OmahaHome July/August 2019

A LWAY S L O C A L , A LWAY S B E AU T I F U L

JULY/AUGUST 2019

Engaging Senses & Slowing Down

PLANTING NATIVE GARDENS FOR POLLINATORS //

LIGHTS, HOME, ACTION // A VILLA OF A DIFFERENT COLOR // STUDIOUS ARTISTS

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OmahaHome E N T R Y WAY

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CON TEN TS 3

OmahaHome Entr y way

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DIY

CR AF T Y CONCRETE

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Spaces ENGAGING SENSES & SLOWING DOWN

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Neighborhoods FL A N AGA N L A K E GI V E S O M A H A A PL ACE TO GROW

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Feature LIGHTS, HOME, AC TION

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A rchitecture P R E S E R VAT I O N O F H I S T O R I C K I T H O M E S

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At Home STUDIOUS ARTISTS

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Feature A V ILL A OF A DIFFERENT COLOR

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Har vest P L A N T I N G N AT I V E G A R D E N S F O R P O L L I N AT O R S

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”

- Thomas Paine he July/August issue is one of my favorites. It reminds me of growing up in small-town Garner, Iowa, where my family and I attended big Fourth of July cookouts, parades, carnivals, and fireworks. As we get older, however, we understand that the true reasons behind the holiday are sobering and should fill us with patriotic pride. Knowing our history and why we are able to celebrate this day each and every year should make it all the more meaningful.

Speaking of history, in this issue we go back to a time in the early 1900s when—with the help of Sears, Roebuck & Co.—a person could build a beautiful six-room cottage for under $2,000.

Those who are afraid to dabble in color won’t be when they see Angie Arkfeld’s villa. This will give you the inspiration you need to put a new color on your wall. Others may find inspiration in Bing Chen’s picturesque backyard, Dennis Wattier and Deborah Murphy’s artwork, Scott Evans’ tips to harvesting native gardens for pollinators, or even my DIY summer concrete projects featured on page 6.

Finally, I’d like to give a personal thank-you to all those who are active or retired military members for being instrumental in ensuring the USA continues to enjoy its freedoms.

Enjoy the summer!

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Transformations R E U S E F O R A R E A S O N A B L E R E N O VAT I O N

ON THE COVER

Bing Chen has created a natural oasis reminiscent of a Chinese landscape painting, with water features, statues, and multitudes of plants. Story page 10. Photo by Bill Sitzmann.

Sandy Matson Contributing Editor

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VOLUME 9 · Issue 5

EDITORIAL Managing Editor DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Senior Editor TARA SPENCER Editorial Intern SAMANTHA WEIDEMAN Contributing Writers TAMSEN BUTLER · MARILYN S. HANSEN CHARLIE LITTON · LISA LUKECART · PATRICK M C GEE KARA SCHWEISS · SCOTT STEWART · JUSTINE YOUNG

CREATIVE Creative Director MATT WIECZOREK Senior Graphic Designer DEREK JOY Graphic Designer II MADY BESCH Contributing Photographer TOM KESSLER

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Crafty Materials Needed: • Plastic containers to use as concrete molds. Make sure it is strong enough to hold the shape of the concrete. I found plenty of large bowls while thrifting or at the dollar store. Two different-sized bowls are needed for the inner and outer shapes of the concrete bowl.

• Plastic storage tub • Five-gallon bucket • Large, heavy stir stick • Water pitcher • Fine concrete (I used Quikrete 5000) • Smaller rocks or sand • Felt (if placing indoors)

S

CONCRETE

ophisticated is a not a word that typically comes to mind with the word “concrete.” But these days, concrete is making appearances in places other than sidewalks and patios.

There is a difference between cement and concrete. Concrete is cement powder that is mixed with water and contains additional fillers that make the substance strong when dried. Cement has a smoother texture when it dries because it does not have these fillers.

Either substance will work for these projects.

