January/February 2013 Omaha Home

january/february 2013

Always Local, Always Beautiful

Mid-Century to Modern

in Omaha

OLD

Q&A: TACK ARCHITECTS'

Rebecca Harding Justin Schafer

A Publication of

D•I•Y MID-CENTURY COFFEE TABLE www.ReadOnlineNow.com

2013 • january/february

153

3434 S. 144th St. Omaha, NE 68144 (Oakview Hollow) (402) 763-9391 Monday - Friday 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Saturday 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM

www.ckfco.com

January/February 2013 VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 1

E d i t o r i a l & C r e at i v e omaha publications editor

linda persigehl omaha home contributing editor

sandy besch assistant editors

bailey hemphill chris wolfgang art director

john gawley senior graphic designer

katie anderson junior graphic designer

paul lukes director of photography

bill sitzmann contributing photographers

john gawley thomas grady editorial advisors September/October 2011

Always Local, Always Beautiful

May/June 2012

Always Local, Always Beautiful

A Home For All Ages

Architect Steven Ginn’s Innovative Residence

March/April 2012

Always Local, Always Beautiful

rick carey

• david scott

Always Local, Always Beautiful

contributing writers Architect ron hAckett’s

Home in the Woods

Room spotlight

Kitchen Remodel neighboRhood pRofile

john aliano

Field Club Historical District WAtkins ULtimAte

2011 nebRaska-iowa

ASID Project Awards

Backyard Challenge

A Publication

Certified Green Homes

Jeff rensch & Brau Builders

CUrt Hofer ConstrUCtion A Publication of

“Band of Brothers” A Publication of

tApestry/ruG WeAver

Mary Zicafoose

gwen ahrens, asid leo adam biga jenna gabrial gallagher marilyn s. hansen, fasid

poshpeacock.net ph: 402.933.9666

Posh Peacock Consignment Gallery Furniture & Home Decor

H4

january/february • 2013

rachel ourada

Omaha Home Magazine appears as its own magazine and as a section within Omaha Magazine.

To view the full version of Omaha Magazine, or to subscribe, go to www.readonlinenow.com.

Simplify your life by selling your less needed items.

Bel Air Plaza #704 | 12100 W Center Rd. www.OmahaPublications.com

Midtown Crossing is committed to providing the luxurious lifestyle you’re looking for in a residential community. Our condominium residences offer 24 hour on-site security, controlled access lobbies, private access parking, restricted elevator service and a community full of friends. Rest easy in your new home, it’s peace of mind you won’t find anywhere else.

1, 2, and 3 bedroom condos from $169,900 to $500,000 Sales Center 200 South 31st Ave., Omaha

www.midtowncrossing.com

Schedule an appointment today | 402-934-6450 This is not an offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy, real property. No federal or state agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. Prices, plans, products, and availability are subject to change without notice. Artists’ renderings are shown for illustrative purposes only. Designated Broker: Sandra S. Lent, Shoreline Marketing, Inc., 833 N Orleans, Ste. 400, Chicago, IL 60610, 312.475.9800. ©2009 Midtown Crossing, a Mutual of Omaha Mixed-Use Development. All Rights Reserved. All contents herein are copyrighted and may not be used without permission.

awarded 2007 nebraska arborist of the year

Professional Tree Removal Trimming • Shaping • Pruning Stump Grinding

Premium Quality Mulch Products Local • Fresh • Clean • Consistent Natural & Colorized Pick-up & Delivery

For the HEALTH, BEAUTY & SAFETY of your trees

402.573.9573

3606 McKinley St | Omaha, NE 68112 Free Estimates

certified arborist • 1st class license • fully insured

www.omahatree.com

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

january/february • 2013 H5

Your outdoor retreat

January/February 2013 VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 1

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

on staff

publisher

todd lemke

publisher’s assistant

sandy besch

&

sales associate

publisher’s assistant

jessica linhart catharine kruse

EstatE GardEnErs, Inc. design

• installation & management • residential landscaping

vice president

greg bruns

vice president of operations

tyler lemke

- Winner of the prestigious -

grand environmental improvement aWard

executive vice president sales

&

marketing

402-289-0688 • WWW.omahagreen.com

gil cohen

MAKE YOUR NEIGHBORS JEALOUS

alicia smith hollins

sales associate

senior sales executive

gwen lemke

executive sales associate

vicki voet

account executive

paige edwards

accountant

jim heitz

distribution manager

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

402-331-4062 | 10811 Harrison St., Omaha, NE www.mckeans.com flooring, cabinets, countertops, ceramic tile, plumbing fixtures, design services & more! us on Facebook!

H6

january/february • 2013

All versions of Omaha Magazine are published bimonthly by Omaha Magazine, LTD, P.O. Box 461208, Omaha NE 680461208. Telephone: (402) 884-2000; fax (402) 884-2001. Subscription rates: $19.95 for 6 issues (one year), $24.95 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.

Owned and managed by Omaha Magazine, LTD

www.OmahaPublications.com

Thank you Omaha for voting us best Kitchen & Bath Plumbing Fixtures!

Visit our Kohler Registered Showroom 13827 Industrial Road • Omaha NE ( 4 0 2 ) 3 3 0 - 3 4 0 0 • w w w. k b b r i g g s . c o m

13951 Valley Ridge Drive | Omaha, NE 68138 | www.midwestirondoors.com www.ReadOnlineNow.com

402.596.2955

january/february • 2013 H7

Omaha Home: from the editor

Mid-Century Modern is Back!

C

afer, Umanoff, Thelen, Welby, Eames,

and Stalhane…all names that come to mind when thinking of Mid-Century Modern design. Vintage dealers and decorators use the phrase “Mid-Century Modern” when referencing classic '50s and '60s-style Modern furniture, accessories and architecture. And just as most things in life come full circle, the decorator tide has turned once again and MCM design appears to be back in vogue. In fact, many of today’s creatives imitate the clean lines and subtle curves of the '50s design in their work today.

MCM homes may not be able to claim the longevity that colonial row houses can, but when it comes to evoking memories of the era, Mid-Century Modern dwellings have old style in spades. You only need to glance inside a sleekly outfitted 1950s Modern dwelling to be taken back a half-century, as if viewing a time capsule. To help fuel a trip back in time, Omaha Home has spotlighted three MCM home restorations (all featured in the Restore Omaha MCM Restoration and Preservation Tour last Oct.) that perfectly capture this forward-thinking design movement. Special thanks to all the homeowners and Kristine Gerber with Restore Omaha for helping coordinate our MCM issue!

I, personally, had a blast searching for design pieces that capture the essence of that era—You can find these in our Hot Products segment, pages H48-49. I found some old, some new, but plenty of MCM-inspired treasures right here in Omaha!

You don’t have to have lived through this era to be drawn to and connect with Mid-Century Modern design. Enjoy!

Sandy

Sandy Besch Contributing Editor, Omaha Home HGTV’s “House Hunters” is looking to feature interesting homebuyer stories from the Omaha metro! Sallie Elliott, an Omaha Realtor and HGTV Area Expert, will review story submissions and coach top prospects in auditioning via video for the show. If interested in being a part of this exciting journey, please contact Sallie Elliott at 402-630-5953 or sallieelliott@ absoluteregroup.com H8

january/february • 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

Omaha Home: contents departments

features

H17

H22

Feature: Mid-Century Modern Leaves its Mark on Omaha Feature: A Designer’s Perspective on a Mid-Century Modern Update

At Home:

H10

H13

H23

H24

Architect Q&A: Rebecca Harding, TACK Architects Design Q&A: Andy Colley, Colley Furniture Studio New on the Block: Johnson Hardware Co. Oh Darling. H35

A Tale of Two Homeowners The Sings

H42

H44

H30

Thank You Omaha!

