A LWAY S L O C A L , A LWAY S B E AU T I F U L
MAY 2021
ThinkI N Pink DUNDEE
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O M A H A M AG A Z IN E.CO M
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OmahaHome E N T R Y WAY
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CON TEN TS 1 3
OmahaHome Entr y way Spaces
THINK PINK IN DUNDEE
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Double Heart Farm
A DISAPPE ARING DOOR & OTHER ILLUSIONS
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Maker
M U R A L A R T I S T T H E R E S A M U R R AY
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Feature
R ANCH RENO GOES RETRO
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At Home
A N E N T E R TA I N E R ’ S D R E A M
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Feature
THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN TREASURES
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A rchitecture
MOV ING INTO HIS TORY
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Har vest
COMMUNIT Y GARDENS GROW MORE THAN GREENS
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ASID Award Feature UNDERCOVER CHARM
A comfy light teal sofa from Anthropologie, an ornate mirror found on Marketplace, and touches of foliage helped create the feminine, nature-inspired library of Amanda Yong’s dreams. Story page 3. Photo by Bill Sitzmann.
“May flowers always line your path and sunshine light your day. May songbirds serenade you every step along the way.” — IRISH BLESSING
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ven though the third week of March marks the start of the spring season, it’s not until Mother’s Day that I know I can safely pot spring flowers and they will survive. Creating planters is a tradition I have enjoyed for years. Bringing fresh flowers into your living space is not only therapeutic, but also can provide instant gratification before you even step inside your home.
This Mother’s Day, I will honor my mother by making one of her favorite family recipes, homemade banana bread. I lost my mother this past September, and I treasure the memories I have of her, especially those nostalgic “smells of home” in the kitchen. I’m sticking with the original recipe this time; however, over the years I have slightly altered it by adding mini chocolate chips. To view the recipe, please visit omahamagazine.com/sandys-banana-bread. As I get older, I’m realizing that time is really the best gift you can give your aging parents. If you are lucky enough to still have your parents, tell them often how much you love them and are thankful for them. It could mean more than you think. This month we also honor those that have sacrificed so much for our country on Memorial Day weekend. The past year was a difficult one for many families. Hopefully this summer you’re able to safely spend time with your loved ones again and find time for much-needed reconnection with friends. Please let us know if you have any suggestions or tips that we can include in upcoming issues by emailing me at sandy@omahapublications.com. Sandy Matson Contributing Editor
CREATE YOUR OWN ENVIRONMENT In nature, evolution can require a process of thousands of years. At Curt Hofer & Associates, helping you to create your environment is second nature to us. Bring your designs, your inspiration, your preferences, pictures and even pins. Together we’ll move through a process that lets you ease into a flawless execution of your ideal surroundings. Contact us today to see why Curt Hofer & Associates has earned top awards for our iconic design and inspired living spaces for more than 26 years.
VOLUME 11 · Issue 3
EDITORIAL Managing Editor
DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Senior Editor TARA SPENCER
Associate Editor LINDA PERSIGEHL
Contributing Writers
TAMSEN BUTLER · JENNA GABRIAL GALLAGHER · JULIE HOCKNEY MEGAN KEYSER · LISA LUKECART · PATRICK M C GEE KATY SPRATTE JOYCE · CHRIS STOUT-HAZARD · HOUSTON WILTSEY
CREATIVE Creative Director MATT WIECZOREK
Senior Graphic Designer DEREK JOY
Graphic Designer II MADY BESCH
Contributing Photographers
TOM KESSLER PHOTOGRAPHY · CHRIS STOUT-HAZARD
SALES Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing GIL COHEN
m Home Build sto er Cu
Sales Coach ED COCHRAN
Publisher’s Assistant & OmahaHome Contributing Editor SANDY MATSON
Senior Sales Coordinator ALICIA HOLLINS
Branding Specialists
PAUL BASHUS · DAWN DENNIS · GEORGE IDELMAN Contributing Branding Specialists JILLIAN DUNN · MARY HIATT · GWEN LEMKE
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C PA E
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Think Pink IN DUNDEE
AMANDA YONG’S LIBR ARY BLOOMS IN BLUSH
STORY K AT Y SPR AT TE JOYCE
PHOTOGRAPH Y BILL SITZMANN
DESIGN MADY BESCH
t’s not every homeowner that
will take a chance on a distant Facebook Marketplace f ind, hopping in the car for a 10-hour round-trip journey for the purchase. But that’s just what Amanda Yong and her husband, Kyle Dworak, did when she spotted a stunning marble mantle from Veranda Antiques in Columbia, Missouri. Though the homeowner originally had something else in mind for their Dundee home library, the siren’s song of that solid marble piece just couldn’t be ignored. Yong has been renovating their 1912 home with a focus on creating an eclectic, romantic, and bohemian aesthetic. Originally, the now pretty-in-pink library was the former owner’s primary bedroom. The pair decided to prioritize this space and turn it into Yong’s
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light and airy dream library. The husband and wife team started by ripping out a large closet to add more square footage, then leveled out the former stepdown area for a more seamless f low. Yong shared, “This was the longest and most difficult piece of the renovation, and Kyle did it by himself.” David Wood Floors was tapped to refinish the f loor—a tough ask to match the original quarter-sawn pine, but the end result shines. Next was building solid oak bookshelves from scratch—another task the couple tackled themselves, with Yong focusing on design and Dworak on the execution. “I’d never be able to do this without him,” she laughed, sharing that she’d be forever stuck in the design phase without her partner. A faux fireplace, the perfect companion for the aforementioned marble mantle, followed. Paint, a gorgeous blush tone called Modern Love by Backdrop, helped lighten the space.