• Sanding block or sandpaper (coarse) • Eye and face protection • Rubber gloves • Plastic drop cloth • Cooking spray or WD-40 • Glass hurricane (craft stores have several assortments) • Plastic coffee can • Box cutter or handsaw • Cardboard tube (I used Quikrete’s Quik-tube)

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FUEL CELL TEALIGHTS Found at Papillion Flower Patch

One thing is certain—this is a DIY even those who do not think they are crafty can conquer. And to top it off, it is virtually impossible to mess up.

This project highlights texture, and the key is to create contrast. I found concrete works wonders when paired with natural elements such as wood, sand, and stones. But the substance will work with many designs to suit anyone’s personal style. I attempted three projects here that are sure to add interest to a home.

IMPORTANT STEP Before Starting :

Thoroughly grease your molds so the concrete does not stick.

Not doing so means that it will be tough to get the concrete out of the molds once the substance dries. Have all of this done and ready to go once the concrete is mixed, and be sure to work on a flat surface.

OmahaMagazine.com

DIY story by Sandy Matson

photography by Bill Sitzmann

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design by Mady Besch

Hurricane LAMP BASE:

Note: Make sure to use a cardboard tube that is at least 1 inch wider than the hurricane. Also make sure the top and bottom are both level.

Step 1: Create a makeshift bottom for the tube using a foam plate, or anything sturdy that will easily come away from the concrete.

Step 2: Place the tube on a piece of plywood or

other level surface. This also protects the working surface from the concrete.

Step 3: Mix the concrete (I did three smaller

batches and poured into the tube), then tap the side to make sure air bubbles are out.

Step 4: Press an object a bit wider than the glass hurricane (a plastic coffee can works well) into the concrete.

Step 5: Rotate the can a few times in the first two or three hours. After that point you can remove the can, then let the column dry another 24 hours.

GLASS HURRICANE

Step 6: Once dry, remove the cardboard tube

Found at At Home

with a box cutter or handsaw. Spray it with water if necessary.

Step 7: Gently lay column on its side and remove the bottom, then sand the rough edges with a sanding block.

Step 8: Place the glass hurricane in

the indention, then fill it with sand or pebbles, and decorate how you like.

Mine has a base of 12 inches in diameter.

If you plan to use the hurricane inside, place felt on the bottom of the lamp base to protect surfaces.

BUNDLE OF BURLAP Found at Cactus Creek in Weston, MO

GOLD CRAB FIGURINE Found Thrifting

CONCRETE STARFISH Found at HomeGoods

TILLANDSIA “AIR PLANT” Found at Mulhall’s

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WHITE SAND, MOSS, and SHELLS Found at Hobby Lobby

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DIY

CONCRETE Bowl:

Step 1: Mix concrete with water until it is the thickness of pancake batter.

Step 2: Fill the large, lubricated

bowl ¾ of the way with concrete.

Step 3: Nestle the smaller

(lubricated on the outside) bowl inside the larger bowl f illed with the concrete. Make sure to tap around the bowl for air bubbles.

Step 4: Add pebbles or weights to the inner bowl, to help create the indentation.

Step 5: Remove the inner bowl

after 24 hours, but allow additional drying time for the outside

Use this bowl to decorate as you like. Placing it on a wooden shelf would be beautiful.

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If you plan to use the bowl inside, place felt on the bottom of the bowl to protect surfaces.

Tealight CANDLE HOLDERS:

Step 1: Mix concrete with water until

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Step 2: Fill the larger mold with

concrete to about one inch from the top. Tap sides to eliminate air bubbles and level the surface.

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Step 3: Push the smaller mold

into the area where you want the candle to sit, leaving adequate thickness for the bottom.

Step 4: Place sand or pebbles in

the smaller mold (for weight) and let the concrete set for 24 hours.

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Step 5: Remove the molds and smooth any rough edges with a stone or coarse sand block.

If you plan to use the candle holder inside, place felt on the bottom of the candle holder to protect surfaces.

Enjoy your décor!

