September/October 2012 Omaha Home

september/october 2012

Always Local, Always Beautiful

OLD

DeRuiters’ Remodel RISING LIKE A PHOENIX

NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILE

The Sanctuary www.ReadOnlineNow.com

A Publication of

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September/October 2012 VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 5

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

Become inspired.

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bailey hemphill editorial interns

toni furmanski lyndsey hrabik

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TIME TO VOTE! Best of Omaha 2013 ®

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contributing photographers

jess ewald john gawley ryan sorensen editorial advisors

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• david scott

contributing writers

jay moore molly garriott david williams jennifer musinski dave sipherd becky jackson mary carter

Go Vote, Win Prizes Voting starts July 1st

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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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Your outdoor retreat

September/October 2012 VOLUME 2 • ISSUE 5

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

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paige edwards accountant

jim heitz distribution manager

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

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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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Come Alive

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Photo by Kim Roudabush, Kim Photography.

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Omaha Home: from the editor “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”

- Albert Camus

S

etails special d It’s the ruly a room t e k a m t se your tha et us infu unique! L y into a personalit beautiful space.

Visit our website or stop in to our showroom to shop, get inspired, or start a conversation with your designer.

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september/october • 2012

eptember can be a bittersweet month. The long, carefree days of summer

are winding down, yet we’re entering one of the most beautiful times of the year…

Crunchy, colorful leaves underfoot, the sweet scents of apples and pumpkin wafting through the air, the cool, crisp Autumn breeze…Fall is no doubt one of nature’s greatest gifts.

This time of year, my thoughts naturally turn toward “nesting.” Whether it’s house repairs and prep for the cold winter months ahead or cooking and decorating for the upcoming holidays, Autumn brings a new focus on the home. It’s the ultimate time for comfort food, a great book, a warm blanket, a spot by the bonfire or fireplace, and of course, good company.

This issue of Omaha Home features a very unique condo that has all of the perfect elements for “nesting” and comfort. Our thanks to Anne Kennedy for opening up her cozy Regency abode to Omaha Magazine! We also extend thanks to the DeRuiter family that took a tragedy — a serious fire at their Armbrust Acres home — and turned it for good, launching a home remodel project that brought their family closer together. You’ll also find stories on The Sanctuary, one of West Omaha’s premier neighborhoods, several home-building activities in Omaha, four new home improvement destinations and much more.

Enjoy this month’s issue of Omaha Home and have a wonderful Fall season! As always, if you have any comments or story ideas you would like us to hear about, please contact me at stacey.penrod@omahapublications.com.

Sincerely,

Stacey Penrod Account Executive & Contributing Editor Omaha Home Magazine stacey.penrod@omahapublications.com On a sad and more personal note…The Omaha design community endured a huge loss this August with the passing of Kristin Putnam Johnson (1956-2012). Kristin created Designworks LLC in 1999. One of her most personal design legacies is the Countryside Community Church’s Darkwood Brew Community Space and Common Grounds Coffee shop, where she volunteered endless hours and energy to create a space for spiritual dialogue and education, one of Kristin’s personal passions.

The majority of her projects, however, were residential. Through her design, she improved the lives of dozens of homeowners, many of whom became friends along the way. Kristin was known as a connector in our community, as well as a resourceful designer who found solutions. Her peers have described her as being captivating, radiant, genuine, and warm. “She always took the high road,” said her assistant, Jody Baines. On behalf of myself and our staff at Omaha Publications, we would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the family and dear friends of Kristin Putnam Johnson.

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Omaha Home: contents departments

features

H12 Builder Profile:

Pete Widhalm Widhalm Custom Homes

FURNITURE •ART ARTIFACTS • POTTERY scottsdale & omaha

H16 Design Profile:

LEE Industries Custom Upholstered Furniture Dealer

Marc Trautimas, MetalWorking Architect/Designer

Visit Our Online Store!

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

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At Home: Enchanted Cottage Condo

H21 Home D•I•Y Project:

Vote for us again Omaha!

Best Home Accessories.

Hidden Wine Cellar

H36 Neighborhood Profile:

The Sanctuary

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

H42 Home Happenings:

H27

Remodel Feature: Rising Like a Phoenix

H32

Garden Feature: The Secret Garden

H34

New on the Block: Northern Tool + Equipment Keep the Piece West Maple Habitat ReStore CKF Countertops Showroom

Builders Blitz Women Build Street of Dreams

H44 Transformations: Fresh Makeover

H48 Hot Products: Fabulous Fall Accents

columns

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

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H31 Finance:

Landscaping: It’s Time for Fall Planting

The Inside Scoop on Shopping for a Home Mortgage

H40 Finance: Prepping Ponds for Cold www.OmahaPublications.com

Locally Grown, Zone Hardy Plant Material

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• Visit our website for a list of recommended landscape •

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Omaha Home: builder profile Story by Linda Persigehl • Photos by minorwhitestudios.com and provided by Michael Borman Home Photography

The Omaha custom builder has made a name for himself with his unique residential designs and eye for architectural details.

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Q&A:

W

Pete Widhalm

Widhalm Custom Homes

e asked Pete Widhalm what influenced his construction career, who

inspires him, and what he enjoys most about his work.

www.OmahaPublications.com

Q: First off, tell us a bit about your homebuilding company.

What is your niche? How has the business grown?

A: Widhalm Custom Homes is a lowvolume, high-quality home building company that specializes in one-of-a-kind custom homes that have an artistic and architectural point of view. We work on any style home, but find a lot of our customers come to us for a more contemporary style.

Our company consists of my wife, Amy, and myself. Amy and I split the company’s responsibilities based on our specialties. I design and draft the plans with Amy’s input and manage the construction process and contractors. Amy received her real estate license in 2008 and today works representing the company. She’s also the bookkeeper and works [with customers] in the selection process. We expanded dramatically in 2012 and hired a superintendent, Matt Arneson, to help manage sites and contractors.

Amy and I incorporated in 2004 and built our first spec home, which sold quickly.

