May/June 2016 Omaha Home

MAY/JUNE 2016

ALWAYS LOCAL, ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL

THEIR OWN PRIVATE SANCTUARY

A WOODLANDS HOME IN WEST OMAHA

THE KUTASHES

Finding Quality in the Midwest

FIELD CLUB HISTORIC DISTRICT Midtown Omaha’s Memory Lane

CREATING MAGAZINEWORTHY YARDS

Landscape Designer Marti Neely

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May/June 2016 VOLUME 6 • ISSUE 3

EDITORIAL

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Associate Editor DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN

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Editorial Intern JARED KENNEDY

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Contributing Writers TAMSEN BUTLER • BEV CARLSON • JUDY HORAN GREG JERRETT • MEAGAN MORRIS COURTNEY OTTE, ALLIED ASID SEAN ROBINSON • KARA SCHWEISS

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May/June 2016 Volume 6 • ISSUE 3

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Telephone: (402) 884-2000; fax (402) 884-2001. Subscription rates: $12.95 for 6 issues (one year), $19.95 for 12 issues (two years). No whole or part of the contents herein may be reproduced without prior written permission of Omaha Magazine, excepting individually copyrighted articles and photographs. Unsolicited manuscripts are accepted, however no responsibility will be assumed for such solicitations. Best of Omaha®™ is a registered tradename of Omaha Magazine.

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

Table of Contents

H30

H36 FEATURES H30

THEIR OWN PRIVATE SANCTUARY

H40 DEPARTMENTS H9

“OUR FOREVER HOME”

in Nebraska!

H10

A Mid-town Condominium

H40

A FUNCTIONAL LAKE HOUSE

H20

H12

Hugo Novelo’s Apartment

AT HOME WITH THE KUTASHES

ARCHITECTURAL STYLES Contemporary Home Styles

H26

NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILE Field Club Historic District

SPACES

The Albers’ Ranch Home in Valley

H16

H22

STATEMENTS Creating Magazine-Worthy Yards

SANDY’S MAKEOVER Cowboy Up!

Welcome to Springtime

A Woodlands Home in West Omaha

H36

FROM THE EDITORS

H44

TRANSFORMATIONS From Bachelor Pad to Modern Elegance

Finding Quality in the Midwest

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

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from the Editor

"You are as Welcome as the Flowers in May!" — Charles Macklin

W

ELCOME TO SPRINGTIME in Nebraska!

In my head, it’s not spring since we are knee deep in this May/June issue! What an issue we have for you! We’re featuring a variety of fun articles, from a ranch home in Valley to the home of California transplants who chose to use designer Julie Hockney based on an article they saw in Omaha Home.

I’m particularly excited about an article in which we feature landscape designer Marti Neely, because I’m happy to see green outside, aren’t you? We get so spoiled with these days reaching temperatures of 70 degrees or more.

The trick with this publication, for me, is timing. Since I love to garden, I normally do my makeover project with flowers. I’m writing this letter at the end of March; consequently, picking the perfect time to pot flowers and trying to get a great day outside for photography can be difficult. But it’s a challenge I’ll gladly take on. By the way, the change in photo for this issue was taken during our photo shoot. The area was the perfect backdrop for a spring issue. Since I grew up on a farm in Iowa, it was also a fun way to pay homage to my roots.

Sandy Matson

Springtime is the perfect time to take stock in sprucing up. Bright colors add a bolt of energy and joy to the inside and outside of your home—the perfect cocktail to the new season. Don’t be afraid to try something new, one small change in color can start a snowball effect in a bright and fun way.

If you have any great ideas or you have a hidden talent! Let us know. You very well might be our next spotlight.

Spring…the sweetest time of year!

Sandy If you have any ideas you would like to see us tackle or you yourself have a project you would like to have featured, please contact sandy@omahapublications.com.

Thank you for reading OmahaHome. This stand-alone magazine is also featured as a section of Omaha Magazine.

Want to read the entire magazine? Visit: omahamagazine.com/digital-flip-book

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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Statements story by Meagan Morris / photography by bill sitzmann

CREATING MAGAZINEWORTHY YARDS LANDSCAPE DESIGNER MARTI NEELY

M

A N Y OF M ARTI Neely's clients

think her home's landscaping looks like something straight out of a magazine. "I often hear things like 'your yard must look incredible'," she says.

It's true, to an extent. New flowers—still in their store containers—sit on the front stoop of her northwest Omaha home, just waiting to be planted when the time's right.

She considers her yard more of a "laboratory" for experimenting with new plants and design ideas she can then transfer to her work with clients.

Neely has made her living as a landscape designer for more than 28 years, first working with major garden centers like Mulhall’s, and more recently as the owner of Marti Neely Design and Associates.

