Inspired Living Omaha Mar-April 2018 by Omaha World-Herald

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Our Story

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From the very beginning, Earl E. May wanted to provide his customers with the best quality seed, nursery stock, and most importantly, the best possible service.

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M A R C H / A P R I L 2 0 1 8 • VO L U M E 1 6 • I S S U E 2

begins with us.

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF CHRIS CHRISTEN 402-444-1094 | chris.christen@owh.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR/DESIGNER HEIDI THORSON 402-444-1351 | hthorson@owh.com ASSISTANT EDITOR MARJIE DUCEY 402-444-1034 | marjie.ducey@owh.com

7700 Serum Avenue | Ralston, NE 68127 | 402.331.4708 www.taylormadehomesolutions.com

PHOTO IMAGING SPECIALIST Patricia “Murphy” Benoit 2028266-01

CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS Kim Carpenter, Chad Lebo, Jessica Luna, Howard K. Marcus, Jeffrey Bebee, Heather & Jameson CUSTOM PUBLISHING SALES MANAGER Lauren Kruger | 402-444-1261 | lauren.kruger@owh.com ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES Christina Kadlec | 402-444-1527 | christina.kadlec@owh.com Gay Liddell | 402-444-1489 | gay.liddell@owh.com Emily Martin | 402-444-1411 | emily.martin@owh.com Michael Medrano | 402-444-1209 | michael.medrano@owh.com EVENTS Tam Webb | 402-444-3125 | tam.webb@owh.com Emily Gerhardt | 402-444-1161 | emily.gerhardt@owh.com

1314 Douglas St., Suite 700, Omaha, NE 68102 Inspired Living Omaha (ISSN 23795948) is a publication of the Omaha World-Herald. ©2018, Omaha World-Herald, a Berkshire Hathaway Company. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form without the specific written permission of the publisher. The opinions expressed by those interviewed are their own. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information, no responsibility can be accepted by the publisher for content, opinions or practices, or how the information herein is used. All materials submitted, including but not limited to images, logos and text that appear, are assumed to be the original work of the provider, and the publisher is not responsible for unintentional copyright infringement.

FOR THE WAY YOU LIKE TO LIVE L E T U S B E Y O U R I N S P I R AT I O N O N L I N E

INSPIREDLIVINGOMAHA.COM PHOTO: JEFFREY BEBEE

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contents DESIGN DONE RIGHT 10 24

SLICE OF HEAVEN A SALVAGING TRIUMPH

AU COURANT 16

HEY, HONEY

HOMESPIRATION 18

FINE FOWL LIVING

EXPERIENCE LOCAL 20 22 46

OMAHA HOME SHOW HABITAT RESTORE LUXURY HOMES

THREADS 30

MODERN PRAIRIE STYLE

GET TO KNOW 36 38 40

THE FIORES CALANDRA COOPER

THE BRANNENS

DESTINATION 42

QUILT MUSEUM

HIDDEN PANTRY 44

HOMESTEAD FAVORITES

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inspiredlivingomaha.com 7

EDITOR'S NOTE

I GREW UP IN an American Foursquare with a large front porch that

crops and tending chickens and bees. Who

was perfect for blanket forts and silly little

would have guessed that raising chickens

one-act plays on warm summer nights.

would rank as one of the fastest-growing

The exterior of our house was

editor-in-chief

IN OUR NEXT ISSUE Color trends and pet solutions

HAVE A STORY IDEA? Visit inspiredlivingomaha.com, click “Submit” on the navigation bar and share a few details. Or call us at 402-444-1094.

hobbies in the United States? Our own

meticulously maintained by my dad, who

Marjie Ducey joined the craze a year ago.

was handy with nail and hammer and

She and her neighbor built a backyard coop,

enjoyed yard work.

bought four hens and now enjoy as many as

The interior – Mom’s domain – was

a dozen eggs a week from their feathered

practical, modest and tidy, with beloved

friends. “There’s nothing like going out to

Craftsman-style built-ins, leaded-glass

the chicken coop and plucking an egg for

windows and wood-beam ceilings. “I don’t

breakfast,” she says.

have a fancy house,” my mom would always

CHRIS CHRISTEN

Also meet urbanites growing their own

tell guests. But it was comfortable. And it

Here’s hoping you find your happy place in this sometimes crazy world.

was home. Enter the current Farmhouse Movement, where modern families are creating a simpler – but nevertheless beautiful – lifestyle that isn’t too far removed from the one I knew and loved.

SHOP LOCAL SPOTLIGHT

The Farmhouse Movement isn’t about living on a farm. It's about minimalist style, function and sustainability; eating clean,

CONNECT WITH US @inspiredlivingomaha @inspiredomaha chris.christen@owh.com

reintroducing lost arts around the home, and capturing the personality of a wellloved place from yesteryear. In this issue, meet Emilee and Kirt Soll, who re-established his family’s farmstead with a dream house in northern Douglas County (page 10). Get to know Academy Award-winning cinematographer Mauro Fiore and his family, who lead a down-to-earth lifestyle on an Elkhorn acreage with an entertaining barnyard menagerie (page 36). Marvel at Debbie and Don Nelson’s millwork in their DIY home in western Douglas County (page 24).

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DESIGN DONE RIGHT

SLICE OF

Heaven A family farm's legacy is preserved TEXT MARJIE DUCEY PHOTOGRAPHY JEFFREY BEBEE

FUN FACT The 100-yearold windmill was purchased on Craigslist. ROLL WITH IT Donkey, 17, was adopted in the fall of 2016. The miniature donkey is known for rolling under the barnyard fence, moseying over to the main house to say hi and then going back to the barnyard.

