OmahaHome November 2021

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021 A LWAY S L O C A L , A LWAY S B E AU T I F U L

EMBRACING A TOO-SMALL TUDOR

I ’ L L H AV E A B L U E( WAT E R ) C H R I S T M A S // A N E X T E R I O R T O R E M E M B E R // D I Y M A R B L E I Z E D M U G // L E T ’ S G E T N U T T Y !

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CON TEN TS 1

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Double Heart Farm

AN E X TERIOR TO REMEMBER

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DIY

MARBLEIZED MUG

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Spaces

I ’ L L H A V E A B L U E ( W AT E R ) C H R I S T M A S

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Feature

( ARTS & ) CR AF TED TO PERFEC TION

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A rchitecture

Har vest

LET’S GET NUT T Y!

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Bring a little fun into this upcoming holiday time and play “cookie hooky”—take the day off and spend it making cookies. Turn the music up, sip on eggnog or your favorite toddy, and let the warm, nostalgic smells from the oven fill the air. I loved the tradition of making Christmas cookies growing up and so enjoyed doing so with my own children. Sweet memories!

These times we live in can be challenging, but being with those you love reminds you it’s all worthwhile. Happy holidays to you and yours!

EMBR ACING A TOO -SM ALL TUDOR

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oliday traditions make these two months memorable. Quality time spent with friends and family is what most people crave this time of year, but a seasonal card with a note sending holiday cheer can also be meaningful. If you can’t be there in person, be sure to reach out by mail or phone. Connecting is what’s most important.

Feature

At Home

A W E L C O M I N G P L A C E F O R N O T- S O - E M P T Y N E S T E R S

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— E R I C S E VA R E I D, A M E R I C A N J O U R N A L I S T

’Tis the season of giving, and a memorable gift could be one you make yourself. Check out my DIY on marbleized coffee mugs, or our Harvest story on making homemade nut butters to get inspired. Other Christmas cheer can be found in the fantastic architecture of the Deys’ home, or perhaps in the sparkle and nautical hues in the Knights’ entertaining space.

A C A S T L E H O M E B E F I T T I N G A F A I R Y TA L E

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“Christmas is a necessity.

There has to be at least one day of the year to remind us that we’re here for something else besides ourselves.”

ASID Award Feature A ZEN VISION REALIZED

The Wessels’ remodeled kitchen in Country Club. Adding open shelves, light bamboo counters, and a passageway to the dining room helped create an airy feel in the formerly dark, closed-off space. Story on page 38. Photo by Bill Sitzmann.

Sandy Matson Contributing Editor

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VOLUME 11 · Issue 8

EDITORIAL Managing Editor

DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Senior Editor TARA SPENCER

Associate Editor LINDA PERSIGEHL

Contributing Writers

HANNAH AMROLLAHI · ALI CIRCO · LINDI JANULEWICZ PATRICK M C GEE · SEAN ROBINSON · KATY SPRATTE JOYCE CHRIS STOUT-HAZARD · MEGHAN TOWNLEY

CREATIVE Creative Director MATT WIECZOREK

Senior Graphic Designer DEREK JOY

Graphic Designer II MADY BESCH

Contributing Photographers

ALI CIRCO · SARAH LEMKE · CHRIS STOUT-HAZARD

SALES Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing GIL COHEN

Publisher’s Assistant & OmahaHome Contributing Editor

m Home Build sto er Cu

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STORY & PHOTOGR A PH Y

Chris Stout-Hazard

DESIGN

Mady Besch

An Exterior to Remember “Y

ou’re ditching that awful vinyl siding, right?” asked a stranger on the internet upon seeing a photo of our justpurchased farmhouse.

We enjoy sharing our projects with the world at large via social media, but the occasional cutting comment can stop you in your tracks.

The original wood siding of our old farmhouse had long been covered with white vinyl siding.

We thought, perhaps with the help of a good power washing, the siding might look okay.

Evidently, the internet disagreed.

In retrospect, that critical follower wasn’t wrong. But it wasn’t merely the vinyl siding that needed a major fix. The charm of the farm couldn’t distract from ugly aluminum storm windows, rotted wood shake roofs, and peeling garage doors. This exterior renovation called for more than a light freshening.

So we went big, bringing the aesthetic we loved on the interiors—a blend of American West, mountain lodge, and Connecticut prep that sounds crazy but nonetheless works—to the exterior. We renovated the home in a way that respects its history but adds character, which

required lots of brainstorming and planning.

Because we are by no means experts on exterior work, we collaborated with renovation wizards Sarah and Jorge Cano at Rooforia Home Exteriors to put together a plan.

