July/August 2012 Omaha Home

July/august 2012

Always Local, Always Beautiful

OLD

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NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILE HOT PRODUCTS

A Publication of

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July/August 2012 VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 4

E d i t o r i a l & C r e at i v e omaha publications editor

linda persigehl omaha home contributing editor

stacey penrod city editor

sandy lemke assistant editor

bailey hemphill editorial intern

(#22)

toni furmanski editorial intern

(#23)

lyndsey hrabik art director

john gawley senior graphic designer

katie anderson intern graphic designer

scott mcintyre 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 photographers

jess ewald john gawley editorial advisors

rick carey

• david scott

contributing writers

beth keller carol crissey nigrelli lanoha nurseries oppd andy szatko david williams

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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july/august • 2012

www.OmahaPublications.com

fireworks you’ve every night eArned it

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This is not an offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy, real property. Purchasers should review the Federal Property Report prior to signing a contract. No federal or state agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Prices, plans, products, and availability are subject to change without notice. Artists’ renderings are shown for illustrative purposes only. Designated Broker: Sandra S. Lent, Shoreline Marketing, Inc., 833 N Orleans, Ste. 400, Chicago, IL 60610, 312.475.9800. ©2009 Midtown Crossing, a Mutual of Omaha Mixed-Use Development. All Rights Reserved. All contents herein are copyrighted and may not be used without permission.

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3415 South 67th St. 402-393-4110 www.eurowood.net july/august • 2012 H5

July/August 2012 VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 4

Acc o u n t s & O p e r at i o n s publisher

todd lemke publisher’s assistant

sandy besch

&

sales associate

publisher’s assistant

jessica linhart vice president

greg bruns vice president of operations

tyler lemke executive vice president sales

&

marketing

gil cohen sales associate

alicia smith hollins

MAKE YOUR NEIGHBORS JEALOUS.

senior sales executive

gwen lemke executive sales associate

vicki voet omaha home senior account executive

stacey penrod account executive

paige edwards accounting

jim heitz distribution manager

mike brewer Comments? Send your letter to the editor to: letters@omahapublications.com

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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.

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Omaha Home: from the editor

Local News

I

Tidbits

n visiting with my clients and other businesses, I often learn about much going on

behind the scenes that many in the community may not hear about. I want to take an opportunity to make mention of some exciting and interesting things that are happening or have recently happened with some of your local area businesses and homeowners.

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Recently Ann Etienne’s personal style was featured in the May issue of Traditional Home. Ann is the owner of Voila! Blooms & Decor in Dundee. Beautiful tablescapes were photographed in her home along with numerous dishes and recipes that were prepared by local restaurants such as the Flatiron Cafe and Bliss Old Market Bakery.

Chooty & Company, a textile manufacturer out of Council Bluffs owned by Connie Garrett, was recently featured on the “Steals & Deals” segment of The Today Show.

Check out their wide selection of linens and textiles at www.chooty.com.

Bang For Your Buck, a television show on HGTV that has designers weigh in on whether homeowners will get a good return on their investment for remodeling projects, featured three Omaha homes’ outdoor living spaces. Mike Cassling’s beautiful Baywood home (see our “At Home With” feature on page H22) was one of those featured. See a segment of the program on www.hgtv.com/bang-for-your-buck.

Kitchens & Baths by Briggs was recognized as the “2011 Showroom of the Year” by the prestigious Forte Buying Group, which encompasses 96 wholesalers with showrooms in the U.S. and Canada who specialize in decorative plumbing and hardware. The award was based on their significant sales increase.

Millard Lumber recently introduced “trugs” to Omaha, which are oblong baskets for flowers and vegetables and have built-in seating. The Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce, neighboring groups, and the nonprofit Emerging Terrain have partnered to bring the trug planters to Leavenworth Street. The goal is to draw more attention and customers to this commercial corridor on the way down to the Old Market.

Lanoha Nurseries founder and President David Lanoha was recently inducted into the Omaha Commercial Real Estate Workshop Hall of Fame.

Consolidated Kitchens & Fireplaces has opened a new retail store called CKF Counter Gallery located one block north of 144th & L St in Oakview Hollow.

Sam Marchese, CEO, says this will allow the customers to browse, experience, and enjoy an amazing showroom that reflects ever-changing design trends in a retail atmosphere.

Due to great customer response and feedback, Humble Home , the charming “repurpose” home retailer, is expanding and relocating a couple doors east to 5018 Leavenworth.

Congratulations to all of these local businesses and thank you for sharing your success stories!

If you have any stories or ideas you would like to share, please feel free to contact me at stacey.penrod@omahapublications.com.

Enjoy our Summer issue ~ Happy July 4th! Have a wonderful summer!

Rachel Skradski, CBS Home Realtor, after placement of cosmetic veneers.

Sincerely,

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

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

july/august • 2012 H9

Omaha Home: contents departments

features FURNITURE •ART ARTIFACTS • POTTERY scottsdale & omaha LEE Industries Custom Upholstered Furniture Dealer

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The Shops of Legacy 168th & West Center Road 402.932.5999 www.pearsonandcompany.com www.pearsonandcompany.blogspot.com

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Real Estate: Housing Sales in Omaha

H12 Architect Profile: Bruce Frasier, AIA Bruce Frasier Architects

H15 Design Profile: Jan Vrana, The French Tangerine

Vote for us again Omaha!

Best Home Accessories.

Interior Design Accent Decor & Floral Design FREE In-Home Consultation

H21 Home D•I•Y Project: Café Table & Chairs

H22

At Home: Bali Ha’i in Baywood

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H36 Neighborhood Profile:

Landscaping: Pros’ Picks, Perfect Trees

Ponca Hills

H44 Transformations: Contemporary Chic

H48 Hot Products: Luminous Lamps

columns

84th and 1st St, Downtown Papillion 402-331-9136 H10

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Composting: Browning a Little of Your Green Life

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Lawn Care: Turf Troubles Solved Energy: OPPD’s A/C Management Program www.OmahaPublications.com

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Omaha Home: architect profile Story by Linda Persigehl • Photos by minorwhitestudios.com and Provided by Kurt Johnson Photography

Known for his high-end residential designs, brimming with elegance, Frasier shares details of some of his favorite projects, his affinity for the arts and anything historical, and his personal eclectic style.

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Q&A: Bruce Frasier, AIA

Bruce Frasier Architects

Q: When did you discover your interest and talent in architectural design? How did you go about pursuing your career?

A: I was born in Omaha and attended Loveland Grade School and Westside High School.

My father was in the lumber business, so I grew up going to building sites and saw mills and observing new houses being constructed. I took a drafting class in seventh grade and was hooked.

