lap. A Harvard study suggests placing the tablet in a case that allows you to tilt the screen. Place the case on a table so you’re not gazing at it from a low angle.

THIRSTY? Bottled water has led to an increase in how much water Americans drink. In 1980, we each drank about two-and-a-half gallons of bottled water per year.

Today, that figure is more than 29 gallons per year.

SLEEP TART Instead of the traditional glass of warm milk to induce sleep, try two daily glasses of tart cherry juice: One before bedtime, and another when you wake up in the morning. Why cherry? Tart cherries contain melatonin, which is a powerful antioxidant that helps regulate the sleep-wake cycle.

58 JULY/AUGUST 2014

Embassy Suites #1 Ranked Hotel 2009, 2010 & 2011 Embassy Suites Make a Difference Award 2012 & 2013 Courtyard by Marriott Community Service Award 2013 Alice S. Marriott Community Service Hall of Honor 2013 Meetings Focus Best of Mid America Award 2013 NE Career Education Distinguished Business Partner 2014

The Embassy Suites and Courtyard by Marriott in La Vista are proud to be awardwinning hotels for their Project SEARCH host site – a school-to-work program for students with special needs in partnership with the Papillion La Vista School District and Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation.

Their classroom is onsite, where their learning experience includes three rotations of 10 weeks each in a range of hotel and conference departments that include housekeeping, engineering, restaurants, kitchens and banquets. Guests and staff alike appreciate their integration, and soon discover their unique skills are a valuable asset. Embassy Suites and Courtyard by Marriott also host a Business Advisory Council to assist the students in finding meaningful employment following graduation.

Having hired 11 students from their 2013 and 2014 classes, the staff is looking forward to welcoming the class of 2015!

courtyardlavista.com

embassysuiteslavista.com

Call 402-408-5470 to become involved with Project SEARCH, or to book your corporate meeting, group or social event.

Voted Make a Difference Award winner by the staff of all Embassy Suites properties around the world.

Ranked #1 Embassy Suites worldwide in quality, service and guest satisfaction We are proud to be hosting the 2014 Project SEARCH International Conference in July 2014, bringing together over 250 worksites from around the world.

inspiredlivingomaha.com 59

P RO F I L E

Supermodel, designer, author, wife, CEO. Kathy Ireland is all of these, but her favorite title is Mom. “I love watching them find their way in the world,’’ she says of her children, ages 11, 15 and 19.

Ireland was an “aging” supermodel and pregnant with her first child in 1993 when she found a new career path. She nixed a sock company's pitch to model a new line with a counterproposal to join forces to make and sell Kathy Ireland socks. Today, she is CEO and chief designer for kathy ireland Worldwide, a design and marketing empire for lifestyle products carried by thousands of retailers including Nebraska Furniture Mart.

Ireland owes her retail start, in part, to NFM’s Irv Blumkin. “I was so nervous to meet him,’’ she recalls.

Through Blumkin, she became acquainted with Warren Buffett.

His advice: Stick with what you know. She has, with fashion, family, pets, bridal and home at her entrepreneurial core. Signing with NFM, she says, gave her the break she needed in a competitive market. “Irv Blumkin understood that I wasn’t a celebrity on the brand.”

A CLOSE-UP WITH

K ATHY IRELAND In an ILO exclusive, America's supermodel-turned-supermogul chats about loyalty, sweatshops and valued Omaha connections.

TEXT BY CHRIS CHRISTEN PHOTOGRAPHY BY JEFFREY BEBEE

Her business advice? “Invest in people who work for you ... When you treat people as you would want your family to be treated, it’s easy to be successful.” Loyalty is seen in her management team. “Most of us have been together for 26 years.”

Ireland is all about brand solutions for moms, and relies on frank feedback from consumers to improve her products. Her family gets into the act, too. “Our home is a crazy lab. The kids jump on the furniture and spill things on the carpets.”

When she visits retail partners, she fights for floor space, arguing

that moms need good shopping experiences.

Her soapbox: Human trafficking.

“It’s a powerful, concerning event worldwide. You have to be so diligent in the manufacturing business. Parents are selling their children to work in sweatshops, even in our country.” (Ireland was recently named Ambassador for YWCA Greater Los Angeles and was a speaker at the organization's groundbreaking symposium on human trafficking.)

Ireland was an entrepreneur long before she was a model. In her youth in Santa Barbara, she peddled hand-painted stones and handmade jewelry and handbags at art fairs and on beaches.

She was 11 and delivering newspapers when her father gave her advice that would serve her well in business throughout her life: “If they expect the newspaper in the driveway, put it on the porch.”

Actress and style icon Elizabeth Taylor was a mentor. She encouraged boldness with the Kathy Ireland brand. Upon her death, Taylor’s cherished pooches, Gracie and Dahlia, joined four other dogs in the Ireland household.

WHAT SHE’S READING Daily, the Bible. In her leisure, “When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty Without Hurting the Poor … and Yourself” by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert.

WHAT SHE COULD USE MORE OF “Sleep. I’m not getting enough of it in this season of my life.”

STRESS-BUSTERS Surfing, hiking, family time.

EVERY HOME NEEDS Love. Peace. Forgiveness.

We caught up with Kathy Ireland in May during a social media party at NFM. Ireland was in town for the annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting. She's a frequent attendee, saying that she enjoys the chance to socialize with the Blumkin family, describing them as “very good friends."

60 JULY/AUGUST 2014

Stacked Metal Prints

Done. Ready to display. Handcrafted on-site, your photo image is first printed on metal then stacked onto an accent metal background. Truly unique and exceptionally beautiful.

Sizes from 5x7 to 16x24.