Over the last eight years, our company has carefully grown building unique homes for our clients in and around the Omaha area as far out as Shenandoah, Iowa. Many examples of our homes can be seen in the Waterford development in Bennington and in the Shadow Lake development in Papillion.

We are currently building approximately 12 homes a year.

Q: How did you first discover your affinity for building things? What construction experience, training do you have?

A: I grew up just outside the city on an acreage in Springfield, Neb. I spent a lot of time working with my father in a wood shop we had on the property. I started designing furniture for my room and enjoyed the process of figuring out how to construct my ideas. As I got older, I started scavenging material and nails and enjoyed building elaborate forts and tree houses summer after summer.

After graduation, I traveled briefly before finding myself in the field of construction…I worked in cabinets, started a roofing company, worked in a scenic studio creating facades, and finally, framing homes for seven years where I gained most of my knowledge of residential engineering and practices. >> www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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Home: builder profile We would appreciate your vote for the Best Home Accessories Store. www.BestOfOmaha.com

<< My passion for design finally took hold in 2000, and I began hand-drawing floor plans.

What I thought was a fun creative hobby turned into my focus.

Q: What would you say makes your business unique and appealing to homeowners looking to build?

12965 West Center Road · (Montclair Shopping Center) · 402-778-0650

A: Widhalm Custom Homes designs unique plans for each of our customers, giving them a true custom home in any price range. I truly enjoy drafting and find it gives Amy and I the opportunity to really get to know our customers in the process. Having the drafting in-house eliminates delays for changes and streamlines the development process, as well as keeps our overhead costs down, which we can transfer to our clients.

We also incorporate a lot of personalization into every custom home. Our clients have the opportunity to work with Amy and me to work out the type of look and styling that is right for them. And we have a strong dedication to quality of construction and energy-efficiency. Every one of our homes is personally quality-checked by myself, ensuring that the project is completed to the highest quality.

Q: W h at a rch i te cts and homebuilders inspire you as a designer of custom homes?

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A: As cliché as it my sound, I have always been a huge fan of Frank Lloyd Wright and the Prairie Movement that arose at the turn of the 20th century. I was first exposed as a child watching a PBS special that changed the way I saw structures. I found myself dissecting buildings wherever I was, whether it was our local church or a parking garage. I would always try to figure out why it looks the way it does and how it was constructed. I spent some time in my 20s touring some of Wright’s structures and can honestly say the tours were some of the most moving moments in my life.

My favorite homebuilder was Joseph Eichler. His company developed the iconic post and beam look that lent itself to the Mid -Century movement. The modern designs his architects developed gave to the post WWII track homes that were desperately needed, and the non-“Merchant Builder” approach is something I have modeled our company after today.

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Omaha Home: builder profile

Q: Widhalm Custom Homes is a participant is this fall’s Street of Dreams. Tell us about that.

A: We have a home we are very excited about in the 2012 Street of Dreams that is located in Coventry Estates off of 204th and Q Street. This home is an all-original plan that is a showcase for many of our ideas that we have been waiting to present. It combines true “Prairie styling” on the exterior inspired www.ReadOnlineNow.com

directly by the early work of Frank Lloyd Wright with a more progressive “Transitional” look throughout the interior. This is a very exciting time for us and we look forward to the opening in September.

Q: Tell us a bit about your family. How do you spend your downtime?

A: Amy and I have two daughters, Savanah and Mila. We have lived in a home we built

in Bennington in the Waterford development for the past five years. We all enjoy our Mid-Century-inspired home, and our daughters enjoy the fantastic Bennington schools. I enjoy golfing and our family enjoys traveling when we can find the time. We look forward to our annual Labor Day road trip— we just have to agree on where we all want to go! september/october • 2012 H15

Omaha Home: design profile Story by Linda Persigehl • Photos by minorwhitestudios.com and provided by Ryan Sorensen

The industrial designer and builder specializing in architectural metals recently returned to Omaha from NYC.

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Q&A:

W

Marc Trautrimas

Metal-Working Architect/Designer

e asked the resourceful, outside-the-box thinker from Fremont how

he honed his metals skills and what some of his favorite projects and clients have been (think the White House!).

www.OmahaPublications.com

Q: How does one become an industrial designer? Did you receive formal training or were you self-taught?

A: After graduating from Fremont Senior High School, I went to college at UNL where I studied philosophy and design. My interest in product design developed there and piqued after transferring to Parson’s School of Design in NYC. I graduated with a degree in Environmental Design and Architecture in 1992. Some of my early influences and mentors at school were James Wines, Carlos Zapata, and particularly Allan Wexler. I still do senior reviews there for Allan’s students in the Product Design department. Jean Prouve, a French engineer and metalworker, was also an influence by studying his drawings of projects in Parisian residences and the Metro.

Q: When did you decide to branch out and start your own independent design studio?

A: While I was still in school, I took a job with Vito Acconci, a sculptor, writer, and performance artist, to develop and engineer his projects for public parks competitions and also for exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art, NYC, and a Whitney Biennial, NYC. This work really helped formulate my next phase as I began to break out on my own.

Shortly after graduation in 1992, I started my own studio out of a live/work loft in a warehouse in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, N.Y. Over the course of the next 20 years—with a lot of ups and downs and a lot of help from a few friends that I worked closely with—I expanded from just myself in one studio to employing up to 18 assistants working out of two different buildings.

Q: Tell us about the type of design work you do. Residential and commercial? Interiors and exteriors?

A: The services that I offer vary from design or design/build for my own clients to building/engineering projects for other designers and architects. I design complete spaces, like a recent complete home design in Belize from the ground up, or objects within, specializing in metals but also working with wood, glass, and stone. The projects vary in scale from custom door handles for a friend to >> www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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Office: 402.964.0762 Mobile: 402.670.7566 • www.GloriasElegantInteriors.com september/october • 2012 H17

Omaha Home: design profile << luxury products like lobbies, staircases, facades of boutique hotels, private homes, and casinos.