A quick investigation revealed that the original wood siding was unsalvageable, and that wood rot existed at multiple points around the house. We opted to beef up the durability and insulation of the home using LP SmartSide lap siding in a bold blue on the east and west walls and naturally pest-resistant cedar shake on the north and south walls.

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This two-finish style may be uncommon locally, but it's frequently found on traditional properties in New England and on more modern structures in the Pacific Northwest.

Rooforia’s team painted the windows and railings to match the siding and continued the hand-cut cedar on the front and back porch roofs. We matched the galvanized metal roof on our barn with a rust-proof standing seam metal roof on the side porch, and added coordinating galvanized gutters and downspouts.

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Our garage had also been wrapped in white vinyl, but we wanted to distinguish it with the look of a carriage house. We applied durable wood siding over the vinyl and added trim to create a board-and-batten effect. The garage got a fresh coat of paint in army green, which, in addition to being one of our favorite colors, helps it blend better with the surrounding greenery. Replacing the doors wasn’t in our budget, so instead of new, stained-wood doors, the originals were repainted a deep brown.

Rooforia finished the garage with stunning slate-effect shingles from DaVinci.

The final touches often pull a project together, and they certainly did in this instance. We finished with all-new plantings around the house, created a “welcome garden” outside the front door, installed new light fixtures, repainted doors, painted the foundation and sidewalks, and fashioned a plaid “area rug” on our side porch cement floor. The end result is a one-of-a-kind farmhouse that honors its notable history while embracing elevated finishes and a stronger connection to the beautiful land around it.

The end result is a one-of-a-kind farmhouse that honors its notable history while embracing elevated finishes and a stronger connection to the beautiful land around it.

Until next time, Roger and Chris, at Double Heart Farm.

This article is part of a series chronicling the home renovation of Roger Hazard and Chris StoutHazard, furniture designers with Roger+Chris. Read more on doubleheartfarm.com or follow along on instagram.com/dblheartfarm.

NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2021

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DIY

Story

Sandy Matson

Photography Bill Sitzmann

Design

Mady Besch

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t’s getting close to holiday gift-giving season, and some of you may be stumped on what to buy for friends and family.

Why not make DIY gifts? (Anyone can shop online from home, but what fun is that?)

Many DIY projects can be locally sourced and won’t break the bank, and a homemade gift shows loved ones that you took the time to create something special just for them. Be sure to allow extra time if you’re making something that needs to dry or cure. But of course, good things come to those who wait!

I found this idea for a DIY marbleized coffee mug on Pinterest last year and thought it would make a great idea for our holiday issue. It’s so easy, you can even get the kids involved in making gifts for grandparents or teachers. I like the idea of gifting the mugs in pairs, or you can a give a single mug filled with one’s favorite goodies.

I also think this makes a great addition to a personalized holiday gift basket. Or maybe think outside the box (or basket) and go with another type of container. I chose an ornate bowl that can be used afterward for whatever they like. I also used a bowl big enough to hold all of the goodies I wanted to include: biscuits, gourmet chocolates, teas, coffee, and flavored syrup.

Think about the person you are gifting this to for personalization—their kitchen decor colors, their design style, their favorite beverages/snacks, etc.

SUPPLIES FOR MARBLEIZED MUG • White ceramic mug (I found mine thrift-shopping for just $1. You can also use a clear glass mug.)

• Nail polish in colors of your choice (you may already have some on hand) • Toothpicks • Warm water • Disposable bucket or container (something you don’t mind ruining) • Nail polish remover • Cotton balls • Mod Podge craft glue/sealer (dishwasher-safe) (It’s optional to seal, but recommended.)

• Small craft brush

INSTRUCTIONS • Fill bucket halfway with warm water.

• Hold the polish just above the surface of the water and pour several drops into the bucket. (You want the nail polish to float on top. Holding it up high and dropping it in will only make it sink to the bottom and may cause clumping.)

• Take a toothpick or two and swirl the polish around quickly until it is covering most of the water surface.

• Pick up your mug by its mouth, hold it at a slant, and quickly dip it in the water mixture. Be careful to avoid the rim and your fingers. (You can choose to dip straight down and out if you prefer. It just depends on the design you want.)

• Set the mug on a piece of wax paper and leave overnight. Once it’s completely dry, seal the polish with Mod Podge, applying with cotton balls or brushing on as directed and allowing time to cure. (Note: This process will take up to a month, so keep that in mind if you are going to give as gifts.)

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DIY

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HELPFUL TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME • Have all the supplies ready to go.

You must work fast, as the polish will dry quickly. (Do not use fastdrying nail polish.)

• Stay an inch below the lip-line (at least on one side of the mug).

• Pour different colors of polish into the water and mix together with a toothpick for a custom, fun look.

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• Be sure to instruct the recipient to hand-wash the mug for paint longevity.