I started sketching floor plans and pictures of the fronts of houses and have never stopped! www.OmahaPublications.com

I graduated from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with a Bachelor of Architecture degree. I did my internship with the Leo A Daly Company, [working on projects] in Spring Lake Heights, New Jersey, Singapore, and Omaha. While there, I designed several structures for the Henry Doorly Zoo, including the Cat Complex. I began my own private practice Bruce Frasier Architects, in 1977, focusing principally on residential projects.

Q: Tell us about your professional practice today. Detail a few of your most interesting projects.

A: Our office consists of three other graduate architects, one of whom, Jackson Martis, is also licensed. Our clients come from all walks of life, from nurses and doctors to CEO’s and teachers, and our projects range from bath and kitchen remodeling to new homes of all sizes.

I designed the chapel and the Family Life Center at Countryside Community Church and the office building and entry gates at Forest Lawn Cemetery on whose board of trustees I serve. One of the more interesting aspects of my practice was a three-year tenure as design consultant to the Union Pacific Railroad, representing them in the design/build of the dispatching center in the old freight house in downtown, and overseeing the renovation of all floors of the old headquarters building, now sadly, demolished. As a result of our efforts, at least one old building in the warehouse district, the freight house, was saved when the ConAgra campus was built.

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Q: Tell us a little about your personal Design style. Who and what have influenced you the most?

A: I currently live in Swanson Towers condominiums. My personal style is very eclectic, ranging from very abstract paintings to antique French furniture. I could live in a minimal glass box designed by Philip Johnson or a shingled New England cottage. I love all houses!

Growing up, my family always traveled extensively in the United States and visited many historic sites, including homes tours in Natchez, Miss., and Williamsburg, Va., sparking a life-long interest in history. Many architects have influenced me, starting with Thomas Jefferson. >> www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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Q&A: architect profile

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<< Hugh Newell Jacobsen and Robert Stern are current favorites. Cedric Hartman, Omaha’s famous lighting designer, is also a role model for his attention to detail and perfectionism in design.

Q: Tell us about a project you’ve been passionate about and why it’s so compelling for you?

A: For several years, I had a historic house, which I restored and for which I received an award from the Galveston Historic Foundation in Galveston, Texas. They have a tour of historic homes every year, and I enjoyed volunteering to chair a house and staff it with volunteers for a day. Serving on the restoration committee for the First Presbyterian Church of Galveston, restoring it after Hurricane Ike, has been a labor of love which continues today.

Q: Other interests outside of architecture?

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RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING & PLUMBING

A: Besides golf and gardening, my other principal interest is in the arts. I have served as the president of the board of the Museum of Nebraska Art in Kearney and am currently an emeritus member. I’ve served as a vice president of the Omaha Ballet and the Omaha Symphony, and served as president of the Downtown Omaha Rotary Club, as was my father. Currently, I’m on the vision committee for the Lauritzen Gardens Antiques Show and on the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation Board.

As you can tell from my list of interests and activities, if I weren’t practicing architecture, I would be a professional volunteer.

I am passionate about the arts and service. It is important to give back to the community that has so generously supported me. I love Omaha! www.OmahaPublications.com

Omaha Home: design profile Story by Linda Persigehl • Photos by Laurie and Charles Photographs

Q&A:

Jan Vrana The French Tangerine

Vrana has a passion for home interior design which she loves to share with others. Her design blog gets 50,000+ pageviews monthly.

Q: What exactly is The French Tangerine blog? What kinds of ideas do you include in your blog?

A: Conceived as a creative outlet, The French Tangerine was created to share and inspire.

It serves as a design source where readers can find a collection of images and posts with an intimate look at beautiful interiors, charming gardens, and perspectives on art, entertaining, design, and travel.

Q: When did you start the blog? What influences prompted you to do so?

A: I have always been drawn to and inspired by beautiful images, usually from home and garden magazines. After following other blogs, including Cote de Texas and Things that Inspire, I finally mustered up the courage to try out a post of my own in January 2011. I started out slow, www.ReadOnlineNow.com

but I’ve gained confidence and momentum while maintaining the initial excitement. I am self-taught when it comes to blogging. Many hours were spent figuring out the intricacies of Blogger, and I am constantly learning new things. Writing and curating The French Tangerine is my favorite hobby and passion.

My hope is that The French Tangerine injects a little inspiration into the daily lives and dwellings of readers. >>

july/august • 2012 H15

Home: design profile << Q: Do you have any education/training in interior design?

What kind of research do you do to prepare to write your blog?

A: I have had no formal education or training in interior design; however, I believe a big part of the necessary talent in recognizing good design and being a good designer comes naturally. But I would not be able to without the help of a professional [design]t. Sure, I can pick out a gorgeous fabric for a pillow, I can find a fabulous fringe or tassel, and I can certainly spot gorgeous antiques–that, I am really good at! But beyond that, I need my designer and friend, Richard White, ASID! Preparing posts comes easily. Found fabrics, blooming trees on a walk, charming homes in an Omaha neighborhood, a trip to Chicago… pretty much my life is the subject matter.

Q: Tell us a bit about your personal history. How did it prepare you for your design-blogging future?

A: I was born in Jacksonville, Fla., and lived there a decade. I grew up in St. Louis, Mo., living there a decade. My mom, no matter what our living situation was, always reveled in making our home comfortable and beautiful. She took such pride in every detail and welcomed our input. We may not have had top-of-the-line furniture, but we thought it was the best because of my mom’s careful consideration and loving attention.

I double-majored in art history and education and had dreams of teaching and inspiring children at museum. In real life, however, my career amounted to teaching 3rd grade at Swanson Elementary, where I feel confident I changed the lives of at least several nine- and ten-year-olds. I retired after one fulfilling year to be a full-time mother and wife.

Q: Take us through the evolution of TFT blog. How has it grown?

A: After a few posts were up on my new blog, I began sharing on Facebook. Through similar social networks and word of mouth, I gained a few fans. After bigger, more popular blogs added The French Tangerine to their sidebar, hence giving me their stamp of approval, the numbers grew further.

After over 300 posts, I have about 1,400 subscribers, (people who receive posts by email) plus about 350 followers (people who follow through Google Friends Connect).

According to Google Stats, I get over 1,500 H16

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www.OmahaPublications.com

pageviews daily, about 50,000 pageviews monthly, and have had close to a half million pageviews since I started. I’ve received over 2,000 comments and countless emails. These numbers are appealing to interested advertisers. I offer sponsor buttons in my sidebar that link directly to an advertiser’s website, generating steady traffic from thousands of interested visitors…also a sweet perk for me.