My clients vary somewhat in their budget capabilities, and that can sometimes, but not always, dictate the end product. I have a lot of fun with minimal budgets that force me to use materials in new ways. Most of the work is custom order and can range in price from a couple hundred dollars for a handle or picture frame to much more for a conference/dining table, staircase, or feature wall.

Q: Who have been some of your most notable clients? Most interesting projects?

A: Examples of some of the clients that I have been fortunate enough to have worked with are: The White House Historical Society (Barack Obama’s writing desk for the renovation of the master bedroom), Philip Johnson, Phillipe Starck, Chambers Hotel, NYC, Mohegan Sun Casino, and Grand Central Terminal, NYC. Two years ago, I built an $80,000 black walnut dining table that was 20 feet long with leaf extensions and undulating stainless steel legs for a couple in Florida. I also built a 16-foot-long black walnut credenza that was also fairly expensive and highly detailed with bronze legs and inlay for Princess Zain Al-Sabah of Kuwait.

Q: Why was it that you chose to move back to nebraska? How have you found the creative climate here?

A: I relocated my studio to Omaha in July 2011 to be closer to family. My parents—both are former teachers at Midland University— are now retired and still live in Fremont, and my sister and her family live in Omaha. I now run my business out of a warehouse a few blocks from the Old Market in Little Italy. I’ve been pleasantly surprised to find a thriving arts community and a new home base downtown. It’s great to be here again, and my business is picking up. I’m designing and building in private homes and restaurants in Omaha with some NYC work still in the mix.

To learn more about Marc and his work, go to www.marctrautrimas.com.

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C om merci al & Resi den ti al

www.OmahaFriendlyServices.com

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september/october • 2012 H19

Home: landscaping Provided by Jay Moore, Jay Moore Landscaping

Posh Peacock Consignment Gallery Turn Your Garage Into This!

Furniture & Home Decor for less

It’s Time for Fall Planting!

H

ere in Omaha, again, we

experienced a blast of hot, dry summer weather. Finally, fall promises to offer us a reprieve from the heat.

Fall is also the perfect time to install the “softscape,” or plants in your landscapes.

When planning fall planting, keep in mind the hot days of mid-summer that are likely ahead in years to come. For instance, think about where to strategically place that large shade tree for future shade on the play areas of the lawn. Smaller ornamental trees such as Serviceberries, Redbuds, and Flowering Crabs are ideal for shading a small patio or deck.

Shrubbery is also something to start considering. Cooler temps are ideal for adding flowering shrubs as well as evergreen shrubs to your yard, adding texture, color, and layers to your existing landscape.

Spending time outdoors also allows you the opportunity to observe areas to screen—a neighbor’s unsightly compost bin, a deteriorating shed, a utility box, etc. Screening also helps create a comfort zone in your outdoor space, giving you the ability to be outside and not be “on display.” Keep in mind, evergreens act as a screen all year, while deciduous plants (those that drop their leaves) open back up the view late fall through early spring.

Last, but certainly not least, fall bulbs are ideal for spring color. Try to remember the blast of early spring color we had this year… wonderful! It’s best to plant early- and midseason-blooming bulbs. This way, the bulbs will bloom in full glory and finish before the early perennials and shrubs start their turn.

Happy planting!

For all your landscaping needs, call on the professionals with Jay Moore Landscaping, 7607 D St. 402-504-1822. www.jaymoorelandscaping.com H20

september/october • 2012

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

The Phillips’

d•i•y Hidden Wine Cellar

“A wine cellar may seem like an extravagance, but it’s in a space that was unused before, and it didn’t cost a whole lot”.

A

Mike Phillips

lthough Mike and Annika Phillips like to collect wine, the

one wine rack in their Field Club home’s basement didn’t allow them to maintain a large selection.

One day, their kids stumbled upon the perfect space to expand their collection—a concealed space behind the furnace. Initially, the Phillips’ thought the space was sealed off; but upon further exploration, they found an opening www.ReadOnlineNow.com

to an old coal bin filled with pieces of coal and dozens of tobacco cans.

Building a wine cellar in the newly discovered space seemed like a natural idea, Mike Phillips said. “A wine cellar may seem like an extravagance, but it’s in a space that was unused before, and it didn’t cost a whole lot,” he said.

Phillips set to work cutting through the brick wall and framing the door using a reciprocating saw he had on hand and special blades he purchased to cut the brick (although many hardware stores offer tool rentals for short-term use). He then swept out a six-inch layer of coal ash lining the floor. Once those tasks were complete, the space was prepped and ready to be transformed.

After measuring the room, Phillips built the wine racks to fit using one-by-two-foot and one-by-one-foot oak slats and an oak plank top he picked up from Menards, along with brads and brass screws. He said the corners were the most difficult. “I made four individual columns for each end, then attached them together in a fan shape to curve around the corners.”

To keep the wine at the right temperature, Phillips cut more brick to install a cooling system that keeps the wine at a constant mid-50-degree temperature. For added temp control, he injected foam sealer in the spaces between the doorframe and the bricks.

Staying true to the roots of the space, coal, and the tobacco tins originally found in the room were used to add decoration. A string of rope lights and an antique French iron lighting fixture add the finishing touches to the cellar.

Now, the space—once vacant and useless—can hold about 350 bottles of wine. The Phillips’ currently have almost 200 bottles and counting in their DIY wine cellar.

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

Omaha Home: at home Story by David Williams • Photos by DP Muller Photography & minorwhitestudios.com

Enchanted Cottage Condo

Anne Kennedy’s Regency home is both enchanting and surprising.

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www.OmahaPublications.com

I

f you were to total up the sheer number of appointments in Anne Kennedy’s 1,700-ish square-foot Regency condo—the picture frames, baubles, knick-knacks and the like—and then run that number through a “design-o-meter” to calculate the ratio of discreet objects per square foot, the needle of the curious machine could well swing perilously close to the flashing red “Full” indicator.

