OmahaHome November/December 2020

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VOLUME 10 · Issue 8

EDITORIAL Managing Editor DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Senior Editor TARA SPENCER Associate Editor LINDA PERSIGEHL Contributing Writers HANNAH AMROLLAHI · LINDI JANULEWICZ · LISA LUKECART PATRICK M C GEE · CARRIELLE SEDERSTEN KATY SPRATTE JOYCE · HOUSTON WILTSEY

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“We make a living by what we get.

We make a life by what we give.”

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A G R E E N T H U M B B L O O M S AT T H E G R E E N H O U S E

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Feature A BENNIN GTO N L A K E RE SIDEN CE, REBO RN

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At Home CHRISTMAS AROUND E VERY CORNER IN REGENCY

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Feature O H , C H R I S T M A S T R E E S!

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Har vest A R E N AT U R A L F O O D S B E T T E R F O R O U R P E T S ?

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Transformations FOR THE LOV E OF COMFORT

—WINSTON CHURCHILL

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any of my most vivid childhood memories were made on Christmas Eve. Most notably, taking a walk in the brisk country air after our traditional church service with my brown bag of fruits and peanuts in tow, followed by a drive up the gravel road to our farmhouse on the hill, colorful lights twinkling in the window ahead.

Holiday music—and even more so, holiday smells— can be so nostalgic. A simple whiff of evergreen or chorus of a certain Christmas carol can emotionally transport us back to a particular time spent with loved ones long ago. I cherish those feelings of nostalgia and hope to instill them in my own children, with festive music, good company, and great smells wafting from the kitchen at holiday time.

In this issue we go merry and bright, sharing Tony Tyrrell and Dan Gartin’s home decorated with holiday cheer, and Julia Burris’ multi-tree decorating tradition. We also include three beautiful lake homes, including our architecture feature and Jen and Tom Uhlir’s Bennington Lake remodel.

On a personal note, my mom passed after a battle with dementia in late September. She was so good at tending to the little things—how the house looked and smelled, and ensuring our Christmas tree was decorated just so. Later in life, she grew to love the collectible figurines called Snowbabies. She let me pick out a few several years ago, and this year, I will remember her and what made her happy and find comfort in our beautiful memories by incorporating these into my home.

Wishing you joy and peace for the holidays.

The grand entry to the Wineberry estate, located on a private lake in western Douglas County, Nebraska. The residence, named for its unusual cranberry-colored window cladding, was designed by Cramer Kreski Designs. Story on page 14.

Photo by Bill Sitzmann.

Sandy Matson Contributing Editor

MAKER

A Green Thumb Blooms at The Green House STORY - LISA LUKECART PHOTOGRAPHY - BILL SITZMANN DESIGN - MADY BESC H

“It is important to foster a connection to nature. Plants are a good way to do that.”

— Christina Mainelli

C H R I S T IN A M A IN E L L I GE T S HER HANDS D IR T Y

Parents often struggle to strike a delicate balance.

Walking the tightrope between being overly attentive and too hands off can be tricky, many times hinging on how well a parent knows their children. Don’t worry, Christina Mainelli can help. Well, not with humans, but with plants.

In her business, The Green House, Mainelli has dealt with helicopter parents, or those who can’t resist the urge to smother and end up drowning plants by overwatering them. She’s also worked with busy working parents who forget entirely about their plants until they wilt and die, like dehydrated men in the middle of a desert.

She helps both types find middle ground.

Mainelli first discovered her love of greenery when she moved from a house to a studio apartment and purchased plants such as a sleek dracaena, a verdant philodendron, and a waxy Zanzibar Gem. Mainelli missed her yard, and plants gave her a sense of bringing the outside in.

“It is important to foster a connection to nature.

Plants are a good way to do that,” Mainelli explained.

She found a jade plant at the farmer’s market, plucked a cactus from a broken rock, and picked up a guardian at a store.

Mainelli tried to sneak a few more past her fiancé, Jake Dunwoody. But after amassing about 100 plants, she recalled him telling her, “Yo, you need to calm down and sell some of these.” Although Dunwoody teased her, he, too, developed an affinity for the plants, she said, even playing music for them on his guitar.

