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US PLLES MISÉRABLES One epic show, two epic careers

Petals could if these

talk

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Riverboats offer a relaxed, more intimate way to travel.

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14 At the Heart "Les Misérables" p. 20 Q + A Designer Rick Janecek p. 28 Made in the Midlands Reclaimed Raw Material p. 52 Au Courant "Blingy" Knobs and Pulls p. 54

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Hear the People SIng Sports had its days in the sun during most of the summer.

Now, it’s time for the arts to shine.

Not one to sit in a baseball stadium for hours at a time, I prefer a seat in a performance hall, where actors and musicians hit scripts and scores out of the park.

I have my tickets for the national tours of “The Book of Mormon” and “War Horse,’’ but I’m most excited about “Les Misérables” at the Omaha Community Playhouse (page 20).

Directors Susie Baer Collins and Carl Beck consider the show to be one of the best musical opportunities Omaha has seen. I think it has potential to be one of Omaha’s most poignant theater experiences as well. “Les Misérables” marks the beginning of the directing duo’s final season with the Playhouse. They’re retiring next July.

Auditions drew a record 360 cast hopefuls – triple the usual turnout for a Playhouse musical. For most, the ultimate goal wasn’t to land a principal role. It was simply to be included in an epic show at an epic time in the Playhouse’s history.

Run, don’t walk, to the box office.

september/october 2013

Scholz Im

ages Inc.

Vol. 11 No. 5

The heady nonprofit group is associated with the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C. A chance conversation with Clemmer Montague, a past president of the Alliance, put Mary to work arranging a private study tour to Nebraska that reached capacity within days of its announcement to Alliance members.

It’s no wonder. Mary’s itinerary reads like a “who’s who of Nebraska art.”

“We’re hitting everything that isn’t nailed down,” she says. “I want them to love Nebraska and its artists and collectors.”

I’d love to be a fly on the wall when the group walks into the

Editor Chris Christen 402-444-1094 Chris.Christen@owh.com Designer Heidi Hoffman Copy Editor Amy LaMar Photo Imaging Specialist Patricia “Murphy” Benoit Content Contributors Bev Ressler, Dan McCann, Brian O'Malley, Krystal Overmyer, Pat Waters, Heather Winkel, Meghann Schense Photography Contributors Jeffrey Bebee, Kurt A. Keeler, Dev Hanumara, Daniel Johnson, Amy Lynn Photography, Scott Drickey Sales Manager Carrie Kentch 402-444-1448 Carrie.Kentch@owh.com Account Representative Cathleen Vanhauer 402-444-1209 Cathleen.Vanhauer@owh.com Events & Custom Publishing Manager Tam Webb 402-444-3125 Tam.Webb@owh.com

Lincoln home of Robert and Karen Duncan. Jaws are going to drop. The Duncans’ collection represents some

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of the most important sculptors of the 20th and 21st centuries.

Another coveted invitation: Dinner with Jun and Ree Kaneko – and a rare opportunity to see their private art collection.

You can be sure that we will follow up on this one. Until then, To the barricades!

1314 Douglas St., Suite 600 Omaha NE 68102 402-444-1094 Inspired Home Omaha (ISSN 7447026659) is a publication of the Omaha World-Herald. ©2013, 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.

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when Omaha textile artist Mary Zicafoose plays host to 40 members of the James Renwick Alliance.

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Sept. 7-8 Rockbrook Village rockbrookvillageartfair.com More than 150 national, regional and local artists are expected for this mainstay on Omaha’s latesummer calendar.

Hours: Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission: Free

Build Omaha Street of Dreams Sept. 14-29 The Deer Creek Highlands streetofdreams.org Seven area builders showcase the latest trends in upscale living in seven custom homes built especially for this tour. Special events include “Date Night” Fridays and live music by Michael Lyon on Sunday afternoons. Sponsored by Build Omaha and the Metropolitan Utilities District.

Hours: Wednesday through Friday, noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Admission: $10

Les Misérables Sept. 20-Oct. 27 Omaha Community Playhouse omahaplayhouse.com An epic musical performed by an incredibly talented local cast. Set in 19th century France, “Les Mis” is the tale of Jean Valjean as he breaks his parole and is pursued

by Inspector Javert while caring for the young orphaned Cosette.

Performances: Wednesday through Saturday, 7:30 p.m.; Sunday, 2 p.m.

Loess Hills Wine Festival Sept. 21 River’s Edge Park, Council Bluffs weigga.org Celebrate the grape harvest with wine tastings in a souvenir glass,

a grape stomp, hay ride and children’s activities. Live music

by Pink Kadillac. Presented by the Western Iowa Grape Growers Association.

Hours: 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Admission: $10 to $50

Lauritzen Gardens Antique & Garden Show Sept. 26-29 omahaantiqueshow.org Celebrate a decade of treasures at the Gardens with internationally known experts in antiques, gardening and various fields of design and art. Lectures, decorating ideas and shopping opportunities. Meet four experts in gracious living: Eddie Ross, Daniel Rollins, Carolyne Roehm and Kathryn Ireland.

Admission: $15; some events require an additional fee.

ARTsarben Sept. 28-29 Aksarben Village artsarben.com Bring the whole family for fun, games, food, street performers, face painting, bouncy houses and most importantly – art!

Hours: Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission: Free

Restoration & Preservation Tour Oct. 6 Deer Park neighborhood restorationexchange.org Restoration Exchange aims to inspire you to restore and preserve older properties on a tour of early 20th century-era homes and buildings. View the interiors and talk with the owners of the properties. Sponsored by AIA Omaha, with proceeds supporting restoration and preservation educational efforts in the metro area.

Walk a Street of Dreams. SHOP FOR JUNk. ENCOUNTER A GHOST. Hours: Noon to 5 p.m.

Tickets: $10 each, or two for $15.

Purchase tickets in advance or day of the tour.

Junkstock – Harvest Edition Oct. 11-13 315 S. 192nd St. junkstockomaha.com Juried junk vendors bring oneof-a-kind treasures, including found objects, architectural salvage, vintage clothing and repurposed jewelry. Free kid’s entertainment and festive food and drink. Pet-friendly.

Twelve live music performances throughout the weekend on this 1880s dairy farm. Sponsored by momaha.com.

Hours: Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission: $5 per day; $12 for all three days

HAUNTED VICTORIAN GHOST WALK Oct. 11-12 Plattsmouth, Nebraska plattsmouthconservancy.org Step back in time and visit historical homes nestled within the haunted hills of Plattsmouth, 15 minutes south of Bellevue. Travel by foot to four historic homes under the care of the night watchman. Along the way, hear Victorian ghost stories recounted by actors dressed in period costumes.

But beware! You may catch a glimpse of a ghostly spirit, who chooses to make its presence known at this time of year when the veil between our world and the spirit world is most easily penetrated.

Hours: 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Admission: $20, limited capacity Reservations: 402-296-2249

Fall Home and Garden Expo Oct. 25-27 CenturyLink Center Omaha omahahomeandgarden.com Billed as the “largest consumer showcase in Nebraska and Iowa” with more than 100,000 square feet of the latest products and services for the home – inside and out. Ultimate Garage display, landscaped gardens and “Hint of the Holidays” arts and crafts showcase. Plus, home accents, decorations and gifts.