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S PAC E S

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Engaging Senses & Slowing Down

July/August 2019

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S PAC E S story by TAMSEN BUTLER

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

graciously, especially when those visitors are there to enjoy his garden. He even provides a walking path to his neighbors’ house for easy access to the trails of his garden and has a welcoming spot at the entrance path of his home where guests can sit and enjoy the beginning hints of what lies beyond the home’s structure.

No guests are as eagerly anticipated as the nesting mallards who visit every year in the spring for four or f ive weeks.

Affectionately named “Donald” and “Daisy” by Chen, the mallards come to enjoy the peaceful pond and quiet setting Chen meticulously planned and executed.

“It’s a living Chinese landscape painting,” he says, referencing his favorite style of art. “It’s supposed to make people wonder, ‘where does the trail go?’”

In the late 1980s when Chen and his wife were looking to buy a house in the Omaha area, he already had a vision for the space.

“Land options were limited—I sketched a landscape at each potential location.” He visualized a landscape which, much like the paintings he admires, forces the viewer to “stare for a while until the mind starts filling in the missing spaces you can’t see.”

What visitors always see is a cascading waterfall that empties into a koi pond surrounding a viewing deck. Beyond the pond is a variety of landscape details such as a hillside forest, and created hills and mounds. Walking among them feels like walking on a trail in the mountains.

There is also a cave with a f ire pit directly in front of it, and numerous trails that prove challenging hikes for visitors who want to explore. Places to sit and ref lect are peppered throughout the space.

“It’s a living Chinese landscape painting.

It’s supposed to make people wonder, ‘where does the trail go?’”

July/August 2019

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Chen named every trail that runs through his space. The two main trails—Ridge Trail and Rim Trail—meet up in various spots and combine into one on the west side of the house.

S PAC E S

To call the space behind Chen’s house a “garden” does not do the area justice.

To say the creation of the space took some effort is another understatement.

Chen tells the story of the day Delwin Rogers of Rogers Sod Farm happened to stop by to see the space Chen was creating. “He looked around and said, ‘You look like someone who needs some boulders.’” Thus began the saga of acquiring the giant rocks necessary to bring Chen’s vision to life—including a 10-ton boulder that “made the neighbors think there was an earthquake” when it was unloaded from the truck. “My goodness, what a thud!” Chen remembers.

Chen named every trail that runs through his space. The two main trails—Ridge Trail and Rim Trail—meet up in various spots and combine into one on the west side of the house. He planted everything intentionally to achieve a “changing panorama of color and texture.”

Winter is a resting period. “The gardens are barren and have a quiet tranquility related to winter introspection,” Chen says. “Spring is a quickening of the pulse” and it’s when crocuses begin to bloom. Summer is when “the maturity of the garden displays itself,” he says. “Senses are engaged and new actors appear on the stage.” Fall is a “slowing down. It’s the last spark.”

Fall is Chen’s favorite time because it’s when he starts planning his planting for the next year. The space may look different from one year to another, yet it remains a delightful respite from the rigors of daily life and a hidden treasure in the Omaha area.

July/August 2019

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Flanagan Lake Gives Omaha a Place to Grow New Development Surrounds Public Park

T

ops of trees sprout from the water in a neat row down the center of Flanagan Lake, a new public park situated in northwest Omaha. What was once farmland divided among 17 separate owners has grown into gently sloping green hills surrounding an elongated body of water. This project that has been in the making since 2009 officially opened to the public in June 2018.

Planned and constructed by the PapioMissouri River Natural Resources District, the park took three years to complete after groundbreaking before it was turned over to Omaha’s Parks and Recreation Board.

The park will provide a welcome green space for many nearby homeowners. Housing developments around the lake are already beginning to take root. A number of homesin-progress at Pier 15 development will offer lakefront locations with uninterrupted views of the water, as well as villas and houses within easy walking distance. The developer’s website shows that Villa lots are available for $52,000, while lakefront lots are selling for $110,000. Residences in the villas sell for $350,000-$500,000, while houses sell from over $450,000-$800,000. Anchor Pointe housing development (located along 168th and Ida streets) will be included in the Bennington School District.