I’m not doing this to make big money, as evidenced in my advertising fees: $150 for 6-months. I write for love, but money works, too. If my numbers continue to go up, I imagine my sponsor prices may follow.

Q: What do you most enjoy about blog writing? What kind of feedback have you gotten?

A: I love the constant satisfaction I find in updating The French Tangerine. I often have up to 40 post drafts waiting (3-4 times weekly) be published! It is the search for beautiful things that connects me to readers.

I also have had unusual opportunities come up thanks to TFT. I was recently offered a press pass to the Kentucky Derby and plan to attend next year. That should make for an exciting post or two!

The positive feedback I’ve received has been heartwarming and encouraging. How fulfilling and satisfying to know that my passion, my hobby is providing inspiration and joy!

Lincoln • 4131 Pioneer Woods Dr • 402.488.2600

Come Alive

Q: Besides design, what else fills your every day?

A: I’ve been married to my high school crush and college sweetheart for almost 25 years and although my husband, Chip, surely thinks I’m crazy when he comes home to find me staring at our bookshelves, hands on my hips, in deep concentration, he seems to appreciate the finished product. He allows me to chase my dreams.

Our oldest, Hillary, is 22 and will be graduating from UNL this year. We also have two boys. Brookes will be attending High Point University in North Carolina this fall, and Jonathan will be a sophomore at BrownellTalbot. With only one child living at home, I have been able to recognize and strengthen my passion for sharing inspiration through TFT. Volunteerism is important to me and I am excited about co-chairing the 10th Annual Lauritzen Gardens Antique and Garden Show next September 2013 with my friend, Kyle Robino. I also love to travel, read, and try to make exercise a priority in my day. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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Omaha Home: real estate Story by Linda Persigehl

Andy Alloway, Deeb Realty

Tom Helligso, N.P. Dodge

Adam Briley, Prudential Ambassador Real Estate

Housing Sales In Omaha See Major Bump

A

Local Realtors seeing optimisitc signs

fter several challenging seasons of slumping home sales, Omaha’s

residential market is seeing a flurry of activity this summer. Over the first six months of the year, local real estate agents have seen the market improve rather dramatically as compared to the past two years, and they remain optimistic about the remainder of 2012.

“Through April, the inventory of homes [on the market] was 20 percent less, while pending sales (homes under contract waiting to close) increased 27 percent,” said Andy Alloway, a broker/owner with DEEB Realty. “Closed transactions through April were up 16 percent from the same period last year, while new construction has increased over 17 percent.

“This is the first increase we have seen in new construction in roughly five years. The H18

july/august • 2012

improvement in activity has been caused by a combination of factors, including historically low interest rates, lower home prices, less inventory, improved consumer confidence, a stronger local economy, and pent-up demand over the last four years.”

The perception that there has been a bottoming out in the market and that prices and interest rates will begin to rise again are factors driving activity this summer, Alloway said. Yet another reason: “We are getting farther and farther removed from the federal homebuyers’ tax credit that artificially inflated sales, but had a severe negative effect on the market for 12-18 months after the program ended.” www.OmahaPublications.com

Live Outdoors During the same six months, home prices in the metro have increased slightly, inching up about $2,000 on a home valued at $157,000, the average sale price of a home in Omaha, Alloway said. “This figure represents the highest average sales price through April in at least the last three years,” he added.

“In certain places, we have actually seen a need for more inventory, as buyers are having a hard time finding the type of house they want. This has helped prices rise slightly, and helped to increase the number of new homes being constructed.

“We are also seeing a lot more multipleoffer situations than we have over the past three or four years. Buyers are having to act more quickly. Many of our agents are setting up itineraries of homes for their buyer clients to view, only to find that several of them are already sold.”

Still, Alloway said he would not characterize the current situation as an all-out seller’s market. “It remains important for a seller to price their home appropriately for the area and condition,” he said. “The homes that have been updated with the amenities most homebuyers want today are the properties that are selling the fastest.”

The greatest number of homes sales were in the ‘$200,000 and under’ range—more than 75 percent of sales, in fact. “However, we’re seeing a pick-up in higher-priced homes as more move-up buyers are starting to sell,” Alloway added.

Tom Helligso, a real estate agent with N.P. Dodge, has seen home inventory in the Omaha metro drop by one-quarter in the past year. “There are about 4,500 homes on the market today, as opposed to about 5,900 homes on the market in June of 2011,” he said.

“That’s good news for sellers as the inventory levels have decreased and the amount of pendings has increased about 25 percent during that time.

“We now have about a 3.8 months supply of homes on the market, as opposed to six to nine months worth of inventory that has been fairly common for the past six or seven years. A three- to six-month supply of houses is considered a neutral market—neither a buyer- or seller-advantaged market.”

With more home sales pending and fewer distressed sale properties on the market, Helligso believes Omaha may have hit bottom in terms of home values. “There seems to be more faith in the economy and a >> www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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<< pent-up demand of buyers that have been putting off making a move for a number of years.”

Adam Briley, a Realtor with the Briley Home Selling Team at Prudential Ambassador Real Estate, characterized the local residential market in recent months as “Hot, Hot, Hot.” “Our real estate activity has definitely picked up,” Briley said. “I don’t like to use the term seller’s market because to me, that means prices are coming back up. I think we are still a ways out before home prices will start to come back…Keep in mind there are still a lot of homes for sale and there is also a big shadow inventory of bank-owned properties.”

On the plus side for sellers, homes are frequently selling for much closer, if not at the listing price, Briley added. “We’ve had quite a few [homes] recently listed with our marketing plan and had them sell within weeks for full asking price, and a couple of them sold for a few thousand over asking price. If you price your home correctly from the very beginning, you should see an offer with in the first 30 days; if not, at an asking price close to it. Again, this depends on the price point you are in.”

While homes are being snatched up faster these days, sellers are still being required to make some concessions and work to make their home saleable. “Depending on the price point (normally $300,000 and under), you will still see the sellers paying for the buyer’s closing costs many times,” Briley said.

“Staging is also very important. At The Briley Home Selling Team, we have about a two-week prep period for the seller and our stager to meet and go over all the needed updating to get maximum dollar. This normally includes cleaning up the landscaping, maybe some minor exterior paint, touching up interior paint, and changing out simple light fixtures. Kitchen and bathroom hardware can go a long way to give buyers that WOW factor when coming through the home.”

Briley’s biggest piece of advice to prospective buyers this summer? Act fast.