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KIRT SOLL WANTED a one-of-a-kind house. “I didn’t want it to look like anybody else’s,” he says. “I wanted it to be my house.” He built his dream home on a little more than an acre of land that abuts what remains of his family’s 160-acre farm east of 72nd Street and Northern Hills Drive in Douglas County. The last 35 acres are a slice of heaven owned by Kirt and brothers Kevin and Kenny, he says, where around every corner is a memory. Kirt wanted the same upbringing for he and wife Emilee’s four children, the sixth generation to live on the land. So, four years ago, the family moved from an acreage near Fort Calhoun. Kirt designed the floor plan of the house using construction skills he began learning as a youngster. Every square foot has a purpose, Emilee says, and was built with a strict budget in mind. She had two requirements: an arched front door, and a wraparound

porch with the requisite rockers. The Nix door was one of the first things they bought. “We built the house around that door,” Kirt says. Porch columns he milled from old power poles ensure a unique touch on the outside, along with a partial stone façade from rock found on Craigslist. A friend put that puzzle together while another built the rockers and a porch swing. It’s the perfect place to sit in the evening after Kirt tweaked the design so the late-day sun isn’t a factor. A three-car garage on the west side keeps the country wind at bay. Kirt’s work continued inside, where more poles were transformed into the main staircase, support beams and a fireplace mantel. “We wanted to repurpose as much as possible,” Kirt says. “I have an old farmer mentality: Use what you've got and make it work.” Besides, he loves old things. “The more rusty the patina, the better.” The couple, who met 20 years ago

when Kirt landed in Emilee's salon chair, share a design aesthetic based on function, comfort and rustic charm. A chandelier from Wolfe Funeral Home in Villisca, Iowa (which was started by Emilee’s great-grandfather), hangs in the main floor powder room. Above the kitchen table is a fixture with fallow and whitetail deer antlers crafted by Emilee’s father, a taxidermist. In the basement sits a 900-plus pound safe, a funeral home leftover that no one else in the family wanted. “We have a lot of old things, repurposed things that can’t be duplicated,” Kirt says. With the house done, the focus has turned outside. Kirt is redoing the old farmhouse. He constructed a charming outhouse (yes, charming!) and has built insulated shelters for each of the couple's three outdoor cats. CONTINUED ON PAGE 13

EXTERIOR WISH LIST Kirt Soll had an exterior design in mind, one that recalled farmhouses of the 1930s. “All I wanted was a wraparound porch and a round door,’’ Emilee says, “and that’s what we built the house around.’’

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CLASS ART Artwork by daughter Gracie hangs throughout the home. Most pieces were done in high school. Today, she's a pre-vet major.

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CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

“Anybody can do it,” Kirt says. “It’s just jumping in and learning.” It’s a career he someday hopes to return to, on his own terms. Right now, Kirt is an Omaha firefighter. Constant projects, three kids in college and one in junior high, along with three dogs, three cats, five horses, a 17-year-old mini donkey named Donkey and nearly 40 chickens means there’s little time to rest. The couple wouldn’t have it any other way – most of the time. It’s why Kirt fought to keep the last 35 acres of the farm – adjacent to Northern Hills Estates – undisturbed by the progress around them. “It was given to me to fix and use,” he says, “and someday pass it on.”

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DESIGN ON THE FLY The outhouse was constructed last summer for a class reunion party the Solls’ hosted at their acreage. “I designed it as I built,’’ Kirt said. “If I didn’t like it, I’d tear it off. That’s the way it ended up.’’

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AU COURANT

BUZZING BEES-NESS A long procession of cars snaking through the Bohemian Cemetery each April is the start of a new life for millions of bees, and a big day for Omaha beekeepers. H E R E ' S W H Y The past two springs, enthusiasts have picked up orders of live bees at the cemetery. The Omaha Bee Club organizes the April event. “We open our doors for everybody to get bees,’’ says president Lynn Danzer. “It’s getting to be very popular.’’ Q U E E N B E E S The Omaha Bee Club has 200 members – about 160 from Omaha and 40 from Council Bluffs and the surrounding area. Last year, they distributed 400 packages of bees. Each nucleus or package hive contains a queen and about 10,000 bees. Startup costs can be as much as $400. W H E R E B E E S A R E L I V I N G Hives sit atop downtown buildings and on private properties throughout the urban core. Danzer has 60 hives, spread from Ashland to Crescent, Iowa. C H E C K I N T O I T To be a beekeeper, the City of Omaha requires a permit from the Douglas County Health Department and a 25-foot buffer between a hive and a neighboring property.

››

RAW HONEY The hard-working bees can be moneymakers, too. Omahan James Franksen sells his honey to local restaurants. Look for Dunbee Honey at farmers markets this fall.

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HEY, HONEY Those out-of-the-ordinary pets? They're not so unusual anymore in the Omaha area. Peek into a neighbor's backyard and who knows what you'll find. Among the hottest critters: chickens, bees, ducks and pigs. Part of it is the novelty. For others, it's a back-to-nature kick. "It's not your normal hobby,'' beekeeper Lynn Danzer admits. TEXT MARJIE DUCEY PHOTOGRAPHY HEIDI THORSON

MEET FOREST; HE POUTS Who knew pigs could pout? Or be there when you need them. When Sam Trummer feels sad or sick, she can always count on Forest, her 160-pound pot belly-Juliana cross. “He likes to cuddle up with you,” says Trummer, who works in Ralston and lives in Elmwood, Nebraska. Forest has been leading the good life since he was rescued from the Pilger tornado when he was just days old. He’s named after the movie character Forrest Gump, and even though he doesn’t get to sleep on the bed anymore, he loves to burrow under his own blanket.