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tyling the now-refreshed room was the fun part. The homeowner shared, “I want my house to feel like living in perpetual spring,” so Yong tends to favor a lot of f lowers, plants, vines, and nature-inspired design elements. Plants from local favorite Mulhall’s—which she’s amusingly named Ramona the rubber tree and Cathy the calathea—and a whimsical garden statue from Etsy help liven up the soft pink background.Vintage rugs from the women-owned company Canary Lane, sourced from Turkey and Morocco, add texture and interest. An intricate wooden mirror (another Facebook Marketplace steal) was painted white by Yong before finding its eventual home in the room. Curtain rods and curtains from Target, a pink lamp from the local secondhand shop Forever Yesterday Exchange, and artwork from local artist Jaimee Backstrom round out the library. An Anthropologie Channel Tufted two-cusion sofa and Slub Velvet Bixby chair add lushness and mesh well with Yong’s goal of a feminine, romantic vibe for the space. A mix of family heirlooms and Yong’s impressive book collection add a sense of style and history to the custom bookshelves. Crown molding, sourced from uDecor online and installed by the couple, provides some historic glam, while Hyggelight candles and a desk made by Dworak add atmosphere and function. Though Yong enjoys walking around her charming Dundee neighborhood, she’s also perfectly content curling up on the couch in her ladylike new library. What’s not to love? See Amanda Yong’s decorating journey on Instagram @thelittledovehome.
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“ I WA N T M Y H O U S E T O FEEL LIKE LI V ING IN P E R P E T U A L S P R I N G .”
—A manda Yong
A Disappearing Door & Other Illusions
Story & Photography
Chris Stout-Hazard
Design Mady Besch
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“I cannot believe you did that.” Over the years of renovating our houses, we’ve gotten used to hearing this from countless people. But the truth is, some homes present challenges that require unorthodox solutions. For instance, take the primary bedroom in our old farmhouse. As an American Foursquare, there are four bedrooms upstairs, all roughly equivalent in size and layout. When selecting which would be our bedroom, we decided that the second-largest would best suit us due to its quieter, more private location at the back of the house. Large windows in the room overlook the field to the north and a wooded lot to the east. All good, right? Except the west wall is short, and the south wall—the ideal headboard wall for a king-sized bed— had a closet door stuck right in the middle of it. What shocking thing did we decide to do? Lose the closet, of course. We’ve got plenty of storage space and, like all of you who live in old homes know, these bedroom closets hold a half-dozen T-shirts, at best. We didn’t permanently remove the closet—we constructed an oversized headboard, upholstered in holstein cowhide, to conceal the door entirely.
What shocking thing did we decide to do? Lose the closet, of course.
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To battle the boredom of four white-plaster walls, we covered them, floor to ceiling, with tongue-andgroove paneling to create the feel of a refined cottage.
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To battle the boredom of four white-plaster walls, we covered them, f loor to ceiling, with tongue-and-groove paneling to create the feel of a refined cottage. We carried the treatment onto a custom bed frame, built-in bookcases, and a mantel above a small electric fireplace for cold nights. The built-ins give the vibe of a houseboat, with everything in its place and sized just right for the rather compact room. To keep it cozy, we painted all the woodwork a soothing deepbrown color. To avoid a claustrophobic atmosphere, we built a huge mirror to lean against a wall, which helps bounce the room’s light and expand the feel of the space.
What other shocking thing did we do? After pulling up the dingy carpet, we discovered the wood floor was in rough shape with paint splatter, water stains, and damage from tack strips. So, we painted the boards, coating them in a creamy-blue porch paint. Sure, sometimes people can’t believe the design decisions we make, but the end result is a room we absolutely love. Until next time, Roger and Chris, at Double Heart Farm. Read more on doubleheartfarm.com or follow along on instagram.com/ dblheartfarm.