Gardening is part of her DNA—she comes from a family filled with green thumbs— but the seeds of a career in the industry weren't planted until she took over a flowerbed project at her church.

"People just bought different flowers and planted them without thinking about it," she recalls, "and looked horrible." So, she took it over, first planning the design of the bed on paper before she planted.

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

“It's really art, a painter has to graphically sketch out their paintings first, and landscape design is no different” -Marti Neely

"It's really art," she says of landscape design.

"A painter has to graphically sketch out their paintings first, and landscape design is no different."

She later majored in fine art and sociology in college while continuing to garden, but didn't think of making it her career until "someone said, ‘Wow, you can do that for a living’?” she recalls. "And guess what, you could."

Neely extended her education with horticulture courses at Metro Community College, but only a small part of what she does involves greenery. The most important part, she says, is creating a design that fits the space and what her clients envision.

Many times clients don't know what they want when they first sit down with her, so she gives them some homework.

"I tell them to look at magazines and pull out photos that they like," she says. "They don't have to be landscape photos—just anything they're comfortable with, like photos of ads, interiors, exteriors, fashion, whatever."

Typically, they'll unknowingly pick photos with a common thread throughout, like a certain color scheme or style, that helps guide the design process. "I hardly ever see the photos they picked, but afterward they have a better idea of what they want."

Once they have that nailed down, they can pick the flowers, plants, and other greenery to achieve the look.

It's that expertise, she says, that homeowners need when planning how their residential landscaping is going to look even if they don't think a dedicated designer is necessary.

"I help my clients make the right design decisions the first time so they don't have to spend even more money to fix mistakes," she says. "It's really a great value in the long run."

Think of it like investing in a piece of fine art—because that's exactly what Neely's work is. OmahaHome Visit martineely.com to learn more

"Plants do jobs," she says. "They give shade, color, and style. We determine what the landscaping needs to do—give privacy, create barriers, handle wind—and then we move on to which plants would work best.

They're ultimately chosen for their performance and value."

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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Spaces words by Greg Jerrett / photography by bill sitzmann

HUGO NOVELO’S APARTMENT A SPACE FOR OMAHA ARTISTS

T

HE SOCIO-ECONOMIC FABRIC

of Omaha makes a complicated tapestry of diverse skeins intertwining in various degrees of organic, from architectural masterpieces to workingclass family neighborhoods converging around art from the street to the Bemis.

Southwest of the 11-Worth Cafe is an apartment that’s not just a home for one man and his toddler, but also to a healthy cross-section of Omaha artists.

Hugo Novelo is an Omaha art lover. For two years, he’s been turning his apartment into a gallery of ever-increasing legitimacy.

It began as a barter on the cusp where street artists live.

“I started collecting art about eight years ago,” Novelo says from his perch in the kitchen where art is made as often as food.

“An artist friend got kicked out of his place after a break-up and asked me to help him move. I gathered up all his stuff, but there was no way I could mail all his art. It would have cost a fortune. So I gave him 70 bucks for about five pieces and we called it even.

That's how my collection started. Now, I meet a new artist every week and I've got about 325 pieces of local, Omaha artwork.”

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

Novelo says he began feeling guilty for keeping so much art to himself and decided, in true Omaha style, to collaborate. With the help of his salon full of experienced artists, he began selling a few pieces a week through a Facebook store, lending out art and doing the occasional pop-up.

Meanwhile, he encourages young artists, buying supplies in exchange for finished art or part of the profit. It all happened organically. Now when the neighborhood skate kids stop by to look at the art, they meet a weird artist or two, and think about creating.

Depending on mood and occasion, 50 to 60 artists live on Novelo’s walls.

The majority of works are stored in the basement, which is why Novelo does not advertise the address. One has to know Hugo, contact him through social media or be delivered by a mutual friend to see what he has in the kitchen and around the enormous mural by artists Stephen Kavanaugh as well as norm4eva and Andy Garlock, the muralists responsible for the makeover of Leo’s Diner.

Other noted Omaha talents represented are Randi Hunter, Très Johnson, and Anthony Brown. >

Hugo Novelo

Scan the page with the LayAR app to view a virtual tour of the Novelo Apartment.

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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spaces

“Novelo is a passionate and active local art collector snatching up works from many of the areas, unknown, outsider, and up-and-coming street artists.”

-Bart Vargas

< Novelo’s face lights up talking about art because for him it's not just about commerce or a pretty picture. Hugo’s pieces are vibrant, personal and plentiful, but they are—more often than not—made by his friends.