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A PIG PAL OF YOUR OWN Pam Wiese of the Nebraska Humane Society says pigs are actually very smart and clean, and they can be potty-trained. BEFORE YOU BRING ONE HOME Trummer cautions: "They are kind of like having a toddler and a teenager all wrapped in one.'' TIMEOUTS MAY BE REQUIRED Forest loves to play, do tricks for snacks and go places. But no closed refrigerator door or cupboard is safe. And he can have an attitude. "When you put him in timeout, which you have to do because they are like a toddler, he will turn his backside to you and pout,'' Trummer says. "They are very emotional.'' ABOUT THEIR SIZE... While pigs make an interesting pet, they grow until age 5. "There is no such thing as a teacup,'' Trummer says. "A miniature pig is 300 pounds or under.''

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HOMESPIRATION

FINE FOWL LIVING

DID YOU KNOW? “It’s more dangerous for chickens to be too hot than too cold,” Robyn Thorson says. "We don’t do any supplemental heating in the winter, and we give them plenty of ice cubes during the summer."

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ROBYN AND SCOTT THORSON welcomed five chickens to their Dundee home in June 2016. The Omaha couple started with a store-bought coop, which met the minimum space requirement for their new hens. But it didn’t fare well when it came to withstanding Nebraska weather and buckled under a summer hailstorm. Scott is quite the handyman and picked up a book at a library sale: “How to Build a House.” “Essentially I just built a tiny 4x4-foot house,” he says. “It took a couple of months, and I still consider it a work in progress. But if I had set aside the time, I probably could have completed the project within a few weeks.” He bought framing timber from Menards and used leftover fence boards as well as extra shingles from the garage they had built. The coop has a solar-powered automatic door. “The breed we have is a Bantam White Silkie, which we bought from mypetchicken.com. It’s a show breed and they don’t get very big.” Robyn says. “The running joke is that we named them all but can’t really tell them apart, so we call them all ‘Big White.’”

Compared to other chickens, this breed is perfect for families with children. They are much more friendly and won’t peck at anyone trying take their eggs, pet them or pick them up. How many eggs they lay depends on the length of the day. During the winter months, they each lay about an egg a day. In the summer, they can lay as many as four or five eggs a day. That’s a lot of eggs, which the Thorsons happily share with neighbors.

GOOD TO KNOW WHAT'S THE ATTRACTION? "There is a big movement going on with people wanting to know where their food comes from,'' says Gino Ormond, administrator of the Omaha Chicken Talk Facebook page.

EASY START-UP Almost 300 poultry permits were issued by the Douglas County Health Department last year. A license is also required to sell the eggs.

FIRST THINGS FIRST Build your coop first to make sure there is adequate room for each chicken. You can use all kinds of building material to construct a coop. But don't scrimp on the fencing.

CHALLENGES Finding a way to keep the water from freezing in the winter was a challenge for Robyn and Scott Thorson. Chickens are also destructive. They eat plants and scratch the grass and trees.

BONUS Chickens are good composters. They eat veggie and fruit scraps like strawberries, tomatoes, celery and kale.

i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 19

EVERYTHING YOU CAN IMAGINE FOR YOUR HOME Meet the professionals in new home building, home improvement, landscaping, decorating, smart energy and more. Find fresh ideas, innovative products, practical advice and great deals from hundreds of experts all under one roof. From windows and flooring to outdoor furniture and gardening, come shop, compare and save!

HIGHLIGHTS

APRIL 6-8 CenturyLink Center Omaha HOURS 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday ADMISSION $9, adults (age 13 and older); $7, seniors age 65 and older, and anyone showing military I.D.; $7, ages 7-12. Free to ages 6 and younger.

DEMO KING JOSH TEMPLE Meet celebrity home remodeler Josh Temple of HGTV and DIY Network's “House Crashers” and “Disaster House.” Learn how to add value and appeal to your home and landscape, and what you should leave to the pros! Pose your best questions and be inspired to deconstruct and re-create! ASK THE MASTER GARDENER & BUG ZOO Master gardeners of Douglas and Sarpy Counties answer questions on gardening, weeds, insects, trees, shrubs, lawns, fruits and vegetables. Bring your plant samples and your kids – for a fun encounter with bugs and spiders. Learn which bugs are good and which ones are pests. TINY LIVING Join Melody and Darren Mike as they talk about their “Big Family Tiny Life” adventures and show off the Tiny House on Wheels that brought them TV fame. Could you downsize in the same way? Your walk-through awaits!

EXHIBITORS & UPDATES omahahomeshow.com

Produced by The Omaha World-Herald

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PET LOVERS LANE Find everything you need to keep your furry friends happy and healthy. Animal behavior specialist and trainer Dawn Thrapp of the Nebraska Humane Society brings favorite four-legged friends to demonstrate fun, positive training techniques. The show is your pet headquarters for grooming supplies, food, treats, accessories, urgent care providers and rescue organizations. FINE ARTS MARKET See and buy original local and regional art in our first-ever pop-up gallery. Meet featured artist Katrina Swanson of Omaha and watch as she uses oils to bring local landmarks and vintage vignettes to life on her canvas.