Hours: Friday, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission: Adults, $8; children ages 12 and younger, free

Christmas Caravan Nov. 7 Assistance League of Omaha; Five Fountains near Methodist Women’s Hospital omaha.assistanceleague.org Assistance League of Omaha is your host for a tour of four private homes decorated for the holidays. A stop at Champions Run will offer high-quality items from the Assistance League’s Thrift Boutique, a bake sale and a buffet luncheon. Proceeds benefit the League’s philanthropic programs, including Operation School Bell.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Admission: $20 day of tour, $15 in advance from the Assistance League Thrift Boutique, 3659 Leavenworth St.; Omaha Hy-Vee stores; Mulhall’s nursery; and Assistance League members. Nov. 6 preview party, $75, includes dinner and a silent auction from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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inspiredhomeomaha.com 9

A recipe series for home cooks who want to kick it up a notch.

Heirloom Flavor

The secret to better ragu? Tomatoes fresh from the vine.

R e c i p e b y C h e f B r i a n O ' M a l l e y w i t h T r a c i Ve h o r n Photographed by Daniel Johnson

The point of farm-to-table recipes

is to use the freshest seasonal ingredients you

can find, insists Chef Brian O’Malley. The star here is a favorite from the garden, the heirloom tomato. “For a truly flavorful dish, store-bought tomatoes won’t do,” O'Malley says. He plucked ingredients for this tutorial from the vegetable and herb gardens at Metropolitan Community College, where O’Malley is an instructor with the Institute for the Culinary Arts.

Tomato Basil Ragu Pan-fried tomatoes Goat Cheese Polenta recipes, Page 12

10 September/October 2013

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Tomato Basil Ragu Yield: 4 portions 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 16 small pear or cherry tomatoes, blanched, shocked and peeled Pinch sea salt Pinch red chili flakes 12 cloves roasted garlic 2 tablespoons dry white wine 2 tablespoons basil puree (recipe at right) 2 ounces butter Pinch micro chervil for garnish

Basil Puree Yield: 4 portions 6 ounces fresh basil 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 2 pinches salt

1. Combine all ingredients in a highpowered upright blender and puree on high until very smooth.

2.

Reserve in the refrigerator until ready to use.

1. In a 12-inch stainless steel sauté pan 3. Add the basil puree and mount with over medium-high heat, add the vegetable oil and heat until shimmering.

Into the shimmering oil, add the peeled tomatoes and season with sea salt and red chili flakes. Sauté gently until tomatoes start to burst – about 3 minutes.

2. Add the roasted garlic and heat through. Deglaze with the white wine and reduce until almost dry. Remove from heat.

butter (add quarter-inch sized butter cubes and stir until butter is melted).

4. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add garnish.

Serve with Pan-Fried Tomatoes over a smear of Goat Cheese Polenta and drizzled balsamic-style vinegar.

Pan-fried tomatoes Yield: 4 portions ¼ cup Wondra flour 2 large crazy-juicy vineripened tomatoes, sliced ¼ cup vegetable oil 1 pinch salt

1. Place Wondra flour in a shallow dish. Dip sliced tomatoes into flour, coating both sides.

2.

In a sauté pan over medium-high heat, add the vegetable oil and heat until shimmering. Place tomatoes in oil and cook 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Season with salt.

3. Remove sliced tomatoes to a 1. In a 2-quart stockpot over medium

paper towel to absorb excess oil.

heat, add the milk and stock and heat until simmering.

2. Into the simmering liquid, “rain” in the

Chef Tips

cornmeal while stirring with a wooden spoon. Add corn puree and stir until wellcombined.

For easy-to-peel tomatoes, score the tomatoes with a very small, shallow “x” at the end of the tomato before blanching and shocking.

Goat Cheese Polenta 3. Continue to heat until thickened and Yield: 4 portions 1/2 cup whole milk 1/2 cup chicken stock 1/2 cup cornmeal 1 cob raw sweet corn, removed from the cob and pureed in a blender. Reserve a handful of kernels as garnish.

2 ounces goat cheese 2 tablespoons butter

Learn More

the cornmeal is no longer gritty in the middle – about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in the goat cheese and butter. Salt to taste.

4.

Roast corn kernels reserved as garnish for about 15 minutes in a 475-degree oven.

5. Plate by spreading polenta on plate and topping with Pan-Fried Tomatoes followed by Tomato Basil Ragu.

When breading tomatoes, keep one hand wet and one hand dry so that your hands don’t become flour-caked “baseball mitts.”

For out-of-this-world flavor, try George Paul Emilia Vinegar made in Cody, Neb. It is available at georgepaulvinegar.com or in Omaha at Whole Foods Market, La Buvette and Chef2.

Help your garden flourish with Metropolitan Community College's "Grow" Workshops. mccneb.edu/ce.

12 September/October 2013

inspiredhomeomaha.com  13

Photographed

by Kurt A. Keeler

Kick up your heels Warren Brewer, Stinkbait's bass fiddle player, shares five tunes to get the party started.

1. "King of the Road" 2. "City of New Orleans" 3. "Sunday Morning Coming Down" 4. "Friend of the Devil" 5. "Mirrors Don't Lie"

You can't beat a party that has keg beer, pulled pork and Stinkbait. weathered red barn with a rustic loft sure comes in handy for an evening of down-home fun.

It didn’t take much arm twistin’ to get Bridget and Rich Robbins to pony up their 1850s farmstead for an October 2012 hoedown just south of the Washington County line.

Rich and Bridget, together with party co-hosts, the Wimmers, the O’Malleys and the Fratts, spent two full weekends cleaning the livestock stalls and the hayloft in preparation for the harvestthemed git together.

“It was a sizable endeavor,” Bridget says of the spiff-up. “The last barn party we had was in 1986.”

The hosts kept the décor and food simple, and divvied up the work list.

Scott and Nancy Wimmer arranged for a slaughtered hog for pulled pork sandwiches.

14 September/October 2013

Mike and Sarah Fratt strung twinkle lights, a vital part of the décor. And Mike took the reins on a party music mix.

Rich fetched the keg beer.

And Bill and Cheryl O’Malley arranged for a live band.

Bridget put the word out to show up in jeans, boots and Stetsons. And, to kindly bring a non-perishable item for the Food Bank for the Heartland.

All four couples pitched in with desserts and side dishes.

They even got Mother Nature to cooperate by holding off a rainstorm until everyone had moved from the yard into the barn, where Stinkbait was just getting started.

The band was a shoe-in with party host O’Malley on guitar, neighbor Bob Gaffney on mandolin and guitar, Dave Blakeslee on strings and Warren Brewer

on bass fiddle. They play bluegrass, country, folk and western swing – with a little Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan thrown in.

The band gets a lot of mileage out of its name. As Brewer tells the story, a “river rat” who lives near Henderson, Iowa, gave the band its start when he hired Brewer and his musician friends to play for a party. “The guy fishes for catfish with stink bait. We thought that was a pretty catchy name for a band, so we picked it up. People may not know what it means, but they remember it, that’s for sure.”