• Don’t worry if you don’t like the outcome. Just use nail polish remover to take off the paint and try again. (I went through a few versions before I was happy with mine.) As artist Scott Adams once said, “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”

• Once your mug has been sealed and cured, you are ready to package your gift. Since we are talking about the holidays, put a pretty ornament in it for added sparkle and cheer.

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Have fun with this and remember— it’s the thought that counts!

DON’T WORRY IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE OUTCOME. JUST USE NAIL POLISH REMOVER TO TAKE OFF THE PAINT AND TRY AGAIN...

AS SCOTT ADAMS SAID, “CREATIVITY IS ALLOWING YOURSELF TO MAKE MISTAKES. ART IS KNOWING WHICH ONES TO KEEP.”

NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2021

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early 250 acres of deep lake with seven miles of sandy beaches­— that’s how Lanoha Development describes its beautiful Bluewater community near Valley, Nebraska.

Tammy and Jim Knight, both born-and-bred Nebraskans, have always adored spending time at the lake and enjoy reminiscing about family memories at their grandparents’ cottage on Iowa’s Lake Okoboji. These days, the couple have their own lakeside residence—their full-time home in Bluewater.

Three years in, the Knights have settled into a quieter lifestyle following a couple of busy decades spent raising two girls in Elkhorn. With both daughters away pursuing athletic and academic endeavors, the couple said their new community feels like home. Jim said he loves watching the seasons shift and the lake change throughout the year. He also enjoys being a spectator to the wildlife that calls Bluewater home, including an array of wild birds, foxes, and deer. “One year, we even saw six swans on Christmas Day,” he remembered fondly.

“ONE YEAR, WE EVEN SAW SIX SWANS ON CHRISTMAS DAY.” — JIM KNIGHT

The Knights’ waterfront locale helped inspire the coastal Christmas decor for their main living and entertaining space, a collaboration with Rose McCormick of Beyond the Vine. The longtime west Omaha shop offers a mix of interior design, florals, and gifts, and veteran decorator McCormick has offered her holiday home styling services since 1985.

“I decorate for over 100 clients a season, from small home installs to local country clubs, churches, and hotels,” McCormick said.

Tammy and the designer have been working together at holiday time for several years, using different decor themes, from traditional burgundy hues in their former suburban home to the blueand-white nautical hues in the Valley home. “Each year it keeps evolving and [extending] to different spots [of the home],” McCormick shared, adding, “Tammy was easy to work with, opened her home, and let me interpret the design for the new home on the lake.”

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STORY KATY SPRATTE JOYCE

PHOTOGRAPHY BILL SITZMANN

DESIGN MADY BESCH

BEACH-INSPIRED HOLIDAY DECOR SPARKLES IN THE KNIGHTS’ ENTERTAINING SPACE

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THE TONES OF THE HOLIDAY DECOR MATCH THE OVERALL AESTHETIC— CLEAN, MODERN LINES WITH POPS OF AQUA, CERULEAN, AND AZURE.

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S PAC E S

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About the Home Fund: The fund, established in 1983 to assist seniors, people with disabilities and limited-income customers suffering severe financial hardships, has served more than 35,000 households through donations.

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he theme of their holiday decor clearly pays homage to their location. Bright royal-blue arrangements delight on a foyer console table, the mantle of a modern fireplace, the dining room table, and the living room coffee table. Striking pieces of ocean coral add a natural element, while silver tinsel brings some glam and sparkle. Traditional greenery grounds the decorations with a classic note, and a pair of reindeer statues stand guard in the entry.

The tones of the holiday decor match the overall aesthetic—clean, modern lines with pops of aqua, cerulean, and azure. The Knights’ main Christmas tree is also dressed in blue and silver tones. This star of the show was difficult to find, since it needed to be especially narrow to nestle into the nook by the stairs.

The Knights share their beachy, festive home with guests throughout the Christmas season when hosting several events—an annual ornament exchange with friends; a business holiday party; a girlfriends’ Hallmark movie night in the upstairs theater room; and intimate family gatherings. In 2018, the Knights hosted the Villanova University volleyball team and their families while they were in town for the Big East Tournament. (Daughter Ashley Knight was a player on the VU team at the time. She’s now a volleyball coach.)

Whatever the event, the Knights’ sea-inspired house sparkles and proves there’s no place like home for the holidays.

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(Arts &) Crafted to Perfection

feat u re Story

Sean Robinson

Photography Bill Sitzmann

Design

Mady Besch

Restoration of this Aksarben Gem is Becky Anderson’s 30-year Labor of Love

S

urrounded almost completely by windowed walls and roofing, Becky Anderson sits munching ruby-red raspberries and petite cheese slices in her kitchen nook. The angled shape of the room combined with all its glass windows give it the appearance of one giant jewel. Outside meets inside here as Anderson’s bountiful yard is visible all around. For her and husband Bill Minier, life inside this gem—and the remainder of their Aksarben-area home— is as sweet as the fruit she’s eating.