“We’re getting a mix of retirees and a few clients who are younger that like not having to worry about the maintenance,” says Matt Caniglia, owner of Silverthorn Custom Homes.

As for the homes themselves, Caniglia says the area will consist of mostly ranch homes with a few two-stories, as requested by customers.

While the subdivision itself at 168th and Fort streets does not feature many businesses, it is close to Maple Street, which has grocery stores, drug stores, and other necessities.

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NEIGHBOR HOODS story by Justine Young + Daisy Hutzell-Rodman

photography by Bill Sitzmann

The common connection with the residents, though, is the natural amenities. “The people who have bought really like [having] the access to the lake without living on the lake.

We see people liking not having the extra costs that come with living on a lake, like needing a boat and a dock.”

The 730-acre park features 5.2 miles of trails for biking and hiking, a boat ramp, restrooms, and picnic shelters. Different types of trees are planted and showcase small gold plaques along the waterfront, each dedicated to a different person or family from Omaha. Solar-powered lights and ample parking space make this park fun and functional for all.

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design by Mady Besch

The lake offers an assortment of amenities such as fishing, kayaking, or picnicking. By the end of 2019, a large playground structure will also take root. Visitors can expect multiple slides, bridges, and climbing walls, as well as several homages to the park’s namesake.

In 2017, metro citizens were given an opportunity to cast votes for potential names of the park. While several dozen were suggested, the most voted-for was Father Flanagan, the name of the priest who established Boys Town in Omaha in 1917.

Flanagan Lake provides a great opportunity to redistribute some of the city’s sculptures to this new neighborhood. Specifically,

pieces from the Take a Seat bench series at Gene Leahy Mall will find a new home at Flanagan Lake.

When asked about how the park will impact citizens and the overall landscape of Omaha, Omaha Parks and Recreation director Brook Bench recounts the various amenities the park makes available to residents. “It adds something very special to that northwest part of the city.”

Visit flanaganlake.com for more information about this lake and the surrounding communities.

In 2017, metro citizens were given an opportunity to cast votes for potential names of this new park. While several dozen were suggested, the most voted-for was Father Flanagan, the name of the priest who established Boys Town in Omaha in 1917.

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July/August 2019

F E AT U R E story by Charlie Litton

Lights, Home,

Action

Outdoor Lighting Goes Beyond A Porch Lamp

photography PROVIDED

design by Mady Besch

A house is the single largest purchase most people will make.

Yet, it’s tempting to leave lighting the property for a later time. The outdoor lights are often little more than an afterthought.

It’s a significant challenge to make what surrounds a home all-at-once safe, cozy, secure, inviting, and beautiful. A few well-placed lights in the backyard, for example, can make indoor spaces feel larger. A well-lit exterior not only deters unwanted guests but also extends the time a space can be enjoyed for a backyard cookout or relaxing under the stars.

“It’s one thing you can put together to make your house look sharp and a little safer, a little more secure,” says Jerry McKay, owner of McKay Lighting.

Josh Reeves of Midwest Lightscaping says that people need to keep their goal in mind when thinking about what to light.

“Is it security? Is it aesthetics?” Reeves says. “There are also safety aspects, like stairs. Once you know your lighting goals, you can match the proper f ixtures to the goals.”

The best way to achieve great outdoor lighting, McKay says, is to have a plan, and a homeowner can’t do that if they aren’t sure what they want. A good way to create a plan is to act like it’s Christmas.

“Drive around the neighborhood and start to notice it,” he says. “See what good lighting looks like… what you like, and what you don’t like.”

For example, some houses are lit in such a way that it produces a lot of glare. It might actually be harder to see the front porch on those houses with the lights on than with them off. That defeats the main purposes of external lighting.

There are three main t y pes, or functions, for external lighting: task, ambient, and accent.

Outdoor Water Feature Lighting in Omaha, provided by McKay Lighting

Task lighting is perhaps the most important and should be the f irst priority. Task lighting includes lighting all entry ways and footpaths, the driveway, and the garage. Task lighting is about safety and security, without intruding on anyone indoors, including the neighbors.