MEET JOSH TEMPLE Josh Temple of "House Crashers" fame talks about his HGTV and DIY Network gigs, his current renovation project and the visit he'll be making to Boys Town between his Omaha Home Show appearances, April 6-8. INTERVIEW MARJIE DUCEY

You taped “House Crashers” in 32 states. Do people recognize you? A. It’s hard to go to Lowe's and Home Depot for my own business now. Most people are very respectful and nice. Some ask, “Are you picking someone today?” I say, “I’m here for myself.” It’s cute. My favorites are people who just kind of end up in your aisle, every aisle you go to.

Are you tackling any home renovations of your own right now? A. My wife, who is a developer and builder, got this place ... She said,“Why don’t you run this one?” It’s a full-gut job of a tiny house, 750 square feet. We added 200 to make it 1,000. It’s a two-bed, two-bath bungalow on a hillside, almost 100 years old.

Is it possible to learn to renovate a home by watching a show? A. YouTube and the Internet are so fast and have so much information. You miss so many steps through the editing. I tell people, “I actually did renovate this kitchen and this floor. What the editor left out were the very unsexy but necessary steps.”

What's hot right now in home renovation? A. If someone is flipping a house in real life in Omaha, they are going to go with stainless and granite. It’s become a standard. It’s a flip, you want to go with standard. You don’t want to lose any prospective buyers. There has

been so much that has come out since granite. Now there are all these engineered stones. Concrete is growing.

What are you using in the bungalow? A. I did a folding door to open the whole thing up. Since it's so small, the deck is 200 square feet, a fifth of the house, I’m going to highlight that. People would say it’s not necessary, you are not going to get that back. It just makes the place cool, seem bigger, a little more luxurious. The counters, I might take a step back; I don’t think I’ll ever go with granite again. I really like the aesthetic of engineered quartz countertops. It’s super durable. You can do a lot with them. For flooring, my automatic is three-quarter-inch solid hardwood floors. It will last 100 years. I don’t see its equal.

You're a huge advocate for trades education. Why? A. That’s the reason I’m coming to Omaha in the first place. I’m going to Boys Town. I started a program there called Trade Life. Five years ago, I went to Omaha to do “House Crashers.” I was asked to do a P.R. thing at Boys Town. I had never heard of Boys Town. I absolutely fell in love with the place, the mission, the kids and the people who work so hard for the kids.

kids who have worked so hard to get their life back in order if college isn’t in order and the military isn’t taking them? You have 12 carpenters, an electrical shop, an HVAC shop. I wondered, “Why don’t we teach these kids the trades?” They were game for it.

You’ve helped line up tools and courses. What's next? A. I’m trying to grab more HGTV hosts, to bring them to Boys Town. The goal is to get them to teach a class. Build one of their pieces – a table, a stool, a light fixture ... and the kids can sell them at auction. You know what is funny? Jeff Devlin is calling me right now. (The “Stone House Revival” host on the DIY Network told Temple to count him “in” for Trade Life!)

What's the payoff for the kids at Boys Town? A. They are going to be able to pay their bills, have a car, have an apartment. If you can keep them on the right track three years out of Boys Town, the odds of making it and having a successful life skyrocket. That’s the thing about the trades. Everyone needs a plumber, everyone needs someone to build houses. We are dropping our caliber of work. If you ask five people if they’ve ever had work done on their house, four will say they were dissatisfied. It’s time to up the game.

Trade Life offers a different secondary education option. Elaborate. A. What do you do with 18-year-old

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DESIGN DONE RIGHT

WALNUT, HICKORY, WHITE OAK, elm and pine. Name a fine hardwood, and you’re certain to find it in Debbie and Don Nelson’s Elkhorn home. Located off a winding gravel road overlooking a private lake with a sandy beach, their rustic residence boasts soaring wooden ceiling beams, an open staircase, gleaming flooring, custom cabinetry and one-of-a-kind furniture. The majority of the features were designed, sawn and handcrafted by the couple at their Cutting Edge Mill on the acreage. Showcasing so much beautiful wood isn’t surprising when you get to know the homeowners. Wood is in Don’s DNA. As a child, he worked alongside his grandfather in his sawmill, learning the intricacies of wood’s every knot, whirl and grain. Debbie is equally smitten with the organic material. That kind of love naturally had to flow into every aspect of their home. Inspired by a house they spotted in a magazine, Don and Debbie set about making their perfect home, which they built in 2011. They established Cutting Edge Mill two years ago, upon Don’s retirement. A large portion of the business involves creating tables, benches, sofa tables, cutting boards and mantels for others. Don’s intimate knowledge of wood is evident throughout the home. Every detail, both underfoot and overhead, involves the perfect pairing of beautiful wood with masterful design. CONTINUED ON PAGE 27

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MAGAZINE INSPIRED Their love for beautiful wood flows into every aspect of their home, which was inspired by a house the Nelsons spotted in a magazine. i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m â&#x20AC;&#x192; 25

NONTRADITIONAL The house includes heated white-oak flooring. “It’s kind of rare,” Don says. “Most wooden flooring you buy is cut into narrow, short pieces. These are from our slabs, and they’re cut longer and wider than traditional flooring.”

KITCHEN CABINET PERFECTION In the kitchen, custom-designed cabinetry in character-grade hickory glows. “Debbie told the cabinetmakers exactly what we wanted; they didn’t have to ask,’’ Don says.