“This is my favorite place in the house. My glass room,” Anderson said. “It’s close to the garden in the summer, and there’s no better place to have warm coffee while it snows in the winter.”

Built in 1925, the English Tudor Revival has received its fair share of updates since Anderson and Minier bought the property in 1986.

Over the past 30 years, Anderson has worked with Marilyn Hansen, a local acclaimed interior designer, to renovate the space while still retaining much of its original character.

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Room by room, piece by piece, the duo has brought charm back to the interior of the once-dated home by respecting its roots and incorporating Arts and Crafts styling.

While most homes today strive for modernism or minimalism, Arts and Crafts is all about individuality. This décor movement evolved in Europe as a protest to Victorian style, focusing on function and superior craftsmanship instead of ornamentation and over-the-top accessorizing. Richly textured wallpaper, earth tones, and stained-glass windows are all cornerstones of Arts and Crafts.

That’s why it’s no coincidence all those elements are found within the Anderson-Minier home.

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“There is detail through and through in this home. You don’t just get a table, then stick it in,” Hansen said. “Many clients just want to know how much it’s going to cost and how quick. This home—Becky—isn’t that. We think so much alike, and it works really well.”

So well, in fact, this home has netted numerous accolades and mentions throughout the years. Better Homes & Gardens once featured the property, and Hansen’s work on the home's main floor earned silver recognition last year at the American Society of Interior Design Awards for the Nebraska and Iowa chapter. That's high praise from her fellow designers.

Walk through the home and it’s no wonder there’s a buzz surrounding this place. The window-encapsulated portion of the kitchen was added to the original structure in 1994, winning its own ASID award at the time. But that’s just the beginning of what makes this house unlike any other.

The living room looks like something taken right from a storybook, with the furnishings centered around an Inglenook fireplace that has a shortwave radio built above it. Beautifully crafted lamps in glass and mica imbue the room with a rich glow, while wood beams above run counter to the adjoining library with builtin bookcases.

“This is my favorite place in the house. My glass room.”

—Becky Anderson

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F E AT U R E

Big projects, such as restoring plaster detailing in the dining room ceiling or completely updating the kitchen, have kept Anderson and Hansen busy over the past three decades. However, the finer details have been just as important.

A walnut table fit for a family of 12 to dine, wall treatments, runners— it’s all been meticulously picked by Hansen and approved by Anderson.

“Fidelity to the Arts and Crafts era inspired the design. We looked at lots of books, then also resourced our own sense of proportion and aesthetics,” Anderson said. “A lot of what’s here are family items, too.

We had to find a way to blend them that’s not jarring.”

The Anderson-Minier residence is as fun to ogle on the outside as it is inside. All red brick with a steeply pitched roof that arches above the driveway, this 3,400-square-foot home is truly Tudor on the exterior.

ontrol Serv ice st C Pe

“People need to stop flipping these darn houses and look at what you already have. Be sensitive to the flavor of the home. Look at it from the outside, and that architecture should be reflected once you get inside,” Hansen said.

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Today, this is a historic home that retains its historic aesthetic. As much as it harkens to the past, it has an equally bright present and future.

The resident couple enjoy hosting family Christmases, complete with elaborate glass-blown ornaments adorning a big fir tree inside, and an annual midsummer celebration with 75 of their closest loved ones. “I want this to be a welcoming place,” Anderson said. “There are grander homes and far more ornate ones, but this one combines the elements of great design and high livability. There’s a story to tell here.

Now it shows.”

“Be sensitive to the flavor of the home.

Look at it from the outside, and that architecture should be reflected once you get inside.”

—Marilyn Hansen

architecture

A Castle Home Befitting a Fairytale The Deys’ Historic Dundee Residence Proves the Ideal Home for Their Three Princesses

Story

Linda Persigehl

Photography Bill Sitzmann

Design

Mady Besch

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hen Omahans Ben and Anne Dey went shopping for a larger home, they were drawn to historic Dundee. First developed in the late 1800s just south of Dodge Street adjacent to Elmwood Park, the neighborhood is considered by many to be Omaha’s first suburb. It was annexed in 1915.

“We loved the uniqueness of the homes here and the community aspects of Dundee,” Anne said. The neighborhood is known for its mix of Colonial, Georgian, and Tudor Revival homes, as well as strong homeowner ties and annual events.

“And we’d heard good things about the school.

The kids go to Dundee Elementary now, and that’s been a real positive with the move,” Ben added. He and Anne are raising three daughters, ages 5 to 10, in the home.