“What we are suggesting to our purchasing clients is, if there is a home that they have interest in and stands out among others, we suggest writing an offer much sooner than later. In the past, you may have had a couple days to think more on it. Now, in those couple of days, it may sell to another buyer.” www.OmahaPublications.com

Omaha Home: d•i•y project Story by Lyndsey Hrabik • Photos by John Gawley

Mike & Colleen’s

d•i•y Café Table & Chairs Makeover

“We’re so much into recycling and using what you can”.

T

Colleen Gawley

he Gawleys’ glass-topped outdoor table had a history of

catching in the wind; it had been broken and replaced multiple times.

Colleen had previously tried making a mosaic tabletop from broken glass items, like plates and glasses, but with no luck. “When that didn’t work out, it was finding the right material,” she said.

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

Her husband, Mike, had just retiled the bathroom, and there was leftover tile. “We’re so much into recycling and using what you can,” Gawley said. So Mike broke up the tile and Colleen laid it out in a design. Mike searched for a flexible, sturdy border material to hold the round shape of the mosaic in place and came up with weather stripping.

All that remained was to grout the design in place and clean it up.

When the Gawleys realized the table would be a multi-day project, the husbandwife team came up with a practical idea—use wide masking tape to cover the tiles and slide them off in one fell swoop onto a piece of cardboard to hold the pattern until they could grout the mold.

Originally, the table and chairs were purchased for the “old soda fountain ice cream table” feel. While the renovated table still fits that description, the chairs have an updated spin with reupholstered cushions made over in a whimsical fabric. Gawley made a quick trip to a fabric store and cut the material the same size as the previous cushion covers, then staple-gunned the material in place. After a coat of metalwork spray paint to change the color of the table base and chairs, this DIY project was complete.

Now, the Gawleys find themselves frequently using the outdoor table to enjoy breakfast and coffee or a glass of wine on the veranda of their Elkhorn home.

If you’re a crafty home DIYer and would like to share your projects and ideas, please email them to stacey.penrod@omahapublications.com july/august • 2012 H21

Omaha Home: at home

A poolhouse sits in the rear of the property. The building features a shower, cubbies for guests to store their things while swimming, and a mini kitchen stocked with snacks, a commercial fridge full of pop, a slushy maker, and a freezer for ice cream treats.

Bali Haâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;i in Baywood The Casslingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; West Omaha backyard doubles as a tropical resort and teen magnet

Story by Carol Crissey Nigrelli • Photos by minorwhitestudios.com Umbrellas and mature trees are scattered throughout the doublelot yard, providing ample shade.

T

he “wow” factor begins when you first see

An asymetrical concrete natural gas firepit serves as the centerpiece of a large seating area, one of several on the property.

Blue glass stones replicate the look of water.

The Cassling daughters, Megan (far left) and Kaila (middle, walking) enjoy some social time with friends on a relaxing summer afternoon.

the Cassling family’s house at the end of a cul-de-sac in the upscale Lake Zorinksy neighborhood of Baywood.

The gracious home in shades of taupe with a cedar shake roof and large, expansive windows sits atop a gently sloping, beautifully manicured lawn. Next to the three-car garage stands a wooden archway with a gate.

“You have no idea what you’ll see once you enter that back gate,” said interior designer Anita Wiechman, ASID. “Not in a million years.”

Anita’s right. Walk through the archway into the backyard and the “wow” factor explodes into a jawdropping revelation: the entire property behind the home—completely shielded from the street by trees— has been transformed into a South Seas resort. The brain can barely digest all the images the eye takes in as it scans this tropical paradise.

An L-shaped swimming pool with a bright blue liner and circular water slide sits on the southeast corner >> july/august • 2012 H23

Omaha Home: at home

Aspens, Blue Spruce evergreens, ornamental trees, and an abundance of flowering perennials and shrubs and grasses provide color, texture and variety to the landscaping. Anderson Estate Design and Sun Valley Natural Stone collaborated on the grand landscaping project.

A cauldron natural gas firepits add interest to the small stream that meanders through the yard.

Mike Cassling serves daughter Kaila a refreshing drink on a hot day while manning the outdoor kitchen.

<< of the yard. Behind it, a pool house with a pergola and outdoor living area. To the left of the pool house, high up a hill at the edge of the property, a narrow waterfall begins and gently flows into a small pond.

Follow the walkway west through a tropical garden and a visitor comes upon another waterfall, this one so large it acts more like a stream. The rushing water cascades down the hill, past shrubs, trees, and an in-ground trampoline. The flow finally curves around and drains into a pond which, in turn, hops over some stones into a larger pool below it.

The re-creation of paradise comes from life experience.

“I spent a lot of time in Hawaii. My family owns a house on Maui,” explained homeowner Mike Cassling, CEO of CQuence Health Group. His deep love for the colors and the peaceful beauty of Hawaii is also reflected inside his one-and-a-half story home.

Large pictures of the Hawaiian surf in vibrant blues grace the living room and the sunroom off the open kitchen. Both areas offer wallto-ceiling windows that overlook the yard.

“What a view. I’ve been a designer for 30 years and I’m still blown away by it,” Anita marveled.

Palm trees and natural gas tiki torches from Hawaii, Lava Heat outdoor heaters, a corridor-style outdoor kitchen, multi-level seating arrangements, wooden, metal and glass sculptures, a firepit, a fireplace, a large deck behind the house with a hot tub and >>

Friends take turns showing off on the diving board. Creating the perfect hangout for his teen daughters and their friends— thus

keeping

them

close

to home—was one of Mike Cassling’s main motivations for the yard.

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july/august • 2012 H25

Omaha Home: at home << LED lighting throughout the yard as a mood enhancer add up to an entertainment mecca that can be used practically yearround. And to think it all started because Mike Cassling wanted to swim.

“I’ve always loved the water. I swam competitively in school,” said Mike, who has two teenage girls. “I bought the house about 15 years ago, and the first thing I did was put in a swimming pool.”

To accommodate his wish, Mike purchased the land next door, in effect making his property the size of two large lots. A water main break three years ago in the pool house gave him the opportunity to re-build the structure and make the area around it more gracious.

Anita took care of the outdoor sitting area in front of it. “Mike said he wanted a fireplace to give it a ‘homey’ look,” recalled Anita, who recently joined The Interior Design Group after 30 years with The Interior Design Firm.

“I told him, ‘We need to create a three-dimensional, sculptural fireplace you can enjoy from both sides.’”

Estate Metals provided a sculpture inside the fireplace that represents pieces of driftwood piled up on the beach. A flat screen TV hangs from the top of the fireplace. And instead of a rug on the sitting room deck,

Daughter Kaila sits at the sculptural natural gas fireplace—one of the many impressive features of the Cassling’s outdoor room, featured on the HGTV series Bang for Your Buck. Anita Wiechman, ASID, designed the room with Cassling and appeared on the show with him.

