March/April 2012 Omaha Home

march/april 2012

Always Local, Always Beautiful

Architect rOn hAcKett’S

Home in the Woods CERTIFIED GREEN HOMES

Jeff rensch & Brau Builders

A Publication of

TAPESTRy/RUG WEAVER

Mary Zicafoose march/april • 2012

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march/april • 2012

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Omaha Home: from the editor March/April 2012 VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 2

Editorial omaha publications editor

linda persigehl omaha home contributing editor

stacey penrod city editor

sandy lemke assistant editor

bailey hemphill editorial intern

(#21)

A Letter from the Editor

W

ow! What a tremendous response to our most recent issue of Omaha

Home, “Vintage Finds, Modern Living.” Not only have we flown through every one of our 60,000 copies, but we’ve received great feedback from the

businesses featured. Midwest Pickers said that 80 percent of their walk-in traffic after the release of the magazine said they learned about their new business from Omaha Home. Almost every

k.j. mckercher

one of the products in our Hot Products section has been sold, and Tweed Couch received

art director

great feedback about Tweed Couch’s vintage van, Dotty. This is a true testament to the value

john gawley graphic designer

katie anderson production artist

mike bruening p r i n c i pa l p h o t o g r a p h y

minorwhite studios, inc. scott drickey

• bill sitzmann

contributing photographer

jess ewald john gawley editorial advisors

rick carey

• david scott

contributing writers

helen deffenbacher first national bank lisa mccoid lisa tonjes moritz traci osuna bill spittler brianne wilhelm david williams

of our magazine, both to our readers as well as our advertisers. We will continue to strive to be interesting, informative and always personal.

Spring is just around the corner and if you’re looking for new, fresh and inspiring ideas for your home, this issue is rich with textiles and fabrics for your décor.

Our feature on 21st Century Quilts details how Shirley Neary turned her passion for quilts into a fine art studio (These aren’t your grandma’s quilts!) We look at the beautiful works Mary Zicafoose, whose colorful tapestries and rugs can be found all over the world. We also spotlight many bright woven accents that can add a fresh, spring feel to your home on our Hot Products pages.

Our March/April issue also features interesting profiles on other Omaha projects and designers, including Brau Builders’ green home model, interior architect Lisa Schrager of LMK Concepts, New on the Block businesses, a Neighborhood Spotlight on The Ridges, and several helpful columns on home topics you’ll want to know about.

If you’re looking for more ways to update your home and yard this year, be sure to visit the Omaha Home Show at CenturyLink Center Omaha March 29-April 1, or take the Remodel Omaha Tour in early April. Go to www.moba.com for more details.

Welcome, Spring!

Sincerely,

Omaha Home Magazine appears as its own magazine and as a section within Omaha Magazine. To view the full version of Omaha Magazine, or to subscribe, go to www. readonlinenow.com.

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march/april • 2012

Stacey Penrod Account Executive & Contributing Editor, Omaha Home Magazine stacey.penrod@omahapublications.com

www.OmahaPublications.com

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march/april • 2012

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Omaha Home: contents March/April 2012 VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 2

departments

features

Accounts & Operations

10

publisher

todd lemke account executive

&

publisher’s assistant

14

vicki voet sales associate

&

publisher’s assistant

jessica linhart

16

vice president

greg bruns

20

vice president of operations

21st Century Quilts: Shirley Neary’s Studio

sales

&

28

marketing

gil cohen sales associate

32

alicia smith hollins senior sales executive

gwen lemke

44

omaha home senior account executive

stacey penrod account executive

paige edwards

bulk subscription manager

sandy besch

New on the Block: Elite Glass Services The Frame Service Room Spotlight: Fashionable Custom Closets

18 Architect Profile:

tyler lemke executive vice president

Design Profile: Mary Zicafoose, Textiles Designer

46

Lisa Schrager, LMK Concepts Interior Architect/Designer Neighborhood Profile: The Ridges One Square Mile of Magesty Home Extra: Pinterest The New Facebook Hot Products: Bright Spring Accessories Accent Your Home Transformations: Exciting Design on the River Riverfront Places Tower II

accounting

jim heitz distribution manager

mike brewer

22

At Home: Hackett’s Home In The Woods

columns

Comments? Send your letter to the editor to: letters@omahapublications.com All versions of Omaha Magazine are published bimonthly by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha NE 680461208. Telephone: (402) 884-2000; fax (402) 884-2001. Subscription rates: $19.95 for 6 issues (one year), $24.95 for 12 issues (two years).

No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of Omaha Magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted, however no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations. Best of Omaha®™ is a registered tradename of Omaha Magazine.

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine, LTD

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Green Design: Brau Builders’ Certified Green Home

34

35

42

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Home Mortgage: The Importance of a Pre-Approved Mortgage Home Landscaping: How to Choose a Landscape Contractor Home Energy: The Omaha Solar Buying Co-Op Home Organizing: Spring into Organizing www.OmahaPublications.com

MAKE YOUR NEIGHBORS JEALOUS.

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Omaha Home: designer profile Story by Linda Persigehl • Photos by Jess Ewald and courtesy of Mary Zicafoose

Q&A: Mary Zicafoose

Textiles Designer

M

ary Zicafoose’s tapestries and rugs can be found

in homes, offices, and corporate headquarters worldwide. Her woven works of art, which blend cultural icons and symbols with contemporary design, have even been exhibited in the private collection of 17 U.S. Embassies and Ambassadors’ homes around the globe.

We asked Zicafoose to give us insight into how she found her destiny in the world of weaving, and what she loves about the artform.

Give us a little background about you and your education and work experience in the arts.

I was raised in Niles, Mich., a quiet little town 20 minutes from the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan. I come from a very artistic family. I have several cousins who are very successful international artists.