Instead, a thoughtful design eye here renders an anything-but-cluttered scene. Kennedy’s home is warm, earthy and inviting, something akin to the imagined interior of one of those Thomas Kinkade cottages, only devoid of any hint of what critics describe as the artist’s insidious penchant for cheese. >>

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

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Omaha Home: at home

<< “It just kind of evolved,” said homeowner Kennedy, as interior designer Julie Hockney nodded in agreement. “I knew I wanted a cottage feel, and we started with that simple idea. After that, it was a lot of long talks, intensive planning, and shopping.”

A months-long collaboration joined by Kennedy’s friend Katie Bloom of Red Oak, Iowa, formerly an interior designer and now a therapist, resulted in a singularly charming cottage in the heart of the city.

Knotty pine walls, some whitewashed and others gray-stained to offer subtle contrasts, rest above oak floors that abut a rustic stone fireplace in the condo Kennedy bought a little over a year ago.

“We were very deliberate in the use of wood,” Hockney said. “It could easily have gone too far and become too much wood.” Her solution to the threat of “too much wood”: Interrupting the eye with brief stretches of drywall in a way that accentuates instead of detracts from the milky hues of the walls.

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www.OmahaPublications.com

“This was definitely one of those many ‘less is more’ decisions we made” when it came to continuity, Kennedy added in describing a design that is cozy without being cloying.

Those creamy, off-white hues continue in a monochromatic color scheme punctuated by just the right amount of black to ground the palette, one adorned with multiple layers of texture, pattern, line, and form. The use of a muted canary yellow, but only in a single chair and neighboring throw blanket, is not meant to “pop” so much as it is to radiate warmth.

Large windows and the liberal use of French doors www.ReadOnlineNow.com

throughout the home help make the open floor plan seem much larger—especially where it segues to the walkout veranda, where a burnished red replaces the canary yellow as the sparingly-used accent splash.

Echoing vibes that are part Hamptons getaway and part English countryside, Kennedy’s Hockney-designed cottage evokes images that beg the use of what are seemingly contradictory words. Here there is inherent power in guarded understatement and a mood of soothing serenity that is at the same time oddly electrifying.

And that’s the power of great design.

The knock on Kinkade was that his cottages suffer from an overly dramatic sense of the fantastical.

Kennedy’s cottage turns the idea upside down by merely clipping the last syllable off of the descriptor.

“What we tried to do here,” Hockney summed up, “is to create something…”

“Fantastic,” Kennedy interrupted with a wink.

“That’s what it is. Fantastic.”

september/october • 2012 H25

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Paula Wallace Exhibition “Every Picture Tells a Story” September 7-23

Karen Schnepf Exhibition “Colors, Layered” September 7-23

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Omaha Home: remodel feature Story by David Williams • Photos by minorwhitestudios.com

Rising Like a Phoenix Rebuilding after a house fire is not without its advantages.

W

henever a r emo d el i n volves

much more than a little sawdust, a couple cans of paint and a furniture delivery, it has become almost de rigueur for homeowners to proclaim, “Yeah, we pretty much gutted the place.”

For Brandy and Jeff DeRuiter, the boast is a literal one, but it was >> www.ReadOnlineNow.com

september/october • 2012 H27

Omaha Home: remodel feature

<< a cataclysmic fire in 2009 (electrical bugaboo, smoke, dial 911) that did the gutting for them.

Living through the experience has been an eye-opener for the homeowners and their children Zach, 10, Ian, 11, and Quinn, 14.

“Shoveling snow…indoors…isn’t something that makes it onto most people’s chore list,” chuckled Jeff, who is CEO of the online beauty enterprise, Bloom.com.

“The whole family kept a sense of humor and a positive attitude through the entire process,” said Leah Bauer, the Leo A. Daly interior designer who also acted as project manager in the rebuild.

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The DeRuiters moved back into their fivebedroom Armburst Acres home eight months after the fire, first living out of the basement while nail guns echoed overhead.

The whole experience wasn’t without its advantages.

“A fire is an excellent way to declutter,” Brandy said with a laugh.

Jeff agreed. “It seemed like half of the stuff itemized on the insurance claim,” he said, “fell into the category of ‘I don’t even remember owning such a thing.’”

The general absence of tchotchkes, now relegated to a smallish curio in the dining room, speaks volumes in understanding the

couple’s “less is more” aesthetic, now reflected in clean lines defining a space that is cozy and yet still minimal.

“Brandy and Jeff wanted something other than your typical West Omaha home, and you can see their contemporary flair mirrored in every surface and every building material,” Bauer explained. “I don’t have a signature look. This is a uniquely ‘DeRuiter’ look.”

That look becomes readily apparent upon first crossing the threshold, where one is met by a gracefully arcing staircase that flirts with an oversized light fixture that takes on the qualities of floating sculpture; one that is reminiscent of that odd Möbius strip >> www.OmahaPublications.com

Far left: an aerial view of the home’s living room from the second-floor walkway. Natural light, bare-bones accessories, and contemporary furnishings give the space an airy, modern feeling.

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

Below right and left: The open-concept living/ kitchen/dining room and large family room in the lower level allow the DeRuiters to spend a great deal of quality time together.

september/october • 2012 H29

Home remodel feature Autumn Pruitt Finds Her Swee t Spot at Bliss

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Into the great room and adjoining kitchen, bamboo flooring and kitchen cabinets in slightly contrasting hues are bookended by cherrywood accents that draw the eye in a way to create a sense of unanchored weightlessness in the furnishings.

Creative and often whimsically vibrant touches are found everywhere in the “new” DeRuiter home.

Glass vessel sinks—vibrant orange in a powder room and variegated flowers in the master bath—are accompanied by special acrylic countertops that evoke an aura of ethereal translucence. A lower-level boy cave/ billiard room—one that now also sports a fireplace added after the fire—features a subdued color scheme of sea foam and iceberg blue enveloping furniture rendered in a warm mocha hue.