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“TE ACH ME YOUR CACTI W AY S ! ”

MAKER

“It clicked in my mind that this is the thing I want to market and sell. Plants connect to nature and a cozy lifestyle.”

— Christina Mainelli The more Mainelli brought home, the more her friends became impressed by the décor.

People on Instagram began responding to her plant posts. In one photo, Mainelli pulls dead leaves off a plant. A messy bun, blue jeans, and a soft sweater add serenity to the scene as sunlight streams over jades, aloes, and other succulents.

“Teach me your cacti ways! The one I’ve had for five years is deflating,” one follower commented.

“Can you teach me your ways, so I don’t kill every plant I have?” another asked.

Mainelli realized plant parents needed her green thumb. It inspired a concept to create a business centered on foliage installations, workshops, and maintenance. In August 2016, she partnered with another plant lover, Katherine Gillespie, and the two came up with the name The Green House. The business grew organically (pun intended) out of her Omaha home.

“It clicked in my mind that this is the thing I want to market and sell. Plants connect to nature and a cozy lifestyle,” Mainelli said.

Gillespie eventually left to pursue other interests, allowing Mainelli to focus on her sole vision for the venture. She made leather and wood hangers for businesses like Forno.

Sometimes inspiration led to innovative ideas. Mainelli took a kokedama out of a pot, shook off the extra dirt, and wrapped it in sphagnum moss. In a similar process, she took staghorn ferns and mounted them to a piece of wood with a fishing line.

They grew and connected themselves to the wood. Some clients purchased her creations, while others hired her just to water.

The house plant expert learned macramé to give buyers another option. Mainelli already made leather journals, so crafting

wasn’t a new skill. Macramé seemed simple since it’s all about tying cords into knots to form decorative shapes, or in this case a plant hanger. The art form was popular with hippies and beatniks in the 1970s. Mainelli taught herself a variety of knots, assembling them into patterns.

The first time she twisted an ugly brown polyester cord from a craft store. One side hung too short, lopsided, since she didn’t count the knots properly.

“It was a mess,” Mainelli confessed. She eventually got the knack of it.

able wedding, choosing pothos, evergreens, and palms over traditional lilles and roses.

“Christina was creative and flexible. She made me feel like I had known her for a long time,” Van Holmes said.

Mainelli planned to open her home and garden specialty shop downtown when the pandemic hit. More tragedy struck when Dunwoody, 31, died in a motorcycle accident in May. Devasted, her plans were put on hold.

Mainelli is a believer in sustainability, so she began to utilize recycled cotton cords from the yarn retailer Ganxxet. After six months, she felt comfortable and confident enough to begin making her own patterns and teaching others the craft.

“Jake was such a big part of it all. It made it hard to go back,” Mainelli said. “But that’s what he would want...to see this thing through.” The shop held its grand opening in Omaha’s Little Bohemia neighborhood in September.

Two years later, Mainelli was teaching workshops out of her apartment, five people at a time.

Christmas wreath classes were another big hit.

Mainelli makes sure the plants still listen to Willie Nelson and Black Sabbath. In her shop, she’s placed a chair and a caladium with red showy leaves facing the south window in honor of Dunwoody. Her chihuahua, Scully, lays in the sunshine next to it.

“She has a warm spirit and tries to make everyone feel included,” said Dani Revis, who took both lessons.

Brides began asking her to decorate their weddings. Carlin Van Holmes wanted a sustain-

For more information on The Green House, visit the shop at 1234 S. 13th St., Suite 201, or go to thegreenhouseomaha.com.

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A G AT H ER I NG PL AC E AT H A RV E S T & BE YON D THE NARKES’ FOUR-SEASON PORCH STORY - K AT Y SPR AT TE JOYC E PHOTOGRAPHY - BILL SITZMANN DESIGN - MADY BESCH

S P A C E S

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B A R E LY since the Narke family moved from suburban Sarpy County to their new lakeside abode near Ashland, Nebraska. With all three children at college or beyond, mom Jennilyn Narke was ready to “get out of the white picket fence neighborhood and into the country.” And, with significant tax savings in their new location to boot, there were many factors pulling them toward Sandy Pointe Lake.

One lure was the opportunity to build a custom home that fit their needs to a tee. Formerly a residential builder, husband Mark Narke was up to the challenge of serving as general contractor on the project.