The Deys were immediately taken with the fairytale looks of a four-bedroom, four-bathroom, two-story house near 56th and Farnam streets, measuring 3,000 square feet. The home was built in 1929, and in most ways, its wellcared-for exterior remains unchanged from its original design, apart from the addition of a four-seasons room off the patio.

Described as a Tudor on real estate listings because of its steeply pitched rooflines and multiple gables, the home features a light-colored allbrick exterior, a slate shingle roof, a tall brick chimney, and its original wood, paned windows.

Juliet balconies made of ornate black ironwork adorn the home’s four second-floor windows.

They draw observers’ eyes upward and add drama to the exterior while giving the illusion of more space from the interior. A bit of cream stucco decorates the dormers, while a curved brick tower at the home’s spine topped by a conical roof gives the house its castle aesthetic.

Juliet balconies made of ornate black ironwork adorn the home’s four secondfloor windows. They draw observers’ eyes upward and add drama to the exterior while giving the illusion of more space from the interior.

The Deys bought the residence in March 2015 for its abundant curb appeal, large size, and old-world charm, and said they had little knowledge about the home’s history at the time.

“I’ve done some research since we moved in,” Ben said. “I’ve looked at historic landmarks information and learned the architect was Hene.”

Ben is referring to noted Omaha architect Berthold “Bert” B. Hene (1890-1949), the son of Jewish immigrants from Germany who attended Central High School, studied both architecture and engineering, and worked as a superintendent for various Nebraska construction companies before moving east.

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ltor Agent Rea

A RCHITEC T UR E

He’s credited with designing dozens of residences in well-to-do Omaha neighborhoods, including Happy Hollow, Fairacres, Country Club, and Dundee.

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Another note of interest…Hene is the maternal grandfather of news personality Katie Couric. Couric has spoken of Hene in interviews, sharing her pride for her architect-grandfather who worked in Omaha and raised her mother, Elinor, here.

She also visited some of Hene’s work while making a stop in Omaha.

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Ben said his home is listed on the website as an example of French eclectic architecture, one of only two of that style found in Dundee. Meanwhile, Mark Hinchman, a professor of interior design at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Architecture, characterized the home another way.

“It’s not Tudor, because even though it has many of the shapes you might find on Tudor houses, it has none of the characteristic wattle-and-daub (woven lattice of wooden strips on the exterior). It’s definitely asymmetrical and organic,” Hinchman said. “I’d call it English Arts and Crafts. It seems to be the kind of house that is built for the wealthy, but draws from vernacular traditions, such as agricultural buildings of the 19th century and before.”

Whatever the style, the Deys have found their castle-like home to be the ideal place for entertaining and raising their three young girls.

17 YEARS IN A ROW

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Ben’s research on the Dundee-Memorial Park Association website revealed the home was first owned by Frank C. Bell, a wholesale grain dealer in Omaha. A member of the Omaha Chamber of Commerce, the Omaha Athletic Club, and First Presbyterian Church, Bell was likely a member of Omaha’s elite class that was the impetus for the development of Dundee “out west.”

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“It hits all the marks for us,” Anne said. “It’s hard to imagine us finding anything that would work better.”

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AT HOME

N O T- S O - E M P T Y NESTERS THE JOHNSONS’ WE STSIDE

R ANCH GETS A FAMILY-FRIENDLY REMODEL

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STORY

omeowners Chris Johnson and Colleen McQuillan Johnson remodeled their midcentury brick ranch on a treed lot in the Westside district to become their blended family home. Pictures of Colleen’s two daughters and Chris’ two daughters and son hang on the family room wall next to a large sectional couch that invites cozy family movie nights.

MEG H A N TOW NL E Y

PHOTOGRAPHY S A R AH L EMK E

DESIGN M A DY B E S CH

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“I H AV E A LWAYS WA N T E D OU R HOM E TO BE A PL AC E W H E R E YOU C OU L D BE YOU R SE L F A N D BE C OM FORTA BL E . A N D I T IS OK I F YOU SPI L L ON T H E C A R PET.”

— Colleen McQuillan Johnson

“We did updates to make it more of our home as a couple, which was fun,” said Colleen, a communications consultant who works from home, as does Chris for Precision Lens Inc. Both homeowners were widowed before dating and eventually marrying in 2016. Two years later, they decided to remodel Chris’ contemporary home.

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The Johnsons are empty nesters…most days.

With a rotation of adult children—ranging in age from 22 to 33— visiting frequently and staying over now and then, it was important for the couple to have space to make all the kids feel at ease and welcome any time.

“We want people to feel at home and not like they are in a museum. We have a lot of kids between the two of us,” Colleen said. “I have

always wanted our home to be a place where you could be yourself and be comfortable.