If friends had their way, they’d be back every year for a red barn party.

Bridget chuckles. “Not this year. We’re renovating the house. But we’ll probably still have y’all over to see what we’ve done with the place.” ~ Chris Christen

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inspiredhomeomaha.com 15

Downright simple and tasty to boot.

d

Styling and Food by Heather Winkel Photos by Dev Hanumara

n’t let a little thing like being barn-less stop you from having a country-themed party. Build yourself a playlist of toe-tappin’ music, fill a roaster with pulled pork from the supermarket deli, whip up a few easy side dishes and dress your tables with

16 September/October 2013

checked cloths and bandanas. To celebrate the harvest, you could even follow Bridget Robbins’ lead and ask your guests to bring a pantry item for a local food bank or shelter. Donations from Robbins’ party last October filled the back of an SUV.

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[ Travel ]

Mini Blueberry Cobblers Servings: 4 Fruit Mixture: 1 tablespoon butter, melted 1/4 teaspoon vanilla 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice 2 1/2 cups fresh blueberries 1/2 teaspoon sugar for each ramekin Topping: 3/4 cup flour 1/3 cup sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 cup milk 2 tablespoons melted butter

1.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Prepare fruit mixture: In a small container, melt butter and then stir in vanilla and lemon juice.

3. Pour the mixture over the blueberries and stir gently.

18  September/October 2013

4.

Divide blueberries among four ramekins and top each with 1/2 teaspoon of sugar.

5. For the topping, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; set aside.

6. In a separate bowl, whisk together the egg, vanilla, milk and melted butter.

7. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture, and divide dough into four portions.

8.

Spoon on top of blueberries, and sprinkle the dough with a little sugar.

9.

Place ramekins on a cookie sheet and bake for 25 minutes or until the crust is golden.

Skillet Cornbread Servings: 8 1 box (8.5 ounces) Jiffy corn muffin mix 1 egg 1/3 cup milk 1 can whole-kernel corn, drained 1 jalapeño, seeded and chopped 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese 1-2 tablespoons butter

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees, putting a cast iron skillet in the oven while it is preheating.

2. In a medium bowl, mix together the corn muffin mix, egg and milk.

The batter will be a little lumpy.

3.

Add corn, chopped jalapeño and cheese, and stir to combine.

4.

Grease hot skillet with butter before pouring batter in.

5. Pour the batter into the greased skillet and bake for 15 minutes.

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Sweet Tea

3. Remove tea bags and add

Yield: 1 gallon Water 10 tea bags 1 cup sugar 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

sugar to hot water.

1. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil; remove from heat and add tea bags.

2. Let tea steep for about 10 minutes.

4.

Stir until sugar is completely dissolved.

5. Add baking soda and stir again.

6. Pour tea and sugar mixture into large pitcher.

7. Add 12 cups of ice water and stir until cool.

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The production of a lifetime Directors Susie Baer Collins and Carl Beck take us backstage for a look at an epic musical — and a whole lot more.

Wr i t t e n b y C h r i s C h r i s t e n Photographed by Scott Drickey

Associate ArtistiC Director

SUSIE BAER COLLINS

J

ust as “Les Misérables” holds claim to being the world’s longest-running and most-loved musical, Carl Beck and Susie Baer Collins hold claim to being the Omaha Community Playhouse’s longest-running artistic team and, quite possibly, the theater community’s most-loved directors.

“We’re lucky,” Beck says. “We’ve had a lot of highlights … It’s an incredibly fortunate position to be in, to be able to work on a lot of strong projects with a talented team … The creativity and the cleverness have always been there. It has been a wonderful ride.”

The opening of “Les Misérables” on September 20 marks the beginning of the couple’s last season with the Playhouse.

For 30 years, the theater on the corner of 69th and Cass Streets has been the source of their livelihood – and the center of their universe.

Beck and Collins began their association with the Playhouse in the 1970s when they were members of the Nebraska Theatre Caravan, OCP’s professional touring arm. In those days, actors were hired on nine-month contracts. They prepared three productions in the fall, then they took them on the road, touring communities throughout Nebraska. “Your work gloves were as important as your makeup kit,” Beck says.

In the early 1980s, Beck “jobbed-in” as a director for the Caravan and “A Christmas Carol” so then-Executive Director Charles Jones could concentrate on an expansion project and a capital fund drive. In 1983, Beck was hired as the Playhouse’s associate director.

Collins had been performing at the Playhouse and the Emmy Gifford Theater, the forerunner to The Rose Theater, when she joined the Playhouse’s creative staff in 1987.

Jones suffered a stroke in 1996, and in 1997 Beck assumed the role and title of artistic director. The Playhouse was in the midst of a $1 million renovation including improvement of the Howard Drew black box theater, enabling the Playhouse to expand the breadth of its theatrical offerings.

While Jones had set the pace during a period of growth in the 1980s, Beck and Collins worked to raise the Playhouse’s profile as the largest and most successful community theater in America. But, they’re quick to qualify: “This has been a shared experience. We haven’t done it alone,” Collins says.

GETTING THE SHOW Collins was out of town casting actors for “A Christmas Carol” in 2011, when an agent called her to say that the Play-

20 September/October 2013

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

CARL BECK house finally had a shot at “Les Misérables.” It was a 24-year dream come true.

Auditions in May drew a record 360 singers for 33 coveted spots in the cast. “It was exciting. Very exciting,” Beck says of the caliber of talent the casting team saw in two marathon sessions in May. “We sent out for sandwiches. But we never stopped long enough to ask, ‘Where are the sandwiches?’”

Collins has taken the directorial lead for the 2013-2014 season opener.

“This is very much her baby,” says Beck, who is perfectly happy in a supporting role. He’ll have his fun, he says, with “Young Frankenstein” in May. The Playhouse typically runs a seven-week rehearsal schedule for a main stage musical. “We’re giving ourselves 10 weeks with ‘Les Mis’ and hoping for the best,” Collins says.

It’s a big show with lots of moving parts requiring decisions on the fly. Six weeks into the rehearsal schedule, the intensity was building. Guest artist Timothy Shew as Jean Valjean, was arriving soon and the cast needed to be ready.

“Finding time to do all the things you need to do is crazy,” Collins says. Thank goodness for M&M’s and diet cola – Pepsi or Coke, it doesn’t matter.

DOING THEIR THING “You’re totally useless on opening night,” Beck says of himself and Collins. “You are in the way.”

Collins explains: “It has always been fascinating to me how at the beginning of the rehearsal process, you as director hold

the most knowledge about how the show is going to go. By opening night, everyone else has taken ownership of it … It’s so much fun to watch that well-oiled machine from the wings.

People do their jobs so well.”

‘THE DUST-UP’ “Up until three or four years ago, retirement was not on my radar,” Beck admits. “I didn’t see anything about retirement that sounded appealing.”

In fact, the subject only came up because of what they call the “dust-up” – three highly publicized days in 2009 when they weren’t part of the Playhouse.