I attended a small private catholic girls school, St. Mary’s College, in South Bend, Ind. I received a BFA in photography and a minor in education and then pursued MFA studies in clay at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

After graduation, I was the art instructor at Culver Military Academy in H10

march/april • 2012

Culver, Ind., and then moved onto teaching at the Avery Coonley School for the Bright & Gifted in Downers Grove, Ill. You learn a tremendous amount about art, and yourself, when you teach. Among the things I learned was that I was an artist, not someone who just talked about artists.

A wedding brought me to Nebraska. I fell in love with this state, relocated, and enrolled in some graduate classes at UNL. How did you end up making textiles your medium of choice?

What do you love about weaving?

From the moment I sat behind my first loom and wove my first little scrap of cloth, I knew I had found my destiny. I took a basic www.OmahaPublications.com

Locally Grown, Zone Hardy Plant Material

weaving course, bought a used loom, and just started weaving. No guru, no method…This decision gave me total freedom to become my own person in the textile field. I have been weaving now for 30 years. What I love about what I do is that there is no end to the stories to tell...or the ways to tell them.

Describe your tapestries and carpets. What makes them so unique and high quality?

My work falls in three categories: manufactured carpets, hand-woven tapestries, and editions of framed colorgraphic monoprints.

The carpets—a new line and a new venture for me—are hand-dyed and hand-knotted in Nepal of silk and Tibetan wool. They are custom ordered to fit any size, and all the designs are rendered in three color options— warm, cool, or neutral. They retail at $95/sq. ft. with a four-month delivery from the day the order is placed.

My tapestries also are hand-dyed and handwoven, in silk and wool on a linen warp. I have always dyed the fibers for my pieces, and the saturated and custom colors come from years of experimentation and fine tuning of colorants and formulas. Dyeing and creating color is high school chemistry gone wild. Prices are based upon the complexity of design and technique and materials used, starting at $275/sq. ft. Weaving Southwest in Taos, New Mexico, represents my tapestries, as does Modern Arts Midwest Midtown here in Omaha.

My prints range in size and price by edition and can be viewed and purchased on my website and locally through Anderson O’Brien Fine Art and the Bemis Center for Contemporary Art.

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Tell us about your design process. What inspires your designs?

My pieces are all conceived and designed as small compositions, then blown up and enlarged to high heaven. Rendering these in wool and silk, dyed and woven, captures a dimensionality and a frequency of light that pencil, paint, paper and canvas cannot touch.

I refer often to the power of cloth. There’s something to that phrase. I work thematically. Incan symbols, the cross, endangered species, tornados, fire, the sun, the human thumbprint, Nebraska rivers and prairies have all been among the inspirational forces for years of tapestry making. >> www.ReadOnlineNow.com

march/april • 2012

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Omaha Home: designer profile

L to R Below Crossfire, (2003) slit tapestry Five Fields, (2011) handknotted carpet La Iguana y la Escalera Roja, (1994) slit tapestry September Praire Red (2011) hand-knotted carpet

<< In the late ‘80s, my husband, Kirby, and I spent one year in the Amazon Basin working for Conservation International in the Bolivian Tropics. That year was a life-changer. After living in and traveling through the Andean textile-rich cultures…I returned to the U.S. very inspired to weave largescale, color-coded, graphically rich contemporary tapestries. My travels have continued over the years winding across many continents, offering further inspiration.

Are there special challenges involved in working with textiles?

When I began marketing my work years ago, I was weaving rugs. Now I have come full circle again creating rugs, licensing my designs to InnerAsia/Khawachen in Hanover, N.H. These luxurious silk and wool hand knotted carpets are being woven in a GoodWeave certified child labor-free carpet factory in Nepal. As conscious consumers, we in the West always must demand that any fine carpet we purchase is certified and labeled as child labor-free. We have great power and responsibility as consumers to change the practices of the world and to impact the lives of those who create the beautiful products that decorate our homes.

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march/april • 2012

www.OmahaPublications.com

Come Alive

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Describe your own home decor/ furnishings. How would you explain your decorating style?

Our home is an eclectic collection of artifacts and treasures from years of travels and art objects that we love and couldn’t live without. I’ll mortgage the farm to buy a piece of art if it speaks powerfully to me. We live in a 1950’s Cape Cod home in the Rockbrook area of Omaha that we remodeled specifically to showcase the art. Everyday I walk through my house and fall in love all over again with the pieces that border and fill our life, from the work of artist friends to, a find in the back alley of a tiny woodworkers’ stall in India.

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How do you give back to the local arts community?

On a local level, I sit on the board of the newly formed Union for Contemporary Art that is providing arts education opportunities for children as well as studio, exhibition, and volunteer opportunities for artists in North Omaha; and I am a high school art mentor for the quite awesome Kent Bellows Center here in Omaha.

You can view Mary’s tapestries, carpets and print, and even place orders, on her website: www.maryzicafoose.com. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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Omaha Home: new on the block Story by Bailey Hemphill • Photos by minorwhitestudios.com (L-R) Darrel Piatt and Ben Alba

Rebecca Boylan

New on the Block

Elite Glass Services • The Frame Service

Elite Glass Services 10327 Chandler Cir (La Vista)

E

lite Glass Services’ website promotes itself as “your one-stop glass shop staffed by glass experts with years of experience in custom fabrication and installation, committed to delivering high quality craftsmanship and extraordinary customer service.”

Recently, Elite Glass Services opened a new showroom in La Vista. “We built a new shop and showroom to grow our business,” says Ben Alba, who co-owns Elite Glass Services with partner Darrel Piatt. “The showroom allows us to educate our clients with new and innovative ideas for interior and exterior glass applications. Our new showroom showcases all of our products. The showroom allows customers and clients to make selections from exact examples.”