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rtist Theresa Murray is easy to spot in a crowd because she’s the one intensely studying and sketching folks around her. “I’m usually working on some sort of commission, and there’s not a lot of time for my own art, so I’ll do pen and ink drawings of the people around me at my son’s swim meets,” she said. Creating murals, however, has allowed Murray to make a living as an artist. Murray grew up in Omaha, but earned her fine arts degree from Northwest Missouri State University. “[Northwest] had amazing professors,” she said. Her plan was to get involved in graphic design, and while in school she did an internship and some volunteer work in the field. “I was a Jane of all trades.” Her first mural was “the cow jumping over the moon” nursery rhyme scene, which she pained upon learning she was going to be a mom. “I was nesting!” Murray exclaimed. “I’d never done a mural before, but I wanted a kick-butt nursery for my son. I had a paintbrush in my hand and I was seven months pregnant— no one was going to stop me.” The work holds a special place in her heart and is still featured in her online portfolio, complete with a very pregnant Murray standing in front of the wall.
Eventually she began doing small mural projects for friends. “Plants on the wall and things like that,” she said. Then she met some moms at her son’s preschool who were interior designers, and they helped her make some important connections. “They really gave me a start, and I began doing some mural work for Interior Design Group,” Murray said. Murray went on to create a permanent display at the Omaha WorldHerald, a pen and ink series on how newspapers are printed. “They used it for school tours,” she said, proudly. She also created murals in homes featured in Omaha’s popular Street of Dreams Home Tour. In addition to mural work for both commercial and residential clients, Murray teamed up with her sister, Kelly Brakenhoff, to create children’s books about a deaf dog named Duke. Brakenhoff is an ASL interpreter with 30 years’ experience, and the books help readers appreciate a deaf person’s perspective. A third book featuring Duke is in development. Though much of what Murray creates has a whimsical, fairytale feel, she also thrives in creating realistic images with her brushes and paint. Subjects have ranged from an Italian storefront scene to cyclists on the trail to geometric
shapes. She’s adamant on the type of paint she uses for her murals. “I only use Benjamin Moore latex wall paint because of the depth of color and the total quality of the paint,” she said. Each project she does “is bid by the job, encompassing estimated hours, supplies, and drive time,” Murray said. One residential mural Murray created required her to do the work from high scaffolding, which was a particular challenge for her since she’s afraid of heights. “But I climbed that scaffolding every day and didn’t fall off,” she said with a laugh. Commercial client Diana Schwahn of Rehab Guru in Omaha described Murray as “a remarkable artist.She is able to create unique, one-of-akind murals. All I had to do was give her an idea of what I wanted, and she was able to create an individualized masterpiece!” Creating custom murals looks a little different now than it did when Murray f irst started out. Social media (Pinterest, in particular) allows her clients to come to the table with a more detailed vision. Design shows on television “can be misleading,” Murray said. “Rare is it that a mural will ever take one day. I’m old school and do things freehand.” Murray suggests that clients consider the longevity of a mural before deciding on a design, especially with nurseries and playrooms. “If we make it too kid-like for the baby, then the baby will outgrow it in a short time. I try to make it to where the kid can enjoy it for six or seven years. I elevate the art so both the kids and adults can enjoy it.” See Murray’s portfolio at murrayartanddesign.com.
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MURAL ARTIST THERESA MURRAY:
maker
GET OUT OF HER WAY—SHE HAS A PAINTBRUSH
S TO RY TAMSEN BUTLER
P H OTO G R A P H Y BILL SITZMANN
“I HAD A PAINTBRUSH IN MY HAND AND I WAS SEVEN MONTHS PREGNANT— NO ONE WAS GOING TO STOP ME.”
DESIGN MADY BESCH
—THERESA MURRAY
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2210 S. 156th Circle, Omaha, NE 68130 Featured in the March/April 2021 issue. Photography by Bill Sitzmann. M AY 2 0 2 1
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F E AT U R E
R ANCH RENO GOES RETRO The Dyers’ Midcentury Home in Midtown 16
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S T O RY Lisa Lukecar t PHOTOGR APHY Bill Sit zmann DESIGN Mady Besch
I T TOO K T H RE E Y E A R S
of patience and persistence…The house had to be just right. When Cheryl Dyer finally found it, she knew it was the one. The raised ranch-style house in midtown matched the conceptual midcentury design she and her husband desired. The bones of the living room and kitchen could carry out the theme. But as the married couple walked through the house, it became appa rent changes needed to be made. The dark wood paneling and shuttered rooms diverged from their vision for a bright, open-spaced ambiance.
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“IT’S THE EPICENTER, OR HEART TO THE HOME.” — B R I A N K E L LY, A T O M
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“We had to be pretty coy about what we were going to do,” Kyle Dyer said. “We were going to gut it.”
“It’s the epicenter, or heart to the home,” explained Brian Kelly, the primary designer for AToM.