In a nutshell: Beck was asked to resign in the midst of a budget crisis, and differences between the theater’s business and artistic staffs. When Collins was offered Beck’s job, she resigned. That left both pondering their futures – until a groundswell of public support for the artistic team helped bring about a happy ending.

“The ‘dust-up’ changed the dynamic of the Playhouse … for the better … between the business side and the artistic side,” Collins says.

“It cemented people’s feelings about what the Playhouse meant to them,” Beck adds. “It was verbalized in very wonderful ways.”

For Collins, the “Omaha Community Playhouse Anthem” was a “nice, defining closure to that experience.” The original song was dedicated to Playhouse performers past, present and future. continued on page 22 inspiredhomeomaha.com 21

continued from page 21

THEIR LIVES, IN Three ACTS Let’s not call it retirement, they have decided.

Let’s call it “Life in Three Acts.’’

Act I: Pre-playhouse. Falling in love, getting married, having a son together, and blazing the trails as actors.

Act II: Coming to Omaha … the Playhouse … and putting down roots.

Act III: A new way of living life that doesn’t involve the Playhouse, 24/7.

“You never want to outlive your usefulness at the Playhouse,” Collins says.

“This has been a shared period in Playhouse history. It will be the first time that Carl and I haven’t been associated in a work environment for 40 years.”

THEIR SUCCESSORS The Playhouse is an unusual theater … It’s a specific place that will require a special set of skills that may take time to find. “I said once that if I were to submit my resume, I don’t think I could get the job,” Collins says.

“Luckily, people in the production area at the Playhouse are always looking for ways to extend their talent, to expand and demonstrate their creativity,” Beck says.

“When Susan and I first started with the Playhouse, the mindset of working there was that the Playhouse was a starting point for your career. A lot of people in their 20s and early 30s would spend a few years there, and then they moved on. But we gradually began to notice this transition of people really liking the facility and the atmosphere … and they were liking Omaha, too. To this day, there is a long-term commitment by so many employees because they realize and value the importance of the surroundings and being able to work with a committed staff that they trust and admire. It sounds terribly corny, but it’s true.”

22 September/October 2013

Susie Baer Collins shares a lighthearted moment with Cork Ramer as M. Thenardier during a publicity shoot for "Les Misérables."

Carl Beck is at far left.

HIS VICE ...

Jelly Belly jelly beans! He eats them by the handful from a 25-cent vending machine at the Playhouse.

HE CAN’T SAY ‘NO’ TO ...

A great comic bit, Collins says.

“That aspect of what Carl can bring to a show will be hard to find in the search for a new artistic director. Rocky Horror Picture Show, El Grande, Lend Me a Tenor, Noises Off … all had beautifully, hilariously done comedy scenes. There’s a lightheartedness that is part of his persona. He can direct wonderfully empathetic shows, but his comedic thinking has served the Playhouse well.”

HE WON’T MISS ...

“Waking up at 3 a.m. in a cold sweat. That happens at some point with every single show. Usually, it’s closer to tech week. It also happens when you’re thinking about future projects. What you don’t know can scare you.”

HER VICES...

Plain M&M's and diet cola.

SHE CAN’T SAY ‘NO’ TO ...

An invitation to go out with a group after rehearsal. “I’m a sucker for that.”

SHE WON’T MISS ...

Writing rehearsal schedules at 3 in the morning and disappointing the people who don’t get cast into shows. “It’s horrible. People take things personally.” inspiredhomeomaha.com 23

A relaxed, more intimate way to tour Europe.

Story by Bev Ressler

I

magine yourself sitting back in a comfy deck chair while cruising along the Rhine River. Spectacular scenery, storybook villages, ancient castles and widely known landmarks roll by. Each site beckons for a closer look, a taste of the local culture and cuisine.

Welcome to river cruising, one of the most comfortable ways to see Europe.

“The industry is saturated with large sea-going ships,” says Audrey Hulsey of Pegasus Travel Center. “People who have previously taken cruises on ocean liners and explored the Mediterranean and Baltic Seas are turning to riverboat cruises for a new adventure.”

According to Nancy Ossino of AAA Nebraska in Omaha, river cruise travel is up about 33 percent over last year and shows no sign of slowing down.

Several cruises offered through Uniworld sold out during the first quarter of 2013. Among them were a Castles Along the Rhine tour, an Enchanting Danube cruise to the land of Mozart and Beethoven and an exploration of the Imperial Waterways of Russia. The latter takes you to the Kremlin and Red Square in Moscow, as well as to the gorgeous Hermitage Museum

24 September/October 2013

and Catherine the Great's palace in St. Petersburg.

Also popular is a European Jewels cruise that runs along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers from Budapest to Amsterdam. Stops include Vienna and Melk, Austria, and Passau, Germany.

The cruise season generally runs from April through December. Prices for an eight-day international excursion start at about $2,800 per person (airfare excluded). Agents we spoke with were already booking tours for 2014 and 2015.

Riverboats are nothing like their multistory cruise ship cousins. Rather, they are about 300 feet long (the equivalent of a football field), and have just two or three decks and flat tops for passing under low bridges.

“There is less glitz and glamour" in amenities and decor, Hulsey says, but rooms tend to be more spacious for the 125 to 200 passengers that these boats typically carry, and the experience tends to be more intimate.

Local groups often come aboard to provide musical entertainment ranging from folk to classical, as well as educational programs highlighting the area or architecture specific to that port city.

On The Water: AmaVida cruising on the Douro River in Portugal.

Land tours of historic sights and other landmarks are commonly included, too. Many stops are UNESCO World Heritage Sites because of their cultural and natural significance. You can opt to skip a tour and explore the city on your own as well.

“The fact that we were able to get off and walk into the cities was great,” says Jim Cox, a travel consultant for Pegasus Travel Center, who recently took the Rhine River cruise from Basel, Switzerland, to Amsterdam.

“In Mosel, Germany, we got off the boat at 10:30 p.m. and had a beer at an outdoor venue. It was like stepping out of a hotel,” Cox says.

Omahan Ralph Williams has been on numerous river cruises, most recently on the Rhône in France. “We love river cruising. It’s intimate with 150 people, so you get to know your fellow travelers and crew. It’s great to meet people from all over the world.”

Williams’ cruise stopped in Avignon and featured a cooking class by a widely known chef in Lyon. “We went to the market, bought the food and prepared the food. We also visited vineyards, participated in wine and olive oil tastings and toured castles and cathedrals.

continued on page 26

inspiredhomeomaha.com 25

continued from page 25

We had great guides who knew the history of the towns. It let us get up close and personal with another culture. You don’t have to change hotels every day, and the cuisine is five-star plus.”

Sheila Runyon of Omaha has taken riverboat cruises throughout Europe. Most recently, she and her husband took an eight-day cruise from Basel to Nuremberg, Bavaria, via the Rhine and Main Rivers.

“We have done cruise ships and land trips and riverboats are more relaxing. You stop at towns or villages where you can get off and just start walking and exploring. Some countries are harder to visit on your own. With riverboat cruises, you rarely have a day without a shore excursion. But if you feel like staying onboard and relaxing, you can do that, too. The food is quite good and includes local specialties.”