The glass retailer offers custom designs and fitting of shower doors, heavy glass doors, mirrors, glass shelving, glass tabletops, and cabinet glass. Elite also offers glass replacement for broken windows, “foggy” units, and upgrading, which is a much more cost-effective alternative to full-window replacement. Elite now also carries a new product called Beyond™. Designed to separate bars, kitchens, or tables, Beyond™ is a unique technology that will be a focal point of any room; and unlike granite, Beyond™ is easy to clean and has a less porous surface.

For more information, visit www.eliteglassservices.com or call 402-630-3436.

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march/april • 2012

The Frame Service 3564 Farnam St (Midtown)

W

hile some in the Midtown

community may not see The Frame Service as “New on the Block,” the business has had to start anew after their original building burned down in early 2011. Owner Rebecca Boylan clearly recalls the phone call she received on a Saturday night informing her that her shop had caught fire. “Over the course of seven months, we repaired the entire structure and made the inside new.

“We rebuilt the entire interior, restored the original tin ceiling, repaired the windows front and back, and cut in new flooring…We tried to save as much of the original building as we could,” says Boylan. Although the outside of the shop is more or less the same, www.OmahaPublications.com

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the inside looks almost entirely different with a new airy and bright feel. “Everyone that comes in says, ‘Oh, the place looks bigger and lighter’ or ‘It looks like New York in Midtown,’” says Boylan.

The Frame Service still offers its original services—custom and conservation framing; residential and corporate framing; retail prints, posters, and reproductions; volume framing for large projects; consultation with design professionals; delivery and installation; and frame repair and restoration. But they also now show fine art for sale. “We’ve put in letter press artwork, sculptures, fine art glass…a little more shopping in the store… the upstairs [has] more of a gallery feel.”

Boylan loves doing business in Omaha because of the friendly atmosphere and the devoted clientele. “I want to send my heartfelt thanks to all of the people who were patient during our rebuilding.”

For more information, visit www.the frameservice.com or call 402-346-6130. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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To see properties and developments go to: www.advantagedevelopmentinc.com • 891-9899

march/april • 2012

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Omaha Home: room spotlight Story by Bailey Hemphill • Photos and information provided by Josh Erikson, Affordable Closets

C

losets are a necessary

storage component in every home, and yet they often function as so much more. Beyond their perfunctory use, closets serve as a basis of organization and often times showcase a fashionable wardrobe.

So why should all closet plans look the same when their users’ styles are not?

A custom closet is a reflection of both style and lifestyle, and makes anyone feel like they’re in a top-floor penthouse suite.

It also increases efficiency, productivity, and improves a home’s resale value. Yes, even in today’s market, a remodeled custom closet can increase the value of the home and appeal to fussy buyers.

With a custom closet company, homeowners have the resources of professionally trained designers and installation staff to help customize flexible and high-quality designs that best fit their closet needs. Some of the most popular closet manufacturers are California Closets, Closet Factory, ClosetMaid, Rubbermaid, and Schulte—all of which have local dealers and retailers in various markets. Most custom closet companies prefer to install the closet organizations themselves; however, some online retailers carry special “do-it-yourself” kits that allow for easy installation projects.

By customizing a closet, a homeowner can fit their specific needs. For example, if you’re a shoe/purse fanatic and own more than the average person, you may want to look into customized cabinetry that includes multiple shelves; or, if you are a neck-tie/belt enthusiast, you may want to add a valet rod in with your clothing racks for better organization. Everything can be customized, from drawers with jewelry trays and laundry hampers to crown molding and cabinetry finishes.

Fashionable Custom Closets

For more information on installing custom closets, contact Josh at josh@affordableclosets. com or visit www.affordableclosets.net H16

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Omaha Home: architect profile Story by Linda Persigehl • Photos by minorwhitestudios.com & courtesy of LMK Concepts

Q&A: Lisa Schrager

L

Interior Architect/Designer, LMK Concepts

isa Schrager is owner of LMK Concepts, a complete interior design services

company creating spaces for both residential and commercial customers. The quality of her work, as evident in her project photos, has her in big demand by high-profile clients both here at home and abroad.

Share a bit about your upbringing. When did you know you wanted to go into architecture? Where did you go to school?

I was raised in Omaha. Growing up, my father had a residential construction company. I would work for him in the summer months, scheduling subcontractors, doing selected finishes, supervising job sites, etc. I knew in high school that design would be my path. I attended college at the University of Arizona at Tucson, where I studied interior architecture. After college, I moved to New York City and worked for Gensler. For decades, Gensler has been ranked the #1 interior design firm in the country.

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photo by Natalie Jensen Photography You’ve traveled a lot for your work. Tell us about some of your projects around the globe.

Through my work at Gensler and with my own firm, LMK Concepts, which I started 12 years ago after moving back to Omaha, I’ve had the opportunity to live and/or complete work in cities all over the U.S. as well as Canada, London, and Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Some of my projects have been for Warner Bros. Studio, Sony Picture Studios, Beverly Hills Hotel, law firms, investment banks, many corporate headquarters, specialty retail stores, restaurants/bars, medical facilities, hotels, and private homes. The projects range in size from 1,000 square feet to 500,000 square feet. www.OmahaPublications.com

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Where do you get the inspiration for your interior designs?

I have been fortunate to live in and travel to some amazing cities and countries. I’ve attended many architectural tours in London, Pisa, Florence, Rome, Greece, Barcelona, Seville, Madrid, Lisbon, the Caribbean, and the British Virgin Islands. Each location that I have lived in or visited provided its own culture, style, and architecture. All this exposure and experience is translated in my work.

I’m inspired by many architects/designers, but most notably Richard Neutra and furniture designer Jean Michel Frank. When I’m working with a client, it’s not about my style but interpreting and delivering their style.

“Architecture is the thoughtful making of space.”­ –Louis Kahn

402-778-0650 12965 W. Center Road (Montclair Shopping Center)

Describe a few of your unique or favorite projects. What did you like about them? What challenges did they offer?