JERRY MCKAY LIKES TO PLACE LIGHTS HIGH IN TREES TO CREATE A MOONLIGHT EFFECT THAT CASTS DRAMATIC SHADOWS THROUGHOUT THE SPACE.

Water Fountain Lighting in Omaha, provided by McKay Lighting

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July/August 2019

Ambient lighting is softer light often used in outdoor living spaces such as the back porch. Lanterns, string lights, or ceiling fans produce the kind of inviting and cozy light that’s ideal for entertaining and relaxing.

Accent lighting can include up-lighting columns or other architectural features. It also includes lighting certain landscaping elements such as trees or bushes. McKay likes to place lights high in trees to create a moonlight effect that casts dramatic shadows throughout the space.

If nothing else, give the lighting all due consideration, because striking the right balance between security, safety, and beauty isn’t easy.

“Design is important,” McKay says. “A lot of times, less is best.”

Once the design has been drawn, the property owner should then consider the best lighting for the area, and be prepared to pay for it. "There’s almost always some sticker shock when people learn the price," McKay says. But, he adds. when it comes to lighting, he has learned the hard way that you often get what you pay for. He recalls losing a job when he bid $22,000, which was almost double the lowest bidder.

“We ended up going back to redo it f ive years later when it started failing,” he says.

Most hardware stores and retailers carry affordable options, but some lack in the quality of the materials used, he says.

“It’s like anything. It’s better to save up a little,” he says. “Wait until you can afford it and not go cheap, because you’ll just have to replace it later.”

For any do-it-yourselfers, McKay recommends purchasing through the manufacturers, where it’s easier to f ind more durable f ixtures made with materials like brass and copper.

“Start with the best stuff you can afford,” he adds.

Using cheap f ixtures is among the most common mistakes he sees when his crew comes in to f ix home lighting attempts, whether it was a DIY project gone wrong or an inexperienced landscaper or lawn care service provider.

“MATCHING THE LIGHTING TO THE CORRECT COLOR TEMPERATURE IS IMPORTANT, ESPECIALLY IF A HOMEOWNER HAS EXISTING LIGHTING THAT WILL NOT BE REPLACED.” —Josh Reeves Reeves says that matching the lighting to the correct color temperature is important, especially if a homeowner has existing lighting that will not be replaced. Many LED lights produce a bright white or blue glow, whereas incandescent lights produce a warmer, more yellow color. Newer LED lights do a better job of creating warm light or cool light.

OmahaMagazine.com

F E AT U R E

The color of the light is dependent on the kelvins, a unit of measure used in lightbulbs, indicated by the letter K on a bulb.

“You want to match the kelvins,” Reeves says.

“When LEDs first came out, they were in the 5,000 kelvin range. A standard incandescent is in the 2,700-range, and now we have LEDs that are in that range.”

Other common mistakes include misusing f ixtures (mounting a path light next to a tree instead of up-lighting it), sloppy installations with exposed or poorly hidden wires, and using cheap connectors, which he says always fail eventually and are tricky to troubleshoot when they do.

Whether outdoor lighting becomes a DIY job or requires a professional, this important part of home ownership should be attended to in order to keep a home safe and secure.

Visit mckaylighting.com and midwestlightscaping.com for more information.

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LIGHTING TIPS AND TRICKS - KNOW THE 3 LIGHTING TYPES: Task, ambient, and accent.

- LOOK AROUND: Find out what you like and dislike.

- WALK AROUND the property at dusk and make a plan.

- PRIORITIZE TASK LIGHTING: Start at the front door and cover all entryways and walkways.

- USE LED S : The LED equivalent of a 50-watt bulb only uses about five watts. LEDs are also dimmable, last 10 times longer, and have options that match the warm glow of incandescent bulbs.

- LESS IS MORE: Focus on singular features, like a tree or an architectural element. Don’t light everything unless you want that used-car-lot feeling.

- DON’T FORGET to consider what it looks like from the inside.

- WATTAGE: Multiply the square footage by 1.5, so a 100-square foot area would need about 150 watts to be properly lighted.