A two-week cruise on the Danube, which included seven countries, remains a standout for Runyon. “We stopped at a small village and the mayor of the town greeted us at the shore. We were shown how to make apple strudel, and later children from a nearby school came and sang and danced. Usually you can find lots of handmade items for sale near the rivers, too.”

26 September/October 2013

Passau, Germany: "City of Three Rivers," where the Danube is joined by the Inn and Ilz Rivers.

Castles Along the Rhine

Rollin' ON The RIver Audrey Hulsey of Pegasus Travel Center suggests the Rhine for a first-time European river cruise. Prices vary, so do your homework. Two-for-one offers and other discounts for early bookings can turn a hot ticket into an even better deal.

Douro: River of gold

Duration: 10 days/9 nights Route: Porto to Régua, Portugal Prices from: $2,256 Highlights: Two nights in Lisbon, then you proceed to mouth of the Douro at Porto.

Terraced vineyards, castles, baroque mansions and historic monasteries.

Duration: 8 days/7 nights Route: Basel, Switzerland, to Amsterdam Prices from: $2,399 Highlights: Castles, cathedrals and medieval villages; vistas; and classic artwork.

Enchanting Danube

Duration: 8 days/7 nights Route: Budapest to Nuremberg Prices from: $4,599 Highlights: Day tours in Budapest, Vienna, Melk, Passau, Regensberg and Nuremberg.

Volga River in Russia

Duration: 13 days/12 nights Route: Moscow to St. Petersburg Prices from: $4,299 Highlights: The Kremlin, the Hermitage Museum, 15th and 17th century cathedrals.

Asia’s Magnificent Mekong

Duration: 15 days/14 nights Route: Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh City Prices from: $3,499 Highlights: Ancient Angkor ruins, picturesque Mekong River, Phnom Penh and colonial-era palaces.

Sources: www.usarivercruises.com, www.vikingcruises.com, Pegasus Travel Center, AAA Nebraska

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Omaha was the 'right place' for design history and inspiration for Rick Janecek.

S t o r y b y P a t Wa t e r s

Native Omahan Rick Janecek’s resume reflects an illustrious career with exclusive brands and retailers like Lenox, Neiman Marcus, Waterford and Fitz and Floyd. But it was the retail veterans at Brandeis and Younkers department stores in Omaha in the early 1980s who gave him his start.

“They had such passion. They understood people, and they knew how to sell. I learned many things from them, which I still carry with me today,” says Janecek about his colleagues early in his career.

We caught up with Janecek in Dallas, where he was contemplating his next career move after 10 years as creative director and lead product designer for Global Views, a home décor wholesale company that many Omaha retailers use.

STARTING OUT

“I got my professional start at Brandeis department store right out of college (University of Nebraska-Lincoln) as the home fashions director. It was a very exciting time in retail, and department stores were a great learning ground.

Today, I’d never hire someone that young to do such a job. There was a lot of figuring out as I went along.”

EARLY INFLUENCES

“As a kid, I didn’t play with toys. I drew instead. I was obsessed with architecture and home design. I would draw the plan for my city, and then draw the houses and the kinds of furniture that they would have inside. I read everything I could get my hands on. Anytime there was an estate sale or an antiques show, I would beg my parents to take me. As a 10-year-old, I would buy things and resell them."

LASTING CONNECTIONS

“We spent Sundays driving to every corner of the city. I loved exploring neighborhoods: The incredible Victorian houses in near north and south Omaha; the neoclassical and baronial homes in the Gold Coast and Cathedral areas; charm and gracious neighborhood living in Happy Hollow, Dundee, Country Club and Fairacres; and mid-century living in centralwest Omaha. There was a representation of all the great styles in design. I was also very influenced by the public buildings in Omaha. The many weekends I spent at the Joslyn and Union Station influenced the strong connection and love that I have for Art Deco.”

28 September/October 2013

FINDING INSPIRATION

“I hit every museum exhibition I can. I read everything I can. I look online. I also consider how people are living. I travel a lot, and when I have free time I’ll call a realtor and look at houses to see how people live. It’s that ‘armchair anthropologist’ approach of trying to figure out what people want five minutes before they know.”

HIS STYLE AT HOME

“I like good lighting and directional lighting to highlight art and pieces of furniture. I like negative space to accentuate various items, and comfort is important. I pick up vintage and antique pieces and then replace all the hardware. Recently I was in Atlanta, and I found a great sofa. But it was only the arm that I liked. It was curvy, sensuous. So I had it shipped to me, and I designed a new sofa around it."

Janecek's signature lamp, in the Dallas home he recently sold.

Photo Courtesy o f G l o b a l Vi e w s

UNBELIEVABLE LUCK

“On Sundays, I still drive around town and look at houses and architecture. My partner suggested that I write to the owners of the houses I liked, asking if they would be interested in selling. I wrote five letters earlier this year and received four positive responses. I put an offer on a French-style traditional house built in 1970. We moved in on Memorial Day. I thought I wanted a Mid-Century Modern, but the minute you walk in you feel like you’re in California or on the East Coast.”

BEST DECORATING ADVICE

“It’s a big mistake to go out and buy a set of furniture. To me, it looks like you went on ‘The Price is Right.’ Go for a ‘collected’ look.’’

SIGNATURE DESIGN

“Global Views’ 6-foot floor lamp with a modern 1970s feel.

There’s nothing like it in the marketplace. It started with me wishing I had something like it for my great room, so I designed it. That was four or five years ago, and it has been the company's best-selling lamp every year.”

WHAT’S NEXT?

“I’m the kind of person who will never retire. I’ll always have a lot of creative projects going. I love architecture and designing products, but I would like to do something with education. I would like to teach and help young people interested in design and give them the benefit of my experience.’’ inspiredhomeomaha.com 29

30  September/October 2013

Flower Bed Verdure Silk strapless dress, $196, crystal necklace, $34, earrings, $26, all from Piper. Fresh floral wreath

by Esoteric Velvet’s Alex Mainelli; flowers courtesy of Voilà! Decorative pillows, various prices, all from The Linen Gallery.

Floral background fabric from Textiles Inc. Yardage price available upon request.

inspiredhomeomaha.com 31

Perpetual Perennial

Sheer top, $72, Piper. Printed denim jean, $29, Urban Outfitters. Earrings, $26, Piper.

Nine West pumps, $59.95, DSW at Village Pointe Shopping Center. Cubic zirconia silver dome ring, $200, GC Gems.

Embroidered drapery, Textiles Inc. Topiary frame, $52.95, garden sphere, $83.65, faux concrete stand, $95.50, pineapple topiary, $110.25, mushrooms, $18.50 and $21.25, all available at VoilĂ !

32  September/October 2013

Exotic Floret

Dress, $110, and necklace, $30, both from Piper. Cashmere sweater, $1,665, Nan C. at Hilltop House.

Embroidered purse, $16, Paperdoll Vintage Boutique. Home accessories from VoilĂ ! Montego room divider, $344; vase, $42.50; temple jar, $24.75; faux flowers and grasses, priced per stem.

inspiredhomeomaha.com  33

Foliage Panache

Press-on nails, $7.79, by Kiss Nails from Walgreens. Green stone & gold drop earrings, $30; green stone & pearl necklace, $30, both from Piper. Turquoise gold overlay earrings, $110; pink opal and gray diamond earrings, $995, both from GC Gems. Crystal flower necklace, $34, Piper. Nine West pumps, $69, Von Maur.