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When choosing decor, the couple was able to perfectly combine Mark ’s industrial farmhouse preferences with wife Jennilyn’s French farmhouse tastes. Perhaps no room better encapsulates that pairing than the home’s back porch, which serves as a bonus gathering place for the close-knit clan. Mark used unique materials throughout the space, including reclaimed shiplap from a 1906 downtown Papillion farmhouse for the wood paneling on the walls. Dark wood fencing, sourced from a physician’s old home near Creighton University, was installed on the ceiling for a cozy, rustic feel. Hand-painted tile from Spain in a classic black and white pattern was applied to the floors and adds a timeless

touch to the room. Additionally, the porch features beautiful custom woodwork, as the frames and baseboards were all hand-milled from poplar wood

by Giles Enterprises of Springfield, Nebraska.

The Narkes love antiques and repurposing old items, but also enjoy the more contemporary, beachy vibe that comes with their sweeping lake views. Their home features furniture and decorative pieces from an eclectic array of stores. From the Fixer Upperfamed Magnolia Collection, to Costco and Target, to Pier 1 and Pottery Barn, to Wayfair and Amazon, myriad retail outlets were ripe for discovering pieces perfect for their porch.

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MARK USED UNIQUE MATERIALS THROUGHOUT THE SPACE, INCLUDING RECLAIMED SHIPLAP FROM A 1906 DOWNTOWN PAPILLION FARMHOUSE FOR THE WOOD PANELING ON THE WALLS.

One table was sourced from a Home Goods in North Carolina; Mark picked it up on a work trip and took it apart to get it to fit, Tetris style, into a suitcase for his plane trip home. The kids made their decorative mark with their Starbucks souvenir mug collection; it’s displayed proudly on a wrought-iron rack and shares their favorite travel destinations.

The porch is a seasonal showcase of sorts, with small tweaks in décor and plants that help it change with the months and the holidays. Swapping summer blooms for mums, the official queen of fall flora, helps usher in autumn. Adding some rich, warm decor accents and touches

of pumpkin, an apple cider bar, and a harvest-themed dish set on the table make the space the perfect spot to curl up on a brisk November day.

But the true star of the show has to be the authentic woodburning stove from Claxton Fireplace in Omaha. This was actually a design compromise, as Jennilyn wanted a woodburning f ireplace and Mark didn’t. They agreed on the high-efficiency stove that, while new, has a vintage look. Jennilyn shared that it’s “the thing that has brought our family together more than anything else in the house.”

J E N N I LY N S H A R E D T H AT T H E S T O V E IS “THE THING THAT HAS BROUGHT O U R FA M I LY T O G E T H E R M O R E T H A N ANYTHING ELSE IN THE HOUSE.”

When the weather starts to chill and the kids come home, the family—which also includes goldendoodles Finley and Phoebe— convenes on the porch and enjoys hot chocolate and s’mores nearly every night. It’s become a space where treasured memories are made year-round.

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The Unexpected Lake House Stucco, Spine Design Among Unique Design Elements The average lake house is not known for its inspired design. Most structures are simple and a bit boring, as their occupants are more concerned with location and views than exterior aesthetics.

It’s for this reason that the Wineberry estate (named for the home’s unusual window cladding color) from Cramer Kreski Designs is so special. The residence, located on a private lake in western Douglas County, Nebraska, has an attention to detail that’s not often seen in waterside residences.

The home, which has three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, and 5,800 f inished square feet, was built by DK Construction.

“What was great for us is that when the clients came to us to design it roughly 15 years ago, they didn’t have a predetermined idea of what they wanted,” said Joe Kreski, one half of the namesake Omaha-based residential architecture firm that designed the home. Instead, both parties decided to concentrate on the building materials and let those dictate the home’s design.

“We focused on incorporating as many natural materials as possible,” Kreski said. For the final plan, they settled on a mix of ipe—the densest of Brazilian hardwoods known for its exotic beauty, durability, and resistance to weather— along with stucco, copper, cedar, and naturally harvested stone.

“

It just has so many different feelings. Every day could give you a new perspective depending on what room you’re in, at what time, and what the weather is like.”

Story

- H OUSTO N W I LT S E Y

Photography Design

- BILL SITZMANN

- MADY BESCH

Architecture Kreski wanted that organic feel to extend to the entire house.