And it is OK if you spill on the carpet.”

The Johnsons also agreed they were looking for a home with a clean design and great functionality. Colleen moved from a big house in west Omaha and saw her style shifting toward modern, while Chris enjoys the ‘less is more approach’ to decor. When

combining households, they searched for ways to make the home their own while incorporating each other’s furniture and styles. Elizabeth Monical with Monical Design consulted on the interior renovation to find that balance.

Gary Haldeman, owner of HC Remodel and Design and the contractor on the project, helped make the couple’s design wishes a reality.

“The functional side of it goes back to the client,” Haldeman said. “You have to ask a lot of questions up front and learn about their lifestyle. You need to look at how they live and what their needs are. It is a different definition for everyone.”

His team created a primary suite that flows effortlessly from bedroom to ensuite bath to walk-in closets and laundry room. They also added a sheet of glass in the guest bath to separate the shower from the toilet and act as an interesting architectural element in the open-concept space.

“Glass is wonderful because when you use it in a shower setting, it is only half an inch thick but waterproof and you can see right through it,” Haldeman said. “You can take a shower that is 36 inches wide and all of the sudden it is now 38 inches wide, and those extra inches make it feel so much bigger, as well as increase the visual [effect]. We try to use glass whenever we can. It is more expensive but worth it.”

The Johnsons agree that their new living room is their favorite part of the house. “To me, this room is soothing. It is a great place to read a book on a Saturday,” said Colleen, a professed bookworm.

The living room now looks out into their backyard through six floor-toceiling windows. It’s a clean, bright space with white stucco and a split, natural-edge limestone mantle over a gas-burning fireplace. A re-covered armchair from Colleen’s old house sits in the living room, as well as a repurposed ottoman that had its ’90s maple legs switched out for black metal to fit the sleeker midcentury modern interior design. An arresting abstract painting, purchased at Anderson O’Brien Fine Art, hangs over the fireplace. The piece was chosen by Chris’ late wife, Kristin.

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“It adds a whimsy. I like the pops of color and it adds so much drama. She [Kristin] had great taste,” Colleen said, smiling at Chris.

Haldeman’s favorite room makeover was the Johnson’s kitchen. “It was pretty outdated, and those galley kitchens are challenging to make functional and beautiful. I really enjoyed doing the barrel vault in there to make it feel roomier,” Haldeman said. “The kitchen was the most transformative project.”

Its new life has given the Johnsons even more incentive to cook together, something they’ve always enjoyed.

In 2020, the couple discovered an essential function for their covered outdoor seating area: entertaining space. “We spend a lot of time out here. During COVID, we set up heaters and invited friends over for cocktails,” Colleen said.

The Johnsons converted a large basement storage room into a gym and extra bedroom for when kids come home for a stay, and transformed an old laundry room into a bathroom, providing a private ensuite. The gym features easy-to-clean rubber flooring, curved walls, weights, and workout equipment. “It’s good to keep things neutral,” Colleen said, explaining the color palette in the gym.

The Johnsons couldn’t be happier with how their remodel turned out and are glad they had the patience and vision to create their inviting family home in place, rather than move.

“What would we build that would be better than this?” Chris said.

The Johnsons’ Westside home was one of several residences featured on the Omaha NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) Spring 2021 Home Tour in April. To take a virtual tour or see more remodeled homes, visit proremodelingomaha.org.

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EMBRACING A TOO-SMALL TUDOR H AV I NG OU T G ROW N T H E I R QUA I N T HOUS E , T H E W E S S E L S OP T T O PA R E D OW N & R E I N V E N T RO OM S I N T H E I R C OU N T RY C LU B A B ODE T O S TAY F OR Y E A R S T O C OM E

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ofia Jawed-Wessel had a plan for the kitchen in her 93-year-old brick home in Omaha’s Country Club neighborhood. Achieving her vision was going to take a laundry list of difficult tasks: remove counter space, rip out cabinets, move major appliances, and bust out a wall of her traditional Tudor.

“The kitchen was a complete gut job,” said Bryan Frost, a designer and owner of Black Awning Interiors who consulted on the renovation.

But Sofia needed to get husband Dustin Wessel, as well as Frost and a general contractor, on board.

“We went through all these contractors, and they would say no. They just wouldn’t do it,” Sofia said, explaining most of them feared the complications that come with renovating a small, century-old home. Others simply didn’t like the plan, predicting their clients wouldn’t be satisfied with the end results.

Then the Wessels found Lance Gordon of Gordon’s Home Improvements.

“I try never to say no,” Gordon said. “As long as I can see it, I can make it happen.”

He was able to work around the tight corners, relocate the appliances, and custom-build a new pantry when faced with materials on backorder.