The LED equivalent is about 25-28 watts.

- MAKE PAPER TEMPLATES or use balloons to help visualize where f ixtures could be placed.

- VARY FIXTURE SIZES & TYPES: Alternate path placements to avoid the “runway effect.”

- AVOID A PLACEMENT that creates an obstacle in lawn care.

- REPLACE CHEAP ELECTRICAL connectors with professional grade, wet-rated f ittings.

- LOOK BEYOND THE LOCAL hardware store for high-quality outdoor f ixtures if necessary.

- CALL A PROFESSIONAL when questions arise.

- CONSIDER GOING MODULAR:

A professional will deliver professional results, but at a price.

Breaking the project down into smaller chunks and spreading it over a few years might help with the sticker shock.

Home Exterior Lighting in Omaha, provided by Midwest Lightscaping

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July/August 2019

A RCHITEC T UR E story by Scott Stewart

photography by Bill sitzmann + Provided

design by Mady Besch

Sears’ History LIVES T HROUGH

Preservation OF

HISTORIC KIT HOMES

Meredith Avenue Home

One of Few Standing

Everett S. Dodds, Architect. Build a Dodds Home. Omaha, [ca. 1914], p. 2.

(Courtesy, L. Robert Puschendorf)

Modern Home #126 appeared in the first Sears Modern Homes catalog (1908), pictured on the bottom right.

Floorplan of Sears Model Home No. 126

The first Sears Home Catalog issued in 1908.

Sears, Roebuck & Co., Book of Modern Homes and Building Plans (1908).

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he decades-long rise of Sears, Roebuck & Co. to the country’s largest retailer, and its recent collapse into bankruptcy, ref lects more than a shift in American consumer preferences.

Sears was an important part of life in America’s frontier, and its iconic catalog provided access to conveniences and essentials, including the roof over many people’s heads.

The catalog f lourished after the Homestead Act, the growth of railroads, and postal reforms such as special rate classif ications and free rural delivery.

The f irst Sears, Roebuck & Co. calendar hit mailboxes in 1894 and was followed over the next few years by specialty catalogs and color sections. In 1908, the catalog began offering ready-to-build homes.

Customers would receive a railcar f illed with precut lumber and the necessary supplies and instructions to build a home, or hire a company to perform the assembly, at a fraction of the cost of a custom-built house.

Sears estimates more than 100,000 homes were sold between 1908 and 1940 through its Modern Homes program. Thousands of these homes have survived to this day, including one known example in Omaha’s Miller Park neighborhood.

That 1920 house on Meredith Avenue is Sears Model Home No. 126, according to Sarah Addleman, who recently f inished a master’s thesis on identifying Sears homes. She says Omaha likely has other examples, but they can be tricky to identify because most homes of that age—the youngest Sears kit house would be more than 70 years old—have undergone additions and remodeling.

OmahaMagazine.com

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Addleman says she’s looked at homes in the Field Club neighborhood and didn’t f ind any that matched known models of Sears homes.

To examine your own home, Addleman suggests looking for stamped lumber in the attic or unf inished basements, especially in the middle or end of the joist. She said Sears had a specif ic stamped mark, and pieces were assembled by number.

1920s Meredith Avenue Home in Omaha, Sears Model Home #126

Addleman says Sears was far from the only company manufacturing kit homes.

“They didn’t even sell the most units,” Addleman says. “It’s almost like Kleenex— Sears has become synonymous with kit houses. Even if they’re one of the other houses, people still remember it in the folklore as a Sears house.”

Sears and other kit-home companies modeled their homes off popular styles at the time, including those of patternbook designs.

Pattern-book houses are structures for which architects would sell stock plans for homes to help cut costs. Many patternbook houses can be found throughout the Minne Lusa neighborhood. Everett S. Dodds was an Omaha architect who sold stock plans, and History Nebraska says 78 homes are attributed to him.

With several factors at play, it can be hard to distinguish a Sears house or a patternbook house from other builds from the same era.

“One house could be a Sears house, and the one next door could be a custom home,” Addleman says.