Natural gas tiki torches are sprinkled throughout the yard, creating an island feel at night.

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july/august • 2012

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Anita came up with a clever idea: a large, round pebble mosaic that depicts various forms of marine life.

Devotees of Home & Garden Television may have seen a quick clip of the pool area in the popular Bang For Your Buck segment, taped about a year ago with Anita and Mike doing the on-camera honors. HGTV designers intoned that Mike would definitely get back all the money he invested in the project.

Wonder what they’d think of the yard now.

A lot has changed in a year.

“Mike wanted to add more entertainment areas in the backyard, so we started designing the ponds, the landscaping, and hardscape last September,” explained Rob Anderson of Anderson Estate Design who, like Anita, has been working for Mike for years. “It was really a collaborative effort between me and Hugh Morton of Sun Valley Natural Stone.

Mike constantly had great ideas and we’d figure out how to do them.”

There was a glitch, though. A huge 18-inch gas line runs through the Cassling property.

Extra precaution had to be taken when digging the waterfalls and ponds.

“We had guys from the state constantly on-site, probing to make sure we stayed far enough away from the gas line,” said >>

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A trio of custom-made glass artwork hangs on the face of the stone outdoor kitchen. Much of the artwork on display at the Cassling home reflects his love of water and the ocean.

Colorful melanine plates and linens add a festive touch to outdoor dining without sacrificing safety poolside.

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july/august • 2012 H27

Omaha Home: at home

Cassling enjoys some downtime in the seating area off the kitchen. Nearly floor-to-ceiling windows across the room make enjoying the beautiful view and keeping a watchful eye a breeze.

<< Anderson. “We did a lot of hand-digging.”

With the weather’s continued cooperation, workers from at least 16 different firms labored together well into December, turning Cassling’s far-reaching ideas into reality— ideas that ran the gamut from practical to artistic. Stainless steel counters with a built-in blender and appliances from Lumberman’s were brought in for the outdoor kitchen, an area where Mike feels at home. He is sole owner of Taste, a restaurant in Rockbrook Village, and he is part owner of Brix Wine Bistro and the eco-friendly Greenbelly at 123rd and West Center.

Want dramatic effect? No problem. Steve Kolar from Frontier Fuel Lines invented a remote control that can trigger flames shooting out of the fireplace, the fire pit, and two copper cauldrons floating in the large pond. “I love the idea of fire and water,” enthused Mike.

An early spring saw the planting of beautiful Knock Out and Chuckles rose shrubs along the pathways, bathing the yard in a vibrant fuchsia color.

Tropical plants weave around bird feeders, steppingstones, and lacquered cedar posts. The sound of rushing water, the rustling of leaves from the aspens and H28

july/august • 2012

lush maple trees, the gentle lighting give Mike and his two beloved daughters, Megan, 15 and Kaila, 17 quite a living space of nature.

“I’ll go out there late at night and just walk around. The sound of water is peaceful and relaxing,” said Mike. “We get a lot of wildlife.

We have a family of ducks that fly in and swim in the pool and ponds.”

Future projects will most likely involve seating arrangements in the back of the yard toward the fence, says Anita, perhaps with Adirondack chairs giving off a comfortable, rustic look. But for now, Party Central is in full swing.

www.OmahaPublications.com

Tropical accents, including these fruits and flowers, are found throughout the home’s decor. Sea turtles, dolphins, coral reefs, shells and other island touches are everywhere—bathroom sinks, paintings and prints on the walls, lighting fixtures, etc.

Professional Landscape Design and Construction Services

www.naturesintent.biz www.foutchenterprises.com

Burton Kilgore UNL Horticulture Alumni 402.926.9790

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Jake Foutch UNL Horticulture Alumni 402.321.7996

july/august • 2012 H29

Omaha Home: landscaping Story by Linda Persigehl

Pros’ Picks

Perfect Trees for Omaha

T

rees add beauty, atmosphere, value, and energyefficiency to any home. Selecting the right tree is one of the most important investment decisions a homeowner can make in their landscape design. We asked four local professionals for their picks for easy-grow, beautiful varieties that will add interest to any yard.

Burgundy Belle® Maple, Acer rubrum ‘magnificent magenta’

White Fir , Abies concolor

The Concolor or White Fir is native to North America. This is a medium to large evergreen, 60-100ft tall. Concolor Firs have a great shape—the perfect Christmas tree outline. The needles are flat, green to blue-green in color, and stay flexible. Cones on the Concolor are green or purple, ripening to brown. When the cones are mature, they disintegrate on the tree, leaving no cones on the ground. Concolors are shade-tolerant, making them a versatile evergreen.

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july/august • 2012

Burgundy Belle® Maples are a lovely medium-sized tree, 40ft tall and 30ft wide. The leaves on this maple are thicker than other maples, making this the ideal tree for harsher climates. When mature, this tree develops a compact, oval crown that is very uniform in outline.

Having a compact growth habit, the shade from the Burgundy Belle® Maple is very dense. Summer color is medium to dark green, turning to orange-red then burgundy in fall.

Doug Lembke

Manager, Tree and Shrub Dept.

Canoyer Garden Center www.canoyergardencenter.com www.OmahaPublications.com

Ross Denton

Manager, Garden Center Lanoha Nurseries www.lanohanurseries.com

Colorado blue Spruce, Picea pungens

The Colorado Blue Spruce is a very adaptable and drought-tolerant evergreen tree that can grow up to 60ft high and 20ft wide. It can be planted as a specimen, as wind block, or used in the replacement of the pines that are affected by pine wilt disease.

Sugar Maple, Acer saccharum

The Sugar Maple provides nice fall color in reds, yellows, and oranges. At Lanoha, we carry three Sugar Maple varieties: The Green Mountain and Legacy can grow up to 60-75ft high and 40-50ft wide.

The Columnar Green Sugar Maple can reach a height of 40ft and a width of 12ft. All three have been selected for their heat-tolerance and adaptability. Each can be planted as a specimen or shade tree. Trees, for the most part, are maintenance-free and don’t like to be in wet soils. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

july/august • 2012 H31

Omaha Home: landscaping

“Trees are poems that the earth writes upon the sky.”

Author Khalil Gibran, Sand and Foam

Red Oak, Quercus rubra

A great shade tree, planted for the enjoyment of generations. This tree needs its space to grow. Of all the oaks, this is adaptable to our native soils and has a fairly uniform shape if unimpeded by other trees. Fall color varies based on season and ranges from bronze to brilliant red.