“

The home’s design was inspired by the work of California-based architect Steven Ehrlich, whose modern houses are known for their large windows and incorporation of natural light.

Constructed around a central spine from which rooms branch off, the home has an expansive floor plan with the farthest wings splaying northeast and southeast to capture maximum views of the lake.

We placed the windows in the corners of the home to give it a panoramic feel and make it easier for people to take in the beautiful surroundings.”

“We placed the windows in the corners of the home to give it a panoramic feel and make it easier for people to take in the beautiful surroundings,” Kreski said. It’s this focus on natural lighting that gives the home its unique character. “It just has so many different feelings,” he continued. “Every day could give you a new perspective depending on what room you’re in, at what time, and what the weather is like.”

Kreski said these features give the home a style that is difficult to classify.

“If you were going to pin me to the wall, I’d have to say rural transitional,” he said. “The rural comes from the simple gable forms­— the triangular portion of a wall between the edges of intersecting roof pitches—and transitional is in reference to those little tweaks, like the window placement and the colorful accents around them.”

The other design element that sets the home apart is its secondfloor entertainment spaces.

“Since the home is on a lake, you have to worry about flooding,” Kreski said. “Because of that, we decided to flip things and put the theater, game room, and exercise center upstairs, which is pretty unusual for most homes.”

With its unique spine configuration, reversed layout, and numerous exterior materials and finishes, the custom home took several months to design and over a year to construct, according to Kreski. In the end, he said the finished product was well worth the effort.

“I just drove by it the other day and I still think that it looks amazing,” he said. “The last I heard, the family still loves living there just as much as when they moved in, which is all I can really ask for.”

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A BEN N I NGTON L A K E R ESI DENCE, R EBOR N Tuscan Decor, Layout Get a Modern Farmhouse Makeover STORY - CARRIELLE SEDERSTEN PHOTOGRAPHY - BILL SITZMANN

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DESIGN - MADY BESCH

When Jen and Tom Uhlir built their Bennington Lake home in 2007, it looked a world apart from the way it does now. After completing a year-long remodel in August 2019, their 8,000-square-foot home went from a Tuscan-style house with dark, heavy furniture, ornate wood finishes, and an earthy color palette to a bright, inviting modern farmhouse with a twist of industrial flair.

Starting in August 2018, the Uhlirs moved next door into their 1,500-square-foot guest house while the main house was nearly taken down to the studs—from the drywall to the trim to the floors. KB Custom Builds of Omaha served as contractor on the project.

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“We just started over. I think it gave [the home] new life,” Jen Uhlir said.

Of the nine bedrooms in the original floor plan, three were converted—one into an exercise room and two into offices, since both Jen and Tom work from home. The entry way pillars were switched out for more streamlined posts, and a staircase was added to access the second-floor loft.

Even though some of the original flooring was hardwood, they replaced it with lighter hickory hardwood and took out most of the carpet.

“My advice is always just tear it out and make the whole thing [one] wood floor,” said Stepha-

nie Songster, interior designer at Fluff Interior Design, who worked on the Uhlir’s redesign along with Fluff ’s president, Lorrie Williams. “It makes it look bigger…There’s [fewer] transitions and it gives you more flexibility with floor plans.”

The Uhlirs debated whether to carpet or go with hardwood on the main staircase. Ultimately, they opted for light wood tread and white riser stairs with modern metal railings.

In the great room, they removed one window and replaced the rest, including the stained wood trim. “We went white, and then in the jams, we decided to go black because I figured if we did all white, it was going to wash everything out to the lake,” said

Uhlir, referring to her home’s water views. The design choice to exclude drapes and blinds allowed the wall of windows with two-tone window trim to become a main feature of the great room.

When transitioning the decor style from Tuscan to modern farmhouse, it was important to the Uhlirs that they didn’t lose the warmth and coziness the Italian style is known for.

“We are not formal people, at all.

That’s why I didn’t want anything stuffy. I wanted people to feel like you can just come in and kick off your shoes,” Uhlir said.

With a neutral color palette of grays and creams with black and dark-brown accents and touches of greenery, it can be challenging to create interest and warmth. Songster was able to bring a soothing, cozy feel to the home by layering textured materials throughout the rooms. “The important thing when you’re doing neutrals is that you do tons of texture,” she said. “Because if you can’t bring in interest in color, you bring it in through other ways.”