Home is Where the Art Is The Conleys

H48

DIY Project: Justin Schafer’s MCM Coffee Table Transformations: Designed to Entertain Hot Products: Mid-Century Modern Design Finds

FURNITURE •ART ARTIFACTS • POTTERY scottsdale & omaha LEE Industries Custom Upholstered Furniture Dealer

Visit Our Online Store!

The Shops of Legacy 168th & West Center Road 402.932.5999

www.pearsonandcompany.com www.pearsonandcompany.blogspot.com

columns

H14 Landscaping: It’s Not Too Late to Water!

H38

Living a Legacy The Nicholls

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

H40 Maintenance: Is It Time for a New Garage Door?

In-House Design Service

january/february • 2013 H9

Omaha Home: architect q&a Story by Linda Persigehl • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

Q&A:Rebecca Harding

T

TACK Architects

he Omaha native and a principal with TACK Architects shares her passion

for design, the people who inspire her, and the reasons she’s excited about working in her hometown.

Q: Tell us a bit about TACK Architects. What makes the firm unique?

A: We are an Omaha-based architectural studio founded in 2011 by Jeff Dolezal, Chris Houston, and myself. We’re a fairly young but tested firm, combining 45 years of experience between us. In that time, we’ve created thoughtful, unique projects, integrating our passion for detail and design. We work with a wide range of clients across the nation, providing works of architecture and interior design in the form of high-end residential, commercial, and cultural projects. TACK references a course of action, or method, in order to achieve a goal, especially H10

january/february • 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

Thanks for Voting Us

Best of Omaha

®

one adopted through rigor and critical thinking. This is especially true of our work, where good design is a process that vets out and tests ideas. Our design philosophy explores notions or craft, tectonic expression, sustainability, and contextual specificity, while working hard to understand our client’s objectives, budget, expectations, culture, and mission.

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

Q: Where does the name "TACK" originate from?

A: We wanted to differentiate ourselves with something meaningful that referenced our work and disposition; something people would remember. Within the context of sailing, to “tack” means to change the direction of movement of the sail in order to maximize the benefit from the wind. We felt the term evoked a sense of freedom and determination.

Leaving our comfortable corporate careers behind was scary, but exhilarating at the same time. The three of us have been friends and collaborators working on several projects together for over 10 years. We trusted each other’s talents and passion to build a company together at a pivotal time in all our lives.

Q: Why did you decide to pursue your career in Omaha?

A: Returning to Omaha in 1994, after receiving my Bachelor of Architecture from Cornell University and traveling abroad over a six-year period, was a choice I made for several reasons. Omaha was at the inception of major architectural developments and making its mark as a changing and dynamic Midwestern city. The opportunity to begin my career with well-established architects was ripe and I was ready to reconnect with my roots. My time away from Nebraska and having the opportunity to study in places like Italy, Russia, and Scandinavia provided me with priceless educational experiences in different cultures and the ability to view works of art and architecture that have influenced me over the years. I returned to Omaha with an appreciation beyond my expectations.

Omaha is a very special place where people are passionate and hardworking, with ethical beliefs in line with my own. As the city is in the process of expanding new redevelopment efforts, such as the Riverfront, Aksarben, and Downtown and North Omaha, I have the unique opportunity as an architect to help >> www.ReadOnlineNow.com

january/february • 2013 H11

Thank You Omaha!

For Voting Us The Best Home Accessories Store.

Home: architect q&a

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

(From left) Junior Architect Ryan Henrickson, Harding, Jeff Dolezal, and Chris Houston. << shape the future physical environments in and around Omaha that the next generations will enjoy for years to come.

Q: Any mentors that have influenced you? Other influences on your design tastes, methods?

A: My father is an oral surgeon and an amazing artist. As children, he used to show my sister and me some pretty gruesome slides of some of his surgeries. I was fascinated by how he could turn a mangled face back into something beautiful again. The precision with which he manipulated bone, muscle, and cartilage while controlling proportion and angles was magical. The combination of science and artistry was a concept I have been obsessed with since I can remember. The practice of architecture is very similar (although a life is not on the line). Other influences include Bauhaus architect, Le Corbusier, for his pure and streamlined designs in architecture and furniture; and Modernist architect, Sverre Fehn, for his sensitivity to context and beauty.

Both of these elements can yield very diverse design solutions, but to me, they are very important to the foundations of architecture.

It’s true that beauty is somewhat subjective, but beauty can be universal elements like proportion, scale, rhythm, etc. For me it manifests itself in everything from a field of corn in the middle of summer (viewed from any elevation or angle), to the reflection of the sky in a puddle of water in the driveway. >> continued on page H16 H12

january/february • 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

Omaha Home: design q&a Story by Linda Persigehl • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

Q&A: Andy Colley

A

Colley Furniture Studio

creative from a very young

age, Andy Colley tells us how he found his calling in woodworking early and what he most enjoys about about being a craftsman.

Q: How did you first discover your interest in woodworking?

When did you decide to pursue it as a career?

A: Originally from Connecticut, I spent my childhood at Air Force bases in Japan, Hawaii, and the upper East Coast. I settled in Omaha about the time I entered high school. Throughout my youth, creativity in many forms had been an outlet, but never woodwork. Unsure of my future path after graduating, I started an entry-level position >>

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

january/february • 2013 H13

Home: landscaping

Omaha Home: designer q&a

By Rachel Ourada Brand Manager Lanoha Nurseries, Inc.

It's not too late to water!

O

maha’s thousands of trees are in danger. This sum-

mer’s unprecedented heat and drought have put even mature, established trees in peril. Trees cannot endure a period of extended drought without help. If trees are not rehydrated soon, they will not be able to survive the winter, let alone fight off insects and disease next year. If the Ash Borer reaches Omaha, our ash trees may be unable to take up the nutrients they need to fight the insects.

As early as August, many trees in Omaha began “shutting down” in an attempt to conserve water. When this happens, growth ceases and plants prematurely lose their leaves. Trees already have next year’s buds.

The drought not only affected last year’s tree quality, but has the potential to significantly affect trees’ appearance this year. This drought is unprecedented to our generation. Most trees have not experienced summer conditions like this before.

There’s still time to save Omaha’s trees. It’s important that tree owners take the initiative to water trees. It’s a misconception that large trees have roots deep enough to get to underground water. The majority of feeder roots are actually in the top 12-16” of soil.

Established trees (5 years and older) are best watered with soaker- or drip-irrigation hoses.

A regular hose running at a trickle is much less effective, as the water often runs beyond the target zone and pools in unhelpful areas.

Water should not be targeted against the trunk of the tree. Tree trunks can become subject to disease and insect problems if moisture is concentrated next to the trunk. A tree’s “root zone” actually spreads 2 to 3 times wider than the tree’s canopy. Water must be applied directly to this target area. Watering for short bursts can lead to additional drought damage.

Shallow watering forces oxygen out of the soil and results in oxygen starvation of a tree’s roots. What our trees need now is consistent, deep watering.

Trees need 10 gallons of water for every inch of diameter of trunk, measured 2 feet up the trunk of the tree. For example, a 7-inch diameter tree requires 70 gallons of water in each section of the root system covered by the >> H14

january/february • 2013

Tall cabinet (left) is constructed of maple and cherry.

Cabinet design originated from heartwood, the dark center of the maple cabinet front. Cabinet was designed to highlight this feature.

Pedestal (right) is constructed of claro walnut and rift white oak. "During construction, friends joked that I had made 'two left legs'. Art should catch you off guard, drawing you in and engaging you—to me that is success," said Colley.

<< at a production cabinet shop. Within a few weeks, I was operating a production saw and then moved on to a bench, becoming a custom builder. After working at a couple shops in town, I started my own company. Ironically, a year later, I talked with an uncle who I hadn’t contacted in years and was told woodworking ran deep in my Connecticut roots.

Q: How has your cr af t and your studio progressed over the years?