Embroidered floral fabric from Textiles Inc. Artificial grasses from VoilĂ !

34  September/October 2013

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Silver Jeans Guess • Mavi Rock Revival Mens Big Star Mens FREE ALTERATIONS! At top: Gold leaf earrings and necklace, $29 for set, from Mesh.

Above: Napkin rings, $4.99 each; from the Laurel Tree. Nick & Mo cardigan, $72; Ark & Co. shirt, $59, both from NJ & Co.

SHOPS OF LEGACY

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Blossom Bluster

36  September/October 2013

Dress, $130, earrings, $26, both from Piper. Rebecca Minkoff sandals, $350, Von Maur. Fabric, Textiles Inc. Rattan-wrapped vase, $13.50, blue ceramic vase, $65, mirror & iron table, $157.40, tan wicker & wood chair, $335.78, iron trellis, $46.75, all from VoilĂ !

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inspiredhomeomaha.com  37

[ Homespiration ]

Love Springs Eternal

38 September/October 2013

Kyle Robino couldn’t stop thinking about “Spring.” The ceramic glaze bust caught her eye on the opening day of the 2012 Lauritzen Gardens Antique & Garden Show. “I couldn’t get her out of my mind,” recalls Robino, a self-described “eclectic random collector.” She purchased “Spring” on the last day of the show from Trish Headley of Nufangle Fine Antiques & Whimsy in Kansas City, Mo. The sculpture was acquired by the shop from the estate of a former Kansas City mayor. Robino has a contemporary home with an Asian flair, and displays “Spring” in the front foyer on a faux shagreen chest. A painting by Des Moines artist Chris Vance hangs behind the bust.

Robino's family has fun dressing the bust for Halloween and other holidays. “She has become a sort of mascot for the house. I love her,’’ Robino says. She and Jan Vrana are co-chairs of this year's show. See Vrana's treasures, page 40.

Spy it, buy it.

Paper butterflies designate items that are $500 or less.

Save The Date 10th Annual Lauritzen Gardens Antique & Garden Show When: Sept. 26-29 Where: Omaha’s Botanical Center, 100 Bancroft St. Show admission: $15 (good for all three days), plus regular garden admission for non-members.

Special events: $15 to $125 OmahaAntiqueShow.org

The perfect play of vintage in a contemporary decor.

Te x t b y C h r i s C h r i s t e n Photography by Jeffrey Bebee

W

orking antiques into the contemporary home is a cinch, says Suzanne Rheinstein, interior design expert and best-selling author. "The trick is to look on your antiques as objects of art."

In her own mixed interiors, "Nothing matches, but it all works together."

Rheinstein, a guest speaker at the 2011 Lauritzen Gardens Antique & Garden Show, doesn't consider herself a collector of antiques. "But I do love certain things." Decorative objects from the neoclassical period are an example.

We asked Rheinstein to help us with a shopping list for other items that are easily incorporated into a contemporary décor. All of these items are sure to be found when the Omaha Botanical Center hosts its 10th anniversary show September 26-29.

– Old, beautiful plates. "You can't have too many of them."

– Engravings on wide mats and simple frames.

"Old prints can look modern just by the way you frame them."

– Early creamware. "It looks terrific with everything."

– Old lighting. "Nothing makes a new house settle in better than old lighting. I use it all the time."

– Wedgwood black basalt. "It's striking in minimalist modern decor."

– Old English Delft. "My kitchen walls are covered with blue and white plates and platters."

– Flight Barr & Barr porcelain from the early 19th century. "My daughter is fanatical about it with her 1940s furnishings."

Turn the page to see how local antique lovers are using their treasures.

Suzanne Rheinstein owns Hollyhock, an antiques and decorative arts shop in Los Angeles, and is the author of “At Home: A Style for Today With Things From the Past” ($55, Rizzoli).

inspiredhomeomaha.com 39

Artful Vignettes

When Jan Vrana first saw the French confit pots, she knew she had to have one. And so the love affair began.

Today, antique earthenware vessels both large and small grace her French Country-style home. Ditto for sparkling glass banister balls, handsome tea caddies, delicate snuff bottles and antique books. She chuckles at the menagerie: “I shop. I buy. I find a place for it.”

Impulsive? No, calculated. “I have an attachment to everything I buy.” Her home brims with European elegance, yet it welcomes like an old friend. The mastery lies in the vignettes. In the dining room, a Louis XVI walnut commode (circa 1780) plays host to a brass lamp, a candlestick, a tea caddy and a figurine – all from the Lauritzen Gardens Antique & Garden Show. Her favorite element? The figurine. “It’s crusty. And I love crusty.”

40 September/October 2013

inspiredhomeomaha.com  41

[ Antiques ]

Everything Has Its Place

“If you buy what you like, it’s all going to go together. It’s like clothes,’’ says a retired antique dealer whose love for blue and white flows from her wardrobe to her walls. True to her credo that “everyone should collect something,” she has found many additions for her home at the Lauritzen Gardens Antique & Garden Show. Antique games are among them. “I can beat every grandchild at PAC-MAN,’’ she boasts. She delights in sharing the story of each treasured piece that fills her rooms. “Ask the dealers to tell you about their acquisitions,” she urges. “You never know it all when it comes to antiques.”

42 September/October 2013

THE VASE: A tulipier vase from Holland makes a grand impression on an English mahogany table.

A leather hat box holds white napkins tied with raffia ribbon when the homeowner entertains.

“I’ve had the picture (above) in lots of other rooms. It’s never worked until now.”

The window seat: The homeowner’s favorite spot .

Learn More

Shop the show with Eddie Ross, East Coast producer/editor for Better Homes and Gardens magazine. For $30, you can join Ross as he selects HIS favorite antiques on display and talks about them.

OmahaAntiqueShow.org

THE DINING ROOM COLLECTION: English bowls, Chinese chargers, Japanese vases, Dutch plates.

inspiredhomeomaha.com 43

Well-Traveled Treasures

Wallpaper: Stroheim and Romann Chinoiserie, “Ming Garden.’’

A thirtysomething wife and mother of three found a pair of ginger jars that she couldn’t resist at Trace Mayer Antiques last year. The jars work beautifully crowning a Chinese hutch from her father’s childhood home. On an adjoining wall: two English platters purchased at the show, plus a third, which hung in her parents’ living room for many years. Across the room, built-in hutches hold new and old pieces of Royal Copenhagen. Her first acquisition was a Shaffordshire dog from the early 1930s. Today, she has a charming collection displayed in a built-in bookcase in the master bedroom. Her home has “treasured and appreciated” European and Asian antiques, both inherited and acquired. “The more you learn, the more you love,” she says. “I just want to learn more and more.”

Rare London Delftware Vase, circa 1670-1675.

Height: 12 inches.

Decorative art images courtesy of Earle Vandekar of Knightsbridge Inc., Maryknoll, N.Y.