Working in Mexico is interesting. Like any project abroad, the culture is different.

The construction methods are unique to the particular area. Other countries also move at a much slower pace. But the positive side of this experience was the vast array of local architectural elements. Shopping in the local towns for unique and exciting artifacts to incorporate into the space was inspirational. And who can ignore the amazing inspiration found with the ocean view?

The Beverly Hills Hotel was exciting. The hotel owner wanted to maintain the nostalgic Hollywood glamour of the era in which it was originally built. Many of the bungalows had been frequented by celebrities (Marilyn Monroe, etc). We wanted to develop each bungalow to represent each celebrity’s style. A lot of time was spent researching the era to recreate it as well as creating custom items to replicate the items of that time, i.e. wallpaper, furniture, carpet, etc.

Custom Design Home Technology Home Theater . Lighting Control . Home Automation . Motorized Shading 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.

What are some of your other interests/hobbies when not work?

I love to travel, bike, hike, snow ski, water ski, dive, deep sea fish, boat… basically anything outside.

To view Schrager’s work, go to www.lmkconcepts.com www.ReadOnlineNow.com

4315 S. 120th Street | 402-334-4900 www.echosystemsomaha.com march/april • 2012

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Omaha Home: feature Story by Linda Persigehl • Photos by minorwhitestudios.com

21st Century Quilts

Shirley Neary’s studio of fine wall art is not your ordinary quilt shop

The most impressive perhaps is Radiant Reflections, from Japan. It’s an impressionistic view of trees by a stream, done with thousands of very small pieces and threads, some metallic.

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march/april • 2012

Shirley Neary

S

hirley Neary has a love affair with quilts. “I’ve always seen quilts as art pieces, even the traditional ones,” she said. For several years, the Omaha homemaker and mother of four ran a home-based www.OmahaPublications.com

business, creating, exhibiting, and selling studio quilts to customers on demand. “I’ve always defined myself as an artist, living every day as creatively as possible.” Her creative spirit lead her to return to school to earn a BA in Studio Art from UNO with an emphasis in drawing in 1992.

With the opening of 21st Century Quilts, her own studio in Dundee, the Carroll, Iowa, native is fulfilled her dream to share the world of innovating quilting with the people of Omaha on a much bigger scale.

Neary opened the 600-sq.-ft. showroom, which features hardwood floors, feature lighting, and two benches at center for guests to sit and ‘take in’ the pieces hung around the perimeter, in December 2010. On display is “some of the most dynamic work being done right now in the art quilt field.” Many of the quilts are purchased from Studio Art Quilt Associates, others from the annual International Quilt Festival. The pieces represent artists from all over the world…

Canada, the Netherlands, Australia… The quilts feature a wide range of colors and subjects, including water, florals, animals and people, some heavily stitched, others very simply quilted.

“The most impressive perhaps is Radiant Reflections, from Japan. “It’s an impressionistic view of trees by a stream, done with thousands of very small pieces and threads, some metallic,” Neary said. “Cheers is my newest piece, from New Mexico. It shows barware reflecting light in an unusual color scheme.”

Quilts range from 12”x12” to 80”x60” and $125 to $12,600, with something for every budget and space need.

Neary’s customers are primarily homeowners shopping for something unusual for their home or gifts, she said. She hopes to reach more corporate clients in the coming year.

When not opening the showroom by appointment, Neary can often be found at Cupcake Island, a second business she operates with business partner Ed LeFebvre.

Learn more at www.21stcenturyquilts.com or www.facebook.com/21stcenturyquilts www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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Architect Ron

Hackett’s Home

In The Woods

Omaha Home: at home Story by Molly Garriott • Photos by Jess Ewald

Along with his sons and friends, he built it.

Literally. “We nailed the two-by-fours together.”

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march/april • 2012

Ron Hackett

W www.OmahaPublications.com

W

hat boy (or man, for that matter) doesn’t

like a tree house? Not Ron Hackett and his sons, Josh, Drew, and Isaac. Eight years ago, Hackett, an Omaha architect, says he wanted to “have the fun of building and living in my own home.” His colleague, Tom Findley, inspired him to assume the challenge. So he and his wife, Syndi, shopped for the perfect piece of land in the Ponca Hills, north of the city. When they found it, Hackett designed and then built his house. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

And by built, he doesn’t mean overseeing its construction by a contractor and building crew.

He means he, along with his sons and friends, built it. Literally. “We nailed the two-by-fours together,” Hackett says. The four Hackett men worked evenings, weekends, and vacations for two years until the home was completed.

The result of their labors is a modern, minimalist masterpiece tucked into the woods. “It’s a lot like a tree house because the home is so vertical,” explains Hackett. It has four levels, all with oversized windows to maximize the views. When Hackett is on one of the home’s upper levels, he is as high as the trees surrounding the structure.

“The beauty of the home is the view,” he maintains, describing his surroundings as >>

march/april • 2012

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Omaha Home: at home Left: A collage of framed photos tells the story of the home-building process and makes an interesting wall display. Construction of the home took two years.

Right: A view of the home’s exterior. The house was featured on the 2011 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Nebraska Home Tour.

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march/april • 2012

www.OmahaPublications.com

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<< “just fantastic” and “grand.” The house sits on five acres of woods. His nearest human neighbor is over 1000 feet away. While there is some landscaping around the house proper, the innate beauty of the setting was sculpted by the extremely steep forested terrain. He concedes that Bambi would eat most of their contrived attempts at garden design. Deer are plentiful.

Other “neighbors” include fox, woodchucks, raccoons, hawks, owls, and wild turkeys.