The Dyers contacted AToM, an Brian, along with his wife, Andrea a rchitect ura l design duo, to Kelly, launched the business in sketch up plans even before 2009. AToM is an acronym for making an offer on the house. Architecture, Teaching, objects, Their dream began to become Media, and a mix of their talents. realit y when renovations got underway in “WE HAD TO BE PRETTY August 2016. The Dyer family basically lived COY ABOUT WHAT WE in the basement while WERE GOING TO DO. WE construction pounded away upsta i rs. T he WERE GOING TO GUT IT.” living room, kitchen, and hallway became —KYLE DYER transformed in about seven mont hs. T he Andrea handles client relations— result is a warm, welcoming makeeven going so far as to help clients over. Walking past the original house hunt or shop for f loorearth-toned flagstone entryway, it ing. When these t wo licensed feels like stepping onto the set of architects are not col laborata 1960s television show. Modern ing on projects, Brian works as touches mingle easily with the a full-time tenured professor of blast-from-the-past décor. architecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His wife was A general contractor and subcona former adjunct professor in the tractors took down doors and same department. walls. Load-bearing steel columns wrapped in mahogany now elevate “ We found we have different the ceiling in the kitchen and skills and abilities, but work well dining and living rooms. The together,” Andrea said. central attraction is the highgloss white laminated breakfast The design duo helped create an bar enclosed in wooden wall slats. eye-catching scheme for the Dyer The modern bar is supported by house. Brian has been drawrods notched into the slats, so ing oculus designs for years and it’s suspended from the ceiling. incorporated one into the skylight Only one wide leg maintains a in the kitchen. Natural light fans rigid connection with the floor. outward through the small openThe effect is a linear reception ings, bouncing off surfaces at area where the Dyers eat dinner, various angles. play games, and discuss their day. Globe lights f lick on at night, “It works so well I rarely notice it creating a cozy vibe. until [visitors] say, ‘Oh, that’s so cool,’” Cheryl said.
The sun’s rays stream onto the cherry wood of the kitchen island. AToM added a compost bin, built into the butcher-block top with a removal canister, but Cheryl uses it as extra storage space instead. Contractor Doug Kiser, of dK ISER design.constr uct, built the shelving, the top of the island, and other special touches. Custom shelves for cookbooks keep the kitchen free of clutter while looking sleek and modern. Inside the island is a custom w ine rack mi xing white and mahogany woods. The contrasting shades scheme continues with open and corner shelves for dishes, lit underneath with LED strips that serve as task lighting. Snowy white IKEA cabinets allow for hidden storage below for pots, pans, and kitchen utensils. The pantry is disguised, look ing like part of the wall instead of a mundane cupboard. Rather than a tile backsplash, a piece of clear glass painted white on the back adheres to the drywall behind the stove. The dining room is a near twin of the kitchen, with custom mahogany shelves f illed with Russel Wright midcentury white ceramic pottery. Custom inset cabinets painted in leapfrog green, funky yellow, and abalone shell white were added to give tucked-away items a hipster vibe. A hopper door sw ings dow n from the middle shelf to reveal alcohol for those special occasions when imbibing seems in order. Against another wall, a print by Omaha artist Mary Zicafoose hangs above a vintage dresser, used primarily as a buffet.
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“It’s the epicenter, or heart to the home.” — B R I A N K E L LY
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F E AT U R E
The chocolate-colored wood floor stretches into the living room. The subtly darker shade pulls out the lighter hues of the slats and walls. Barrow, their little dog, plants his paws possessively on the midcentury green sofa. Dusty pink chairs face a dressed coffee table offering Oreo cookies and a hot beverage for guests.
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From there, the hallway restorations tie it all together. A revised stair enclosure includes a custom cap piece on the banister. Some of Cheryl’s artwork hangs along the wall. Kyle shows off his creative skills in the basement. He sketched a 3D design online, built frames, and cut ply wood to create climbing rock walls. The family’s two teenagers, when not in their bedrooms or at the breakfast bar, spend time in the family room. The Dyers preferred to keep this space intact since the classical design naturally lent itself to the modern. Linus, 17, plays on his computer in front of the inviting gas fireplace. The f loor plan allows for easier communication, which he appreciates...sometimes. Ada, 15, mentions the darker tones of the room are cozy. “She would rather live in a Victorian manor,” Cheryl joked. W hen the AToM design team recently drove past the Dyer house at night, they saw the family through a window, playing a game at the breakfast bar and enjoying some laughs. A measure of satisfaction for having contributed to that heartwarming scene coursed through them. After years of searching, the Dyers were finally home. See more of AToM’s design work at atomdesignstudio.com.