26 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 24

“We put a lot of thought into everything,” Debbie says. That starts with the heated white-oak flooring. “It’s kind of rare,” Don says. “Most wooden flooring you buy is cut into narrow, short pieces. These are from our slabs, and they’re cut longer and wider than traditional flooring.” In the kitchen, custom-designed cabinetry in character-grade hickory glows. “Debbie told the cabinetmakers exactly what we wanted; they didn’t have to ask,” Don says. “She really had it all figured out.” When it comes to furniture, Don takes over the custom crafting along with two employees. He fashioned the walnut table adjacent to the kitchen with a 2-inch-thick “live edge” top that follows the natural contours of the wood. It won’t be there for long, though. It's a placeholder for a table currently under construction. “I’m drawn to creating furniture,” Don says. “It’s the coolest thing, I think.” Letting no good wood go to waste is a major part of Don’s mission. The majority of his wood comes from trees felled during storms or cleared to make room for housing developments and farmland. That kind of wood is destined for burn piles or wood chippers, but not if the couple can help it. “People will sometimes call us and say, ‘A tree blew down that our grandparents planted. Can you make a bench or table or shelves out of it?’” Debbie says. “It makes you feel good, because that wood often is discarded, and we make heirlooms out of it.” The impressive red oak staircase with steps 3 inches thick is another salvaging triumph. “They’re from two trees taken down by the City of Fremont,” Don says. “We saved them from the burn pile.” The soaring pine ceiling beams held in place with brackets designed by Don were sourced from a controlled government forest fire in New Mexico. The stair landing is walnut, a highly sentimental detail for Don. It came from his grandfather’s sawmill. “It’s fun when you can do what you actually enjoy,” he says. “It’s what inspires us.”

AMERICAN CUISINE THAT CELEBRATES THE BEST NEBRASKA HAS TO OFFER Experience Chef Jon Seymour’s contemporary twist on heritage dishes. Enjoy touches that are delightfully unexpected. C a l l f o r yo u r r e s e r v a t i o n : 5 31 . 4 4 4 . 4 0 4 9 ��

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WASTE NOT Letting no good wood go to waste is a major part of Don’s mission. The impressive red oak staircase was created from trees taken down by the City of Fremont. “We saved them from the burn pile,’’ Don says.

28 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m â&#x20AC;&#x192; 29

THREADS

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Prairie STYLE Spring’s beauty palette is fresh and

natural, with glowing skin and nude glossy lips. Add separates that evoke the earthy muted richness of the prairie and you can almost hear the meadowlarks calling across the field.

30 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

ART DIRECTION CHRIS CHRISTEN & HEIDI THORSON PHOTOGRAPHY HEATHER & JAMESON STYLIST JESSICA LUNA

HAIR & MAKEUP KALI RAHDER, VICTOR VICTORIA SALON & SPA MODEL ALYSON, DEVELOP MODEL MANAGEMENT

Milly silk blouse Christel's Rosie Neira knit skirt, McLaughlin wool cardigan, Maison M. Marrgiela boot Esther's "Fire on the Mountain" tassel necklace Amy Wells Designs Long strand necklace Pip and Ren Mixed metal earring Linda Williams Jewelry

Plaid wrap skirt, Paris & Me cropped top, Alexandre Birman suede boot, Esther's Sheer ruffled bib, stylist's own Mixed metal earring, Amy Wells Designs

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Listicle chunk knit cardigan, triangle wood resin necklace, amber long-strand necklace Pip and Ren R13 silk cami slip dress Christel's Wool-and-cashmere tweed trouser, platform microfiber boot, felt hat Esther's

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Etcetera leather tunic, velvet pant Esther's A.Z.I. off-the-shoulder blouse NJ & Co. bracelets Pip and Ren

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AT HOME WITH TEXT MARJIE DUCEY PHOTOGRAPHY JEFFREY BEBEE

HOLLYWOOD GLAM?

Not in this Oscar-winning household. Jeans and chickens are more their style. Meet Mauro Fiore, his quick-witted family and their barnyard brood.

AND, THE OSCAR GOES TO ... THE CHICKENS IN THE FIORE HOUSEHOLD FOR BEST CONVERSATION PIECE From left are Mauro Fiore, wife Christine Vollmer, Olivia, 16; Tessa, 14; and Luca, 12.

36â&#x20AC;&#x192; M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

FORGET THE OSCAR. In their Elkhorn neighborhood, the Fiores have another claim to fame. “We’re known as the chicken family,” 16-year-old Olivia says. In fact, Mauro, the Oscar-winning cinematographer for “Avatar” (2009), states that he’s now reached the status of professional chicken coop cleaner after months of caring for the 15 chickens and two ducks that reside in the backyard. Which brings a bit of a protest from wife Christine Vollmer. “When I’m home,” he qualifies. “When you're home,” she agrees. He’s often traveling. With more than 20 films to his credit, including most recently “The Magnificent Seven” and “X-Men: Dark Phoenix,’’ he can be away on location for months at a time. Right now, he's in Morocco. Christine, a native of Omaha, is also involved in the industry. A costume designer and producer, she’s producing a film based on the novel “The Persian Pickle Club” by Sandra Dallas. Although they were both living in L.A., the couple met while working on a film in Nebraska called “Love From Ground Zero.” Despite the couple’s success in the film industry, there’s no Hol-

lywood glamour in the rambling

was excited to see signs of success

four-bedroom ranch, situated on six

from one of the tomato plants.)

acres overlooking the Elkhorn Riv-

On a shelf next to the fireplace

er. Three kids, including 14-year-

sits the Oscar, so casually displayed

old Tessa and 12-year-old Luca, two

that it's mistaken for a sports tro-

dogs and busy careers ensure that's

phy. “We don’t do sports,” a kids’

not a priority.

chorus chimes from the kitchen.

Some furniture on the main floor

Luca does play soccer and bas-

is from Christine’s grandparents.

ketball but show choir and band are

Paintings by her great-aunt Marga-

more their thing.

ret adorn the walls.