Bart Vargas, respected painter and UNO art educator, reviewed Novelo’s collection recently and, after touring the vaunted basement, says: “Novelo is a passionate and active local art collector snatching up works from many of the areas, unknown, outsider, and up-and-coming street artists,” Vargas says. “I was surprised to find early gems from regional artists Stephen Kavanaugh, Reginald LeFlore, OaKley, Joel Elia Damon, and Gerard Pefung. I predict it will be interesting to watch this collection develop, as these artist’s careers evolve and develop. Who exactly knows what hidden gems Hugo has in his collection?”

OmahaHome

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

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At Home story by Bev Carlson / photography by Bill Sitzmann

THE KUTASHES FINDING QUALITY IN THE MIDWEST

G

ABE KUTASH, 10, loves playing basketball in

his driveway. He often plays in his big yard, rides his bike around the cul-de-sac with his brother, and walks to school with his siblings.

Gabe really likes living in Omaha. “There’s so much room to play outside!” he says, throwing his arms into the air. “It’s great!”

Gabe and his parents, Jeff and Jessica Kutash, moved into their Baywood home almost three years ago. It’s very different from the 1200-square-foot, 1920s-era home they once owned in Oakland, California.

“It was just above a mid-range home for Oakland,” Jessica says. “I was so shocked when we were able to move here and get over four times as much space for a far lower mortgage—even including the renovations we did. It’s awesome.”

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

Left to Right: Gabe, 10; Holden, 8; Mom Jessica; and Thea, 9

For Kutash, it wasn’t the size of the house, but the quality of the high school that was the f irst priority in choosing their neighborhood. Millard won. Jeff and Jessica’s three children will one day attend Millard West High.

“Outstanding schools, so much parental involvement, so encouraging and supportive,” she says. “And it is a public school. We were looking at three private school educations had we stayed in Oakland.”

They loved the layout and location of their new home.

The bigger challenge was bringing it up to date, and creating a living space that fit their tastes and lifestyle. Oh, and actually having enough furniture.

Kutash estimates her existing furniture filled only about 25 percent of her new house. Rather than tackling multi-colored cabinets, and cotton candy pink spaces on her own, Jeff and Jessica enlisted the services of designer Julie Hockney.

“I saw her work in Omaha Magazine, actually. I loved one of her featured makeovers. So I gave her a call,” Kutash says. “She’s amazing. When we walked through the house, she had great ideas. She listened to us and really ‘got’ us. I came to trust her so much that she picked out most of the accessories without me.”

The main level of the home f lows easily from room to room with few walls, so the first priority was to create elements of color and design that gently stitched the rooms together seamlessly. The first challenge was the kitchen. The previous owners favored a Tuscan look: burnt orange walls, light oak f looring, and ornate fixtures. The upper cabinets were white, the lower cabinets stained—a tiled backsplash with yellow undertones just below.

Kutash was skeptical that Hockney could soften the yellow tones in the polished granite countertops. There are a lot of countertops—both the standard “L” plus a large island. “It was overwhelming. I really didn’t want to have the expense of replacing those countertops. It was one of those times I had to trust Julie.” >

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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at home

Jeff and Jessica Kutash < Hockney did her magic. All white cabinets, a new backsplash, all new handles and knobs, and voila! She managed to take away the yellow tones and the orange walls. She picked a light greyish blue as the field color for most of the rooms. Inconsistent wood colors throughout the lower level were painted a deep, rich brown. The fireplaces got new brickwork, and the staircases, which were once the same light oak as the ocean of f looring, were painted to complement the room: white, with dark brown steps. Overstuffed or overly traditional elements gave way to a fresher, uncluttered, and modern look. One thing that remained consistent was the deep and charming plantation blinds along the north side of the house.

While the main living areas are beautiful, Kutash’s favorite room is the main f loor master bedroom. “The suite feels as big as our whole house was in Oakland,” She says. The walls are “new gray” with a wide horizontal navy stripe behind the headboard. “It’s the room that takes my breath away every time. I just love it.”

Upstairs, each child has his or her own space. The boys share a bathroom, and the cotton candy-colored walls are gone. “Gabe can actually leave his Lego projects on the f loor overnight,” Kutash says. “There was never room for that before, or a swing set. I giggled when we were able to finally buy a swing set for the children.” / H18 /

OmahaHome • May/June 2016

In asking the children their favorite part of the house,—the basement wins—hands down. A playroom with a mirrored wall offers the young gymnast a way to check posture on the portable balance beam, or for her brothers to blow off steam with the arsenal of Nerf guns. The basement’s guest room and entertainment space houses much of the California furniture.

“We made a number of trips to Nebraska Furniture Mart with Julie,” Kutash says. “We were able to find things on clearance too!”

Jessica and Jeff are thrilled with their decision to move to Omaha. They love the culture, the arts, and the philanthropic nature of the city. This aspect is especially significant to Jeff, who leads the Peter Kiewit Foundation.

Most of all, they love the sense of community.