Rockbrook - 108th & Center - 397-1171 | Legacy - 168th & W. Center - 691-0003 | Lincoln - 70th & Pioneers - 488-4200 | Shop 24/7 at rockbrookcamera.com

STORM DAMAGE EXPERTS Locally owned and operated since 1981 Trust McKinnis

!

" !

• Highest quality products

• Insurance claim support

• Nationally top-rated shingles, windows and door brands

• Fully licensed and insured

• Large product selection for nearly any budget

• All products installed by certified installers

Ask about our DOUBLE LIFETIME ROOFING WARRANTY

ÂŽ

0% INTEREST AND NO PAYMENTS FOR 12 MONTHS*

www.mckinnisroofing.com

(RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMERS, W.A.C.) *Not including insurance claims

Call us today to schedule your free rooďŹ ng, siding or window evaluation.

402-426-2644 inspiredlivingomaha.com  61

[ RESOUR CES ]

F I N D Y O U R I N S P I R AT I O N .

INSPIREDLIVINGOMAHA.COM

Inspired by one of Manhattan’s most fashionable neighborhoods, Gramercy is Omaha’s key to contemporary New York style.

Find us at Countryside Village.

Gramercy

Live Simply & See the Difference.

Restore order to your home & learn to work more efficiently. Make an appointment today with Omaha's professional organizing team.

Freshly Organized

Interiors Joan & Associates 50+ years of award-winning interior design.

Shop our showrooms.

Tap our expertise.

Love the results.

A New York shopping experience.

Featuring women’s contemporary clothing & accessories from wellknown and emerging designers.

The Shops of Legacy.

84th & Pacific 402-934-2111 gramercyomaha.com

402-670-3271 freshlyorganized.com

13130 W. Dodge Rd. 402-330-0685 interiorsbyjoan.com

168th & Center 402-557-6100 garmentdistrictomaha.com

Ehly’s Interiors

The Mix

Hunter Douglas Blinds Window Treatments Interior Design Service Flooring and Upholstery 37 years family owned & operated

Summer Sale!

To-die-for sandals, flats & heels.

Our new fall arrivals will knock your socks off!

M-F 10-6; Sat. 10-5; Sun. Noon-4

2312 Bob Boozer Drive 402-330-6557 ehlysinteriors.com

8710 Countryside Plaza 402- 933-7995 themixshoes.com

Deb's-tique

Omaha’s finest specialty boutique.

Enviable fashions + accessories.

Irresistible prices.

Personalized service.

Clocktower Village 402-934-3770 debstique.com

Garment District

Textiles

We have it all. Interior design.

Custom upholstery.

Unique furnishings.

Drapery and - Yes! – Wallpaper.

149th & Industrial Road 402-399-8764 textilesinteriors.com

GET NOTICED: CONTACT US TODAY TO PROMOTE YOUR VERY SPECIAL BUSINESS IN INSPIRED LIVING OMAHA; 402-444-1209.

62 JULY/AUGUST 2014

Urbane Salon & Day Spa An Aveda Concept Salon and Day Spa in Omaha's Old Market.

Services include Massage, Body Treatments, Nails, Waxing, Skincare, Hair Services & Makeup.

Bring on the Flavor!

Olive Oil * Balsamic Vinegar Dried Mushrooms * Sea Salt Sample our products and find the flavor that's right for you!

10929 Prairie Brook Rd. 402-968-7944 oldworldoil.com

1007 Farnam St. 402-934-2909 urbanesalonanddayspa.com

6 issues for

$9.99 PER YEAR

subscriptions to digital or print inspiredlivingomaha.com

GC Gems

T. Hurt Construction

Mary Monstra Necklace

by Shannon Koszyk.

Faceted black onyx beads with sterling wire, sterling metals.

Turning Dreams Into Reality.

Remodeling Custom Homes Concrete

8420 W. Dodge Rd. #109 402-210-9091 gcgemsomaha.com

Le Peep

402-510-9858 thurtconstruction.com

Sweet D's

A clever and original culinary concept with a menu that reads like a cookbook. Our food is prepared fresh daily. Voted Omaha’s Best Breakfast four years in a row!

Inspiring decor, vintage pieces, custom upholstered furniture, exquisite floral arrangements and so much more.

Check out the cozy boutique for making your home your sanctuary.

Three area locations lepeep.com

920 N. 204th St., Elkhorn 402-884-7804 facebook.com/Sweet-Ds-Design

weddingessentialsmagazine.com

inspiredlivingomaha.com  63

E N D N OT E

J A B B E R W O C K Y FA R M G U F F E Y, C O L O R A D O

“`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves Did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.”

LEWIS CARROLL "Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There," 1872

SEE OUR VAGABOND TRAVELOGUE: I N S P I R E D L I V I N G O M A H A . C O M

64 JULY/AUGUST 2014

The Company that's Making a

SPLASH in Omaha

MUCH MORE THAN JUST LANDSCAPING CUSTOM SWIMMING POOL PROJECTS CABANA HOUSES & OUTDOOR KITCHENS FIRE & WATER FEATURES PAVER DRIVEWAYS, PATIOS & POOL DECKS LANDSCAPING LIGHTING TO ENHANCE ANY OUTDOOR SPACE

Local projects designed and installed by Elite Landscaping

L a n d s c a p i n g

402-330-7811 elitelandscapingomaha.com

This is the morning commute in all its rip-roaring glory.

This is Truth in Engineering.

From the off-road rally tracks of yesterday to the four-lane expressways of today, the spirit of Audi performance lives on in the Audi A4. Nimble and sporty with the legendary handling of Audi quattro速 all-wheel drive*, the A4 turns every drive into something far beyond routine. This is the Audi A4.

Learn more at stanolsenaudi.com

Stan Olsen Audi

808 North 102nd Street - Omaha, Nebraska 402- 397- 8200 - www.stanolsenaudi.com