The main entry into the home is actually through the basement. Hackett calls it a “walk-in” basement as opposed to the more typical walk-out variety. Nebraska limestone from a quarry in Weeping Water, Neb. adds a rugged texture to the foyer’s walls. He also introduced the natural stone in the living room’s fireplace. Hackett sought out regional stone for his house, saying he wanted “Nebraska stone for a Nebraska home.” >>

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H25

Omaha Home: at home

The Hacketts took a minimalist approach to decorating their architecture-rich home. Rich wood floors and cabinetry add color and warmth.

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march/april • 2012

www.OmahaPublications.com

120th & Maple • 402.496.0700 • mulhalls.com

<< The main living area is located on the home’s second floor. The color palette is white, to define the space, says Hackett. He and Syndi introduce color through their art, which reinforces the home’s natural setting and tranquil environment. Above the living room fireplace hangs a striking autumnal scene that could easily be a photograph of the Hackett’s wooded sanctuary.

Save the art, the home’s décor is striking in its starkness. This is by design. The couple shun clutter. Its architecture becomes the focal point of the home; the natural setting, its adornment.

Oak floors link the various rooms. The kitchen, with its cherry cabinetry and granite countertops, is one of Syndi Hackett’s favorite rooms. It overlooks the dining room, which, with its walls of windows, overlooks the woods beyond. “You feel like you are outside when you are sitting at the dining room table,” Hackett states.

The third floor contains the master bedroom, and the fourth floor (or what Hackett dubs the loft) is home to Isaac and Drew’s shared bedroom. Both floors’ open floor plan allows for views down to the main floor rooms and the woods outside. No matter what floor you are on, you have a view of the out of doors.

Ultimately, Hackett wanted to create a home that fosters togetherness. “There is connectivity within the house,” he suggests, one that links the people within to each other and to the outside woods. Hackett says he designed his home with this connectedness in mind. “I wanted my family to be together as much as possible.” www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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Omaha Home: neighborhood profile Story by David Williams • Photos by Jess Ewald

One Square Mile of Magesty

The Ridges is the hub of the West

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march/april • 2012

www.OmahaPublications.com

T

he Ridges isn’t what one could call a “drive-by” neighborhood. Traveling west on Pacific Street, south on 192nd, east on Center and finally north on 180th to complete an orbit does little in the way of allowing insight into what the development looks like. It’s all of those pesky trees girding the perimeter and beyond that get in the way—all 8,000 of them—in denying a browser anything more than the occasional glimpse through a thicket of green.

“That’s not the half of it,” explained Susan Ramsay, secretary of The Ridges Homeowners Association. “Those are just the trees planted before construction began. Many thousands more were planted by Shadow Ridge Country Club and still thousands more by homeowners as far back as 1993.”

From the lush fairways of the golf course that meanders like a mountain stream through the development to the broad, landscaped boulevards that snake in gentle arcs throughout the property, The Ridges is perhaps one of the area’s greenest of suburban spaces.

Roxanne Dooley, an NP Dodge Real Estate agent who has developed a strong client base in executive relocation, seems to know every twig on the 350-acre plot of land, and with good reason.

“I’m not only a client, I’m an owner,” Dooley beamed in borrowing from a memorably cheesy TV ad tag line of an earlier millennia. “I fall in love with many of the homes I sell, but that only makes it extra special to be able to come home every night to The Ridges.”

A second thing you’ll notice in circumnavigating the roads girding The Ridges is what it doesn’t offer. The site is 13 distinct but fully integrated subdivisions and is home to 700 families in dwellings that range from $300,000 to over $1 million. >>

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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Omaha Home: neighborhood profile

<< Homes in The Ridges range in size from a more than comfy 3,100 square feet up to—for those who appreciate a little elbow room—rambling edifices of 8,500 square feet and more.

Although the architecture below the peaked and gabled shake shingle rooflines varies in scale and style, a neutral palette among its stone facades, trims and paint schemes ensures a creative continuity that is pleasing to the eye without being monochromatic.

What you won’t find in the Ridges is a single commercial endeavor within this one square mile, and that acts as something of an antidote to the typical drawbacks of urban sprawl. No retail, commercial or industrial spaces here. None.

Hold on a sec! The above assertions aren’t entirely true (never trust a writer). The regal grounds of Shadow Ridge Country Club and its championship 18-holes that live up to the

motto of “What golf was meant to be” certainly qualify as a commercial enterprise, but that’s the type of brick-and-mortar business that any neighbor would be more than happy to welcome.

“We have the best of both worlds,” Dooley added, “because we’re the hub of West Omaha surrounded by anything we could possibly need,” she said of the development that is a short hop away from Village Pointe, Shops of

Above: A sample of the many homes in the 13 distinct subdivisions that make up The Ridges. Home styles run the gamut, from traditional to Cape Cod-style to contemporary.

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www.OmahaPublications.com

Legacy, world-class hospitals, and a staggering array of great dining, all within the Elkhorn School District.

That lack of commercial activity is also a great asset in building a sense of unity, explained Paul Prusa, president of the Homeowners Association.

“The annual picnic is a must on most of our calendars,” Prusa said. “That and events like our Easter Egg Hunt, Gingerbread House decorating event, and Campout (that’s right, s’mores in the city!) started out as a way to just get together with friends and neighbors, but these happenings have grown over the years, not just in size, but as an important part of who we are and how we can come together. None of us in this world today knows our neighbors like we once did, but that’s what strong communities do—they come together.”

Ramsay agreed. “We plan vacations around association events,” she said, “especially the annual picnic. Wouldn’t dare miss it. We have a strong sense of family here, right down to the owners of our great neighbor, the golf club, who also live right here in The Ridges.”

But unanimity of purpose and 100 percent attendance is difficult to attain, even in the most tightly knit of communities. Typical no-shows at association events include the many pieces of bronze statuary that greet drivers at the development’s main entrances.

Neither board member could offer much in the way of a solution that would allow bears, bucks and a flock of gravity-defying geese to leave their moorings so that they too could join in the fun.