“It’s so amazing how much people care. They care about their schools. They care about their city. They care about each other. This is where we belong.” OmahaHome

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Sandy's Makeover story by Sandy Matson / photography by bill sitzmann

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OmahaHome â&#x20AC;˘ May/June 2016

COWBOY UP!

N

RETRO COLOR MEETS COUNTRY CHIC

ORMALLY I LIKE to do something with

f lowers in this issue, typically my own Mother's day tradition of potting my f lowers.

This year I decided to take an old piece of furniture and give it a pop of color for spring.

I tend to shy away from bright colors, but I decided to step out of my comfort zone. Bright colors are popular in spring. I chose a chartreuse paint, which gives punch to any backdrop.

In this case it was a great little old shed that sits on a farm I drive past every day. It also happens to be the same spot where I had my youngest daughter’s senior pictures taken. I loved it then, and love it now.

I found some old cowboy boots in a thrift store, but I never wear them. They do, however, make a great place to plant f lowers.

This really just requires a long weekend.

Tip: If you try stuffing them with dirt and then try to place the f lowers and ivy standing up, the boots are shaky and can fall over.

Think of your entryway or porch as an extension of your house and have fun with it! OmahaHome

Items Needed: • Wooden bench, or an old chair. If you can find a pair and put a little table in the middle that would also be a great look for a porch.

• Sandpaper • Primer, if you are working over another color of paint • Paint. I used latex, and then sealed it.

• Sealer • Boots of any type.

Colorful rain boots would look especially cute.

directions: • Make sure you aren’t going to use them again.

Once you make that decision, drill holes in the bottom to allow the water to drain out.

• If the boots have zippers, unzip them.

• Place the boots on their sides, and fill them with dirt.

• With the boots sideways, start placing plants and some ivy.

• Zip them up if needed, then stand them up when they are finished.

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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Architectural Styles story by Judy Horan / photography by bill sitzmann

CONTEMPORARY HOME STYLES FITTING NEIGHBORHOODS AND TODAY’S LIFESTYLES

O

H, THOSE BE AUTIFUL homes of yesteryear.

The sprawling mansions shown in the movies, and the creaky staircases and windows one can read about in books, bring romantic visions of homes that seem out of reach for many people. However, with a bit of planning, many of these home styles can fit a modern lifestyle.

When architect Steven Ginn planned a new home for Omaha’s tony Fairacres neighborhood, he faced a challenge. His clients wanted their house to blend into a neighborhood where some of the homes go back a century.

Ginn’s solution was to use the elegant English country house style.

Fitting into a neighborhood motivates some people to turn to ageless styles for new construction. Others go retro because they are sentimental. Attempting to achieve a specific architectural style while also introducing new elements can create a mismatching affect. Ginn calls the resulting style of combining traditional and contemporary “transitional” or “hybrid.”

“Hybrids are evocative of traditional, but with a more open f loor plan and a more unique character,” Ginn says. “There’s sometimes no sense of scale or proportion, and inappropriate use of materials.”

Hybrids often meet their match when the plans have to go through a subdivision review board. Subdivision authorities can be a barrier to those seeking to build a small home.

“Builders have to have a 2,400-square-foot minimum to go into some subdivisions,” Ginn says. “There are a lot of factors working for the McMansions and against the small homes.”

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average square footage of a home in the Midwest in 2014 was 2,574.

Even the trend to build “green” doesn’t stop the building of large mansions. “People here are pragmatic. They’d rather put extra money into the home,” he says. “We’re still a consumer-based society and people need a place to put all their stuff.” continued on page 25 >

/ H22 /

OmahaHome • May/June 2016

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Architectural Styles

MOST POPULAR HOME STYLES IN AMERICA

1. Craftsman: Early 20th century Arts and Crafts movement.

2. Country: Colonial style updated.

3. Traditional: Country style updated.

4. European: France, Italy, England influence.

5. Ranch: single-story home.

6. Farmhouse: Newly popular.

Love those large porches.

7. Cottage: Small house, simpler than the Craftsman.

8. Modern: Clean lines popular in the 1950s, 1960s.

< continued from page 22

9. Southern: Porches, shades, shutters ready for hot weather.

A home’s exterior style may be classic, but owners demand interiors with features befitting today’s lifestyles. For example, people tend to prefer f loor plans with the kitchen, dining, and family area f lowing together.

10. Mediterranean: Spain, France, Italy influences. Verandas extend house outdoors.

“They want a great room because it’s very comfortable, and tends to blend in. We rarely do formal dining rooms today,” Ginn says.

Clients want large master suite areas with bedrooms, walk-in closets, and walk-in showers in one place.

“Contemporary” refers to today’s styles that blend designs. The style has clean simple lines, minimum decoration, lots of glass, and open f loor spaces. Contemporary marries indoors and outdoors with a great deal of natural light.