This house features bamboo Roman shades paired with two-tone blue curtains along the entire north wall overlooking the lake in the primary bedroom. Off the bedroom is the primary bath with herringbone ceramic tile and a stand-alone tub next to a stone wall with a built-in fireplace—perfect for cold winter days.

One of the major projects during the remodel was relocating Tom’s closet and opening the attic to create Jen’s primary closet. The only way to access her new closet is via an elevator through the primary bath, making it into her own little oasis.

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When transitioning the decor style from Tuscan to modern farmhouse, it was important to the Uhlirs that they didn’t lose the warmth and coziness the Italian style is known for.

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Besides reallocating spaces and changing the decor theme of the home, one of the biggest visual differences came from removing ceiling fans in the primary bedroom, dining room, and great room. The fans were replaced with industrial chandeliers fitted with Edison bulbs, giving them a vintage, yet refined style.

Additionally, a modern sputnik chandelier hangs above the circular, solid wood table in the breakfast nook off the kitchen, where the Uhlirs spend a lot of their time.

“This was one of my favorite adds because we sit and have coffee [here]. Our daughter does her homework here,” Uhlir said.

Adding a settee as a dining seat option (in addition to the four lattice-back chairs that surround the table) gives the nook a more laid-back vibe.

The Uhlirs rarely eat in their bright and airy dining room unless they’re hosting guests.

Uhlir said, “We have a ton of family over. We entertain a lot. And then Tom, my husband, has a huge family…We host the family reunions.

Forty to 50 people come and sleep for a weekend.”

Although family gatherings haven’t been the same this year due to the pandemic, and they may look a little bit different this holiday season, Uhlir is still excited to start decorating for Christmas. One of the few requests she had for designer Songster was a big bookcase in the library so she could display her Christmas village.

“My mom’s favorite holiday was Christmas,” Uhlir said. “I put up like 14 trees during Christmastime. I just deck out the whole house.”

In years past, all of her aunts, her grandma, her sister, her daughter, and her mom would spend the weekend before Christmas baking 20 to 30 different cookies and candies, then preparing goodie boxes to give away. So Christmas is a special time to remember her mom and the traditions they shared together.

“Family means everything,” Uhlir said. “I lost my mom about 4 1/2 months into our remodel.

Her opinion and feedback on design were so important. It makes me feel like she is part of our home.”

To view more home interiors that Songster and fellow Fluff designers have designed, visit fluffinteriordesign.com.

S T O RY HANNAH AMROLLAHI

PH O T O G R A PH Y BILL SITZMANN

DESIGN MADY BESCH

CHRISTM AS AROU N D EV ERY COR N ER IN REGENCY AT HOME WITH TONY T YRRELL & DAN GARTIN

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From left: Dan Gartin, Tony Tyrrell, and Oliver the goldendoodle

“I’m very much a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas. I’m the guy that wants to sit by the fire and play the piano and drink eggnog and sing all night.”

—TO N Y T Y R R EL L

ony Tyrrell comes by his Christmas cheer quite naturally.

“It runs in my family. My brother is that way. My mom is that way,” he said.

A few years ago, before Halloween, Tyrrell’s mother took ill and they “almost lost her.”

“So, it’s always been very important to me to know that when she’s going to be here for Thanksgiving to have the Christmas stuff up because she loves that,” he said.

“For me, this all kind of originated with my mom. I even go over [to her house] and set up their stuff.”

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Tyrrell, a real estate agent with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, and his husband, Dan Gartin, CEO of Turning Point Partners, will often host Thanksgiving dinner with 20 guests and decorate their 1966 remodeled split-level home in Regency.

Scott Lindhorst Lawn Care & Snow Removal hangs and stores the exterior holiday lighting— primarily classic white lights that line the porch roof and second story, allowing the decorative tree in the wide, front-facing living room window and the wreath out front to take center stage. Inside, holiday cards are displayed on an entry table in front of the first of many reindeer and tree statues.

“It is so easy these days to get swallowed by every other stimulus,” Gartin said. “It’s nice when I come home here and it’s all lit up and pretty. It’s relaxing.”