Playful “wall tattoos” (adhesive stickers), including one of the iconic smiley face emoticon, can be found in the most unexpected of places.

Quarreling is frowned upon in the DeRuiter home, and so the closest thing to discord might be found in the rebelliously obtuse angles of curiously cantilevered accent tables dotting the great room.

The continuity of the space is completed by a contemporary art collection encompassing an array of genres and mediums in a balanced mix of 2D and 3D works.

In October, the DeRuiters will celebrate the anniversary of the fire in a house “re-warming” party.

One decision for the event—the music they’ll cue up at 9:04 p.m., exactly three years to the minute after fire alarms screamed—has already been made.

That would be, quite fittingly, the Talking Heads’ “Burning Down the House.”

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Home: finance

BEST OF OMAH AL “ A NU ofomaha ®” CO AN .best .co NT S w E’ m E w IN

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•

First, IF IT SEEMS TO GOOD TO BE TRUE, IT PROBABLY IS. But you didn’t really need us to tell you that, did you? Mortgage money and interest rates all come from the same places, and if something sounds really unbelievable, better ask a few more questions and find the hook. Is there a prepayment penalty? If the rate seems incredible, are there extra fees? What is the length of the lock-in? If fees are discounted, is it built into a higher interest rate?

•

Second, YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. If you’re looking for the cheapest deal out there, understand that you are placing a hugely important process into the hands of the lowest bidder. Best case, expect very little advice, experience, and personal service.

Worst case, expect that you might not close at all. All too often, you don’t know until it’s too late that the cheapest isn’t the BEST.

•

Third, MAKE CORRECT COMPARISONS. When looking at estimates, don’t simply look at the bottom line. You absolutely must compare lender fees to lender fees, as these are the only ones that the lender controls. And make sure lender fees are not “hidden” down amongst the title or state fees.

•

Fourth, UNDERSTAND THAT INTEREST RATES AND CLOSING COSTS GO HAND IN HAND. This means that you can have any interest rate that you want— but you may pay more in costs.

Media SponSerS

of Omaha iPad® is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc.

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

ith recent changes in the mortgage industry over the past few years—

some of which have been sensationalized in the media—many of my clients, family and friends are still concerned if they qualify for a mortgage anymore.

It’s important to understand that YES, many mortgage options still EXIST! I tell everyone to FIRST make sure they are working with an experienced, professional loan officer. The largest financial transaction of your life is far too important to place into the hands of someone who is not capable of advising you properly and troubleshooting the issues that may arise along the way. Once you are satisfied that you are working with a top-quality mortgage advisor, here are the rules and secrets I believe that you must know to “shop” effectively:

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• Remember, this is one of the largest and most important financial transactions you will ever make. You might do this only four or five times in your entire life…It’s your home and your future. Call on an educated professional who will work in your best interests.

To discuss your personal mortgage needs, contact Jennifer Musinski at The Private Mortgage Group today at 402-392-5811. september/october • 2012 H31

Omaha Home: garden feature Story by David Williams • Photos by minorwhitestudios.com

Y

ou don’t have to look beyond

the second letter of the alphabet on Karen Richards’ bookshelves to understand where her passions lie. Volumes covering such topics as buds, bugs, birds, and berms are afforded a breathtaking view of her sprawling garden, one that was featured this summer in the Munroe-Meyer Guild Garden Walk.

She and her husband, Dr. Alan Richards, bought their home southwest of 90th and Dodge streets 15 years ago. The South African natives, along with their now grown sons, Trevor and Michael, soon took spade in hand to transform a decidedly bland three-quarter -acre plot into a lush landscape featuring hundreds of plant varieties, including 50 species in the Hosta family alone.

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The Secret Garden Hidden delights await in this naturalistic backyard.

www.OmahaPublications.com

“Everyone in South Africa—whether they want to be or not—is a gardener,” said the woman who worked as a both a nurse and fashion designer before coming to America, where she has since earned a degree in horticulture and landscape design. “Because the climate is so conducive to growing things there, virtually everyone is—almost by default—a gardener.”

Alan admittedly played a limited role in designing and planning the garden, but along with his sons was a major source of muscle in its execution, including the moving of seven tons of flagstone for the path that is the main artery through the property’s verdant, heavily layered back and side gardens.

“I have a very talented wife and am happy to just do the things that she tells me to do,” he said in the South African accent they both share.

The path is a unifying agent that ties together the garden’s several distinct spaces.

Stops along the way include a waterfall emptying into a year-round pond whose lily pads act as cover for the Japanese Koi and goldfish that were engaged in a game of peek-a-boo just below the surface.

Then it was onto the Zen Garden, whose China red furniture is guarded by a pensive Buddha sculpture. The side yard, in turn, boasts the Secret Garden, a contemplative niche whose dense vegetation, fencing, and position abutting the house serves to define a space that is completely shrouded from outside eyes.

The Secret Garden is also home to Boris, the eight-legged metal sculpture created by Karen, who is also an accomplished watercolor artist. And yes, Boris the spider is named after the arachnid of the same name in the classic song by The Who. In a garden that seems to have just about everything, one thing you won’t find is a riotous explosion of color. Karen and Dr. Alan Richards’ sensibilities are grounded in a different, perhaps more challenging vein of creativity, one that celebrates the best traditions of a more subdued and naturalistic approach.

“Just as it is on fabric in fashion or on paper in my watercolors,” Karen said, “design—any kind of design—revolves around ideas of line, form, balance. These are really quite simple ideas. And that’s what I aimed for with this garden: A sort of warm, natural simplicity.” www.ReadOnlineNow.com

september/october • 2012 H33

Omaha Home: new on the block Story by Lyndsey Hrabik and Toni Furmanski • Photos by minorwhitestudios.com

Northern Tool + Equipment

Keep the Piece

7202 Pacific St., Omaha

8266 Hascall St., Omaha

402-255-6766

402-359-1474

N

orthern Tool + Equipment, a Burnsville, Minn.,-

based tool retailer, has opened its first Nebraska location in the former Basset Furniture space at 72nd and Pacific streets in Omaha. The family-owned chain, founded by Donald Kotula in 1981, opened its metro store July 28. Northern Tool + Equipment provides a large selection of tools and supplies, including generators, pressure washers, trailers and parts, lawn mowers, water pumps, and more. Richyard Sorsveen, Omaha store manager, said Northern Tool is unique in that “We offer the full package—great customer service, tools on hand for whatever your project, as well as full access to our internet catalog of tools, which we’ve been offering for 12 years now.”