“In Nebraska, modern homes are more open,” Ginn says. “Look at Mid-Century Modern, a style from the ‘50s and ‘60s when they first used an open f loor plan and large windows throughout. Plans took the home from inside to outside—extending the house.”

Ginn says when given a choice, designers do something more contemporary that blends the clients’ needs with a design that roots the house in its place and attempts to stir the homeowners’ souls.

OmahaHome

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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Neighborhoods story by Sean Robinson / photography by Bill Sitzmann

FIELD CLUB HISTORIC DISTRICT

MIDTOWN OMAHA’S MEMORY LANE

"When we moved in, several people stopped by to introduce themselves and see if we needed anything. After living in the Bronx a few years, that was alarming at first."

-Dr. Ashley Hall

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

L

INED WITH STATELY manors and

trees planted nearly a century ago, the boulevards of the Field Club Historic District evoke the kind of old-fashioned, small-town charm that would have Bing Crosby and Bob Hope singing in the streets. Seven decades ago, that very thing happened.

After performing at the Omaha Field Club in 1945, the iconic crooner and accompanying comedian took their show on the road to perform for children living in the adjacent neighborhood. In the time since, television has replaced front porch views as evening entertainment, and homeowners rarely cut their grass with push mowers. The traditions and architecture of an era-past are preserved in Omaha’s most storied neighborhood.

“It’s a multi-generational area with more than 100 years of families and history,” says Elaine Buescher, membership chair and board member of the Field Club Homeowners League. “The neighborhood is unique in that you have people who have lived there their whole lives, raised their kids, and then their children come back and do the same thing.”

Encompassing Pacific to Center streets, and 32nd to 36th streets, the 16-block neighborhood lies just southwest of downtown. It’s the location of dozens of older homes that have been protected from deterioration, making it one of the few historic neighborhoods in the Midtown area to proudly show its age in favor of modern upheaval. If walls could talk, the homes of Field Club would have nearly 125 years of stories.

The Field Club Historic District developed in the late 19th century as a well-to-do suburb of Omaha connected to downtown by the new trolley system. The oldest homes were constructed in a large Queen Anne style, perched upon a hill overlooking Hanscom Park. In 1898, a smashing-goodtime county club opened just west of the first homes, which gave the neighborhood its name. Impressively designed houses continued to develop in the district until 1962. Over the years the area has seen noted happenings such as the birth of Gerald R. Ford, and it has hosted distinguished guests like Theodore Roosevelt.

In 2000, the Field Club District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, following the research and support of Ed Quinn, a local historian and businessman.

“It’s this historic aspect that attracts residents to the area,” Quinn says. After relocating back to Omaha from Los Angeles in 1996, Quinn moved into the neighborhood, just blocks away from the house where his grandparents lived and raised his father.

The history of the Field Club is further preserved by its multitude of annual events and traditions. Luminary night, which occurs every December, asks neighbors to celebrate community by placing small candles in white paper bags along the sidewalks and driveways. The residents also hold a progressive dinner each year in which neighbors advance to one another’s homes for successive courses.

It’s during holiday celebrations where no expense is spared. For 30 years, a Valentine’s Day ladies brunch has been hosted by resident Pam Johnson. On Halloween, more than 900 trick-or-treaters cram the neighborhood to fill pillowcases full of sweets and marvel at houses adorned with festive décor. Life-sized replicas of dragons and gargantuan spider webs can be seen on this occasion. Independence Day is also celebrated with a bang as neighbors parade down the streets with homemade f loats each July Fourth.

Dr. Ashley Hall and his wife moved from New York City to the area in 2008. The couple was looking for a place in the heart of Omaha that had a deep, rich history, as well as a sense of community.

“When we moved in, several people stopped by to introduce themselves and see if we needed anything. After living in the Bronx a few years, that was alarming at first,” Hall says. >

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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Neighborhoods

< If it’s the history that persuades people to buy homes in the district, then credit the connections to other neighbors that keep many residents staying here for 20-plus years. “It’s a true neighborhood where people get to know one another and establish these relationships that become lifelong friendships,” Buescher says. “I have a wonderful long list of babysitters within walking distance.”

Residents enjoy catching a breath of fresh air at Hanscom Park, Omaha’s first green space; teeing off at the Field Club, the oldest country club west of the Mississippi River; or attending service at Westminster Presbyterian Church, one of only two nonresidential properties in the district. If they are looking for something more modern, the neighborhood is just blocks away from Midtown Crossing, or a short drive to downtown’s bustling Old Market.

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

“The geographic location further gives this place value, even though Field Club really remains solely a neighborhood, and not a business-residential mix,” Quinn says.