Johann Wilhelm Weinmann Mezzotint Prints, circa 1736.

44 September/October 2013

Staffordshire tortoise-shell creamware Model of a Cat, Whieldontype, circa 1770.

Height: 5 3⁄8 inches.

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Decorative iron panels inlaid with woodland and wildlife scenes created by Treynor artisans Joni and Neal Grabow, define an open staircase leading to a second-floor loft and two additional bedrooms and bathrooms.

The 10-foot-long dining table was custom-made at Tumacacori Mesquite Sawmill in Arizona.

The table is so heavy, four men had to carry it into the lodge.

46  September/October 2013

A father and son turn a hunting retreat into a ruggedly beautiful sportsman's dream.

S t o r y b y P a t Wa t e r s Photography by Jeffrey Bebee

T

he gravel road leading to Cedar Lakes Farm west of Treynor, Iowa, is bordered by rolling hills, verdant fields and white farmhouses. It’s an unusual setting for the kind of hunting retreat that you might find at the foothills of the Grand Tetons.

Rick and Kim Gibson – father and son and dedicated sportsmen – bought the 146-acre piece of land three years ago so their friends and large, extended family had a convenient place to gather, hunt and enjoy the outdoors.

There are two lakes, a shooting range, campsite, wildlife habitat, two-story lodge, expansive patio spaces and an outdoor kitchen rivaling that of the Food Network’s Guy Fieri.

Kim says the property was exactly what he and his father wanted – a spot with ponds and natural typography for a shooting range. But getting there took vision and work. The property was overgrown with brush and trash trees (known for their short life spans, very fast growth and weak wood). The ponds, dug in the late 1930s or early 1940s, had silted in and were devoid of game fish. The land’s contour was rough and uneven.

continued on page 49

inspiredhomeomaha.com 47

The walls are covered in a mixture of natural fibers and minerals (in this case, shreds of copper) which were troweled on and sparkle in the abundant sunlight. The material comes from Tim Bell’s JaDecor in Omaha.

Custom-Made A hulking fireplace mantel of old-growth cedar from the Pacific Northwest and designed by Timber Mantels.

Western wildlife oil paintings from artist Cliff Rossberg.

Bronze sculptures from artists Devin Rowe and Mark James.

A massive wagon wheelantler chandelier designed by Courtney Otte.

A didgeridoo, a native Australian musical instrument scored on one of their hunting trips.

48  September/October 2013

Countertops are made to look like petrified wood with rock edging. The bar stools are covered in cowhide found, after an exhaustive Internet search, in Bunch, Okla. continued from page 47

Wanda Gibson, Rick’s wife, recalls driving with him – or “bumping along,” as she describes it –­ as he talked about his plans for the property. “I told him, ‘I hope you live long enough to see it,’” Wanda says.

But Rick, 77, and Kim, 56, are not strangers to this type of makeover. They have purchased other farms on which they installed conservation measures in order to create hunting and fishing opportunities.

On Cedar Lakes Farm, they cleared and leveled the land, while leaving natural areas for wildlife and outdoor camping. They dredged and aerated the ponds, stocking them with bluegill, bass, walleye, crappie and catfish. Dredged soil was used to build a berm for the shooting range.

Today, the farm’s wooded areas attract deer and game birds, and geese flock to the water. This pleases Colby, Kim’s

small Munsterlander pointer-retriever.

Wanda and Kim’s wife, Teresa Gibson, weren’t involved with the outdoor phase of the development. In fact, when their husbands mentioned “retreat,” they envisioned a onebedroom, one-bathroom hunting shack.

“This is a guy’s project,” Kim says.

“Their (Wanda’s and Teresa’s) influence came later.”

It would be saved for the 3,114-square-foot lodge, which was built by Cherry Ridge Construction of Council Bluffs and was overseen by the company president, Chris Rochleau.

Courtney Otte, Kim and Teresa's 23-year-old daughter and Rick and Wanda's granddaughter, served as the primary designer. Otte is a design consultant for Cherry Ridge Construction, and she owns an online design boutique, the Modern Hive.

Rick and Wanda also have two

daughters, seven other grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, so the lodge, which sleeps 12 comfortably, can quickly reach the “no vacancy” stage.

“It was a great first project for me,” says Otte, who created an aesthetic that perfectly fits the family and the exterior surroundings.

The ambiance is ruggedly beautiful, á la Ralph Lauren. It is simultaneously open to the outdoors and is cozily intimate.

Working for her grandfather and father wasn’t always easy, Otte says, but she learned to be patient, to collaborate and to not be offended by questions or differing opinions.

Also challenging was the fact that she personally prefers a contemporary style, which she plans to incorporate into the home that she and her husband just purchased in Omaha’s Elmwood Park neighborhood. continued on page 50 inspiredhomeomaha.com 49

continued from page 49

Rick and Kim joke that interior design is easy when the designer doesn’t have a budget. But the teasing is all in fun. “It was a relief to us that Courtney helped with the interior,” Rick says. “Kim and I had a vision of what we wanted, so we couldn’t really have a budget.”

Kim has been hunting since he shot his first grouse at age 10, and the pastime is a strong bond between father and son. They have traveled the world – including South Africa, Australia, Canada and Alaska, Russia, and throughout the United States – in search of domestic and exotic game.

Rick and Kim have trophy rooms in their homes, and their prizes, prepared by taxidermist Mike Dinges of Omaha, also will adorn the lodge at Cedar Lakes Farm. A white mountain goat already stands sentry over the fireplace in the great room.

If Wanda and Teresa were initially skeptical, they’re all-in now. The family loves Cedar Lakes Farm.

“There’s no mail, no laundry.

And the kitchen has nicer appliances than I have at home,” Teresa says, smiling.

One recent Sunday, Rick and Wanda visited Cedar Lakes Farm just to read and bask in the tranquility. And despite these seasoned travelers and adventurers' experiences, there wasn’t a better place to be in the world.

50 September/October 2013

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www.roedermortuary.com 52 September/October 2013

Barn Door, $100; Accent table, $95; Table lamp, $250; (opposite page) Pendant lamp, $100; Box, $40.

Let it be about you today....

K

evin McClay lives in a swirl of creativity.

“Everything is totally unique,” says McClay, a self-taught woodworker who sells his wares under the Fortress label. “It’s exciting to go into the workshop and see what pops into my head.”

McClay, a full-time technical writer by day, works with reclaimed raw materials from old barns and other demolitions.

A discarded catalytic converter? A used photocopier receptor drum? That trash is artistic treasure in the hands of the selfdescribed pack rat.

“I hate to see it get thrown away if it can be used,” he says.

Indeed, Fortress recently set up shop at Bench Omaha, a collaborative co-working space for wood and metal artisans and aspiring craftsmen at 24th Avenue and Harney Street.

“We are in the midst of the hurricane,” McClay said in late July during Fortress’ relocation from a renovated warehouse in downtown Council Bluffs.

“This has all been a blessing,” he says of becoming a “BenchMate” in the collaborative shop, which also caters to weekend warriors who wish to learn and create or just need a workbench for a project.

Fortress’ one-of-a-kind inventory includes an authentic collection of handmade goods and vintage finds.