Norway Spruce, Picea abies ‘Cincinnata’

Michael Becker

This particular Norway Spruce is a fast-growing evergreen. It’s dark green with pendulous branches. It will get quite large and does extremely well in our climate. It has a sprawling form, which complements the more-defined conical forms of other evergreens.

Owner/Designer Estate Gardeners www.estategardenersinc.com H32

july/august • 2012

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Japanese Lilac, Syringa reticulata ‘Ivory Silk’

The ‘Ivory Silk’ Lilac is a small, compact-growing ornamental tree with dark green foliage that can be found in clump form or with a single trunk. Creamy white fragrant flowers appear mid-summer, after other blooming trees are long done. It grows 20-25ft tall with 15-20ft wide and is both deer-tolerant and drought-tolerant, making it a hearty pick for hot Nebraska summers.

Royal Star Magnolia, Magnolia stellata ‘Royal Star’

The Royal Star Magnolia is a deciduous tree that provides fragrant, showy white flowers in the early spring, great fall color, and year-round interest to any yard. It’s a moderate grower, ranging from 10-15ft tall and 10-12ft wide at maturity, and is ideal for a landscape border. Best grown in full sun, this tree needs regular watering—weekly, and more often in extreme heat.

Rob Anderson

Owner/Designer Anderson Estate Design 402-895-9125 www.ReadOnlineNow.com

july/august • 2012 H33

Home: lawn care Provided by Lanoha Nurseries

Turf Troubles Solved

S

ummer brings several stressors to lawn grasses. Heat,

drought, and wear and tear can all take their toll, slowing growth and contributing to lawn diseases and weed growth. Here are two common summer lawn issues and advice on how to deal with them.

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Summer Patch Turf Fungus

Summer patch, sometimes called “frog’s eye,” causes straw-colored spots of dead turf to develop in the summer months. It’s a soilborne fungus that’s very difficult to control once symptoms manifest. Preventive applications of granulated fungicides, such as Fertilome’s “F stop” or Bayers Advanced Lawn Fungus Control, are quite effective against lawn fungus if used in conjunction with recommended cultural practices. The products are systemic and must be watered in well to the depth of the grass roots. Core aeration may be necessary if thatch or hard clay soils exist. Areas of the lawn that are exposed to the hottest part of the afternoon sun, areas of a fairly steep slope, or any other stressed area are most likely to be affected. It may be necessary to make repeated applications.

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Weed Control in Turf

Broadleaf, as well as grassy weeds are common nuisances to beautiful lawns in the Midwest. One of the most frustrating weeds is Yellow Nutsedge. This light green, shinybladed perennial weed is often mistaken as a grass when it invades the lawn in June. Its extensive semi-dormant root system makes permanent removal difficult. Halosulfuronmethyl will effectively control nutsedge that has emerged from its bulb-like underground root system. Contrary to popular belief, pulling is very unproductive and may actually stimulate the tubers to multiply. Two or more applications of Halosulfuron-methyl prior to the end of June/early July are needed to effectively control this nuisance. The nutsedge will start to yellow in 4-7 days, and will usually die within 14 days.

For more information on lawn care, visit with a professional at Lanoha Nurseries, 192nd & West Center Road, or visit www.lanohanurseries.com and click on the Resources tab.

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july/august • 2012

Go Vote, Win Prizes Voting starts July 1st

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Home: energy OPPD’s A/C Management Program

B 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.

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y participating in OPPD’s

A/C Management Program, you can help OPPD keep its rates among the lowest in the nation and get paid to do it.

OPPD’s Air Conditioning Management Program helps reduce the need for electricity when the demand for it is at its highest.

Reducing this demand delays the need for a new power plant and the cost of building it, saving consumers money.

Here’s how the program works: • OPPD will install a free outdoor device near your air conditioning unit or heat pump.

• After the device is installed, OPPD will credit your bill $30 and an additional $20 for each year you participate in the program.

• On most days, nothing will happen.

On some summer days when demand for electricity is at its highest, the device will run your A/C or heat pump in approximately 15-minute intervals (on for 15, off for 15), for 2.5 hours between 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. This will not cause additional wear and tear to your cooling system.

• A/C Management will occur a maximum of 12 days per year and never on holidays or weekends. Depending on summer weather patterns, it’s possible the device may never be activated.

• You will be able to opt out of A/C Management any two days per year with 24-hour notice.

• During a management event, your cooling system’s blower fan will continue to circulate air throughout your home. A typical home may experience a 1 to 3 degree increase in temperature.

To be eligible to participate in the A/C Management Program you must: • Have a working central air conditioner or heat pump • Own a single-family home • Be willing to have a device installed near your outdoor A/C unit or heat pump Join the 3,240 customers already participating and sign up today! Visit oppd.com/acmgmt or call 402-536-4131 or 1-877-536-4131 outside the metro. july/august • 2012 H35

Omaha Home: neighborhood profile Story by David Williams • Photos by Jess Ewald - jessicaewald.com

Omaha’s Ponca Hills Forested Splendor with Suburban Convenience

A

sense of shared values is the thread that weaves strong

communities. When Omaha Home magazine spoke to six sources in preparing this profile of one of the area’s singularly distinctive neighborhoods, unanimity of purpose was more than evident. So much so that five of those six people used the exact same turn of phrase in describing their environs.

Ponca Hills, they said, is Omaha’s “best kept secret.”

Which is a rather odd choice for a label when one considers that the area has seen largely uninterrupted human habitation for more than 1,000 years. >>

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july/august • 2012 H37

Omaha Home: neighborhood profile << Fur traders first encountered the land’s native peoples in the early 1800s before successive waves of westward-bound pioneers made their way through, including those of the great Mormon Migration who built 800 cabins in the shadows of the hills when they wintered there in 1846.

Bordered by Interstate 680 to the south up to roughly the Washington County line, and from the Missouri River to the east and out to 72nd Street, the Ponca Hills area blends breathtaking beauty with suburban convenience.

“Ponca Hills is a real melting pot,” said Prudential real estate agent Mamie Jackson.

“It’s a place where plots of land that have been home to the same families for several generations sit next to others that have only been recently developed,” all under tightly controlled zoning laws that protect against over-development and the de-forestation of the canopy of oak, walnut, cottonwood, hickory, and a host of other species in the arboreal, densely forested hills.

It’s the sort of place where modest frame homes dot a landscape punctuated by milliondollar homes situated on the vast acreages of the upscale Ponca Preserve development.

“It’s dangerous to try to size up the guy in the bib overalls down on the corner because he just might be a multi-bazillionaire,” Jackson said of the neighborhood that counts as its residents a veritable who’s-who of the city’s most recognizable names, including Chip Davis, the recording artist behind the multiGrammy-winning Manheim Steamroller.