A: Colley Furniture has been through many changes in 12 years. As I develop and hone my skills, my work evolves…an endless pursuit for a craftsman. With this growth have come increasing budgets as well as complexity of projects. I’ve been involved with projects from coast to coast and collaborated with many great artists, architects, and designers constantly trying to push our expectations of furniture. Located in Benson for 10 years, I moved downtown last summer. For the first time, the shop now has a showroom and a storefront.

Q: Describe your approach to furniture design. What sets your furniture apart from other work out there?

A: Typically, materials dictate the design of my work. I am fortunate as an artist to work in a medium that presents me with a great base to start. Every single piece of wood in my shop is unique in color, grain characteristics, and mechanical properties, from large slabs of continued on page H16 www.OmahaPublications.com

Home: landscaping (402) 630.3436 Custom mirrors cut perfect for any space. We offer multiple options to personalize it to your particular style.

Specializing in: -

backsplashes cabinet glass furniture tops handrails shelving mirrors shower doors transoms

www.eliteglassservices.com

<< soaker hose or stationary sprinkler. A hose open at half pressures takes five minutes to produce 10 gallons of water. Therefore, each section of a 7-inch diameter tree’s root zone must be watered for 35 minutes. It may take several days of watering to cover the entire root zone.

If there’s no rainfall, trees should be watered once a week during the growing season, continuing on a regular basis until rain returns.

The arrival of winter does not mean it’s time to stop watering. Winter drought can affect both evergreen and young hardwood trees.

Water once or twice per month between October and March on warm days as long as the ground is not frozen.

The best time to water is at night between 9pm and 8am, as trees refill water reserves during the night hours. Watering at night allows for effective use of water with less loss from evaporation. This assures that more water moves into the soil and tree. The second-best time to water is late afternoon.

The best way of knowing if you’re getting water deep enough into the soil is to use a screwdriver. It should glide through the soil in the area you just watered to the depth of at least 8-10 inches with little or no resistance.

Don’t be surprised if you hit concrete-like soil about 3-4 inches down. Water in shortened sessions until able to get water to penetrate.

Don’t be surprised to find the soil almost repelling the water until sufficiently hydrated.

Younger trees require a similar approach for watering, but the root area is much less. A tree needs about one year per inch of trunk at planting time to establish a root system. It’s very easy to overwater the soil surrounding a newly installed tree. The root mass and a few inches beyond are critical areas during the tree’s establishment period. Every year, roots expand into the surrounding soil, creating a wider area to be hydrated in dry periods.

Here at Lanoha Nurseries, we are happy to answer questions and walk tree owners through the watering process. We care about all trees, and want to ensure that Omaha’s trees stay safe and healthy.

Call to speak with a Lanoha professional at 402-289-4103, or stop in our Garden Center at 192nd and West Center Road.

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

january/february • 2013 H15

Thank you for voting us Best of Omaha 3 years!

Home: architect q&a

Home: designer q&a

Rebecca Harding

Andy Colley

continued from page H12

continued on page H14 walnut to slivers of highly figured maple. All of these attributes guide the way in which that particular piece is utilized. A certain piece [of wood] might look better, but it might not have the characteristics you need for that component. Humility and respect are rewarded.

Use of hand tools and joinery in construction intensify the relationship to wood and provide otherwise unobtainable strength and longevity to [pieces]. Many times the most complicated, most time-consuming parts are hidden from view. Some bakers rely on fancy, over-the-top frosting; others devote their attention to a more refined use of ingredients and methods. My intention is always to reveal and share the beauty of the wood without interference from design.

TACK Architects

Q: What are some trends you’re seeing in residential and/or commercial architectural design in Omaha?

www.moveflatrate.com (402) 709-0970

A: When I first started practicing in Omaha 16 years ago, it was difficult to get clients to stretch out of their comfort zones.

Reputation and trust comes from past projects and what you're able to physically show the client that's real. Most people have a hard time understanding abstract concepts or unusual materials until they see them, or can touch them. However, architecture isn't just about design in the physical sense. We work with many clients on strategic facilities planning; where we help them make decisions on how much space they really need or can grow into. I think this type of service is what makes us really valuable, not just that we're good designers but we also help people plan their projects and make good decisions at the beginning of the process. This planning works for most project types; residential, commercial, retail, corporate offices, etc. We definitely are seeing an upswing in the market right now.

Q: Tell us a bit about you personally. What do you enjoy in your leisure time?

Rachel Skradski, CBS Home Realtor, after placement of cosmetic veneers.

Photo by Kim Roudabush, Kim Photography.

12123 Pacific St. • 334-4422 www.classicdentistry.com Extraordinary Care... Exceptional Results!

Best of Omaha Winner 4 Years in a Row! H16

january/february • 2013

A: I was born and raised in Omaha and attended Westside High School. I was a competitive figure skater up to about the age of 12; when I retired the skates, I took up many other sports and have continued to be active in my adult life. I enjoy running…Not only is it great exercise, it’s great therapy. The stresses of life and work seem to melt away with every step on the pavement. I hope to sign up for another marathon in 2013. I have been married to Brinker Harding for 13 years and have two daughters, Elizabeth (10) and Grace (7).

I am truly blessed by them! They remind me what is really important in life—family, humility, love, joy.

Vi sit w w w.fa ce b o ok .com /pa ge s / TACKarchitects to see images of their in-progress projects.

Colley Furniture Studio

Q: What do you most enjoy about your work? What message do you hope your pieces convey?

A: One of my goals is to show people that furniture can be so much more than disposable, uninspired places to sit or set things on.

It can be something so much more— from Grandma’s favorite rocking chair to your parents’ dining set that has been a gathering place for so many occasions and emotions— [furniture] can be very personal. It can have a positive effect on our lives, and when we respect the resources we use, we have a positive effect in this world. Inspiration surrounds us. The more aware we become of the world, the more we can understand and appreciate every aspect of life.

Q: What are your professional plans moving forward?

A: [The studio] is planning to show artists of all mediums here, with a focus on process…bridging the gap between an artist’s conception of a work and an art patron’s purchase of a finished piece. Face-to-face events, such as workshops, presentations, and even small dinner parties are in the works to help achieve this.

Retirement is not a part of my plans, as creating is essential to my being. Art is life, life is art.

www.OmahaPublications.com

Omaha Home: feature Story by Leo Adam Biga • Photos by Bill Sitzmann & courtesy of Kristine Gerber, Restore Omaha.

Sketch courtesy of Travis & Linda Sing, drawn by Donald Polsky.

Mid-Century Modern

Leaves its Mark on Omaha

I

n post-World War II America, a contemporary design style borne of the modernist movement and emphasizing a balance of form and function came to the attention of visionary Omaha developers and architects. The resulting homes and buildings completed in that style made for some distinctive neighborhoods that endure as models of aesthetics and utility and that continue to fascinate owners and onlookers alike.

What became known as Mid-Century Modern is seeing a resurgence in interest today among preservationists and restorers, thanks in part to television shows like Mad Men and their celebration of vintage culture. That interest was never more evident than during a October Mid-Century Modern tour sponsored by Restore Omaha and Omaha 2020 that drew a record 850 participants.

Restore Omaha President Kristine Gerber says it was the organization's first tour to focus on an architectural style, and the Indian Hills neighborhood offered "the best collection" of Mid-Century Modern. A 2010 Omaha Historic Building Survey of Mid-Century Modern neighborhoods by Leo A. Daly architects Christina Jansen and Jennifer Honebrink offered a blueprint or map for the tour.

For tour participants, it meant getting inside homes they may have long-admired from afar or been curious to see for themselves the various ways in which these structures bring the outdoors "in."

Mid-Century Modern homeowners like Mark Manhart and Bonnie Gill love their residences.

"We both feel we have lived here forever and plan no move now or later," says Manhart.