In this storied midtown district, children still cavort on lawns shaded by Colonial and Tudor style homes, while neighbors sip lemonade together on one another’s porches. It’s just as Crosby sings in his rendition of “In the Good Old Summertime”—“No trouble annoying, each one is enjoying, the good old summertime, strolling through a shady lane.”

“It’s a 20th century neighborhood that represents almost every type of architecture from the 1880s to the 1950s,” Quinn says.

“We’re our own small town in a big city.”

OmahaHome

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Feature story by Kara Schweiss / photography by Bill Sitzmann

THEIR OWN PRIVATE SANCTUARY A WOODLANDS HOME IN WEST OMAHA

T

OM AND DANIA Schleff’s beautiful, mission-inspired

home in Elkhorn’s The Sanctuary is sprawling. At approximately 5,000 square feet, with four bedrooms and four-and-a-half bathrooms, the house is well set up for the couple’s visitors.

They even welcome some regular visitors who show up uninvited, bring a lot of friends, scavenge for food, and never express the least bit of gratitude for the hospitality.

“We’ve seen as many as 23 deer right in the backyard, and we see turkeys and foxes and skunks and owls,” Tom Schleff says. “We have a lot of wildlife.”

After all, The Sanctuary is a sprawling development surrounded by the Elkhorn River, and a mature forested area. The neighborhood also contains several large preserved common areas, and natural water features.

With a wall of large, south-facing windows, and a screened three-season porch perfect for morning coffee or evening cocktails, the Schleffs relish their year-round views of wildlife and nature. Tom says he enjoys the environment so much he doesn’t mind mowing the large lot (he uses a push mower, unlike most of the neighbors).

“We love the trees. We’re on the outer edge of town, so we’re away from the hustle and bustle,” Tom Schleff says. >

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

May/June 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com

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Feature

< “And with that, the beautiful sky, whether you see the moonrise or sunset,” Dania Schleff adds. She says The Sanctuary, located near 190th and West Center Road, is far enough from the city to be free from most light pollution. “On a clear night, when you look straight up, the sky is full of stars,” Tom says.

The interior of the house reflects the Schleffs’ love of nature as well. Houseplants bring a touch of green to many of its rooms. Accents and art commonly represent themes relating to the great outdoors.

The three-season room—one of Dania’s favorite spaces—has wood-paneled walls and comfortable wicker furniture. The house is decorated in warm, earthy tones with wood trim. Much of the house is furnished with pieces from Stickley, a furniture manufacturer known for simple designs, natural materials, and colorations that emphasize the beauty of wood.

“It’s not ornate or curvy,” Tom Schleff says, adding that the organic look of the furnishings nicely complements the home’s incredible site.

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

The away-from-it-all locale of the Schleff house is reminiscent of Tom Schleff’s upbringing in the Nebraska town of Morrill near the Wyoming border. By contrast, it’s a far cry from his wife’s early life. Dania Schleff, formerly Dania Inguanzo, arrived on American shores from Cuba on July 4, 1962. “The Fourth of July is a very special day for us,” she says. Her mother, three siblings, and the rest of the family relocated to Burwell, Nebraska, in January 1963.

“There we encountered snow for the first time…it was quite the shock,” Dania says. “The Nebraska people were very welcoming, and we were immersed in the culture and the language. Here we are years later.”

Nebraska proved to be a wonderful place for the family to start a new life. Dania followed in her mother’s footsteps to become a teacher. She taught elementary-level Spanish for many years, and is now retired. Higher education was an important goal instilled in her by her mother, and Dania and her siblings all earned advanced degrees, she explains.

Higher education also led to another major life event: she met her future husband while both were attending the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (the Schleffs continue to enthusiastically follow Husker football today). >

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This stand-alone magazine is also featured as a section of Omaha Magazine. Want to read the entire magazine? Visit omahamagazine.com/digital-flip-book JANUARY

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Tom and Dania Schleff May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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Feature

< In 1981, Tom co-founded Professional Research Consultants, an Omaha-based healthcare research and marketing firm where he now serves as principal/senior vice president.

“I work in west Omaha, and it’s very easy for me commute to work,” he says, pointing out yet another advantage of living on the outskirts of town.

The Schleffs’ spacious home was designed with entertainment and visitors in mind. They especially enjoy hosting their family—daughter Jana and son-in-law Dustin Rose; and daughter Kendra, son-in-law Mark Kleinschmidt, and granddaughter Easton Emilia (whose middle name honors her Cuban great-grandmother).

The house is welcoming and child-friendly, it also harbors one special feature especially appealing to young visitors.

“Behind a bookcase in the hall, we have a hidden staircase that leads to the upstairs level,” Diana says. “Right now we use it as a guest bedroom suite with a living room, but someday we'll turn it into a grandkids’ fun space.”