“Not every property has a million-dollar home, but most every homeowner enjoys a million-dollar view.”

Being a secret doesn’t mean that the land is not without it’s very public amenities.

The City of Omaha’s Dodge and Hummel parks are joined by the Neale Woods Nature Center as magnets for city folk looking to enjoy the natural beauty of Ponca Hills.

The arts are also alive in the neighborhood, where children attend Ponca Hills Elementary School. It’s home to the live/work space of John Dennison, whose Dennison Pottery is a stop on the meandering North Hills Pottery Tour. To the southeast, Linda Meigs operates the Florence Mill, a preservation project of the Winter Quarters Mill Museum and the H38

july/august • 2012

Rolling hills, mature trees, and the occasional horse grazing are all you’re likely to encounter on a drive through Ponca Hills. Homes and residents are frequently tucked away from view.

www.OmahaPublications.com

info@lkdesign.biz lkdesign.biz

ArtLoft Gallery. The iconic structure, built in 1846 by the Mormons, is the oldest surviving mill west of the Missouri River.

“Many people out here thrive on their privacy,” said Bev Caster, secretary of the Ponca Hills Preservation Association, “but they also really know how to come together for a common cause.” Like many such groups, the association holds a series of annual family events and operates a neighborhood patrol, but they are also ardent advocates in matters of land use, environmental protection, and preservation when it comes to the historic and unique character of the hills.

Teaming with wildlife that thrives along the ribbon of life that is the Missouri River, the winding roads of Ponca Hills are best traveled at a slow speed lest one encounter the deer, wild turkeys, and foxes that are the everywhere. The majority of homeowners in the neighborhood keep a pair of binoculars at the ready to track the movements of their favorite prey.

And don’t forget those bandit-masked raccoons. They just may be your dinner date, >> www.ReadOnlineNow.com

july/august • 2012 H39

Omaha Home: green design

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The quiet, natural beauty of Ponca Hills, along with the privacy it offers, are what attract new residents to the area. Others have simply had homes in the Hills for generations and continue to stay.

<< chomping on chicken bones separated only by inches and plate glass at the window tables at the rustic Alpine Inn, one of the very few commercial enterprises operating within the Hills, a mere 20 minutes from downtown.

But if there is one animal that best typifies Ponca Hills, it is the horse. Shirley Ortman boarded horses at Ponca Hills Farms before she convinced her husband to relocate to Ponca Hills so that they could live the horsy life full-time.

“Especially if you know and get along with the broad network of landowners out here,” she said, “you can ride miles and miles of amazing trails, often without encountering another rider for long stretches of time and, for me, that’s probably the best of Ponca Hills’ many secrets.” www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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july/august • 2012 H41

Home: composting Story by Andy Szatko

Browning a Little of Your Green Life

C

omposting. I did this

throughout most of my childhood and early teenage years without ever realizing I was ‘composting’. To me I was just throwing away food scraps and piling all our yard waste into one area so that we didn’t have to bag it and haul it out to the curb to get picked up. On top of that, we were able to put what came out the bottom of our pile into our garden and flowerbeds and not have to spend lots of time and money on fertilizers or amendments. Compost, whether incorporated into a lawn or landscape bed, enhances soil structure, mitigates compaction, and creates an ecosystem for the landscape that enhances its resiliency against stresses such as drought. It also allows for greater moisture retention in the soil itself and increases the amount of water that infiltrates, helping to limit the amount of water that runs off your landscaped areas.

Simply stated, composting is the decomposition of organic matter. It is a pretty straight-forward process and project that you can undertake to reduce your environmental impact. When getting started with implementing a composting program of your own, learn some basic definitions and follow these steps to help organize yourself and create compost of your own.

1. Where you live makes a pretty big impact on what style of composting H42

july/august • 2012

you can do. There are two types of composting that we can look at, ‘normal’ composting and vermicomposting. ‘Normal’ composting is what most people are familiar with, and includes grass clippings, leaves, food scraps, etc. Normal composting is perfect for those with larger yards and who have yard waste and food scraps to compost.

2. Vermicomposting utilizes a bin (sizes and material it is made of can vary) and ‘red worms’, which speed up decomposition of the contents. These ‘red worms’ and bins don’t take up a lot of room, so they can be placed almost anywhere and are perfect for those with small homes or apartments. After you decide what type of composting you are going to use, decide the structure you want to use to compost.

• Heaps are, as the name implies, a large heap of yard waste and scraps. It is important to realize that this can attract animals and insects if food scraps are not mixed in and covered when placed into the heap. This will help keep pests away and speed up the process.

• Hoops are essentially a contained heap. You can utilize fencing or chicken wire, or buy a pre-made plastic enclosure. This helps keep your compost pile contained, provides a small footprint, and can be fitted with a door towards the bottom to make getting at the compost itself easy to harvest. This setup can be easily moved around the yard as needed and can provide a certain level of protection from animals, even though most hoops typically are not animal-proof.

To limit animals, food scraps should be buried in the pile at least 6” to prevent scents that attract them.

• Rollers or tumblers are containers mounted on a stand that allows it to be rotated, mixing the contents and filtering out the mature compost from the remaining material. These systems are typically more expensive than other composting bins, but they are fairly compact in size, so they would be great in a small yard.

• Worm bins are used for vermicomposting. Using a plastic storage bin is great for a worm bin as it will last for a long time, keeps rodents out, and with the lid www.OmahaPublications.com

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on, it keeps things dark for the worms. There are many commercial worm bins available for purchase, especially from online sources.

3. There are four types of ‘inputs’ for the compost pile: • Green material – This includes new grass clippings, pruned plants, and kitchen scraps. These materials are high in nitrogen, so when they start the decomposition process, they release heat, which in turn helps keep the process going.

Before putting this material into the pile, make sure you can get it as chopped up as possible, this will help to speed up the process. It is recommended to avoid meats and dairy products in the compost bin.

• Brown material – This is the leaves you rake up in the fall time, dried-out shrub prunnings and weeds, cardboard, or shredded paper.

Just as with the green material, chop up the browns as much as possible to help speed things along. These items are high in carbon and help balance the compost with the greens and typically they provide aeration for the compost pile.

• Air – The process of decomposition needs air. Good air will aid the microorganisms that feed on this material, because just like us, they need air as well to keep going.

• Water – The compost bid shouldn’t be soaking wet, but a damp rag consistency is ideal for compost.

Composting is a great way to reduce waste and provide benefits for the landscape.

Growing up, my sister and I had lots of fun throwing stale bread into the pile to see who could get the most pieces inside the bin.