Gerber says there's growing appreciation for the style's ahead-of-its-time characteristics of >>

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

january/february • 2013 H17

Omaha Home: feature << flat roofs, open floor plans, floor-to-ceiling windows, ample natural light, and green design-construction elements.

There's motivation, too, in obtaining National Register of Historic Places status for select Mid-Century Modern structures and neighborhoods that qualify.

Mid-Century Modern can be found in other metro neighborhoods besides Indian Hills, but some intentional decisions made it the prime site for it to flower here.

Food manufacturer brothers Gilbert and W. Clarke Swanson, along with architect Leo A. Daly, saw potential to develop a modern, upscale suburban neighborhood taking its name from the old Indian Hills Golf Course.

Commercial structures, such as Christ the King Church and the Leo A. Daly company headquarters, became shining examples of this modernist-inspired architectural style.

But it was left up to a pair of edgy young architects, Don Polsky and Stanley J. How, Sr., to design dozens of residential homes in this new development featuring the attributes, values, and principles of Mid-Century Modern. How also designed one of Omaha's most distinctive luxury apartment buildings, the sleek Swanson Towers, in Indian Hills. The building has since been converted to condominiums.

Together, the Swansons, Daly, How, and Polksy transformed the "built Omaha."

"They were young tigers and weren't necessarily rooted in doing the same old thing, and I think they saw an opportunity to do some things that were really unique and new," says Stan How, president of Stanley J. How Architects, the company his late father founded. He says his father was "a cuttingedge guy."

Polsky apprenticed with superstar modernist architect Richard Neutra in Los Angeles and borrowed concepts from his mentor and others for the work he did in Omaha. He says Mid-Century Modern's appeal all these years later makes sense because its forwardthinking approaches and emphasis on clean lines, simplicity, and efficient use of space are what many homebuyers look for today.

"We were green before its time, we put in a lot of insulation, we shaded our windows, we oriented things towards light, and brought light into the home. We used insulating glass, we planted trees to give us shade, we broke the wind from the north, and we worked with the client's budget on the configuration of the sight," Polsky says. >> H18

january/february • 2013

Above: First published in Omaha Magazine in 1979, Don Polsky poses for an article at his drafting desk.

Left: Stanly J. How Sr. turned over ASD Stanley J. How Architects to his son, Stan How Jr., in 1990, but he still came into the office every day up until a few months before his death in December 2011.

Right: A February 1966 Omaha World-Herald article said, “the steps leading to the main entrance...provide an interesting study of highlights, shadows, vertical and horizontal lines.” www.OmahaPublications.com

Above & right: Leo A Daly company headquaters, a shining example of modernist-inspired architectural style.

Left & below: The Swanson Branch Library was designed by Leo A Daly staff architects William Larson and Golden Zenon. The library is in the Brutalist architectural style, popular from the 1950s though the 1970s. The building won a 1966 national award of merit for its architecture from a joint program of the American Institute for Architecture.

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

january/february • 2013 H19

47th Annual

Spring is coming to the

February 7-10, 2013

Don’t Miss The Home & Garden Event of the Year!

Build • Remodel • Decorate • Landscape

Produced by: Mid-America Expositions, Inc. • (402) 346-8003 • www.showofficeonline.com

C om merci al & Resi den ti al

www.OmahaFriendlyServices.com

402.932.5704

H20

january/february • 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

Omaha Home: feature Right & below: Swanson Towers is a seven–story luxury condominium building featuring 1, 2, 3 and 4 bedroom units. The building has a West Coast design constructed of poured concrete with terrazzo covered pillars. Original plans were to have two towers but a second tower was never built.

Today the land is a 4.5 acre park featuring a tennis court, sundial and walking paths with trees and open spaces.

Above & left: Christ the King Parish was designed by Leo A Daly in a modern style using a variety of bold gestures and strong lines for its time. The geometry of this arching system of the roof is called a hyperbolic-parabaloid (umbrella shaped), which at the time, was the first of its kind in Omaha. www.ReadOnlineNow.com

<< Passive solar features and energy-efficient systems were rarities then.

Stan How says his father began practicing architecture for Leo A. Daly right as the modernist movement caught on. "He started his career at a perfect time to absorb all these new things going on. When he went out on his own, he had some clients who had the guts, he'd always say, to explore some of these ideas and let him toy around with that." Mike Ford became a key early client.

"Mike was a young guy who wanted to do something really new, so my dad floated out the contemporary style or what we now call Mid-Century Modern, and Mike loved it.

But he also didn't want to be the only one on the street with a house like that, so he bought four lots and said, 'Let's do four spec houses,' and that's what they did."

One of those Stanley How-designed homes, built in 1963, was later purchased by Mark Manhart and Bonnie Gill.

Homebuyers like Ford were the exception, however, not the rule, as Mid-Century found relatively few takers.

"We're a pretty conservative [town], Omaha. It's not Los Angeles. I thought you'd just show a few things and they'd be beating a path to your door, but it didn't turn out that way," says Polsky. "There's still a limited supply of buyers for this type of architecture but you do what you can, you carry the torch."

Polsky marveled though at the huge turnout to see his homes and those of his old colleague, Stanley How, Sr. "It's amazing how many people showed up," he says.

Stan How says designs by his father and Polsky are the antithesis of the overblown, oversized McMansions many homeowners reject today. "I think people are coming back to simplicity." Indeed, Mark Manhart says, "the clean lines and classic simplicity" of his home are major attraction points for he and his wife and the many inquirers who call on them.

The only regret How has is that his father wasn't around to see all the love his homes are getting today. "He would have absolutely reveled in it. He would have loved it."

The March 1-2 Restore Omaha Conference will once again offer a strong lineup of expert preservation and restoration presenters, says Gerber, who promises a dynamic host site that gives attendees an insider's glimpse at some landmark. For details, visit www.restoreomaha.org.

Read more of Leo Adam Biga's work at leoadambiga.wordpress.com. january/february • 2013 H21

Omaha Home: feature Story by Marilyn S. Hansen, FASID • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

Marilyn S. Hansen, FASID, with The Designers, at right, with homeowners Dr. Paul and Kim Coleman in their Indian Hills home. The Mid-Century Modern restoration/update was a labor of love for all involved.

A Designer’s Perspective

U

A Mid-Century Modern Update

pdating Modern architecture from 50 to 60 years ago with interior

design true to the period was an exciting prospect for me as a designer. The style was in vogue as I was finishing college...in 1969. I love the design concepts [of MidCentury Modern], form follows function, the simplicity of design, bringing the outdoors in.

Famous architects of the period, such as LaCorbusier, inspired me so much that I was married in one of his French churches, built in 1955. In 1977, my husband Rob and I traveled to France, and we were married on July 7, 1977 (7-7-77) at Notre Dame du Haute. Fast-forward and 43 years have flown by, but there’s still a spot in my heart for the era.

When asked to help Dr. Paul and Kim Coleman of Omaha update their Mid-Century Modern home in Indian Hills, it wasn't necessary for me to visit a library or go online to research what would be appropriate. I found the Colemans' residence a wonderful canvas to execute the flavor of the architect's design and re-emphasize the mood, materials, and focus of the home. Incorporating some of the same tiles available during those years, but with an updated color scheme, we brought the home’s bathrooms into the present. (Unfortunately, the tile company has just recently gone out of business.)

It was popular to use "scrim" style casements for draperies...sheer enough to see the garden through them. This year, the final touch was installing new draperies on the glass walls that cover the entire backside of the home. The Colemans' style is exactly what would have been considered the best choice for this architecture.

All the furniture of the home takes its inspiration from the styles popular at the time, lightercolored fabrics and leathers and touches of black as accent. Lighting that is functional, such as by Omaha's own famous lighting designer, Cederic Hartman, created floats in front of the windows. Large, colorful but minimal art and hand-crafted accessories supplement the more modern-style accessories to compliment the space and bring color to the quiet, restful spaces.