The store also offers small engine repair services onsite by a certified technician. For store hours, tool catalogs, and more, visit www.northerntool.com

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september/october • 2012

D

iane Andress’ unique furniture restoration

shop, Keep the Piece, focuses on giving new life to old or gently-used furniture, most of which she finds at auctions and estate sales. Right now, Andress is working on converting an old sewing machine cabinet into a compact bar.

The idea for the store started when Andress began buying items at sales and repurposing them for use in her home. Then friends came calling, asking for her to fix up their furniture finds. Eventually, she started running out of work and storage space in her house. Opening her own shop seemed the best solution.

Andress says she, along with helpful family members, have done most of work prepping her shop themselves,—even putting up walls and grinding concrete. In addition to displaying merchandise, Andress plans to offer monthly DIY classes in the back of her shop for those who want to learn the restoration processes she uses, including using Chalk Paint™ decorative Paints by Annie Sloan. Keep the Piece’s grand opening is set for Sept. 15th. For store hours and class times, visit www.keepthepiece.net www.OmahaPublications.com

West Maple Habitat ReStore

CKF Countertops Showroom

10930 Emmet St., Omaha

3434 S. 144th St., Omaha

402-457-5657

402-763-9391

H

abitat Omaha ReStore, a retailer of home furnish-

ings and building equipment at prices 50 to 70 percent lower than retail cost, has opened a second Omaha store. Because of the great success at their first location on South 24th Street, which opened in 2000, a second store further west to serve the rest of the community seemed the best fit, said Amanda Brewer, Habitat’s executive director. The new West Maple Habitat ReStore, just west of 108th & Maple, held its grand opening Aug. 10. Both locations will receive donated merchandise from private individuals, local contractors, and metro area businesses, Brewer said, to resell to people who are in the process of fixing up or preserving their homes. Products include paint, windows, doors, flooring, and more. The Habitat Omaha ReStores give 100 percent of their proceeds to Habitat for Humanity Omaha.

For store hours and info on inventory, visit www.habitatomaha.org/ restore

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

C

onsolidated Kitchen and Fireplaces, one of

Omaha’s top suppliers of quality countertops, cabinets, and gas fireplaces, has opened a new countertop showroom on 144th Street in the Oakview Hollow Center. The showroom, which opened May 1, is managed by Michelle Patrick and provides visitors with a hands-on view of the quality countertop products CKF has available. Scott Petzoldt, marketing manager for CKF’s stone division, says most of their showroom guests are homeowners shopping for their kitchen remodel projects. “The Oakview location is close to [CKF’s main showroom], which is convenient for customers, and also because of the high amount of traffic that goes through that area,” Petzholdt added. For showroom hours, product lines, and more, visit www.ckfco.com

september/october • 2012 H35

Omaha Home: neighborhood profile Story by Molly Garriott â&#x20AC;˘ Photos by Jess Ewald - jessicaewald.com

The Sanctuary

The Wonders of Mother Nature

“Y

ou go to bed with the frogs and wake up with the birds…and

everything in between,” laughs one homeowner residing in the bucolic suburban neighborhood, The Sanctuary. Though under 10 minutes from four-lane city streets and highways, busy intersections, and hopping shopping and entertainment districts, The Sanctuary remains true to its name. It is a respite from busyness, the kind that only Mother Nature can provide. >>

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

september/october • 2012 H37

Omaha Home: neighborhood profile << Lanoha Development is the steward of the land on which The Sanctuary resides. Jason Lanoha, vice president of the development company, notes its dual nature: “This is definitely not rural development. The Sanctuary is located within the most desirable public school district and minutes away from all the shops and restaurants of West Omaha. Only in The Sanctuary can you live next to a 100-year-old oak tree and have uninterrupted views as far as the eye can see, yet have all the conveniences of the city services. You can literally go from relaxing on your deck with breathtaking and private views of abundant wildlife to shopping at Village Pointe in less than 10 minutes.”

“Subdivision” calls to mind neatly delineated streets of similarly styled and painted homes, sprouting where crops once grew. Not so with The Sanctuary.

Nature does not yield to the back hoe here. Instead, it is accommodated, revered even, with residents harmonizing with their surrounding rather than

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conquering it. “Ultimately, we are seeking to preserve as much of the land as possible in its native condition. In the end, we are trying to create the feel that some exclusive residences have been carefully placed throughout the native hills, and not that the land has been subdivided with fences and large areas of turf.”

Nature, not man, takes center stage. Homes fit so beautifully in their surroundings that they almost seem camouflaged, says one Sanctuary homeowner. Often made with natural products, like reclaimed barn wood, they blend into the surrounding hills, fields, and woods. Many homeowners keep to a “back to nature” landscaping theme.

Natural grasses and water gardens are popular. When your nearest “neighbor” walks on four legs, it’s only practical to shun sculpted gardens for more indigenous plantings. The deer will make a quick meal of your hostas and lilies.

With sang froid an urban homeowner might not have, The Sanctuary homeowner exclaims (happily so), “You never know who you are going to find in your yard!”

Despite her best intentions to keep a tidy garden, a “mysterious mulch-mover” won the man-versus-nature battle. Never mind.

The serenity of her surroundings soothes any ruffled feathers. In fact, most residents opt to work with the natural contours of the land, letting it dictate their landscaping. “You can’t tell what is planted and what was here,” says The Sanctuary resident.