The upstairs is a quiet area with the great room purposely set up without a television. The designated space for entertaining is in the home’s lower level, which features amenities including the TV and a bar. The home also includes a small workshop for Tom, which Dania jokingly refers to as his ‘man cave.’

The Schleffs are quick to credit the various professionals who helped them bring their ideas to life before and during the 2011 build.

“We couldn’t have done it without them,” Tom says. “A lot of people say that building a home is stressful, but it was the first home that we built, so maybe we were just naïve. It was very easy.”

Dania agrees, saying there was no stress or arguing involved. “It was pretty much a smooth process,” she says. OmahaHome

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

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OmahaHome â&#x20AC;˘ May/June 2016

Feature story by Tamsen Butler / photography by Bill Sitzmann

“OUR FOREVER HOME” A MID-TOWN CONDOMINIUM

T

HE DESIGNING OF this condo was 40

years in the making. The homeowners became friends with designer Marilyn Hansen in 1976, and began relying on her for advice on everything from furniture selection to roof shingle color for their home. In 2014, the homeowners decided it was time to downsize to a condominium. They turned to Hansen to not only help select the condo, but also to make it a place they would want to live for the rest of their lives.

The task fell on Hansen to integrate the “old” with the “new.” This meant figuring out how to fit the homeowners’ favorite pieces from their home into the condo without making everything feel crowded, which was not easy.

Luckily for Hansen, the homeowners valued clever storage solutions and embraced her space-saving ideas such as an office tucked away behind what appears to be a hall linen closet. No space is wasted within this condo, allowing the homeowners to keep some of their favorite pieces from the previous home without giving the condo a cramped feeling.

The condo exemplifies its design by having an open feel to it. Intricately laid floor tiles gently navigate the path from the foyer into the kitchen, and then right into the living room—which has carefully selected shades that allow a peek at the impressive view even when they are pulled down.

The tile work was done by Hansen’s son, Peter.

He also created the fireplace and was responsible for the tile work on the balcony. The balcony itself happens to be one of the homeowners’ favorite aspects of the renovation. The balcony tiles are laid in an unexpected, non-symmetrical way that suggests an artist was responsible. >

May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

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Feature

< “Marilyn can get it done right the first time,” the homeowners say, adding that Hansen also has an innate ability to select colors. Both homeowners admit being particular in their tastes, and appreciate Hansen’s ability to transform the condo into a place they’re happy to call home.

Neither homeowner wanted anything “trendy” within the condo, so Hansen was careful to stick with classic pieces that draw attention without being up-to-the-minute.

Hansen intentionally designed the lighting within the condo to be highly customizable. This way the homeowners would be satisfied whether they wanted an evening with soft lighting, a brightened ambiance, or something in-between. Along with the neutral color schemes, this gives the condo an overall welcoming feel.

/ H38 /

OmahaHome • May/June 2016

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“It’s all very livable,” the lady of the home says. “I like the easy maintenance.”

Hansen and the homeowners were very forward-thinking in their planning, because the homeowners have no intention of moving again. Now that all the major renovation work is complete, only a few small tasks remain.

The couple can reminisce and chuckle about the small bumps along the way.

For instance, they almost bought a grey couch that Hansen found so appalling she affectionately dubbed it “Mouse.”

For now, the homeowners lounge on their non-grey couch and watch the sunset from their picturesque views from their forever home. OmahaHome

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Feature story by Kara Schweiss / photography by Bill Sitzmann

A FUNCTIONAL LAKE HOUSE THE ALBERS’ RANCH HOME IN VALLEY

Erin Albers / H40 /

OmahaHome • May/June 2016

E

RIN A ND STEVE Albers always envisioned

building a lake house “someday,” and three years after making that dream a reality—they say their Valley home has proven to be everything they hoped for.

“Living on a lake has been a blast. It’s like a vacation every day,” Erin says.

The couple, who are originally from Harlan, Iowa (Erin), and Beaver Lake, Nebraska (Steve), say they enjoy the small town feel of their Mallard Landing neighborhood. It’s a manageable commute for Steve, who works downtown at Union Pacific, and an easy drive for Erin to her west Omaha workplace, Home Instead Senior Care.

Their home boasts five bedrooms and four bathrooms in 3,078 finished square feet, but the family actually downsized when they moved. Erin Albers says with son Luke, now 10, and daughter Piper, now 8, getting older the toys they play with change. This means changes in the need for space.

“All their toys go away, and all they have are these little electronics. We don’t need all that space.”

Erin Albers says the house they have now is not very large, and the family is extremely minimalistic. The Albers use the space they have in the most effective way possible. > May/June 2016 • omahamagazine.com

/ H41 /

Feature

< “We use every inch of it. So everywhere is very functional,” Erin Albers said. “We wanted to create a space where we could all be together. The four of us, and our dog Bella, are always together in the same space, and this house is perfect for that.”