Another influence popular during this era was the use of Oriental themes for simplicity… usually more Japanese than Chinese. The sleek, minimal styles blended well and the colors were wonderfully compatible. In this case, I worked in Celedon vases and branches that compliment the Oriental theme and drew the nature influence into the mix. (I am told the home was decorated with an Oriental style originally.)

H22

january/february • 2013

The materials common in flooring were practical and durable, such as tile, stone, wood, cork, and in this case, terrazzo. We repaired the materials when possible or found similar materials to replace them.

The over-scale landscape by Nebraskan, Hal Holoun was a perfect touch. The scene of Nebarska's big sky at sunset is stunning and serene, casting a spell of calm as evening comes on. The classic fireplace at the opposite end of the living room flickers with it's comforting glow.

The home’s architect, Stan Howe, understood the idea of simple elegance and function in his design. This sleek, clean design, spare and open to the sunlit garden, reflects the outdoors and unites the interior to the patio year round. The glass walls include nature in daily living while the extended roofline protects it from the summer's sun.

The winter sun's warmth flows in when the sun lowers in the sky. During the ‘60s, these design concepts were strong and the beautiful Colemans' residence is an accurate reflection of the period. We have much we could learn from this practice.

Today, with the desire of many homeowners to be conscious of living conservatively, the examples of the Colemans' home are a perfect solution. www.OmahaPublications.com

New On the block Story by Linda Persigehl

Thank You Omaha! for Voting Us Best Residential Roofing

Hometown Roofing Inc. Serving Omaha, Council Bluffs & Surrounding Areas For Over 45 Years

Residential Roofing & Repair

402.896.3639 www.hometownroofing.com The Pink Panther™ & ©1964-2013 Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios Inc. All Rights Reserved

Offering Custom Furniture, Accessories and Design Services

2806 S. 110TH COURT ROCKBROOK VILLAGE 402.502.3736

Stephanie & Jim Lovely

Maids

• Weekly, Biweekly, Monthly • Special One Time Cleanings

We started Maids & More here locally to offer you a professional, affordable service from people you can trust

& MORE...

• Steam Cleaning Carpets • Upholstery • Tile & Grout • Wood Floor Rejuvenator • “House For Sale” Cleaning Specialist

See additional discounts and pricing info at maidsandmore.com

Call

572-6243

Same day and weekend availability

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

Johnson Hardware Co. House and Home Center 13817 Industrial Rd., Omaha Showroom hours: M-F/9am-5pm; SaT./9am-1pm

I

n early December, longtime

Omaha home supply retailer Grabow Hardware underwent a name change and moved to a new location. The company, founded in 1992, is a supplier of quality doors and trim, door and cabinet hardware, and bathroom accessories as well as installation services.

Now known by its parent company name, Johnson Hardware Co., the business currently operates from a large showroom in the House and Home Center complex just east of 144th Street and Industrial Road.

“The new location provides us a 25 percent larger, more modern showroom,” said Jay Grabow, division manager for Johnson Hardware Co. “People love to see product, see finishes, and now we’ll be able to expand our displays. It’s also a better-lit environment, and it’s more organized. It’s just a better shopping experience.”

“Being located in the Home Center, we’ll also be with other like businesses…plumbing, door and window, tile and stone…We’ll be located right along the showroom path, which is the way interior designers and homeowners both intend to go.”

In addition, Johnson Hardware is adding a commercial sales area to the rear of the retail showroom space. The department will provide contractors and others in the building trade with tools, materials and supplies, and services they need. “Johnson has been providing these services downtown since 1855,” Grabow said.

“This will be their first West Omaha location. It’ll offer more convenience and better customer service to contractors who work out west.”

For more on Johnson Hardware, visit www. morethanknobs.com january/february • 2013 H23

Omaha Home: at home with the sings

Story by Jenna Gabrial Gallagher • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

A Tale of Two Homeowners

A couple bonds with their architect… nearly 50 years later.

J

okingly referred to by its

owners as a closet with a house around it, Dr. Linda and Travis Sing’s windowwalled home is a study in what’s left in the open…and what can be stashed away.

This reveal/conceal dichotomy plays out from the first moment inside the foyer. To the left is the Sing’s bright living room and dining area with its floor-to-ceiling fenestration that allows the room to capture and somehow magnify even the most elusive beam of light.

Straight ahead is a corridor flanked by closets, tall and long and limitless.

To the right is another airy room, but this one features a desk that can be hidden…in fact, the very same desk that once belonged to the architect and original owner of the home, Don Polsky.

Peekaboo shoji screen pocket doors separate the two rooms. >> H24

january/february • 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

january/february • 2013 H25

Omaha Home: at home with the sings << Polsky, who once worked in the design studio of famed “California-style” architect, Richard Neutra, was a man of his time. And his time was all about clever storage solutions and walls that seemed to float.

But the Sing’s home is more than the sum of its partitions. It's an actual home, built for an actual family. First Polsky’s, now the Sings. The couple serve off their buffet made with original marble from Clarkson Hospital. They store their kitchen items in St. Charles cabinets, such a Mid-Century staple that Frank Lloyd Wright used them at Falling Water and Mies van der Rohe installed them at Farnsworth House. Linda does her makeup in a vanity that lifts up from a room-length credenza…just like a scene from Mad Men. Only when she’s finished prepping her look, Linda typically rushes off to her job as a radiologist, not lunch with the girls.

“Of course we have to be respectful with anything we do to the house,” Linda says of the updates they’ve made, including replacing all the carpet and renovating a bathroom. “But we can’t live in a museum.”

It’s a sentiment with which Polsky seems to resoundingly agree. When the couple fell in love with the house and decided to buy, Linda and Travis looked him up (there had been one owner in between). The three became fast friends. The architect even attended the home closing and told stories: here was the flowerwallpaper >>

Linda Sing retrieves dishes from a dining room buffet made of vintage St. Charles cabinets. Shelves move on rollers, much like the high-end cabinets of today.

Of course we have to be respectful with anything we do to the house...but we can't live in a museum.

H26

january/february • 2013

-Linda Sing

Bottom: Windows to the backyard line the galley kitchen wall, allowing natural light in and making the room appear much larger.

www.OmahaPublications.com

Top: A MCM-inspired cat lounger sits next to the sleek marble-faced fireplace in the living room.

Right: The Sing's original kitchen features vintage cabinets, laminate countertops, and 1950s cookbooks, with new modern lighting and accessories added to update the look.

Bottom: A wallpaper map of the world, installed

by Polsky, serves as map in the main hall.

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

january/february • 2013 H27

Omaha Home: at home with the sings << his daughter put up in the ‘70s…there, in the back, is Beverly, the tree. The Sings keep an Omaha WorldHerald article from that era, featuring a photo of Polsky’s wife and daughter staged in the very familiar-looking living room.

One of Polsky’s enduring legacies is the enormous map of the world in the main corridor, an homage to his days stationed in the Atlas Mountains with the Army Corps of Engineers. It's remarkably well-preserved thanks to Travis who, as a historian, endeavors to be archivally sound about gluing any fraying bits down.

“When we have gettogethers, the hall gets jammed because everyone’s looking at the map,” Travis laughs. “Everyone comments on how things have changed, where they’ve been, where they want to go.”

On a facing wall is an original pencil drawing of the home that Polsky gave the Sings last summer. Those few simple lines on paper offer the same comment about the home.

H28

january/february • 2013

Simple, geometric lines can be found throughout the Sings' home, from a bookshelf that lines the entire wall in the office/spare bedroom (above) to a vintage color block wall clock (below left) to the stairwell railing (right).