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DREAM
The Laibles’ Northwoods Home Gets an Elegant Update Just Perfect for Engaging Guests
S T O RY
PHOTOGRAPHY
DESIGN
Megan Keyser
Bill Sitzmann
Mady Besch
When homeowners Rod and Barbara Laible joined together in 2017, they were ready to make their Northwoods Estates home their own. With a grand renovation plan and the assistance of an esteemed designer, the couple turned the slightly dated ranch-style house into an internationally inspired home ideal for entertaining. The house was built in 2007, when light floors and orange tones were popular. Fast forward 10 years, and the need for D3 Interiors designer (and business acquaintance of the couple) Lisa McCoid’s eye seemed obvious, as the couple wanted to update the home’s color scheme and create a better flow throughout the main floor. “How do we take a space that’s divided to make each area unique and special and work into the bones of the house?” McCoid asked.
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At the time, the fireplace was a brick mantle and drywall. The kitchen was shut off from the all-seasons room. And bright shades of green and yellow enveloped the walls. “I felt like I was living in a box of Starbursts,” Rod said. The renovation involved dropping kitchen cabinetry, adding a hood above the stove, reconstructing seating areas, and allowing for easier flow between rooms. A floor-to-ceiling fireplace was built, which now immediately draws attention upon entering the home. The remodel also opened the entry space with giant floor mirrors propped onto the walls. Wraparound cabinetry was restained and walls were repaneled. And in the kitchen, a new textured backsplash and light fixtures helped update the room.
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“The banquette, hood, and fireplace are the focal point of the space now. Here, they cohesively exist in one space. They complement each other,” McCoid said. Take note of the frequent gold “g a r n ish ment s.” Barbara was inspired to add these by a magazine she studied while v isiting her home in Naples, Florida.
They also added a doorway off the kitchen to the all-seasons room. “We do spas when we travel and wanted to be able to hot tub and sauna,” Rod said.
Out the couple’s back door is the f irst hole of a nine-hole golf course, inspired by their activities in Scotland. There’s also an amphitheater that ’s — BA R BA R A LA I B L E held weddings (including the couple’s own), musi“ We brought in brass c ia n f u nd r a is er s , a nd without it being overwhelming. It’s like extravagant ‘Gatsby’ parties with scotch jewelry on an outfit. Those final details took and cigar bars, live bands, and hundreds of it a step further,” McCoid said. 1920s-attired guests.
“We designed with entertaining in mind. When we entertain, we do it big. We like luxury.”
Business and pleasure take the couple all over the globe, which has allowed them to experience “so many areas of influence” that they wanted to bring into their Omaha home. Cue plans for a sunken kitchen, representative of a swim-up bar and of “pool and grilling vibes.”
“We designed with entertaining in mind. When we entertain, we do it big. We like luxury,” Barbara said.
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Together, the couple share five children and 10 grandchildren. “We used the old dining room table to eat, but everyone was always in the kitchen. At that time, there was talk of two islands, and I felt there wasn’t enough room,” Barbara remembered. Now, the one-of-a-kind curved banquette table expands for group dining. The living room ottomans can be brought together as a large piece or separated for guest seating. A large shelving unit, installed in the seating area, houses a big-screen television.
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Natural light seeps into the main living area throughout the day, and remote-controlled blinds allow for privacy in the evenings. Wide hallways stretch the full length of the home. “Having a lot of tone-on-tone materials brings a real elegance, like using accents of brass or gold and blue. We also kept the rea l ly rich, wa rm sta in color balanced” throughout the room, McCoid said. Being comfortable in the space, just the two of them, was equally as impor tant as catering to large events. Appliances are hidden behind wall panels. Abundant cabinetry allows for functionality, storage,
and eff iciency. Triple-tap the dishwasher and it drops down from under the counter. The galley sink is 5 feet long and includes a built-in strainer and dual faucets, one for prep and one for dishes. Four low, swivel chairs allow for comfortable seating in front of the fire and coordinate well with other furniture, including deep, cushy couches, also set up in conversational fashion. The space includes a jaguar statue purchased during a stay in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, and a piece of driftwood visiting from their home in South Dakota. The couple plan to purchase a home in upstate New York. Surely a piece of that home will enter this space someday. After three years of planning and executing the renovation, the space is f inally done. “It’s one large space with multiple functions. It’s gorgeous. It ties together,” McCoid said. Business and pleasure frequently take the couple out of Omaha, but, according to Barbara, “Northwoods is always home. It’s so good to get back.”
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Lisa McCoid and Alex Trout, designers with D3 Interiors, were recognized with two Gold awards at the 2020 Nebraska/Iowa Chapter ASID Project Awards for their main floor remodel and kitchen redesign of the Laible home.