And despite others’ predictions, Sofia never missed the cabinet space she lost in the new design.

“I wanted to downsize everything we had,” Sofia said.

“We had so much stuff because we had the cabinets to put it in.” Paring down kitchen tools was not a problem.

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feature

Story

Hannah Amrollahi

Photography Bill Sitzmann

Color schemes and materials flow throughout the main floor for a cohesive design. The leftover bamboo from the kitchen counter was used by Dustin to build a record shelf in the living room.

Design

Mady Besch

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Today her kitchen is airy, with deep green cabinets and copper finishes on the appliances and handles.

Floating wood shelves match the flooring. Knives and pans are stored on display, but set back from the range and sink. The light-stain bamboo counters, installed by friend Jared Svagera with help from Dustin, bring together the cascading kitchen layout.

“I only took on what I was capable of doing,” said Dustin, a project manager with AMI Environmental.

The new range faces away from high-traffic doorways and toward a bar area overlooking the dining room, which features a new bench between existing built-in display cases.

“It’s easier to have a cozy community and socialize now,” Dustin said of the new kitchen-dining area. “It makes the house feel more open and inviting.”

The modern dining room table was an anchor piece that led to a larger redesign.

“It started trickling into the rest of the house,” Sofia said.

“He asked me to trust him, and I did,” Sofia said.

The family eventually grew to five, and the space got a bit tight, but the Wessels were reluctant to leave their beloved Country Club street.

“A strong motivation for pouring money into this house was the block,” Sofia said. “There are so many kids and they play so well together. The neighbors are phenomenal.”

Since vintage brick homes make additions difficult, the couple raised the roof and added an attic bedroom with the help of contractor Tim Miller of Professional Home Builders. They kept the staircase footprint small.

An unsightly column of hardware was transformed into a lego tower. Design details, like light-stained wood, warm the space and tie the look to the rest of the home.

Yet, the room is modern and distinct from the main floor’s eclectic style with classical underpinnings— completely which is as it should be.

“The attic is a different space. You want to show this was added in a completely different era. It is part of the progression of a home.”

“[The attic] is a completely different space. You want to show this was added in a completely different era,” Frost said. “It is part of the progression of a home.”

The homeowners were able to invest in quality pieces —B RYA N F RO S T and sold old furniture on Facebook Marketplace. Sofia Miller said the current bought appliances at holimarket provides great day-season rates with coupons and used the savings to incentives for renovation and helps built good invest in add-ons. equity. “There’s a lot of reasons to stay in an existing home and prepare it for the next phase of your Color schemes and materials flow throughout the family,” he said. main floor for a cohesive design. The leftover bamboo from the kitchen counter was used by Dustin to build While Sofia and Dustin do not regret any projects, they a record shelf in the living room. recommend homeowners consider their entire wish list of home renovations and plan appropriately.

“Helping with the other stuff gave me confidence to work on other projects,” he said.

“I like how we did things in chunks, but try to think of all the major renovations you are going to do,” Sofia The segmented floor layout can contain bold cabisaid. “You, as a home owner, need a designer. They are nets and a wallpaper accent wall without overwhelmin many ways your advocate, to make sure the space is ing the space. usable for your family.”

“Wallpaper is coming back with a vengeance,” Frost said. “It’s our grandparent’s generation that put in the paper. We love it because we didn’t live through it.”

With their kitchen, attic bedroom, and “backyard oasis” with deck now completed, Sofia and Dustin are dreaming up their next projects.

When the couple bought the home in 2012, they had one child. The housing market was too good to rent after relocating from Bloomington, Indiana, so Dustin found the house during Sofia’s hectic early days at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, where she worked as a researcher. Today, she’s an associate professor at UNO.

“[Increasing] living space that you are going to use—not just going to get monetary value out of but actually use—adds so much to a home,” Gordon said.

“You bring the fullness out of the home.”

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Let’s Get

Nutty!

Homemade Nut Butters are Easy Treats to Enjoy & Share This Holiday

h arves t Story Patrick McGee Design Mady Besch

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o-it-yourselfers looking to make edible holiday gifts this season should consider recipes for nut butter. It’s delicious, savory and sometimes sweet, and serves as a great alternative to traditional holiday treats, such as fudge or frosted sugar cookies, that are often gifted.

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University of Nebraska-Lincoln professor Linda Young, who’s also a registered dietician and medical nutrition therapist, said nuts are nutritious (in varying degrees) and, therefore, nut butters can be, too.

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“They’re an excellent source of healthy fats,” she said, adding they have a lot of nutrient density and calories. Nevertheless, “you need

to check the label to know what else is in [store-bought nut butters]. Nut butters with added sugars, fats, and salt naturally aren’t as healthy as the plain nuts they’re made from.”