Bottom middle: Original terrazzo shower base has been updated with modern frosted glass walls, and new rubber flooring throughout the bathroom, mimicking the style of the '50s.

www.OmahaPublications.com

Top: The Sings' master suite features floor-to-ceiling sliding panels for closet doors, and another bank of windows viewing the backyard with built-in dressers below.

Left: A room-length credenza in the master bed-bath combo includes a hidden built-in vanity complete with mirror and storage for makeup.

Bottom: A sunken tiled shower doubles as a bathtub when filled.

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

january/february • 2013 H29

Omaha Home: at home with the conleys

H30

january/february • 2013

Story by Jenna Gabrial Gallagher • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

www.OmahaPublications.com

Home is Where the Art Is

W

e’re living in the

area my mother always wanted to live in,” notes architect Steven Conley of the Indian Hills home he shares with his wife, Darcy Beck, an Omaha Realtor, interior designer, and home stager.

In a sense, the spirits of both Steven’s mother and Darcy’s parents do inhabit the house. Within moments of welcoming visitors, Darcy introduces them to her late mother, Anna Beck (exotic beauty, self-taught artist, Hindu dancer, and universally adored Air Force wife) via paintings of East Indian >> www.ReadOnlineNow.com

A shared appreciation for family, fine things, and fun.

Two original rosewood and orange leather Eames chairs add a Mid-Century Modern touch to the Conley-Beck's sunroom that overlooks the backyard. Interesting accessories add an artsy touch. january/february • 2013 H31

Omaha Home: at home with the conleys

H32

january/february • 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

Top left: Dining room chairs made of woven seatbelt material are surprisingly comfortable and serve as conversation pieces.

Bottom left: The open galley kitchen flows into a back sun room with entertainment center, pictured on page H30-31.

Top right: Two large framed and signed lithographs by Salvador Dali are featured in the Conleys' living room.

Bottom right: Beck and Conley visit in their ultramodern kitchen. The openconcept design makes visiting with guests in the living and dining rooms a breeze.

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

january/february • 2013 H33

Omaha Home: at home with the conleys << dancers the latter created as a teenager; and her late father, esteemed Major General A.J. Beck, via signed Dali lithographs and original rosewood and orange leather Eames chairs that he loved, as well as a humorous coffeetable topper of boxing gloves signed by Leon Spinks.

Steven chimes in with an introduction to Irma, a bigger-than-life sculpture in the entryway that his mother, also named Irma, purchased for him when she downsized her home.

The couple has complemented the art of their parents with their own collection, including a prominently displayed painting by their next-door neighbor, the artist Jill Rizzo, two large ballerina torsos by another local artist gracing their dining room wall, a turquoise-encrusted bull’s head, redolent of Georgia O’Keefe, mounted in their stairway, and a witty ceramic “paper bag” luminaria that Steven gave to Darcy. “Who gives his wife a brown paper bag?” he cracks with a twinkle in his eye.

The home, built in 1964, is just what you’d expect from a couple who makes their living bringing life to beautiful spaces. Originally owned by Jay Swanson, whose father, Gilbert, was one of Indian Hills’ premiere developers, the cubist-style structure was renovated by the local architect legend, Don Polsky, who added the front porch, as well as the sunroom where the couple and their pets (two standard poodles and a cat, all from the Nebraska Humane Society) like to hang out.

After purchasing the home in 2006, Steven oversaw >> H34

january/february • 2013

Top left: A glass-front bookcase lends an airy feel to couple's office space.

Bottom left: White decorative plates that Darcy bought on clearance are used in another bedroom as wall art. www.OmahaPublications.com

New On the block

Lewis Art Gallery

Story by Chris Wolfgang

Every Style & Price of Original Art Unique Accessories & Gifts Lamps & Furniture Custom Framing

8600 Cass Street 402.391.7733•www.

LewisArtGallery.com

Oh Darling 213 S. Washington St. Papillion, NE Tues.-Thur./1-6pm; Fri./10am-6pm; Sat./10am-4pm

Brand Metal Works is a full service metal fabrication business that combines artistry and technology to create exciting and unique designs.

• Custom Metal Fabrications • Custom Metal Artwork • Sheet Metal Working - Welding - Bending - Painting - Plasma Cutting Serving Architects – Commercial & Residential, Interior Designers, Industrial Applications, Garden Architects / Landscapers, Artists.

1508 Chandler Rd W • Bellevue, NE 68147-1634 • 402.548.5477

www.brandmetalworks.com www.ReadOnlineNow.com

C

olin and Ashley Dworak

opened the doors to Oh Darling, a boutique in Papillion catering to mothers and babies, in early 2012. Outfitting not only the mom and tot with trendy and cost-effective clothing, the shop also decks out the nursery itself with refinished furniture.

Colin’s been giving new life to old furniture since he was in high school. “Freshman year, my birthday present was a refinished desk,” said his wife Ashley. Now she’s every bit as into the craft as he is, and together they showcase their talents by finishing a complete nursery set (usually a dresser, a wall hanging, and one unique piece) each month for display and sale in the shop.

If a client has their own furniture they’d like redone (and by the way, it doesn’t have to be for a nursery), Colin added that “we also do custom work.” Prices vary based on how detailed the piece is, though Ashley estimated that the average is around $300 per project. Colin can also paint a freestyle design if something truly unique is desired.

Ashley noted with pride, “He’s a really good artist.”

For more on Oh Darl;ing, visit ohdarlingbaby.com. january/february • 2013 H35

Omaha Home: at home with the conleys << a second renovation by tearing down interior walls to create a completely open, public space. In the more private sleeping quarters of the house, solid-core doors boast a single, thin gleaming ribbon of aluminum, an adornment notioned

by Steven.

To this, Darcy adds her stylist’s eye with an expertly curated mix of high and low. Despite her profession, there's nothing stagey here. Instead, the home is a deeply personal expression of warmth, elegance, and fun. And something else: the unexpected.

“We’re equal-opportunity shoppers,” she explains, plucking a statuette from a shelf to reveal a Marshall’s $16.99 price tag on the bottom.

And that turquoise bull’s head? Right above it is a bleached white one that Darcy picked up at Z Gallerie.

Top: Ultra-plush over-sized area rug and bedding make the master bedroom a cozy retreat. Modern stools serve as practical seats and artful accents. Shoji screens add privacy to the walk-out patio.

Bottom right: Modern and sophisticated vanity that includes shelving, modern sinks, and colorful tile are featured in the Conley-Beck's updated master bath. Shoji screens separate the bathroom from the walk-in closet.

H36

january/february • 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

Our Lawn Care Results Are

Guaranteed!

AlwaysLocal, AlwaysBeautiful

Quality Closet and storage solutions in omaha ne

10722 Sapp Brothers Dr. 402.895.6004 turfcareomaha.com

Pick up a free copy at more than 150 locations throughout the Omaha area or subscribe and have them delivered to your door for a nominal $5.95 per year for 6 issues.

“WE PAD THE FURNITURE NOT THE PRICE!” Quality Moving Professionals

Thanks for voting us Best of Omaha 2006-2013 • Household & Office Moving • Packing Service • Assisted Living • Pianos • Gun Safes • Moving Statewide In Iowa & Nebraska M#14114 U S DOT 732686

Omaha • 402-291-2490 www.jimsmovinginc.com

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

Serving the Metro Area For Over 45 Years

Free Estimates Competitive Rates Insured Licensed

You’ll be pleased with the reasonable cost of built-in custom closets designed

by Marco Custom Closets of Omaha.

Best of all, there’s free measuring, free planning, free design work.

Visit our showroom and factory located in Papillion and see for yourself the absolute quality of the materials and design choices offered by Marco Closets of Omaha.

402-778-5818 marCoClosets.Com january/february • 2013 H37

Omaha Home: at home with the nicholls Story by Jenna Gabrial Gallagher • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

Living a Legacy

A vintage home for a new generation.