15803 Pacific St., Omaha, NE • 402.333.5722 • sw-fence.com M AY 2 0 2 1
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THE HOUSE OF HIDDEN TREASURES The Isherwoods’ Gold Coast Behemoth is Full of Gems Worth Preserving 32
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ince becoming the f ifth owners of their Gold Coast mansion last September, Kim and Ryan Isherwood have been uncovering its secrets. The first was the discovery of a pair of hidden drawers in the home (whose location the couple prefers remain secret). In one was the combination to a large, custom-made, builtin safe that could be the MacGuff in in an Agatha Christie novel; and a notebook from a former lady of the manor with helpful hints for maintaining the house, including how to shoo out a visiting bat with a feather duster. In faded script, one page reads, “This is a friendly house. Sitting alone at night, I hear its timbers trying to talk with the trees outside. It sometimes groans, sighs, or snaps in its desire to sway in the wind with its living brothers. Be not alarmed at its desire for association.” Reading that, the Isher woods knew they were home. Although they’ve lived all over Metro Omaha, the couple feel they were always meant to be in this historic district. Kim is an avid collector and restorer of antiques, and both have always loved older homes. They also have nostalgic ties to the nearby University of Nebraska Medical Center—she’s a former medical sales rep who had accounts at the hospital, and he’s a family practice physician who attended medical school there. The Isher woods didn’t think t wice about the decision to purchase the 7,410-squarefoot, 1910-built American Tudor-style home, despite being empt y nesters. “Ever yone thought we were crazy,” Kim said. “Most of the people we know are downsizing. But none of that scared us.” Neither did taking on most of the restoration themselves, while remaining as faithful as possible to the original design by John L. Latenser, an early 20th-century Omaha architect responsible for such projects as Central High School, the Douglas County Courthouse, and the Brandeis Building. “When we were looking at other houses in the area, we’d hear prospective buyers say things like, ‘We can blow out the walls to open up the kitchen,’” Ryan said. “We didn’t want to do that.”
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The couple have made several smaller changes, though. They installed can lights and LED cabinet lights, by Frederick Electric, in the classic English butler’s pantry and replaced the chandelier in the dining room with one that was more ornate to complement the room’s rich, pink damask wallpaper. “When I saw this room, I asked my friend, ‘Are we fancy enough to live in a house like this?’” Kim said, laughing. “So, now, we say we’re unapologetically fancy.”
“When I saw this room, I asked my friend, ‘Are we fancy enough to live in a house like this?’ So, now, we say we’re unapologetically fancy.” — Kim Isherwood They’ve also done quite a bit of painting and wood floor restoration. Kim used the dining room’s vibrant hue as inspiration for the rest of the main floor: robin’s egg blue for the grand foyer, with its three-story winding stairway, high walnut-coffered ceilings, double-wide original lead-glass pocket doors, and perfectly preserved black-and-white mosaic floors; and dusky periwinkle for the sunroom, which originally had stubborn-to-remove grasscloth wall coverings and wool carpet from 1938. With such an opulently scaled house, the Isherwoods were intentional about keeping the small spaces interesting. For the entry vestibule, the first-floor powder room, and a secret servants’ passageway under the stairs, Kim stenciled the walls with metallic Royal Design Crème paint, lending each room a more textured feel. “That paint is a dream to work with,” she said. The second f loor has an enclosed small porch, as well as a large loggia. In the primar y bedroom, the Isherwoods replaced the Charlotte Perkins Gilman-evocative yellow wallpaper with a sunnier, warmer yellow. Their en suite dressing room has a f loor-to-ceiling built-in wardrobe with several individual cabinets. “Each door has its own lock and key,” Ryan said. “We have a bowl full of skeleton keys for all the locks in the house.”
“Sitting alone at night, I hear its timbers trying to talk with the trees outside. It sometimes groans, sighs, or snaps in its desire to sway in the wind with its living brothers. Be not alarmed at its desire for association.”
Throughout the home are gas-fueled sconces, and crystal doorknobs beautif y ever y bedroom door. The Isherwoods were charmed to discover a linen closet with a long list of pencil markings logging the heights and dates of children who have grown up in the home. (They’re looking forward to adding marks as their two grandbabies grow older.) Many of the home’s six bathrooms retain their original porcelain tiles and pedestal sinks. There’s even a clawfoot tub in the third-f loor servants’ quarters—a warren of about 10 dorm-style rooms that Kim, a yogi and Reiki master, thinks she may eventually use to host retreats. Though the house has been listed as having eight, sometimes nine, bedrooms, it’s easy to lose track of how many there actually are. Kim said she’s not even sure. “When I got an estimate to have the windows cleaned, they said there were 115 or 130 windows,” depending on who counted. All of them contain their original leaded glass, which creates a dreamy, wavy effect. Until last year, the home even had its original clay-tile roof. An exact, but updated, replacement was installed by a company that came in from St. Louis specifically for the job. “This house could easily have been made into apartments over the years,” Kim said. “ We’re so glad it wasn’t. It’s a remarkable piece of history, and we’re just the stewards.” The Isher woods’ neighbor, Deirdre Evans, secretary of the Joslyn Castle Neighborhood Association, has known many of the previous owners and heartily agreed with Kim. “People feel that way about the houses around here. They’re not just buying property. They’re adopting a treasure.” While the COV ID-19 pandemic has prevented the couple from socializing with their neighbors to the extent they’d like, Evans said the Isherwoods already fit right in. “It’s like they’ve lived here for 60 years.”