“We were determined to develop it [The Sanctuary] in a fashion to best preserve its natural characteristics,” asserts Lanoha. To do so, Lanoha Development requires builders >> www.ReadOnlineNow.com

september/october • 2012 H39

Home: maintenance Provided by Dave Sipherd, Pond Doctors

(402) 630.3436

Prepping Ponds for Cold

I

t’s hard to believe freezing temperatures are just around the corner! It’s not too early to start prepping your backyard pond for cold weather.

At the start of September, a fall fish food should be started to get your pond fish ready for the cold water. When the daytime temp drops to 50 degrees, stop feeding fish altogether. In late September, a beneficial bacteria should be added weekly for a month to get the pond biologically ready for winter. Remember, a pond is essentially an aquarium outside and needs your care through the seasons.

It’s also time to cut back plants in the pond and around the perimeter. Lotus and lily should be cut back and sunk to the bottom until spring. A net should be put over the pond to keep dropping leaves out as well.

In most cases, a pond pump should be taken out and the lines drained before winter.

To keep the seals from drying out, store the pump in a bucket of water. If fish are present, a pond heater or air system should be installed to keep a hole in the ice open, which will allow for gas exchange. The rest of the pond should be left to ice over, as the ice acts as an insulator and keeps the water underneath warmer for the fish.

If an air system is used, it’s important not to put it at the bottom of the pond, where the water is warmest Bringing all the warm water to the top, cooling it off, is not good for the fish. Another important tip: when (if) we get a big snow, make sure the hole in the ice is open where the heater is. It’s also a good idea to shovel off a section of the ice to let sunlight penetrate it. This allows algae to grow, (Yes, we want algae to grow in winter).

The algae help to eat the waste and provide some oxygen to the fish.

Follow these tips and your pond and fish should stay healthy and be ready come spring.

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For pond installation or service, call in the experts at Pond Doctors, 402-630-8673.

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september/october • 2012

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Home: neighborhood profile 4610 S. 132nd Street 402-333-9033 SuperiorSpaPoolOmaha.com

<< to create building envelopes during the construction. Only a certain portion of the Preserve (lot) can be disturbed during the building process. The envelope is then lined in silt and with a construction fence to ensure the surrounding areas remain undisturbed, explains Lanoha. “The goal is that the natural beauty remains all around the house following construction,” he states.

Joining the homes to their surroundings is what sets The Sanctuary apart from other luxury subdivisions, says NP Dodge Realtor John Kraemer. Home styles vary from contemporary to French Country. But each is built with respect for the land. There is great care, Kraemer asserts, taken over a long construction process to design homes, access, outdoor living spaces, and views from inside the homes to blend with the terrain that makes the properties “like a retreat in the wilderness.”

The Sanctuary contains 94 Preserves, though there are fewer homes than Preserves as many homeowners purchase multiple Preserves for their homes. After all, those who gravitate to the neighborhood seek privacy. Preserve sizes average under an acre. The total size of The Sanctuary is 135 acres, 50 of which are native common spaces. Creeks and natural waterways run throughout, and the Elkhorn River flows alongside the development.

But “The Sanctuary has the same streets and utilities that someone would have on 72nd and Dodge. Ultimately, our residents come home to beauty and nature without having to travel down gravel roads and into the countryside,” assures Lanoha. Think Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony and not “Home on the Range.”

Yet, like everything else, there is a downside to living in The Sanctuary. Says a neighborhood resident: “Every time I have people over, I can’t get rid of them!”

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september/october • 2012 H41

Home: home happenings Story by Lyndsey Hrabik • Photos provided by Habitat for Humanity of Omaha

Omaha Home Building Events Abound Builders Blitz

M

ost houses take months

to complete. But when you mix eight professional building companies and Omaha’s Habitat for Humanity, the seemingly impossible happens—seven homes were built in just seven days!

By driving around the 3700 block of Erskine Street, you’ll see the product of the 5th annual Builders Blitz that took place June 2-9. Construction began on Saturday and by the next Thursday, houses had reached an impressive 90 percent completion. Truly a time for joy and celebration, a block party was thrown to rejoice the arrival of the homes.

By the next Sunday, keys were turned over to seven families who had brand new homes in a newly renovated neighborhood.

In the emotional Sunday ceremony, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle proclaimed the date to be “Habitat for Humanity of Omaha’s Builders Blitz Day.” Although it’s a mouthful of a name, it seemed fitting when Suttle explained the large impact that Habitat Omaha played in providing safe homes for families all across the Omaha community.

Women Build

W

hile you wouldn’t normally find women from all walks of life on a

construction site, one worldwide effort changes all of that. Women of all ages come together in Omaha for the 15th Annual Women Build Event, a summerlong home-building program designed entirely for Women; no previous construction experience necessary.

The Habitat for Humanity event kicked off May 11 and will continue to build a total of 15 homes by September 30. The program has helped create 1,900 homes for women and children facing housing crisis around the globe. Tracie McPherson, Omaha Habitat communications director, said this year’s theme helped support Habitat Omaha’s mission. “This year’s theme, ‘The Build Generation,’ reflects the event’s goal to recruit and train women volunteers, as well as welcome the next generation of Habitat Women Builders—young women, ages 18-24—to help support Habitat Omaha’s mission to create affordable housing.”

To get involved with the project, register at habitatomaha.volunteerconnect.com. Volunteers are needed Friday and Saturday through September 30. For more information, visit www.habitatomaha. org or call 402-457-5657 x125.

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upscale living trends at Omaha’s 2012 Street of Dreams. Come tour one-of-a-kind homes, each with its own unique features. The event spans September 15-30 at the Estates of Coventry.

Omaha’s expert custom build-design teams have installed the latest and greatest in design layout, building materials, landscaping, electronics, and much more! Cari Rasmussen of SB Productions said the event would include live musical performances, outdoor cooking demonstrations, theme-filled days and more. “Each year we are growing the Street of Dreams as a destination event—a place to come and spend a few hours enjoying the homes, taking in the atmosphere and activities, and grabbing a bite to eat,” Rasmussen said. “It is so much more than simply walking through floor plans!” You can even giveback by attending the event.