W

hen Susanne and Brent

Nicholls decided to return to Omaha from the Denver area 10 years ago, they knew they wanted to live in Indian Hills, near Brent’s childhood home.

“I used to walk through the Arboretum to go to school at Swanson Elementary, and I wanted my sons to experience the same childhood memories that I did growing up in this neighborhood,” Brent explains.

From his office on one end of the house, Brent has a clear view through the living room and into the kitchen on the oppositee H38

january/february • 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

as his boys—one in sixth grade at Swanson and the other a sophomore at Westside High School— wander in and out of the rooms in preparation for their after-school activities.

Designed by esteemed Omaha architect Stanley J. How, Jr. for himself and his family, the Nicholls’ 1963 ranch is a monument to the Mid-Century Modern suburban lifestyle and its many aesthetic traditions, including an open floor plan and floor-to-ceiling windows, that still endure today.

However, as idyllic as this case study in family life is, the Nicholls happened into their light-filled home almost by accident. While househunting, Brent ran into a former Westside classmate at a Husker game. His friend was in the process of purchasing the home, but the sale fell through due to water in the basement.

An energetic DIY guy, Brent was not one to be deterred by the dampness. It doesn’t hurt that Susanne, an engineer by trade, is not only supportive of his (sometimes) guerrilla handyman efforts, she is his partner in priming.

“He likes to do the math,” she says of their synergistic reno strategy. “I’ve got the patience for multiple coats of poly.”

While the couple clearly delight in the updates they’ve made (in the basement, Brent points out that he had to drill through four to six inches of concrete to install wi-fi), they’re also ever mindful of the responsibility that comes with living in an iconic home.

Fortunately, just as the Nicholls began the challenging work of modernizing >> www.ReadOnlineNow.com

Top left: New bamboo flooring the Nicholls installed throughout the main level unifies the space. Corrugated metal ceilings add an industrial feel to the home.

Top right: Original terrazo flooring and white brick-pattern wallpaper—popular during the '50s—were kept intack during the Nicholl's renovations.

The main room in the basement has been wired for wi-fi and features a big-screen TV, wet bar, and comfy leather sectionals for prime movie viewing. january/february • 2013 H39

Home: at home Gray slate tile, a marble sink, and wood planks on the ceiling lend a spa feel to the master bath.

Knowledge...

Compassion...

Follow Through!

Cut Home Heating costs Forever!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! My 40th Year of Selling Omaha

Zone heat with Regency. The way to

Duane Sullivan 402.333.6565

duane.sullivan@cbshome.com

combat rising fuel costs is to zone heat with a Regency fireplace Product. Turning your drafty fireplace into a high efficiency heater will help keep your heating bill way down.

Call Now for a FREE In-home Consultation!

491-0800 • 709 N. 132nd St. (next to Hy-Vee)

www.claxtonfireplace.com M-f 10-6Sat 9-2

<< their 'modern,' they came into possession of archived Architectural Digests magazines from the era. The magazines, as well as a resource list of skilled craftsmen and contractors that the previous owners left behind, became a blueprint of sorts for preserving the home’s stylistic integrity while making it practical for modern life.

This is borne out in two of the couple’s biggest projects: the newly laid bamboo flooring that unifies the main floor and the master bath, which includes a marble sink that they ordered online from Italy; and slate floors that pick up on the black color scheme, which threads throughout the house. “Our former home was Arts and Crafts, style and it was almost like each room had its own personality,” says Susanne. “Here, it’s nice to see continuity.”

H40

january/february • 2013

fashioncleaners.com | 402.342.3491 www.OmahaPublications.com

Home: maintenance

By John Aliano, General Manager, aksarben/ARS

Keep Your Furnace In Check

R We’re Not Just About Fences

S&W Fence Introduces Swedge Lock Aluminum Fence and Railing.

Beautiful, Maintenance-Free and Built to Last.

15803 PACIFIC STREET • OMAHA,NE • 402.333.5722 • WWW.SW-FENCE.COM www.ReadOnlineNow.com

egular furnace maintenance helps prevent costly

breakdowns and keeps your heating system operating at peak efficiency. While a check in fall the ideal time for this service, a thorough check and cleaning now is still very beneficial as there’s still lots of work ahead for your furnace this winter. Here are a few tips you can follow at home to keep your HVAC working efficiently: Change your furnace filter regularly.

Preventing the passage of dust and dirt, furnace filters protect the coils, heat exchanger, and other HVAC components from excessive cycling and overheating due to dust buildup, ensuring maximum equipment life. Enhanced filtering capabilities can be added to your HVAC system to further protect your investment and to improve the quality of your home’s air.

Check for unrestricted airflow. Your furnace needs to “breathe” and access to plenty of clean air is necessary for your equipment to work properly. Be sure that the area around your registers and air-intake vents throughout your house are free of obstructions.

Use your HVAC system to make your home more comfortable in other ways.

With a whole-house humidifier, your family will experience less static electricity and less skin, throat, and nose irritation. You can also combat “stale” indoor air, including bacteria, viruses, and odors by installing a UV light inside your home’s central heat and air system.

For more information on HVAC systems and service, visit www.aksarbenARS.com or call 402- 331-1233 to speak to a qualified technician. january/february • 2013 H41

Home: d•i•y project Story by Linda Persigehl • Photos by Bill Sitzmann

Justin Schafer's

d•i•y MCM Coffee Table

H42

january/february • 2013

J

ustin Schafer, a senior graphic

designer with Mutual of Omaha, first discovered his fascination with MidCentury Modern design while studying in college. “[MCM] transformed how we perceived objects and furniture in our homes…

The idea that things could be functional, beautiful, and have a streamlined aesthetic is something I gravitated toward. [MCM furniture] was the first to blur the line between something that is purely functional and a piece of art.”

Inspired by his dad (“Growing up, my father was always building something from scratch or fixing something…”) and the works of husband-wife Modern designers Ray and Charles Eames and others, Shafer looked for ways he could express his “right-brain creative side” through furniture design. “I love to look online at Modern furniture stores, but everything in those stores is priced higher…

That’s a big reason I finally decided to stop hunting and just build [things] myself.”

Looking to DIY blogs and magazines for ideas, Schafer came up with a design for a MCM-inspired coffee table. “I sketched numerous ideas, gradually refining them until I had a solid plan with measurements.”

Almost all of the necessary supplies were purchased at a local hardware store, he said.

One-quarter-inch birch plywood, layered four planks thick and edges mitered, produced the www.OmahaPublications.com

2!

e 1 99

e

nc

st

of

Si

“B

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

al

tabletop base. Raw steel pipe, bent in a classically MCM ‘hairpin’ shape and purchased on eBay for $45, was used for the table legs. A wire brush was used to ‘clean’ the steel pipe.

Then L-shaped brackets secured the legs to the tabletop. Lastly, Schafer spray-painted the steel legs black, adding several coats of clear enamel for durability, and glued a cherry veneer over the top of the birch. Wood stain gave the tabletop a rich, dark brown hue. In total, the cost of the project was “minimal, about $100,” Schafer said. “If you tried to buy a similar table in a store, it would probably have cost $200-300.”

Schafer said the most difficult aspect of the project was getting the 45-degree plywood cuts to line up perfectly on each corner of the tabletop. “That’s always a bit tricky, especially if your saw settings are a few degrees off. I’ve learned, however, that it’s best to slow down and take your time.”

Today, the table sits in Schafer’s Midtown apartment, which he shares with his wife, Libby. He loves it when friends visit and, impressed with the table, ask him where he got it. “It’s nice to be able to say I built it from scratch,” he shares. “There’s a satisfaction and pride that comes with saying that.” That pride has spurred him onto other projects, including a similarly built desk and a padded headboard, framed with solid walnut planks.