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M OVI N G I NTO H ISTO RY The Evans Find old-world beauty, Holiday Fun in Field Club Fixer
A petite 113-year-old house doesn’t “We thought that it was so beautiful, exactly scream kid-friendly. So, Kristi but that there’d be a ton of renovaand Alex Evans decided to pack up tions,” Kristi said. “It also didn’t have their one-and-a-halfair conditioning, and story home in Dundee we said who would be in 2017 to move to a crazy enough to pay “...we said who 4,000-square-foot fixer that much for a house would be crazy in the historic Field without A/C? Apparenough to pay Club neighborhood. ently, that was us.”
that much for a house without A/C? Apparently, that was us.”
“We knew we wanted to have more kids, and our old place didn’t have enough room,” Kristi said. “Plus, we had redone everything in that house, so we were getting bored,” she added.
K R I STI
The couple was first made aware of the home by Kristi’s sister, who saw it was for sale.
It’s not hard to see why they were so drawn to the house. It was designed by John E VA N S McDonald, a wellknown architect who designed many of Omaha’s impressive houses and commercial buildings in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including the George A. Joslyn Castle and the Joslyn Art Museum. Completed in 1907, the Evans home features a steeply pitched clay-tile roof, carved stone windows, and an asymmetrical façade. M AY 2 0 2 1
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“Like so many homes in Omaha, it’s a real mix of styles and defies easy categorization,” said Mark Hinchman, a professor of architecture at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. “There are elements of Queen Anne, Prairie, and Arts and Crafts styles,” he continued, adding that the porch columns are “pure classical” and that there are both Gothic and Tudorstyle windows. Though the home’s roof exudes old-world charm, it’s a replacement that was completed in the summer of 2019. For the update, the Evans turned to the tile experts at Ludowici. Founded in Italy by Carl Ludowici in the late 1800s—and with roots dating back to 17th century Rome—the company specializes in expertly crafted clay-tile roofs, many of which were used on homes across the Midwest. “There’s even a good chance they were the ones who installed what was on the roof before,” Alex said. To maintain the look and feel, Ludowici’s craftsmen came out to make casts of the original tiles to create molds to fashion the updated tiles. Elsewhere on the property, a pair of beautiful examples of metalwork draw the eye. “The wrought-iron fence out there is something the previous owner got for free,” Kristi said. “Hanscom Park was being remodeled, and their son saw this beautiful fence just sitting there. They were going to throw it out, and he just asked if he could have it.”
On the northwest corner of the property sits a street lamp which Alex outfitted with LED lights that enable the family to change its colors—very important considering how much the couple enjoy decorating for the holidays. “The previous owners set a precedent of excessive decorating,” Kristi said. “One Halloween, they made it look like a dragon was weaving in and out of the windows of the house.” The Evans have made a strong attempt to make those folks proud. A couple Octobers ago, the couple created a Harry Potter scene on their front lawn, complete with a Quiddich field and painted signs of the four houses of the series’ mythical school, Hogwarts. For last year’s neighborhood Independence Day party, they riffed on the quarantine-appropriate “there’s no place like home” line from the Wizard of Oz, adding gold chalk paint to their sidewalk entry and a bubble machine out front. Paired with the Emerald City-like color of their roof, the decorations made quite an impression on neighbors. The Evans said they plan to decorate and renovate their home more in the years to come. Eventually, they want to get their 1- and 4-year-old sons involved. “We haven’t been able to put them to work,” Alex said, chuckling. “They make an effort, but they just aren’t too much help at this point. But we’ll get them there one day soon,” he added, looking over at Kristi and smiling.