Bottom line, have fun with the composting process involved the whole family, and reap the rewards from it.

Knowledge...

Compassion...

Follow Through!

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Turf Care Inc. 10722 Sapp Brothers Dr. 402.895.6004 turfcareomaha.com

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Omaha Home: transformations Story by Beth Keller, Allied ASID • Photos by Chuck Nolder - www.charlesnolder.zenfolio.com

Contemporary Chic F

rom the beginning of the project it was clear that this young couple was not afraid of color or unique furniture—in fact they demand it. “We want something different”. Taking on this project I kept in mind one thing: keep it simple. It would be easy to overdo a room with a serpentine-shape sofa and throne-like chairs. The overall design is based on clean lines, hard surfaces, and low furniture. I balance the contemporary look with softer edges, bold colors, varied textures, and natural fibers.

Upon entering this home your attention is instantly directed to the vibrant green and blue metal sculpture. The organically shaped console below sets the tone for the overall minimal istapproach with “pops” of color continuing throughout the home.

The living room is the largest room in the house and the main concern was to keep it cozy so company felt comfortable in the space. Hand-painted Vahallan Papers give a rich depth to the walls and a generous sectional for entertaining was the perfect fit. Two lofty chairs flanking the fireplace added whimsy to the formal room. The accents are simple to keep the focus on the furniture and its surroundings. Metal cornices are fitted on the transom windows to filter natural light while orange accents are balanced with black and white photography. The elegant cocktail table appears to float over the modern wool rug which grounds the extra-long sectional.

There will be no boring dinner parties in this fuschia dining room. Leather upholstered chairs allow you to enjoy the space well after dessert. Side-panel window treatments in natural hues soften the lines of the shutter-covered windows and the client’s own black and white photography completes the space with a personal touch and charm.

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The living room’s contemporary look was designed with softer edges, more colors, varied textures, and natural fibers in mind.

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3.

Beth Keller, Allied ASID Interior Designer.

Long and curvy, the Menlo Park sectional

by American Leather creates a sinuous ‘S’ silhouette. Metal legs create the delightful illusion that the sofa is floating on air, and

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a tight back and seat further enhance the modern look. Contrasting back and arm pillows add more visual whimsy.

july/august • 2012 H45

Omaha Home: transformations

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A natural travertine marble dining table with high-back leather chairs is surrounded by original artwork and the client’s own black and white photographs.

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“Wow!” The dining room is a chic showstopper with walls painted in Sherwin Williams’ ‘Forward Fuschia’.” The thing about fuschia is that it’s vibrant as well as unexpected. It speaks of passion and appetite, so it’s really good for rooms where eating occurs,” said Keller.

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july/august • 2012

www.OmahaPublications.com

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A minimal approach was planned for the entry space with sleek furnishings and stimulating colors.

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It’s hard to miss the Eclipse chair from Carter Furniture, since the back is a towering 60 inches tall. This pair is quite the conversation starter.

7 www.ReadOnlineNow.com

july/august • 2012 H47

Omaha Home: hot products Photos by John Gawley

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Luminous Lamps Illuminate your outdoor life with these LED and Solar lights, sure to add beauty,

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july/august • 2012

ambiance, and flair while being eco-friendly.

4

6 www.OmahaPublications.com

1-Shimmer Falls Chandelier

This chandelier from Anywhere Lighting will compliment your home exterior with shimmer and style. Durable metal frame design is available in silver with white LED lights, or bronze with yellow lights. Just install 4 AA batteries, securely hang in desired area, and turn on! Features a 5-hour automatic shut-off timer for convenience. $49.99 and $59.99 Available at Mulhall’s, 3615 N.

Your Complete Design Specialist...

From

120th St. www.mulhalls.com

2-Hanging Lantern Saucers

These miniature UFO-like lantern saucers, available in several colors, are the fun way to add nighttime ambiance to your outdoor space. Best displayed in groups of three or more from a tree branch or porch overhang. $15.99 each Available

at Lanoha Nurseries, 19111 W. Center Rd., www.lanohanurseries.com

Draperies & Blinds | Furniture & Accessories | Color Consultation Remodeling & Rearrangement | Home Staging | Tile, Carpet & More...

Best of Omaha 2006•2007•2008

3-ColoriScape Solar Garden Twist Pods

Add creative flair your yard with these blownglass forms hand-made by artisans and displayed on metal stakes. Perfect to line a walkway or sprinkle throughout your landscaping. Available in a variety of colors and patterns and large and small sizes. $39.99-54.99 Available at Mulhall’s,

A+ Rating

Office: 402.964.0762 Mobile: 402.670.7566 • www.GloriasElegantInteriors.com

3615 N. 120th St., www.mulhalls.com

4-Faith to Light Your Way Angel Statue

This resin angel, about 18” high, will add warmth and charm to any garden scene. A solar panel on a separate base charges the angel’s lantern light, helping to illuminate your path at night. $84.99. Solar rock-lights add ambiance to the angel. $12.99 each. Available at Lanoha

Nurseries, 19111 W. Center Rd., www. lanohanurseries.com 5-LED Tree Lights

LED lights add a fairytale look to your backyard. Lit branches are durable and flexible.

Ideal to dress up planters or just stick into the ground in strategic places for a whimsical touch. $96 Available at Moore’s Landscaping

and Nursery, 11999 Cryer Ave. www. mooresnursery.com 6-Solar-powered Glass Lantern

Iridescent glass tiles create a beautiful mosaic on this globe lantern, perfect as an accent light hung from an eve or on a post hook, or as a beautiful table centerpiece. Solar design means no wires, no fuss! $19.99 Available at Garden Ridge,

12990 W. Center Rd., www.gardenridge. com

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

Trees Shrubs Perennials Garden Center Lawn Care Design/Consultation Landscaping Bulk Materials

www.RobertsLLN.com 4 Blocks North of 156th & Fort

402-551-3654 Receive $500 off a Design and Installation contract over $5000.

july/august • 2012 H49

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Established 1986

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Your home... your builder.

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Selecting a builder is as much an expression of taste as it is a statement of confidence. No one understands this better than Curt Hofer & Associates. As one of the area’s most respected custom homebuilders and remodelers, we provide a one-of-a-kind experience in creating your once-in-a-lifetime home.

2332 Bob Boozer Drive Omaha, NE 68130 Phone: 402.758.0440 n

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From individual rooms, to how these rooms come together to create a home, to the landscape and exteriors that immediately bid you welcome, the team at Curt Hofer & Associates knows how to bring the best ideas to life – yours. The result?

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—— A Curt Hofer Company ——

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www.jasperstonedevelopment.com january/february july/august • 2012• 2012 H51/91 91

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