A nnu

Blinds Shades Shutters Custom Drapery Interior Design

Om

aha® ” C on

te

st

A-1 United Heating, Air & Electrical Employee Owned

24 Hour Service • We Repair & Service All Makes • Expert Installations

9 years running No Payments No Interest for 12 Months!

Call for Details

4972 F Street • Omaha, NE • 593-7500 www.a1united.net january/february • 2013 H43

Omaha Home: transformations Story by Gwen Ahrens, ASID • Photos by Thomas Grady, Thomas Grady Photography

Designed to Entertain H44

january/february • 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

T

aking a glance at this custom home’s alluring

exterior gives a strong notion as to what’s taking place inside. Interior designer Gwen Ahrens, ASID, with The Interior Design Firm, worked with the homeowner and Gaver Custom Homes to bring this innovative residence to life.

The concept was to create an inviting home which enhances day-to-day living yet can be transformed into an entertaining atmosphere. Ahrens was involved from the beginning, working to develop floor plans, selections, and furnishings conducive to these aspirations.

The open kitchen and dinette are the heart of this home, which draws in the tree line. The structural flat-panel stained cabinetry and linear bronze hardware compliment the floor tile pattern and granite counters. A hidden pantry with access to a second garage provides a direct entrance. The custom built-in banquette is accented by modern ceiling details and bronze lighting.

Warm tones of chocolate, ginger, and crimson carry into the great room. The interwoven floating wood beams and ambient lighting create an intimate feel. Honed 24” x 24” stone pieces were arranged piece by piece to achieve the simple but outstanding fireplace. Textured glass transoms above the doorways are also in the main floor powder room. Mirrormounted sconces and plumbing fixtures enlarge the space while a copper vessel sink and studded hardware add elegance and softness.

The lower level of the home boasts a family room and bar, theater room, arcade, and racquetball court. These adventurous spaces provide entertainment for all. A modern >>

meet the designer Gwen Ahrens, ASID The Interior Design Firm

Transformations is a regular feature of Omaha Home that spotlights a recent project by a local ASID interior designer. The copy and photos are provided by the designer. Homeowners’ names may be withheld for privacy.

1.

The spacious kitchen and dinette draw the exterior in. Flatpanel cabinetry and linear bronze hardware compliment the

1 www.ReadOnlineNow.com

floor tile pattern and granite. Chaise longues upholstered in eggplant and lime provide the perfect spot to curl up and enjoy the glittering see-through fireplace.

january/february • 2013 H45

Omaha Home: transformations << flair was created in the family room through vibrant blue pin-striped club chairs contrasted with red leather swivel barstools and a stone backsplash. A charcoal circular sectional calms the look. Movie watchers feel deep, rich, and comfortable in the theater room. Fabricwrapped acoustical panels, a variety of lighting options, and cutting-edge sound increase the mood.

The success of this home is due to diverse style and adaptability to the homeowner’s way of life. The design enhances their lifestyle and will for years to come.

2.

The

stunning,

yet

straight-forward brickstone combination on the exterior mirrors the strong architectural elements of the interior of this home.

3.

A custom cut and honed stone fireplace and floating wood beam ceiling are details that adorn this exquisite, yet inviting great room.

H46

january/february • 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

4.

Mirror-mounted sconces and plumbing fixtures are a few of the elements that heighten the main floor powder bath.

5.

The custom cabinetry design in the bar and smooth stone backsplash continue the modern feel of the family room.

6.

The lower-level family room’s cool and contemporary palette of charcoal, blue, and red along with circular sectional provide an upbeat mood in this entertaining space.

7.

Modular carpet tiles add to the whimsy of this arcade.

8.

The deep navy acoustical panels and leather power-operated recliners make this sophisticated theater room an ideal place to kick back and enjoy.

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

january/february • 2013 H47

Omaha Home: hot products Photos by Bill Sitzmann & John Gawley

Mid-Century Modern Design Finds Starburst mirror, $165. Available at

Spruce Interiors & Gifts, 5022 Leavenworth St. 402-952-4480 www.facebook/pages/spruce

Keno Brother's table with wood and bone inlay, $1,459. Available at

Allens Home, 7808 L St. 402-331-8480 www. allenshome.com

Barcelona Chair with antique cigar leather, $1,498, Austrailian Sheepskin pillow, $119. Available at

Allens Home, 7808 L St. 402-331-8480 www. allenshome.com Danish Modern footstool, $175

Available at Antique Annex, 1225 Jackson St. 402-932-3229 www.facebook/antiqueannex H48

january/february • 2013

www.OmahaPublications.com

Stainless and wood salad bowl with utensils, $55 Available at Antique

Annex, 1225 Jackson St. 402-932-3229 www. facebook/antiqueannex

Ashtrays, $12.99. Available at Back in

the Day, 2561 Leavenworth St., 402-502-7579 www.backinthedayomaha.com 28” floor vase, $49. Available at Antique

Annex, 1225 Jackson St. 402-932-3229 www. facebook/antiqueannex

Jonathan Adler floor Lamp, $495.

Available at Spruce Interiors & Gifts, 5022 Leavenworth St. 402-952-4480 www.facebook/ pages/spruce

Mid-Century Candelabra, $105

Available at Antique Annex, 1225 Jackson St. 402-932-3229 www.facebook/antiqueannex

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

january/february • 2013 H49

for all your cleaning & restoration needs TOTAl ClEANING & RESTORATION RESIDENTIAl - COMMERCIAl - INDuSTRIAl

Disaster repair & Clean-Up Carpet, Furniture, Tile and Drapery Cleaning •Free Estimates •No Hidden Charges •Area & Oriental Rugs •Truck Mounted Power •Odor Removal •Environmentally Friendly Air Duct Cleaning • Helps control Dust & Dirt In Your Home or Office • Reduce Airborn Pollutants That Trigger Asthma and Allergic Reactions Fire and Water Damage Specialists • Mold and Mildew Prevention • Insurance Claims Welcome • Dehumidification Equipment • Mold & Odor Removal 24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE

“Steamatic Does Not Telemarket”

331-1116

8843 WASHINGTON CIR • OMAHA, NE 68127 H50

january/february • 2013

www.SteamaticOmaha.com

Established 1968 www.OmahaPublications.com

Your home... your builder.

Exceptional.

CURT

HOFER

& ASSOCIATES

Your home...your builder. Exceptional.

Selecting a builder is as much an expression of taste as it is a statement of confidence. No one understands this better than Curt Hofer & Associates.

As one of the area’s most respected custom homebuilders and remodelers, we provide a one-of-a-kind experience in creating your once-in-a-lifetime home.

2332 Bob Boozer Drive Omaha, NE 68130 Phone: 402.758.0440 n

www.cur thofer.com

From individual rooms, to how these rooms come together to create a home, to the landscape and exteriors that immediately bid you welcome, the team at Curt Hofer & Associates knows how to bring the best ideas to life – yours. The result?

Your home...your builder. Exceptional.

BUY WITH CONFIDENCE! 4 4

4

0

%

ZERO PAYMENTS 9 MONTHS NO FEES

—— A Curt Hofer Company ——

Exclusive lot purchasing.

Go ahead. Pinch yourself. The reality is you’re closer than ever to building the home of your dreams. Imagine being immersed in the spirit of country living that brings with it the ideals that are most important to you – nature’s most spectacular landscapes.

It begins right now. Call Today!

www.ReadOnlineNow.com

For additional information: 402.255.5750

4

january/february 2013 • january/february • 2012 H51/203 203

www.jasperstonedevelopment.com

Pella Windows and Doors of Omaha and Lincoln offer a wide range of energy-efficient windows and doors, so you can spend less on your heating and cooling costs, and have more for other things that matter to you. We’ll help keep your home – and your budget – comfortable.

Thank you Omaha!

888-419-6802 • pellaomaha.com Omaha 9845 South 142nd Street | Lincoln 6891 A Street, Suite 118, Clocktower Center

© 2012 Pella Corporation