The colors of Christmas are paired on each level, including silver and gold in the living room, kitchen, and dining room, with red accents added in the bedrooms and finished basement den.

“I’m very much a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas,” Tyrrell said. “I’m the guy that wants to sit by the fire and play the piano and drink eggnog and sing all night. I’m also the guy

that will sit [in the living room] and turn all the lights out except for the Christmas tree.” (Cue the “White Christmas” music.)

The entertainment space downstairs features “Dan’s tree” in silver and blue. The decorations occasionally replace, but more often blend, with year-round art and mementos from a worldly life.

A modern circular sculpture in the entryway meshes with the temporary letters and trees. Downstairs, a barracuda caught by Gartin on a boat tour off the Yucatan peninsula holds a tiny blue ornament in its toothy jaws.

“It’s having Christmas on every level, so you’re not tied to one room,” Tyrrell said.

and dining room, both well-lit by high windows that provide privacy and light.

The eclectic mix is immersive and spread out so it “touches” rather than overwhelms. The variety is also easy to tweak each year. Details put “Christmas around the corner” through statues, throw pillows and blankets, decorative wine covers, all the way down to coasters with tongue-incheek goodwill.

“You don’t really realize how much time it takes and how much energy it is,” Gartin said of the decorating process.

The group also assists a 94-yearold friend whose family visits for the holidays.

The three full-sized trees are products of a decorating roundabout that enlists the couple’s friends.

Each year, a group of roughly 10 get together and deck one another’s halls.

“We make sure we have everything set up and ready for her so she doesn’t have to worry about it,” Tyrrell said. “It gives us an opportunity to spend time with her again.”

The epicenter of the holiday wonderland is the living room, featuring wallpaper accents and a sloped ceiling. The slope continues in the open floor-plan kitchen

one of the elegant pines draped in decor. “It took me having some other creative minds and juices coming in.”

“Before all this started with friends, there is no way I could have gotten a tree to look like that,” said Tyrrell, pointing to NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2020

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“I was raised in the Midwest. My grandpa used to say, ‘If you’re blessed, it’s not yours to keep, it’s yours to give.’”

—DA N G A R T I N

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“If you want a Charlie Brown tree, do a Charlie Brown tree. If you want hot pink and black, do hot pink and black. Make it your own,” Tyrrell said. “It goes back to the memory making.”

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Besides decorating, Tyrrell and Gartin’s friends and family have sung Christmas carols, visited nursing homes, “adopted” families for gift-giving, and bar-hopped in ugly holiday sweaters. For this couple, the season is about looking outside themselves, even in their own home.

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“I was raised in the Midwest. My grandpa used to say, ‘If you’re blessed, it’s not yours to keep, it’s yours to give,’” Gartin said.

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“I get the gift of giving,” Tyrrell said. “I most certainly want memories to be made, good times to be had, because I think in today’s world it can just escape you so fast.”

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His advice beyond making the setup fun and communal is to invest in a few pieces you can rely on each year. The advances in artificial trees with customized lighting options make them a quality purchase, for instance. Gartin contributes attentive wrapping and organized packing for storage in the original boxes. It can be fun to be “on trend” and attuned to ideas year-round, but Tyrrell focuses on who will be enjoying the decorations more so than a specific style.

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omahamagazine.com NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2020

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Feature STORY - K AT Y SPR AT TE JOYC E PHOTOGRAPHY - WILLIAM HESS PHOTOGRAPHY DESIGN - MADY BESCH

OH,

Christmas TREES!

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During the 2019 holiday season, nearly $1,000 was raised for the Council Bluffs nonprofit PACE (Pottawattamie Arts, Culture and Education). The group recently unveiled a beautiful new headquarters on the banks of the Missouri River with views of the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and downtown Omaha skyline. According to their website, this umbrella organization aims “to strengthen, develop, and promote arts, cultural, and historical institutions, organizations, and activities in Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie County.” Burris has chosen PACE as her beneficiary the past few years, though she has raised funds for organizations as diverse as Children’s Square, the Treynor Women’s League, Omaha Symphony, and the Crescent Food Bank over the years.