It’s in the kitchen where the real

The furniture may be older —

work needs to be done. An awkward

one of the girls said “authentic” is

island makes it impossible to fully

a better description — but a barrel

open the refrigerator door. Unload-

chair in the living room provides

ing the dishwasher is a challenge,

the perfect spot to read a book and

too.

steal glances at the view that sold the Fiores on the house. That and the land. They were searching for a house

“We call it the dishwasher shuffle,” Christine says. If it all sounds like typical family living, it is. That’s what drew

in the Elkhorn school district five

Mauro to Nebraska. Born in Italy

years ago. “This place was the first

and raised in the Chicago area, he

one Christine really liked,” Mauro

could live anywhere.

recalls. “It’s nice to have a backyard

He explains that he fell in love with a Nebraska girl (drawing

that wasn’t looking at houses,”

“ooohs” from the kids), so Nebraska

Christine adds.

is where they settled.

On the inside, it’s a work in progress. They converted a three-season porch at the back of the house into

“I really like the family life here,” Mauro says. “It’s a really quiet place. It really seems like life revolves around your family.”

an extension of the living room. A wall of windows offers a view that stretches all the way to Valley. The addition includes a baby grand piano that everyone plays, and veggies under a grow light. (Christine

i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 37

GET TO KNOW TEXT MARJIE DUCEY PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF CALANDRA COOPER & SARAH HOFFMAN

CALANDRA COOPER IS AN URBAN FARMER. She also works full time, has a parttime job and teaches several classes each quarter for Metropolitan Community College. To add to the fun, the mother of four grown children raises chickens and bees. Does she ever find time to sleep? “I'm not one of those people who says I can't do something,” Cooper says. “I'm learning something new all the time.” A friend calls her a renaissance woman. Gardening and teaching are passions. Class topics include couture sewing and draping, natural dyeing, watercolor painting and urban agriculture. Cooper and her husband, Samuel, own 19 parcels of land, mostly in north Omaha and Florence. She maintains a coop with 15 chickens on one tract and beehives on another. She's registered with the USDA as an urban farmer, and on her 1½-acre plot in Florence she grows everything from pumpkins to mushrooms. This

spring, she'll grow indigo and woad and other plants for her natural fabric dyeing classes for MCC in the Makers District in north downtown Omaha. Her schedule may sound overwhelming – and it is – to probably everyone but Cooper. Her roots are in Louisiana, where her grandmother and aunts instilled a love of gardening in her before age 6 and her family's move to Omaha. She was always encouraged to read (another love) and better her life. She has an artistic flair and loves to learn. She has associate degrees in business management, accounting and legal studies and is earning a bachelor’s degree in communications. She dreams of having a self-supporting farmers market where she offers classes and workshops and eventually provides jobs. “I want to help the community,” she says. “There are so many people in north Omaha who have hidden skills and abilities. Most of the people in the urban area get a bad rap. I want people in that community to feel like there is something else out there.”

"I'm not one of those people who says I can't do something."

38 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

FARMER'S MARKET DREAM A self-supporting farmers market is her dream, where she offers classes and workshops and eventually jobs.

FOR THE LOVE OF WATERCOLOR Calandra loves watercolors, especially those of vintage fashion. Gardening, teaching and reading are other passions.

i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m â&#x20AC;&#x192; 39

GET TO KNOW TEXT MARJIE DUCEY PHOTOGRAPHY HEIDI THORSON

Goal to be self-sustaining fulfilled, couple's Benson Bounty grows organically THE BRANNEN FAMILY eats the bounty from their urban farm year-round. Canned pickles, relish and tomato sauce. Jams, jellies and fruit syrups. Dried herbs, flowers and vegetables in breads and soups. “We preserve all sorts of stuff to put on our shelves,” says Michelle Brannen, who lives off a 1½-acre farm in Benson with husband, Mark, and sons, Oliver, 3, and Louis, 1. Tucked behind a car dealership at 69th and Evans Streets, what once was an empty lot is now planted with all kinds of vegetables and mulberry, apple, peach, apricot, pear and persimmon trees. Their goal when they began cultivating the land in 2014 was to provide food for the family while being close to grocery stores, schools and libraries. With their food goals quickly achieved, they formed Benson Bounty and started selling organic produce to individuals and restaurants, in the process becoming regulars at the Gifford Park Farmers Market.

40 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

APPLE CRISP Michelle’s apple crisp (above) has been popular at farmers markets, so they plan to keep selling baked goods at their stands this year.

They have big plans, too. A grant

tion in Michelle’s family. They picked

“When the kids go to bed, that’s also

from the USDA will allow them to

up more knowledge by volunteering

work time,” Michelle says. “Preserving

build a high tunnel shelter to extend

at an organic farm in Panama for five

food mostly happens after bedtime.

the growing season for kale, carrots

months.

Or we’re getting labels ready, talking

and greens beyond the first frost.

They’ve taken produce safety classes

They’ve also talked about adding

with the Nebraska Department of Ag-

a building that would include a

riculture and certification courses for

commercial kitchen for canning and

preserving and canning their bounty.

a space where they could dry items. A greenhouse would be a bonus. Mark’s family has always gardened.