A look at the nutrition facts on any commercial peanut butter jar will confirm this.

Those who make homemade batches of nut butter can control precisely what’s in them, dial back the empty calories and additives, and increase their health benefits. One can purchase nuts in bulk at grocery stores or, if preferred, obtain organic nuts from health food stores. Because most nuts are not grown locally, they must be dried and shipped, so ordering direct online is another option.

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While everyone else’s friends and relatives are exchanging gift cards or empty-calorie cookies this holiday season, why not gift a unique, healthy treat you’ve handcrafted yourself ? Generous nut-butter makers will find themselves much appreciated by those on the receiving end of that creamy goodness.

Those who make homemade batches of nut butter can control precisely what’s in them, dial back the empty calories, and increase their health benefits.

utt

The USDA says peanut butters have a shelf life of two to three months, though added ingredients may cause them to expire a bit sooner. As such, most nut butters can be packed into gift baskets for relatives and friends to enjoy for most, if not all, winter.

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A mbitiousk itchen.com shares 10 savory and sweet nut butter recipes with enough variety to appeal to more adventurous palates.

Recipes include salted vanilla honey peanut butter, salted dark chocolate pecan butter, vanilla cinnamon raisin almond butter, salted dark chocolate almond butter, vanilla bean almond and honey almond butter, chai-spiced almond hazelnut butter, vanilla bean coconut butter, cocoa nib almond cashew butter, sea salt and vanilla cashew butter, and salted maple pecan butter.

P istach

Internet sites provide several recipes for almond, cashew, and pecan butters. The site lifemadesweeter. com provides basic recipes with simple, universal directions: oven-roast the nuts, chop and cream them in a blender or food processor, and add salt to taste.

Roasting and processing the nuts releases the oils, softens them, and allows them to be blended to the preferred texture. Total prep time is about 30 minutes. Cooks can add any number of tasty ingredients to jazz them up, including maple syrup, chia seeds, flax seeds, turmeric, cayenne pepper, coconut, coconut oil, freeze-dried strawberries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, or pumpkin pie spice.

Other options include honey, sea salt, cocoa beans, vanilla beans, and raisins.

ASID

AWA R D

FEATURE

A Zen Vision Realized A Dark Basement Bath is Transformed Into a Light-Filled, Tranquil Spa

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he architect working on this renovation project in the heart of Omaha’s Westside area introduced me to the homeowners, and we clicked immediately. Working with their existing basement bathroom, the clients wished to create a true spa feel for this new space.

We decided incorporating an infrared sauna and Japanese soaking tub would best set the tone for the zen atmosphere they desired.

Story Ali Circo & Lindi Janulewicz

Photography Courtesy of Ali Circo

Design Mady Besch

Because this bathroom is in the home’s dark basement, we needed to cut into concrete walls—requiring a new steel header be put in place—to bring in more natural light. We captured light from the adjacent room featuring a glass garage door, and selected materials and finishes that evoke and reflect light.

Sleek, large-format tiles throughout the shower and surround going up to the ceiling were used to accomplish our minimalist design directive. We combined cool gray-washed stains, cream and white stones, and warmer-toned tiles in the design to offer a subdued color palette. Finally, we used mixed materials, including wood, quartz, cement, and champagne metallic fixtures to complement the color scheme.

Meet the Interior Designer

ALI CIRCO

Allied Member ASID Interiors Joan & Associates

A CUSTOM WALLHUNG VANITY MADE OF LIVE-EDGE BLACK WALNUT IS RECESSED INTO A NICHE AND LIT FROM BELOW TO ACHIEVE A SPA AMBIENCE.

Circo has a bachelor’s in interior design with a minor in studio art from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

She started her own retail and design studio, Alleyway, when she was 24, later moving to Florida and focusing her design efforts on private yachts.

She’s also flipped homes and was a project manager for Lowe’s Kitchens and Baths before joining Interiors Joan & Associates. Her best design tip: Always mix up an interior. If it all matches too well, your eye stops at nothing.

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custom wa l l-hung vanity made of liveedge black walnut is recessed into a niche and lit from below to achieve a spa ambience. Architectural paneling, wall-mounted plumbing fixtures, and a cobblestone backsplash all enhance the refined rustic feel of this bath suite.

Another challenge was working with the Japanese soaking tub, which fills from the bottom rather than by faucet above and is not designed to be installed on concrete slab floors. This made plumbing installation extremely difficult.

Working with quality trades and craftsmen and utilizing our construction experience and specific materials, we were able to deliver the gorgeously appointed spa-like retreat my clients had envisioned.

Ali Circo with Interiors Joan & Associates was recognized with a Gold award for this project at the 2020 Nebraska/ Iowa Chapter ASID Awards in September 2020.

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