One of Roxanne Dooley’s favorite times of the year is coming up as a slow thaw ushers warmer temperatures.

“That’s when the fountains are fired back up, the park comes alive, all the leaves fill in on the trees and everything is new again,” she said. And that doesn’t even count the uptick in activity at the soccer and baseball fields, the playground and picnic area, and the two stocked ponds that have been known to be the origin of countless fisherman’s tales that only grow with each new season.

To those driving by, all those new leaves will only make it doubly difficult to catch a glance into The Ridges, one of the area’s finest homes of upscale living. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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H31

Omaha Home: extra Story by Sandy Lemke

Pinterest

“It’s the new Facebook.”

P

interest.com is one of the hottest new web-

sites for idea sharing, especially among women.. Users are spending hours on it every day getting ideas for everything, including their home. It’s a site where users share their creative ideas by posting images instead of text updates, as they do with Facebook and Twitter. It is described as an “Online Pinboard.”

The site is organized into categories: Home Décor, Gardening, Print & Posters, Wedding & Events, Design, Gardening, Art, DIY & Crafts, and more. Users must request an invite to join and post images, however anyone may browse the images on the site.

Pinterest was started by a West Des Moines native, 29-yearold Ben Silbermann. Silbermann’s wife, Divya, thought of the name Pinterest.

Local user Paige Edwards said, “I got all my Christmas decorating ideas from it.” She added, “I’m a watcher. I haven’t even started a page yet.” It has even changed the way she uses the internet. Edwards said, “I used to google furniture stores.

Now I can go to Pinterest and put in bedrooms, and idea after idea will come up.”

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march/april • 2012

Pinterest netiquette calls for little to no self-promotion, although it happens naturally. Images are often linked to individuals’ or company’s blogs.

Pinterest user and mother of six Shani Rollan said, “I’m addicted. It’s pretty fun. I spend at least an hour on it, probably two if I have that kind of time.

It’s the new Facebook. It completely inspires you to come up with all these great ideas that save you money.”

Describing Pinterest as a “website for everybody,” Rollan said, “My 16-yearold daughter made all her Christmas gifts with ideas from the site. I would much rather have her be on Pinterest than Facebook.”

Home Trends on Pinterest

Pearson & Company owner Nancy Erb, a recent Pinterest convert, loves the site because it helps her stay current with furniture accessories trends. “There’s a huge, huge following for vintage mixed with modern. I see tons of people following [that style]. I love it because that’s what our store is. It is interesting to see what people love. It helps me decide what to put in the store.”

Erb added, “I think there’s so many great resources for inspiration on Pinterest. It gives our customers an idea of what they can do with the things in our store. I spend about a half-hour a day on it.”

Erb “pins” her images on her self-created boards called “Unique Home” and “Linen and Burlap.” She said, “You find things you never would have seen before. You can connect with people who have your same style and ask to follow their board.” www.OmahaPublications.com

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Home: Mortgage

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is one of the biggest any one of us will ever make. As a result, it’s often difficult to know what to do first. Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is one of the first and most important things a homebuyer should do before searching for a new home for several reasons: A pre-approval tells you how much you can afford, which will help as you begin your search.

It shows that you are a serious buyer, making a seller more inclined to accept your offer over another buyer who is not preapproved because your offer is more likely to result in a completed sale.

Once you find the right house, a preapproval can also cut days, if not weeks, off the closing time because your lender has already analyzed your credit and approved you for a mortgage.

The pre-approval process is easy and will be defined by three simple factors: income, credit score, and cash. Be prepared and bring the following items to your meeting to ensure a smooth process: • Pay stub(s) covering the last 30 days for all applicants • W-2 forms for the last two years for all applicants • Complete 401(k) and IRA statements, if applicable • Complete investment account statements for the past two months • Telephone numbers where employment can be verified • If self-employed, complete personal and business tax returns for the last two years • If applying for a NIFA loan, complete personal tax returns for the last three years • If divorced, complete copy of the final decree, property settlement statement and modifications To begin the pre-approval process, go to firstnational.com/Mortgage or call 402-602-5300.

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10-19 percent to your home’s value, according to a recent National Garden Association survey. This typically translates to a 100-200 percent return on your investment.

Use the following guidelines to evaluate the choices for your landscape installation and maintenance contractor.

The first thing you need to determine is the scope of the project. What is it you expect from the contractor? The best way to make sure you get what you want is to spell out every detail in writing and make it a part of the contract. Remember, anything left out will become an extra and may end up costing you a lot more. It’s also important that you are comparing apples to apples when getting bids from contractors.

Next, thoroughly investigate each company. How long have they been in business?

What levels of expertise and education does the staff have? The contractor should have both liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance. Ask your contractor for a proof of insurance and also ask for references from previous clients.

Lastly, be sure that you are getting quality products through your contractor.

Plant material should be locally grown and zone-hardy. Hardscape products have a range of quality, so be sure you get a product that will last.

If you are unsure of where to start, please visit www.heritagenursery.com. You will find plant pictures and info, as well as links to some of our recommended contractors. Our best advice is ‘Plan Twice, Plant Once.’ march/april • 2012

H35

Omaha Home: green design Story by Traci Osuna • Photos by Jess Ewald

Brau Builders’ Certified Green Home

Top to Bottom Green!

H36

march/april • 2012

www.OmahaPublications.com

Below: The Design/Build Team.

Back row- Realtor Jeff Rensch, Jeff Brau, Paul Vonderfecht of Energry Smart Co., and Bob Brau.

Front row- Doug Kiser of D Kiser Design Construct, and, Lindsey Anderson of Anderson Interiors.

We’re always looking for some different ways…better ways…to build homes.

N Jeff Brau

estled within the cozy Westside neighborhood, among

traditional mid-century houses, stands a home that spans the gap between conventional and cutting edge; an unassuming structure that is making quite an impression on local homebuyers.