Off icial property and mortgage records can be helpful, although sometimes old f iles go missing, which was the case when Ed Quinn went to continue his research on the original city permits for Omaha’s Field Club neighborhood about a decade ago.

“Some clerk threw them out accidentally,” Quinn says.

Quinn led the effort to establish the Field Club Historic District with the National Register of Historic Places. His research explored the origins of the neighborhood, and he came up with a list of suspected kit homes.

“If it wasn’t an architect-designed or building-designed home, there was a good chance it was going to be a one-off or it could be a kit home,” Quinn says.

Quinn wrote an article on kit homes for the neighborhood’s newsletter in 2001.

He said several neighbors told him they suspected their homes began as kits, which were popular when the Field Club neighborhood was being built.

“This was a more wealthy neighborhood,” Quinn says. “This was Omaha’s f irst suburb, so to speak. It was connected by the trolleys.”

“It wouldn’t just be like a grease pencil mark,” Addleman says. “It would say A38 or something similar to that.”

Don’t rely on light f ixtures or plumbing, because those components were sold outside the kits as well, she says. Websites can provide a lot of tips on what to look for, or it is possible to bring in someone for an authentication.

“There are experts out there who are willing to come to people’s homes,” Addleman says.

Despite the closing of the Sears store at Crossroads Mall, which marked the retailer’s departure from the Omaha market after 90 years, Sears hasn’t completely left Nebraska. The company still operates a handful of hometown stores in communities such as Columbus, Fremont, Kearney, and Norfolk. Those stores have a smaller footprint and specialize in appliances, tools, and lawn and garden items.

The company also still operates about 400 stores nationally, but it’s struggling with a new concept for a limited version of its f lagship department stores. It may be the end of an era for Sears, but its history is being preserved one home at a time.

“They are a part of our heritage, so they are worth protecting and saving,” Addleman says.

“Sears is a part of Americana.”

Visit searshomes.org for more information.

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July/August 2019

AT HOM E story by Lisa Lukecart

photography by Bill sitzmann

Studious Artists Local Couple Spend Retirement Creating

design by Mady Besch

OmahaMagazine.com

Dennis Wattier walks across his ocean-blue carpet to head downstairs to his basement studio. The retired industrial technology teacher shuts the door as the familiar smells of maple, walnut, and cherry woods envelop him. These same woods are stacked on a shelf, ready to be shaped and turned. His current project, two hands with eerily realistic fingernails curling around a globe, sits next to hand-carving instruments. The sculpture isn’t complete, but a similar one is displayed in the living room upstairs. Large cutting and turning machines stand ready for action. Pulling on a red apron, reading glasses, and a face shield, Wattier loses time to his creative pursuit. He doesn’t flip on the radio, preferring to “listen to the wood.”

It is so loud he doesn’t hear his wife, Deborah Murphy, slip into her own studio next door later in the morning. Murphy brews a pot of coffee.

Like her husband, she is a serious artist who spends hours honing her craft. Her studio is alive with black-and-white graphite drawings, realistic colored-pencil landscapes, and acrylic paintings of porches.

She hears a block of wood hit the wall followed by her husband cursing. Murphy heads to the record player and blasts an album by her favorite band, The Beatles. In fact, Beatle-mania is present in an assortment of photos hanging along the walls. Skeletons of birds and other animals watch her from the bookcase. Some she found on walks, while others were gifts from friends. On another long white shelf, a small petrified bat is framed and hanging on a wire.

LEFT Dennis Wattier and Deborah Murphy stand above two metal figurines made by artist Larry Sosso.

The house reflects the couple’s love for art, architecture, and aptitude. It is a combination of their talents.

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“It’s a perfect way of life.

Most people who retire are at a loss, but creating keeps us young.”