Michelle also works at the Women’s

about orders, looking over the week.” It’s a lot of work, but worth it for their family. “It’s knowing that what you put into the project is feeding your family,”

Center for Advancement. A flexible

Michelle says. “You know how that

schedule allows Mark to head to the

food was made, from starting seeds to

His grandfather planted a fruit tree for

fields when she’s home to watch the

taking care of it. It’s about as clean as

every grandchild. Canning is a tradi-

kids.

it gets.”

i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 41

DESTINATION TEXT KIM CARPENTER PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF INTERNATIONAL QUILT STUDY CENTER & MUSEUM

METAPHORS OF LIFE WORLD’S LARGEST COLLECTION OF QUILTS IS FOUND IN LINCOLN; COMPLEXITY OF STORYTELLING WILL BOGGLE YOUR MIND

urkey Tracks. Courthouse Steps. Barn Raising. Streak of Lightning. Drunkard’s Path. Ask Carolyn Ducey to name a few quilt patterns, and she rattles them off, barely pausing for breath. Request to see a favorite, and she’s likely to pick an exquisitely vibrant silk Mughal floor quilt dating to the early 1700s. Ducey knows quilts backward and

42 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

forward, inside and out, and she’s eager to share them as curator of collections for the International Quilt Study Center & Museum at the University of NebraskaLincoln, which boasts the largest public quilt collection in the world. How large? More than 5,600 quilts from more than 50 countries spanning five centuries. They run the gamut from the traditional sort most people associate with quilt-making – ones your grandmother and great-aunts lovingly stitched during quilting bees, the kinds

that evoke images of apple pie, hearth fires and rural America – to unexpected quilts like the one from India, and contemporary treasures sewn from fragrant leather patches. A visit to the quilt center dispels preconceptions and underscores the complexity of quilts – not just in terms of their skillful stitchery but also for their artistic, social, cultural and historical significance. Robert and Ardis James got all that. The Nebraska natives married in 1949

and eventually settled in Chappaqua, New York, where James worked as an oil company executive and real estate developer and Ardis operated her own fabric store. The couple began collecting quilts during the 1970s, starting with a 19th-century Mariner’s Compass pattern. Over the years they acquired more than 1,000, creating a collection unrivaled for its breadth and focus. They wanted to preserve and share quilts with the public in a more formal way. No museum or organization was willing to take their collection in its entirety, though. “Most museums can’t acquire that many items at once,” Ducey says, “but the Jameses wanted their quilts to stay together. They recognized the potential of a study center to do solid research that could be relied upon by the scholarly community. They wanted a permanent home.” Serendipitously, they came across the 1991 book “Nebraska Quilts and Quiltmakers” by textile scholar and UNL professor Patricia C. Crews. They recognized the value of Crews’ scholarship, and the university, in turn, recognized the scholarly value of the James collection. In 1997 the couple donated it to UNL and created an endowment to build the Quilt House, a 37,000-square-foot building that opened in 2008. A 2015 expansion added 13,000 square feet. The building is itself an homage to the art of quilt-making. Towering windows on the exterior mimic the front patches of fabric on a quilt, while the galleries

represent the batting. The stacked offices and exterior brickwork symbolize the backing. A light-drenched reception hall represents the eye of a quilter’s needle. Constantly rotating exhibitions bring the traditional and innovative, the expected and experimental to the public. Current exhibitions include American quilts made during the Industrial Age, highlights from the James family collection and quilts owned by documentary filmmaker Ken Burns. “There is so much emotion and power to textiles in general, but to quilts in particular,” says Marin Hanson, curator of international collections. “The care that has been part of a woman’s world comes together within quilts. They fall into a category that symbolizes love on a physical level. They are so embedded in our lives, we almost take them for granted.” That’s why Ducey says quilts often offer tantalizing clues into social and economic history. “It’s intriguing what quilts say about women and women’s history in the world. We try to find out what their stories are and make them a real person – sometimes there are even quilts with skeletons in the closet,” she says. “You get caught up in the romanticism of quilting, but these people had lives and challenges. They were real. That’s what these quilts represent.” Those representations extend worldwide, Hanson says. “We knew that quilting and patchwork techniques existed around the world, but that understanding was only on the surface. During the last 15 years,

our understanding has really exploded. We’re learning so much about the rich traditions in countries like India and Pakistan.” “We have discovered quilt-making traditions that we never knew about,” Ducey says. “It’s so humbling. When you see the international traditions, you see the incredible connections between American quilts and those from around the world.”

PLAN YOUR VISIT

International Quilt Study Center & Museum 1523 N. 33rd St., Lincoln 402-472-6549; quiltstudy.org 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday (February-November) $8 adults, $6 seniors (ages 65 and older), $4 children (ages 5 to 18). Free for children younger than 5, UNL faculty, staff and students and on first Fridays of the month, 4 to 7 p.m.

i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 43

HIDDEN PANTRY

HOMESTEAD FAVORITES Simple, delicious and straight from the pages of Laura Ingalls Wilder RECIPE + PHOTOGRAPHY CHAD LEBO

"WOULD YOU MIND WRITING IT DOWN?" said Reverend Stuart. "How much flour, how much milk?" "Goodness!" said Ma. "I never measure, but I guess I can take a stab at it." – "By the Shores of Silver Lake" by Laura Ingalls Wilder Eating like America’s favorite homesteader, Laura Ingalls Wilder, may not be for the faint of heart. Few would find fault with the cured hams hickory-smoked in a hollow log. And tucking into some fire-warm bread, fruit preserves and cheese cut right from the wheel would not bother many souls. But few would want to fight Laura and her sister over the just-butchered pig's tail as in "Little House in the Big Woods." For more delectable homestead fare, look no further than one of the most simple: johnnycakes. Anyone who had cornmeal and fat tried some version of these pancakes. Variations can be found from Connecticut to the Caribbean. The second set of recipes features two other staples of early American cuisine: beans and cured meat. Any homesteader worth her salt (pun absolutely intended), knew how to preserve pork, beef, fish and wild game to get the family through the winter. There are minimal ingredients in ham and bean soup, so make sure they are good ones. Use quality cured smoked pork, freshly ground black pepper and beans that are dried but not so old they were around for the Louisiana Purchase. And as winter's chill wanes, enjoy the other two versions of soup that add a wee bit of class to this standard dish.