The home, located at 9812 Pine Street, was constructed by Brau Builders and recently earned the Gold certification in Green Home Construction. “For our first one, it’s exciting,” say Bob Brau, owner of Brau Builders.

The construction process involved demolishing an existing house and starting from the ground up, making sure very aspect of the home’s construction was considered and evaluated.

Bob and his son, Jeff, are partners in the family business that was started

by Bob’s father and has been serving Omaha and the surrounding area since 1948. While building green homes is not the primary focus of the business, both men say that it is one that they are happy to be exploring. >> continued on page H40

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

march/april • 2012

H37

Omaha Home: green design << “We’re always looking for some different ways …better ways… to build homes,” says Jeff. “You definitely want to be sure you’re evolving your process.” He describes how he happened upon a green building class and was intrigued by what he learned about the building process and the energy-efficiency aspect. “Just hearing what I heard that day, it just made sense to me.”

Through the learning process, the Braus met Paul Vonderfecht, general manager of Omaha-based Energy Smart Company. They, along with Doug Kiser, of D Kiser Design Construct, Inc., Anderson Interiors, and MUD, collaborated to build one of just a handful of certified green homes in Omaha.

While many homeowners are working to make their homes more energy-efficient, building a truly certified green home takes more than installing triple-pane windows and Energy Star appliances. From using environmentally friendly paints and renewable resources, to purchasing their building products from suppliers who respect the earth and leave a small carbon footprint, the partners evaluated every aspect of the construction process.

In addition to the LED lighting, reclaimed wood floors and low-flow faucets, some of the more notable features in this green home include a water heater powered by solar panels convincingly disguised as skylights, and Energy Recovery Ventilators (ERV) in the HVAC system, which continually bring fresh air into the home.

“These homes are so tight, so efficient, that you really want to be careful about interior toxins,” says Realtor Jeff Rensch of The Rensch Group. “So that’s why another part of the green home process is eliminating those interior toxic materials.” The team reiterates the importance of using low VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints and glues within the structure and using wood products with no added formaldehyde.

“Formaldehyde occurs in wood naturally, so it won’t be formaldehyde–free,” explains Kiser, who crafted the home’s custom-built cabinets in part from honey-locust wood harvested from a farm in Iowa. “So instead of formaldehyde-based adhesives, [we use] a soy-based adhesive.”

Since carpets are often made using glues containing toxins, this green home has wood floors throughout. >> H38

march/april • 2012

LED Lighting, reclaimed wood floors and cabinets crafted with soy-based, low VOC adhesives are used throughout the green home. Skylights make good use of natural light.

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<< Even the new grass in the yard is “green,” as the team chose to seed the lawn rather than lay sod. “That way we’re not trucking in sod from North Dakota, using all that [fuel],” says Bob. “And it comes up fast,” he adds.

“After about three weeks, you’ll have a nice lawn anyway.”

“We’ve had an amazing amount of people come through [the house] who have expressed an interest in building a green or semi-green type of home,” says Rensch.

Whether you are interested in building from scratch or making some renovations to an existing home, Rensch says that it is affordable for anyone. “The benefits can be great, especially if they are planning on being www.OmahaPublications.com

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in their home for an extended period of time.”

While some green options may cost more up front, many will pay for themselves in the foreseeable future. An example is LED lighting. Others may not be as cost-effective, but can surely have a positive impact on the carbon footprint of the home.

“We always say there are different shades of green,” says Bob. “It just depends on how [far you want to take it] and whether you can justify the costs of the products.”

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march/april • 2012

H41

From

Home: Energy Story by Helen Deffenbacher, Green Neighborhood Council Co-Chair & Workshop Coordinator

The Omaha Solar Buying Co-Op

S

olar buying co-ops are

springing up all over the country, including one in the Omaha area that was started in February through a collaborative effort by the Green Neighborhood Council and the Nebraska Solar Energy Society. With solar systems more efficient and cost-effective than ever before, the timing is right.

Whether or not to “go solar,” however, is a complex decision for many, and one that several Omaha Solar Co-Op participants have likened to the stress of buying a new vehicle. It can seem all the more daunting when solar installers and other experts toss around technical terms, like “tracking array,” “utility-interactive inverter,” and “photovoltaic conversion efficiency.”

That’s where solar buying co-ops are proving valuable, as neighbors learn from one another and from local experts how to make an informed, cost-effective purchase, and, together, vet installers and negotiate volume discounts. A solar co-op is, in essence, a support group for those who are interested in “going solar” and learning from others who have already taken that step.

The benefits of owning solar systems are many: Once they’re paid off, systems provide many years of practically free energy; they’re made to last 25 to 30 years; and they require little maintenance. If only we could say the same about our vehicles!

The Omaha Solar Buying Co-Op meets from 1- 2:30 p.m. the second Saturday of each month in the Common Room at First Unitarian Church of Omaha, 3114 Harney St. The co-op is free and open to the public. Learn more at www.greenomahacoalition.org/neighborhood H42

march/april • 2012

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Spring into Organizing!

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pring is not just about clean-

ing…It’s also a great time to get organized. Everyone has their own organization style. Figure out what works for you. Below are some basic suggestions, but just know, if one thing doesn’t work for you, try something else. When I meet with a client, I always try and find out what’s working for them right now and how we can build around that—nobody can keep up with a completely new system.

• Schedule and commit to a time to organize a space. Set a timer for 10 minutes (for a drawer) or an hour (to start on a certain room).

• Remove distraction. Kids and animals should be at least in another room.

• Get comfortable. Wear clothes that are not restrictive and turn on some music that will make you relaxed.

• Determine your vision for the space.

What is your ideal use for the room, closet or drawer?

• Put like items together. For example, all DVDs or tools should be in one room and one spot in your house.

• Remove everything that does not meet your vision. Ask: - Do I have duplicates of the item?