McClay's hands (and chop saw) are responsible for reclaimed wood creations, such as trays, mosaic wall hangings, hook racks, tables and those brilliant Fortress lamps.

Ingrained with character, his pieces bounce between rustic and modern – “wood art” as one customer described it.

McClay's wife, Ellene, specializes in fabric, teaches sewing classes and “re-imagines” vintage items.

She also designs bridal dresses and accessories.

The McClays established Fortress in January 2012. They have an online presence at FortressCo.etsy.com and bustle.etsy.com. You can also find Kevin’s work in the Bench Omaha lobby.

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inspiredhomeomaha.com 53

C

Where'd you get that rock?

abinet drawers and doors are flashing serious bling with hardware makers shaping knobs

and pulls into gorgeous works of art. But let's not get carried away. These beauties are often used as accents. And at $15 to $30 or more each, that's probably what you were hoping to hear. Fret not.

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54 September/October 2013

MALL HOURS M-F 10 am - 9 pm Sat 10 am - 6 pm Sun 12 pm - 5 pm

Sizing Up Your Choices

Michael Foley, decorative hardware consultant at Millard Lumber, shares his tips for choosing pulls and knobs.

Consider who will be using the hardware in its designated space. Select user-friendly components for high-traffic spaces; have a little fun with decorative cabinet knobs and pulls in less-frequently used spaces like a powder room.

Entertainment centers, bar areas, and master bedroom builtins also are prime areas for decorative hardware.

Don’t settle. If you have to save a little money in order to buy what you really love, do it. Set up a house fund and add to it weekly until you have enough in the pot to place your order.

Take a cabinet drawer or door with you when you shop.

Hardware can sometimes take on the color of your cabinet and surface finishes, and some finishes pull out color better than others.

It’s OK to mix finishes as long as they complement each other. But don’t go hog wild. More than three finishes in one space can get a little busy.

Beware of bronze finishes; they are not standardized like other finishes. "If you try to match bronzes, you’ll start

hitting your head against a wall,” Foley warns. Your best RX is to combine them.

THE NEXT BIG THING?

“Keep your eye on plumbing components,” Foley says.

“Plumbing manufacturers often come out with new finishes before hardware manufacturers.”

KEEP THAT SPARKLE

Keep metal finishes looking new by cleaning cabinetry hardware with a hot damp cloth, or a soft cloth dipped in a mild solution of dish soap (free of a greasecutter) and water. The chemicals in most cleaners will eventually eat away at the lacquer on the finishes.

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402.345.1156 • hardscapecontractors.net inspiredhomeomaha.com 55

'You don't have to be rich to live well. You just have to be clever.'

Story by Chris Christen Photographed by Jeffrey Bebee

“Who has a front door this crazy? Willy Wonka?” Laurent asks. The tapestries and faux-marble chest were all created by Laurent.

The four-legged critter is by artist Josh Powell.

J

ames Laurent has a lot of retro going on.“My things mean something to me. They have a story,” he says as he surveys his quirky live-work apartment at Harvester Artspace Lofts in downtown Council Bluffs.

Laurent, a sculptor and painter who also works as an event designer and planner, says he owes his eye for the quirky to special effects artist and costumer Richard Tautkus of “The Wiz” and the Ringling Bros. Circus.

“He taught me how to hone my vision,” Laurent says of his Broadway mentor. “He stressed that I had to let go of the obvious. He was brilliant.”

Laurent majored in voice (he’s a lyric baritone) at The Hartt School in Hartford, Connecticut. He became an Equity Actor and toured with the production companies of "The King and I," "Guys and Dolls" and "My Fair Lady."

It was through these connections that he met and worked with Tautkus.

After his Broadway stint, he started working at New York City's famed Tavern on the Green. That's where he discovered his potential as an event designer. The Holyoke, Massachusetts, native came to Omaha in 1995.

56 September/October 2013

“Nice Earrings, Bitch,” by Laurent.

Mixed media on canvas, 54” x 54.”

Look! It's art in 3D!

After initial jobs with a textiles store and then a private country club, Laurent has been an event coordinator for DoubleTree by Hilton Omaha since 2000.

Thrift store shopping is a passion. When he first moved here, Laurent was scouring two or three secondhand stores every Monday on his day off and wsa always adding new treasures. “Now, if I bring something new into my home, I have to take something out.”

The exposed brick walls and concrete floors of his 1,300-square-foot apartment suit his worldy retro decor. A large dining room table is the statement piece. In a home where globes are a recurring theme, the table is topped with an early world map – rendered in 13,000 jigsaw puzzle pieces permanently sealed in polyurethane.

Laurent bought the puzzle from a friend of a friend, and designed a frame from salvaged doors and table legs.

The table makes an especially grand impression when Laurent entertains. Dinner parties are his thing. “I’m an event planner. If I can’t have a fabulous event in my home, I might just as well give it up.” continued on page 59

inspiredhomeomaha.com  57

[ James Laurent ]

Favorite Stops On "Thrift Store Mondays": Second Chance Antiques Lake Manawa Antiques Goodwill stores St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store

58  September/October 2013

continued from page 56

We love the Biedermeier-style backsplash with black accents and honey-colored wood.

Laurent is a discerning collector of ice buckets, chip and dip bowls and Libbey Gold Coin glassware from the 1950s.

And globes. “I’ve had a thing for them since I was a kid.” A favorite in his collection of 12 is a giant globe that opens into a bar (see page 57), which was scored on one of those “Thrift Store Mondays.” “I think I screamed out loud: Who would get rid of something like this?”

And then there are his lamps.

“I love lamps. I like the artistry of them in a room.”

But not just any lamp. It has to be “out there” before it can be considered. A Blackamoor chalkware lamp from the Aladdin Hotel in Vegas became a housewarming gift to himself when he moved into his first downtown loft apartment. “I paid $350 for it, and I thought that was a lot.” (Recently, he has seen similar styles for $2,500 online.) The lamp matches a taller version in the same style received from a friend when Laurent moved to the Harvester three years ago.

Quirky fun aside, there is a particularly treasured piece of art – a portrait that hangs in Laurent’s bedroom. Titled, “A Man With a Future,” the painting was a birthday gift from his father. “I was 16, and I thought it was an awesome gift. My dad wasn’t a touchy-feely person.”

The painting, Laurent has always felt, was his father’s way of acknowledging his son’s talent as an artist. “I treasure that.”

inspiredhomeomaha.com 59

“The Visionary,” from Laurent's first sculpture show in January 2011.

Mixed media.

Mannequin head with Max Headroom hair, candlestick pedestal. Crown: sunburst mirror, western belt.

60 September/October 2013

Laurent's most recently completed work. The piece was barely dry when we photographed the space.

“A Man With a Future,” a gift from Laurent's father.

inspiredhomeomaha.com 61

“I have learned that your life has to be passion-based in order for it to feel fulfilling. I do a lot of stuff, but that’s how it has to be.”

James Laurent, artist and event planner

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“...We shape our buildings: thereafter they shape us.”

- Winston Churchill

Next issue

A big house on the prairie gets a loving restoration.

64 September/October 2013

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