She says visitors describe the home as open and happy, adding that it reflects the family’s outgoing nature and fun vibe. The interior colors are neutral, but the furnishings and décor incorporate bright hues. This is intended to create a “coastal” feel enhanced by white car siding on the vaulted ceiling. “I wanted it to look a little cottage-ish,” Albers says. “It’s all grays and whites, but it has lots of orange and turquoise and lime. Lots of color.”

The home features unexpected accents throughout such as a lively piece of custom art by local artist Sam Vetter, vividly colored damask accent chairs, limegreen metal bar stools, a versatile Junkstock piece that serves as a sometimes-bar in the lower level, and even a one-of-a-kind reclaimed-wood table made by a retired shop teacher in Kearney who had to painstakingly remove hundreds of nails by hand.

“It’s a 10-foot long, custom-made table from old barnwood. It is gorgeous,” Albers says. “It has two long benches, and you can fit like 12 people at the table.”

Lake living hasn’t been without its challenges, however. Wood floors proved to be no match for the site’s environmental moisture and had to be replaced with tile. The family also had to consider how to keep sand at bay, and find storage for their recreational items.

“We did have to figure in what we call a ‘lake room’ under the house,” Albers says.

Complete with an outdoor shower and year-round storage space, the transition area helps keep the house up to acceptably tidy standards for the self-confessed “complete neat freak.”

“Our house is perfect for us,” Albers says. OmahaHome

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

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/ H43 /

Transformations story by Courtney Otte, allied ASID / photography by Paula Moser Photography

MEET THE DESIGNER

Courtney Otte, Allied ASID The Modern Hive Design Studio Transformations is a regular feature of Omaha Home that spotlights a recent project by a local ASID interior designer. The story and photos are provided by the designer. Homeowners’ names may be withheld for privacy.

FROM BACHELOR PAD TO MODERN ELEGANCE A SPACE FIT FOR A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL COUPLE

Y

OU MIGHT CALL Aaron Hochstein and Megan

Bengtson a dynamic duo. The newlywed couple make a great team as Hochstein has owned and operated Highrock Design. Build. Remodel for 11 years and Bengtson has been selling real estate as a Residential Realtor for 11 years.

The couple met through business networking and quickly found that they shared the same passion about real estate, home design, and style.

But there was one problem. When Hochstein built a home for himself in 2007 he built it with the ultimate bachelor pad design in mind. Enter Bengtson and her two Shih Tzu pups, Riley and Cooper. The couple knew that the space needed a drastic change that would fit their new lifestyle together.

The young professional couple had a vision in mind but enlisted the help of The Modern Hive to pull it all together.

/ H44 /

OmahaHome • May/June 2016

With the expertise of Hochsteinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s contracting skills and Bengtsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love of contemporary design, the bachelor pad was completely transformed to a space of modern elegance. A perfect fit for a young professional couple that loves to entertain.

Upon entering the home, eyes are quickly drawn from the entryway to the open floor plan. A contemporary living room boasts monochromatic tones of grey and white with pops of deep blues. Carpet was removed from the living room and wood flooring, sanded and re-stained in a dark coffee color, and was added to connect the open plan throughout. A fireplace anchors the living room, featuring floor to ceiling molding and a wavy light blue tile that outlines the fireplace. continued on page 47 > May/June 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com

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OmahaHome • May/June 2016

Transformations < continued from page 45 Connected to the living room is the kitchen.

The couple needed a functional space that allowed them to easily and comfortably prepare meals at the end of the day. The center island was re-configured from a raised bar height boomerang shape to a simple, clean lined rectangular counter height shape.

The cabinets were painted in a bright white finish and glass display cabinets with crown molding were added to the upper cabinets to close the gap between the cabinet and ceiling. A new glass backsplash and hood vent were installed to complete the look.

The couple desired a space where they could relax and sip on a cocktail at the end of a busy day. The basement was noted as the perfect spot for that. With a bar already built in, the basement was transformed by making a few notable changes.

One design challenge was figuring out how to connect the brown tones of the basement to the light and airy color pallet of the main level. This was easily achieved by giving the bar a facelift and incorporating a white glass backsplash and white quartz counters that resembled the look of Carrera marble.

Metallic tones in accent furniture, a white marble coffee table, two modern white chairs, and a luxurious blue and silver rug were also incorporated into the seating area to tie the space together. Pops of dark blue were added to the space with pillows and accessories, similar to the main level.

Groupings of pillows, added to the long sectional sofa, gave new life and a new appreciation to the piece.

The journey to transform this bachelor pad to an elegant space resulted in a finished design that both Hochstein and Bengtson are proud to call their home. OmahaHome

May/June 2016 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com

/ H47 /

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