- Do I NEED it or LOVE it?

- What is the worst thing that can happen if I get rid of it?

• Decide what storage solutions to use.

Most people already have containers in their home and need to purchase very little. Think outside the box (literally).

• Stay clutter-free. Take 10 minutes each day to tidy and toss.

• Have one spot in the house (a box or basket) where everyone can place unwanted items at any time. When it’s full, it’s time to donate.

For more information on organizing, please visit our website, HOPEorganizing.com or facebook.com/HOPEorganizing march/april • 2012

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Omaha Home: hot products Photos by John Gawley

Bright Spring Accessories Accent your home with

Similar to the HollywoodGlam style, this lamp combines quirky, country home print, and funky modern design. Green lamp with cork shade, country home print interior. House of J. 12965 West Center Rd. 402-778-0650. www.houseofj.com

Perfect for springtime picnics in the park. Striped woven cotton tote bag with leather handles; “Go with the Throw” striped throw, and olive pillow with rainbow stripes (Dash & Albert Rug Company). Pearson & Company, 16939 Wright Plz., #143. 402-932-5999. www.pearsonandcompany.com

Modernize your living space with this Italian–made contemporary furniture. Mademoiselle Chair by Philippe Starck (Kartell) in Chinese Red print with transparent frame; green “La Boheme” stool by Philippe Starck (Kartell); Alessi “Fruit Basket” bone china cup and saucer pair; (books top to bottom) drink-olo-gy EATS: A guide to Bar Food and Cocktail Party Fare; Sticky, Chewy, Messy, Gooey; Viva la Vida: Festive Recipes for Entertaining Latin-Style.

Gadgeteer. 7317 Douglas St. 402397-0808. www.gadgeteerusa.com H44

march/april • 2012

www.OmahaPublications.com

Mixing the old with the new, pair antique end table décor with a new eco-friendly throw. Eco2Cotton throw regenerated fibers and yarns; mirrored serving tray with wooden exterior; antique glass vases; antique tea plates; wooden bird.

Tweed Couch, 2806 S. 110th Ct., Rockbrook Village. 402-502-3736. www.tweedcouch.com

Textured, decorative pillows added to any couch or chair can freshen up old furniture without pricey reupholstery. (L to R) Labyrinth Persimmon Pillow 18 x 18 100% linen cover with wool appliqué feather down insert (Dwell Studio); Floral Echo with print & embroidery fuschia pillow 14 x 26 cover 100% linen, lining 100% cotton (Villa); TBL Jaipur Pillow 18 x 18 cover 100% linen, lining 100% cotton (Villa); Crystal Pleat Watermelon Pillow 22 x 18. Early to Bed. 8726 Pacific St. 402-492-9855. www.earlytobed.com

Having multiple rugs on-hand allows you to easily swap looks throughout your home.

Woven basket with (L to R) Pond Stripe indoor handwoven polypropylene UV rug and Seaglass Stripe woven 100% cotton rug (Dash & Albert Rug Company). (L ro R) Tortola Ticking, Lakehouse Sprout White, Aquinnah, Zanzibar Ticking, Diamond Denim/White, Birmingham Citrus hand woven cotton rugs 100% cotton (Dash & Albert Rug Company).

Pearson & Company, 16939 Wright Plz., #143. 402-932-5999. www.pearsonandcompany.com

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

march/april • 2012

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Omaha Home: transformations Story by Brianne Wilhelm & Lisa McCoid • Photos by Brianne Wilhelm, D3 Interiors

Exciting Design on the River H46

march/april • 2012

W

hen D3 Interiors was

asked to design the interior finishes of Riverfront Place’s Tower II, we knew we wanted to take advantage of the downtown, contemporary space and create a bold, modern look. We presented the owners with two completely different looks and they opted for the vibrant, slightly glam look with pops of red. The lobby boasts a lounge area where owners meet and greet their guests amid a seating group anchored by a large custom rug and metallic fabrics, www.OmahaPublications.com

A custom-built reception desk reflects the finishes and feeling of the adjacent seating area (above).

The armchairs with a glossy black wood frame bring in bold pattern and color (below).

(Above) Residents and guests are greeted by a vibrant space with bold red accents and modern furniture designs. The sofa’s modern lines, fabrics and textures create added interest. The soft curves of the rug and glass and metal cocktail tables add motion and bring an organic element to the space. Wall covering installed horizontally provides a backdrop to the entire space.

appealing textures and large-scale patterns. The wallcovering provides a backdrop to the color palette of the furniture and surrounding finishes. Artwork throughout the space was selected through The Bemis Center for Contemporary arts, including the custom wall sculpture that is a reflection of the building’s location adjacent to the river. >> www.ReadOnlineNow.com

Designed by: Brianne Wilhelm, Allied ASID (top) Lisa McCoid, AIA, ASID (below)

march/april • 2012

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Omaha Home: transformations

<< Upon completion of the design stages of the lobby space, we directed our energy to the owner’s lounge located on the 15th floor, which would eventually be dubbed The Skyline Room by owners and residents. This is a very unique space to the building with the intent that it be used as a multi-functional flex and entertaining room for residents of the Tower. A full kitchen is located adjacent to the space for catering needs. We wanted to make a connection from the reception lobby to this space through the finishes and color scheme. The fabrics were selected for their durability and design as the space would be used for cocktail parties with food and drink. The three square dining tables can be arranged separately or slid together to make one long conference or dining table, and the H48

march/april • 2012

cream chairs with the wood grab-backs provide added durability to the comfort of a fully upholstered chair. This is an incredibly exciting space that is just one small part of a project that has exceeded everyone’s expectations.

This vignette captures an interesting blend of silver metal finishes, which are especially stunning against the glow of lights from the city at night (right).

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The layering of fabric textures and silver nailhead accents adds character and interest (below).

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