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Community Gardens Grow More Than Greens S TO RY PAT R I C K M CG EE
DESIGN MADY BESCH
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their hand at planting and harvesting crops, but without ample yard space, might try joining a community garden. Community gardens boast plot sizes comparable to most homeowner’s dedicated garden space and have popped up all around town. Gardeners should not wait too long to sign up, however, because plots tend to fill up fast. Those interested in seeing for themselves should drive by the Dundee Community Garden at 4902 Underwood Ave. The beautified lot hosts multiple gardening plots, as well as a “neighbor garden” on the southern edge, along Underwood. Garden president Mary Green said the neighbor garden often produces tomatoes, eggplant, green beans, and rhubarb and is open to everyone. “If [passersby] see something enticing, they can take it.” She also requested people not harvest from other plots. The Dundee Community Garden is a nonprofit organization founded with land purchased from a developer in 2013. The garden has 41 individual 4-foot by 10-foot plots for members, rented for $40 per growing season (largely to offset the property and water costs of the community garden). The garden lot also contains common areas, including several charity gardens, the fruits of which are donated to those in need. Garden members are expected to help maintain communal areas; volunteering two hours per month to weed and preen is recommended. The gardening organization hosts festive events and activities as well, such as a June ice cream social, watermelon-eating in July, and workshops on plants and pollinators. Green said the garden beautifies the neighborhood, brings people together, and is open to the public. The waiting list for a plot at the Dundee Community Garden is two years.
Another fantastic specimen of a neighborhood garden is the Benson Community Garden, which broke ground in 2011. Situated at 1302 N. 60th St., the Benson Garden benef its from open skies and full sun most of the day, which will do wonders for vegetable plants. Like the Dundee Community Garden, the Benson Garden is also a nonprofit. Garden president Kurt Goetzinger lives next door to the site in an old farmhouse. He is passionate about environmental and conservation issues, and collects rainwater for garden members to nourish their plots.
Benson Garden houses a “bountiful box” full of nonperishable foods, such as canned items and boxed foods, so that people with food insecurity can help themselves.
The Benson Community Garden hosts 18 separate 4-foot by 12-foot plots, rented for $45 per season, and 18 individual 4-foot by 8-foot plots, rented for just $35 per season. Common areas host fruit trees, herb plots, and even an earthen stage for performances. Garden members are expected to chip in labor to help maintain common areas. The garden is also open to the public, but please contact Goetzinger about booking it before using for any events. Goetzinger said the Benson garden hosts movie screenings and a salsa competition, and houses a “bountiful box” full of nonperishable foods, such as canned items and boxed foods, so that people with food insecurity can help themselves. In February, when plots are made available, they f ill up within two hours, he added. Many people may prefer to garden in their own yards, but not everyone has the real estate. Even if it’s feasible, one’s home garden will likely not support the social aspects of a community garden. For those interested in gardening, as well as charity, making friends, and community-building, community gardening may be just the right option. For more information, visit dundeegarden. org and bensongardens.org
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STO RY
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P H OTO
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PHY TOM K ESSLE R PHOTO GRAP HY DESIG
MADY
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ASID AWARD FEATURE
UNDERCOVER CHARM Soffits, Storage & Other Essentials are Hidden in Plain Sight
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busy Omaha family of four came to me with a few big design goals for the main f loor remodel of their Tomlinson Woods home. In expanding the kitchen, there were two major space-planning solutions we came up with. One was to not make the kitchen too open and use the last six feet of space for a hidden off ice/dog zone/pantry, all in one. This way, clutter can be tucked away, yet accessible. (With the way we designed the cabi-
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nets to conceal the pantry entry, you don’t even know it’s there!) Our second solution was to remove all the upper cabinets from the exterior elevation, allowing the windows to extend down to the countertops. This allowed us to bring the outside in. In addition, we brought in the proper f inishes to highlight our solutions: black painted trim to frame the trees outside, and crisp white painted cabinets to make the room feel airy and expansive.
Meet the Interior Designer When mapping
out a plan for my future 20 years Allied Member ASID ago, I never imagined my life as it is jh Interior Design Studio today. After earning a bachelor’s degree in music education from the University of Kansas, then attending Watkins College of Art in Nashville and earning an associate’s degree in interior design from Metropolitan Community College in Omaha, I founded jh Interior Design in 2007. As a one-person company, I set out to conquer the design world…from my basement. Since then, the firm has grown to nine designers, and we’ve recently expanded our retail showroom and taken on larger projects nationwide. I absolutely love designing for people and it shows.
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Our biggest challenge was addressing the soff its. We were able to remove all except for one, mandated by the HVAC system. We quickly reworked our cabinet elevation on this wall to help disguise the soff it by standing proud of it. We also made sure the small portion of exposed soff it was painted to make it virtually disappear with the cabinets. It worked like a charm.
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jh Interior Design received a Silver award for this project at the 2020 Nebraska / Iowa Chapter ASI D Awards last September.
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The overall color palette for this project was soothing, yet sharp. The existing solid red-oak floor got stripped down, and a custom stain was used to give it the appearance of white oak. Mixed-metal hardware highlights bright chrome and subtly introduces burnished gold, while complementing off-black metal pendants. Light painted walls with crisp white trim, a warm, dark-stained, rift-cut oak island, and a hood were the next layer. The grand finale was the natural quartzite countertops that were so exquisite, we had to take them all the way up the backsplash as well...no other backsplash would be able to compete. The results were stunning!
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