44 M A R C H /A P R I L 2 0 1 8

JOHNNYCAKES

HAM & BEAN SOUP

Simple and delicious are two hallmarks of homestead food. It doesn’t get much simpler than johnnycakes – fried cornmeal flatbread that makes a great blank canvas for fillings and toppings of your choice.

There is certainly nothing wrong with plain ham and bean soup. It is one of the best ways to satisfy cold-weather cravings. But with a few twists, this common food can approach elegance any time of year.

BASIC JOHNNYCAKES

BASIC HAM & BEAN SOUP

1 cup cornmeal 1 teaspoon sugar ½ teaspoon salt 2 cups boiling water 1 tablespoon lard Butter, honey, molasses and syrup, as desired

1. In bowl, mix cornmeal, sugar, salt. 2. Slowly stir 2 cups boiling water into cornmeal mix. 3. Heat cast-iron or nonstick skillet to medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon lard, bacon drippings or oil to grease the skillet. 4. Fry small cakes (large ones will break). About ¼ cup batter is great. Use wet spoon or spatula to flatten each dollop of batter. Fry 3-5 minutes until browned, then flip. The second side will cook faster. 5. Drain on paper towel. Add grease as needed between batches. 6. Serve with butter and molasses (personal favorite), honey or syrup. BLUEBERRY WITH LEMON BUTTER AND HONEY Basic Johnnycakes 4-5 fresh blueberries 1 teaspoon lemon juice 4 tablespoons butter Fresh lemon zest Honey

1. Prepare Basic Johnnycakes recipe. 2. While frying first side of cake, add blueberries and gently press into batter. 3. Make simple lemon butter by mixing lemon juice and softened butter. 4. Top each cake with a smear of lemon butter, fresh lemon zest, fresh blueberries and drizzled honey. CHORIZO AND FRIED EGG Basic Johnnycakes 1 pound Mexican chorizo 1 egg per serving 1 dollop sour cream Fresh minced chives, scallions Avocado slices

1. Prepare Basic Johnnycakes recipe. 2. Before frying cakes, fry ½ to 1 pound Mexican chorizo. Remove from skillet but leave the drippings (grease) in the skillet. 3. In same skillet, fry 1 egg sunny-side up for each serving. Reserve any remaining drippings. 4. While frying the cakes, add some chorizo drippings to the skillet with each batch. 5. Top each cake with chorizo, a fried egg, a dollop of sour cream and minced fresh chives or scallions. Avocado slices are a tasty substitution.

5-6 slices bacon 1 medium yellow onion 1 pound small navy beans 1 smoked ham hock w/meat 2 teaspoons black pepper Fresh chives, parsley

1. Heat 2 quarts water in large pot over high heat. 2. Coarsely chop 5-6 slices bacon. Sauté in skillet to render the fat. Add 1 medium minced yellow onion and continue to sauté on medium heat until onions are lightly browned. 3. To the large pot of water, add 1 pound small navy beans, 1 smoked ham hock with meat and 2 teaspoons ground black pepper. 4. Reduce heat, cover and bring pot to a low simmer. 5. Cook at a low simmer for 2-3 hours until beans are soft. Stir and turn the ham hock every 30 minutes. If it takes more than 2 hours, add 1-2 cups warm water to keep stock from getting too thick and scorching. 6. Once beans are soft, remove the hock and shred the meat. Return meat to soup. 7. Season as needed with salt and black pepper and serve with minced fresh chives or parsley. SAUTÉED LEEKS AND CHEESE GRATIN Basic ham & bean soup 1 leek 3-4 fresh garlic cloves 5-6 sage leaves 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 tablespoons olive oil ½ cup dry white wine Parmesan cheese, optional

1. Follow recipe for basic Ham & Bean Soup. 2. While soup is simmering, prepare the leek. Cut off 6-8 inches of the green stalks (reserve the remaining greens for your next batch of stock). Slice remaining leek lengthwise and thoroughly rinse. Very finely slice. 3. Mince fresh garlic cloves and sage leaves. 4. Heat butter and olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Add leek slices, garlic and sage, then sauté for 10 minutes until lightly browned. 5. After soup is finished, stir in half of the sautéed leek mix and white wine. 6. Fill ramekins or other oven-safe bowls with soup. Top each bowl with some of the remaining leek mix and a layer of shredded cheese of your choice (photo example uses Parmesan). 7. Place ramekins under broiler for 3-5 minutes until cheese is melted and browned. Keep an eye out to prevent burning. CREAM AND CHIVES Basic ham & bean soup 1 cup heavy cream 1 cup chives, finely minced Hot sauce, optional

1. Follow recipe for basic Ham & Bean Soup. 2. After soup is finished, stir in heavy cream and chives. 3. Top each serving with minced chives and a drizzle of hot sauce.

i n s p i r e d l i v i n g o m a h a . c o m 45

NPDODGE

Local Luxury HOME EDITION

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A bathroom is suppose to be a relaxing oasis where you can unwind, take a bath (or a steam, if you’re really lucky!), and reﬂect on the day. A lot of thought goes into a “master bath” design during a remodel or a new home build, and for good reason! It’s a perfect place to get some time to yourself. When it comes to looking for a new home, they’re usually on a buyer’s priority list as well.

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