Danna Kehm, PACE’s chief executive, is very appreciative of Burris’ contributions to the arts organization. “Funds raised during the Burris Holiday Home Tour are generously donated to PACE and aid in our adult and children’s programming,” she said. “We are so very thankful to Julia and [husband] Dale Burris for their support the last three years, and ultimately, for their support of PACE. While this year brings new challenges for us all, we look forward to seeing the creative trees Julia will put together, from a distance.”

Unfortunately, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Kehm and Burris agreed that there would be no in-person tours of Burris’ home for 2020. However, both women encourage past tour participants to go to the PACE website and make a donation to the charity at this time, and hope for the fundraising tour’s return in 2021.

This year, the unique festival of trees won’t have its usual 30-plus stars. Burris is estimating that she’ll spruce up roughly 10 trees, so it will still feel like Christmas. And it’s no surprise that the process began weeks ago. Besides the aforementioned new Minnie Mouse tree, she’s also aiming for a new look for the wedding dress skirt form and matching tree. It formerly included flowers and now will be more of a striking gown look, with rich tones of turquoise, navy blue, and gold.

However, that may expand, because every year Burris says she will only do one or two new trees, and that inevitably turns into three or four, she shared with a smile.

And though the Burris Christmas tree project comes from the store, it’s clear that it does mean a little bit more.

To make a donation to PACE, go to paceartsiowa/donate.

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Pet owners owners can, can, hypothetically, hypothetically, serve serve their their Pet animals what what the the rest rest of of the the family family is is having having animals for dinner dinner using using the the same same ingredients ingredients with with aa for few adjustments adjustments for for proper proper pet pet nutrition. nutrition. few

Harvest

Are Natural Foods

Better for Our Pets?

Story by Patrick McGee // Design by Mady Besch

Are commercial foods sold at pet stores what’s best for furry family members? Or should

our pets be fed natural foods prepared at home? Store-bought foods boast balanced nutrition and simple feeding instructions but typically contain fillers, preservatives, and processed and mystery ingredients. Homemade pet foods are fresh and more natural, but might not meet your animal’s nutritional needs. The answer to which is best is not so simple, and there is no one-sizefits-all solution.

Dr. Pete Bashara of Gentle Doctor Animal Hospitals said there is little conclusive scientific information about homemade pet foods. It can be difficult for home preparers to compete with consumer-end products that have formulas optimized for your pet’s health. For those who wish to try their hands at meal prepping for their pets, there are great resources such as the website balanceit.com that offer guidance on incorporating essential nutrients, Bashara said.

The balanceit.com interface presents 36 widely available protein options to choose from (with pork and chicken among the best sources of protein); 16 carbohydrate options (with oats, rice, and quinoa being excellent options); 16 common vegetables; 16 common fruits; and 16 oils/fats. With the interface, there will be little guesswork as to what meals pet owners can feed pets and which foods to avoid. Pet owners can also rest assured that giving dogs family meal leftovers, such as green beans, is not harmful.

The site also allows users to input information, such as a pet’s health problems or allergies, or food products that may be in-

appropriate in the home, to find a balanced diet that meets the needs of the pet and household.

Recipes and recommended food supplements, such as custom mineral packs, organ meats, or bone meal that can be added to food to help meet the animal’s dietary requirements, are also listed on the site. Supplements are available for purchase through balanceit.com's online store.

Pet owners can, hypothetically, serve their animals what the rest of the family is having for dinner using the same ingredients with a few adjustments for proper pet nutrition. For example, if the family dinner consists of salmon and quinoa served over a spinach and kale salad, one could consult balanceIt’s interface to determine that their canine can safely eat the same healthy meal (minus embellishments such as vinaigrette and salt), with the addition of BalanceIt Canine, a dietary supplement for dogs.

Bashara reports that pet owners he’s referred to balanceit.com have given it great reviews. Prepping meals for pets becomes as simple as normal food prep. Homemade pet food can be valuable not just to the animal, but also to the owner.

“People have to make decisions about feeding their [animal] family members as if they are feeding themselves,” Bashara said. “We feel better about how we feed them.”

While scientific data backing up homemade pet food may be lacking, Bashara said he feels reassured by good results shared by his clients. “I don’t care how we got there, as long as the [pet] patient has benefitted,” he said. Nevertheless, he warns pet owners not to blindly follow recommendations or nutritional trends found online.

“We must make sure we are understanding why we are doing the things that we do,” Bashara said of pet nutrition. Balanceit.com is a useful tool for doing just that.

NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2020

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T R A N S F O R M AT I O N S

FOR THE LOVE OF COMFORT New Home Abounds in Casual Beauty, Custom Features 44

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STORY - LINDI JANULEWICZ PHOTOGRAPHY - TOM KESSLER PHOTOGRAPHY DESIGN - MADY BESCH NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2020

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“I TRUST YOU,” OUR CLIENT WOULD SAY DURIN G DESIGN MEETIN GS. THAT TRUSTIN G REL ATIO NSHIP AND THE CO NTINUIT Y OF THE TE A M OF DESIGNER, BUILDER, AND CLIENT WORKIN G CO HESIVELY TO GETHER WAS A HUGE FAC TOR IN THE SUCCESS OF THIS PROJEC T.

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T R A N S F O R M AT I O N S uilding a new home is a full-time job. There are thousands of decisions to be made and millions of selections to choose from. When the client—busy professionals with two children and pets—approached Interiors Joan and Associates about teaming with them to create their dream home, we knew we could help.

B

Nancy Pesavento, a professional interior designer with Interiors Joan and Associates, and the home builder, Curt Hofer and Associates, partnered to design and construct a home that would function for the lifestyle of our busy client while still maintaining a gorgeous aesthetic. The client also wanted to take full advantage of the gorgeous lot they had chosen for their home, with large windows and a viewcentric design. While they loved open spaces, the homeowners also wanted to create a feeling of coziness in the space.

Pesavento achieved their vision using myriad beautiful natural materials. Every selection was

made for its neutral coloring, low maintenance, and casual appeal.

The most unique features of the home are some of the incredible design elements, including wood beams with metal trusses, custom cabinet designs, and thoughtful space planning.

Upon entering the home, the grand view is framed with large windows, and the pristine great room is outfitted with two identical sofas upholstered in a stone-colored textural fabric.

Also on the main floor is the primary suite, including a bedroom, bathroom, and study, in a secluded wing all by itself.

Opposite the great room is an incredible kitchen with a custom range hood and slab quartzite countertops and backsplash. The crisp white cabinetry is anchored by a soft seal gray-colored tile floor—a selection that provides carefree maintenance as opposed to a hardwood floor. The butler’s pantry and staging area directly behind the kitchen allow the home to function nicely for every day as well as for entertaining.

NOVEMBER /DECEMBER 2020

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Meet the Interior Designer

The lower level features a well-appointed sunken bar area, a gaming area, and a largescreen TV adjacent to the custom-designed natural stone fireplace. Thoughtful details, such as the built-in dog kennels and a “bunker room” that was designed specifically for entertaining off of the pool deck, give the home a personalized feel.

A natural color palette of charcoals, seal gray, soft whites, and cashmere—accented with pops of citron—set the tone for the home’s casual yet sophisticated aesthetic.

A large-scale porcelain tile flooring, walnut cabinets, and rift oak accents create a cozy environment. The massive lighting fixtures in the great room were custommade from forged iron, and their large scale help balance the architectural beams.

The home utilizes chrome plumbing fix-

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tures, granite sinks, and porcelain tiles to create an incredible textural backdrop for the furnishings.

Upon completion of the project, the homeowners were most pleased with the way the kitchen functions for their busy lifestyle.

They love the comfort of the living spaces, especially the way the lower level functions as a casual gathering space for family and friends.

“I trust you,” our client would say during design meetings. That trusting relationship and the continuity of the team of designer, builder, and client working together was a huge factor in the success of this project. The home’s casual beauty and natural appeal are collectively our client’s vision come to life.

NANCY PESAVENTO ASID, Interiors Joan and Associates

Nancy Pesavento, ASID, was inspired by an interior designer family member at a young age.

Nancy’s ability to impact lives with her creativity has always been a driving force in her career.

She is a partner in Interiors Joan and Associates and has been associated with the organization for over 30 years. She has a B.S. in interior design from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, is NCIDQ certified, and has been a recipient of numerous ASID awards for design. She served on the board of the Nebraska/ Iowa Chapter of ASID and has been recognized nationally with the receipt of the BALA Award from the National Homebuilders Association. “Preparation, communication, and attention to details are always my focus.”

Pesavento said.

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