Check out the home built by Malibu Homes, completely furnished by the Omaha-based Hayneedle.com. Furnishings from the home will be auctioned off, with proceeds going to support the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Whether you’re looking for fresh new ideas to upgrade your home, planning to build a new place, or coming to gawk at new trends, the 2012 Street of Dreams has it all. Builders for this year’s events include: Absolute Customs, ADC Homes, Malibu Homes, Nathan Homes, R and A Builders, Renaissance Custom Homes, and Widhalm Custom Homes Inc. Recurring W-Sun. $10 adults, $5 children. $9 online. 204th and Q sts. Open W-F/noon7:30pm; Sat-Sun/11am-7:30pm. Houses open until 8pm. For more information, visit www. streetofdreams.org.

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Omaha Home: transformations Story by Becky Jackson, ASID, and Mary Carter, ASID, The Interior Design Firm â&#x20AC;˘ Photos by Thomas Grady Photography

Fresh Makeover

before

meet the designers Becky Jackson, ASID, LEED AP

Mary Carter, ASID

I

n this dramatic kitchen remodel, the

design update is a direct reflection of the clients—a young, attractive and trendsetting couple. Their personality and style inspired use of current technology, the layering of lighting elements, and incorporation of stainless luster and glossy white with sparkling accents.

The end result: a beautifully edgy, cost-effective facelift.

To accomplish the vision, designers brainstormed with the finish carpenter. Cabinet doors were elongated and finished in a glossy white European style. A small, protruding soffit with LED Puk lights highlights the bank of cabinetry and the faceted face of the metal hardware. Hardware centered on the cabinet door and installed horizontally creates a design element.

An electrical engineer joined the design team to recommend fixtures. Existing incandescent recessed lights were converted to LED lamps. LED Puk lights in the soffits wash the cabinets and light the work surface. An LED ribbon light, installed under the >>

Transformations is a regular feature of Omaha Home that spotlights a recent project by a local ASID interior designer. The copy and photos are provided by the designer.

Homeowners’ names may be withheld for privacy.

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After shot of Kitchen from the Dinette.

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Omaha Home: transformations 2.

Detail image showing faceted cabinet pulls

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and accent lighting in new soffit.

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Outlets and switches are hidden under the cabinets. Eliminating these elements from the backsplash allows the marble to travel uninterrupted around the kitchen.

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‘After’ shot through the kitchen toward the dinette showing the new chandelier, dinette set, and window treatment.

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The dinette table base was created by local artisan Steve Nollette.

The base was designed with structural enhancements to support the 54” round 3mm Cambria table top.

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<< cabinets, illuminates the marble backsplash. A fresh chandelier accents the table. Under-cabinet electrical outlets and switches do not detract from the backsplash.

The unused kitchen desk was transformed into a functional piece of furniture. The same lighting and electrical treatment highlight the area. The center wood cabinet panel was replaced by decorative mirrors to hide the contents of the interior while adding a glamorous look. The knee space was enclosed for toy storage and different tile was used on the back splash to make the piece look like furniture.

The floor was stained ebony throughout the first level, creating a seamless look. The dark floor was a foil against the gloss-white cabinets.

To accommodate six people around the dining table, a custom top made of 3mm Cambria was selected. The weight of the Cambria necessitated the collaboration with a local artisan, who engineered and fabricated the base for structural dependability to insure safety.

The clients and designers are elated with the completed kitchen.

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The leg space on the unused kitchen desk was eliminated to create a closed-in storage space. Antique mirrors customize the cabinets, giving them the look of a furniture piece.

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Omaha Home: hot products Photos by John Gawley These ornate wooden trays by Robert M. Weiss showcase an Old World technique of reverse painting on glass, or “eglomise.” $104-$135.

Found at Early to Bed, 8726 Pacific St., Omaha. www. earlytobed.com serving

Graphic area rug

Fabulous Fall Accents to warm up cool spaces

featuring Jill Rosenwald designs with a variety of colors available, $150-$850.

Urban cowboy folding stool, perfect in any space, $159.95.

Found at Tweed Couch Interiors, 2806 S. 110 Ct., Omaha, in Rockbrook Village. www.tweedcouch.com

C olor f u l, handembroidered pillows from the Geography Collection, Catstudio, make delightful keepsakes from your hometown or favorite vacationland, $149.95. Found at To A T, 15615 Pacific St., Omaha.

402-224-8828.

Indigo medallion linen table runner by Kim Seybert, $359. Intricately

woven fabric and appliqué add elegance to any display. Found at Early to Bed, 8726 Pacific St., Omaha. www.earlytobed.com H48

september/october • 2012

Large decorative pottery, including vases, bowls and baskets, come in a variety of hues and will add flavor and artistic distinction to your home or patio space. Prices vary depending on size. Found at To A T, 15615 Pacific St., Omaha.

402-224-8828.

Clean, sculptural lines embodied in Jonathan Adler Giselles , $152.95. Found at Tweed

Couch Interiors, 2806 S. 110 Ct., Omaha, in Rockbrook Village. www.tweedcouch.com

www.OmahaPublications.com

Dogs * Rock home décor by Demdaco adds fun to any setting. Graphic print pillows come in two sizes and pay tribute to man’s best friend. Available in breed favorites like French poodle, Chihuahua, and Labrador retriever. $37-$55. Found at House of J, 12965 West Center Rd., Omaha in Montclair on Center. www.houseofj.com

Celebrating over 25 years of Excellence Unique • Elegant • Handcrafted • Exquisite • Quality

3415 South 67th St. | 402-393-4110 | www.eurowood.net

Leather school chair —vintage style with modern comfort, $192.95. Found at Tweed Couch Interiors, 2806 S. 110 Ct., Omaha, in Rockbrook Village. www. tweedcouch.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.

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september/october • 2012 H49

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—— A Curt Hofer Company ——

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