- Deborah Murphy

AT HOM E

OmahaMagazine.com

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July/August 2019

AT HOM E

Murphy gives up her soft blue chair to the cats, Tula and Ziller, and instead sits on a hard wooden chair in front of her easel. The canvas displays her current coloredpencil drawing and inspiration, a bright The canvas blue slough flowing displays her next to a yellow grassy bluff. She saw it just current coloredoutside Council Bluffs pencil drawing and believes the simple and inspiration, lines coming out of a bright blue the landscape are beautiful. Murphy has slough flowing drawn and painted next to a yellow professionally since grassy bluff. the 1970s, when she received her bachelor’s degree in art education from Kearney State College (now the University of Nebraska at Kearney). Art supplies cover the table next to her easel. Murphy has also taken over the former recreation room next door. The ping-pong table is typically covered with matboards. Wooden frames, made by her husband, lean against the wall.

Murphy immerses herself in her art as the morning light from the windows make the scene on her canvas come alive.

“She gets to look out at nature. I get to look at her.”

Their marriage seems to be a case of love at first sight. Murphy was a “naïve 18-year old” freshman at Kearney State who saw a handsome man walking up the stairs to her friend’s dorm. Wattier, then a junior, invited her to a party. Their marriage is still strong after 40 years.

“We like each other,” Wattier says.

“It’s about having our own space,” Murphy adds.

The house has helped in this regard since each of these retirees has separate studios. Murphy, an award-winning artist whose works have been exhibited on the national level, pushed her husband to find something after retirement. He tried pottery, but didn’t have a knack for it.

“She gets to look out at nature. I get to look at her.�

AT HOM E

“You have a good relationship with wood, so you need to find something that speaks to you creatively,” Murphy suggested.

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That is when Wattier joined the Omaha Woodturners Club and perfected his talents. His work has been shown in various museums around Omaha, and is for sale at the Joslyn Art Museum gift shop. In the guest room upstairs, row upon row of woodworking projects—from bowls to vases—showcase his efforts.

Wattier comes upstairs around lunchtime, covered in sawdust.

“It [the sawdust] gives her texture for her paintings,” he says, laughing.

On warm days, they eat lunch together on their screened-in porch.

In the afternoons, Wattier often golfs while Murphy runs errands or works on her website in her office. She teaches art classes two days a week at Metropolitan Community College and mentors kids on Wednesdays at Nathan Hale Middle School. They reconnect to take bicycle rides or listen to live music.

Evenings will be spent at home in their mini-museum. Large pieces of art greet people who walk through the front stained-glass door. A green leaves-and-grass painting titled “Connectivity II” by Murphy contrasts with local artist James Freeman’s dark drawing of a raven. Two metal figurines by artist Larry Sosso appear to fly down from the ceiling with arms outstretched. Nebraska artists Mary Day, John Miller, Robert Willits, Kristin Pluhacek, and others line the walls of the hallways and living room, creating speculation. One graphite drawing by Murphy, “Meld,” shows a woman with a wide open mouth engulfing a worm from a bird’s beak.

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The desire to build his own house began in college when Wattier worked summers as a framing carpenter.

Wattier started after drawing the blueprints. He isn’t sure what the name of the house’s style is, perhaps traditional or classic “Wattier-style.”

He sawed, trimmed, and cut each piece, knowing it would fit based on his drawings. Even before the couple moved from Benson, their garage contained upstairs cabinetry, wood frames, and baseboards.

“I had a front door without a house,” he recalls with a laugh.

Upstairs, white arches are modeled after ones in their previous home in Benson. A skylight beams down on a huge poster of John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Ringo Starr. In the moonlight, The Beatles reflect on the ceiling.

“Lucy in the sky with diamonds,” Murphy jokes, referencing the popular song.

The house reflects the couple’s love for art, architecture, and aptitude. It is a combination of their talents.

“It’s a perfect way of life,” Murphy says.

“Most people who retire are at a loss, but creating keeps us young.”

Check out Murphy’s artwork at deborahjune-murphy.com or see Wattier’s work in the gift shop at Joslyn.

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“It creeps people out, but being one with nature is a goal in a perfect world.

It is a good dream,” Murphy explains.

Wattier constructed the house with art and nature in mind. It has ample natural light and wall space to display his wife’s talent. Sun spills into the rooms from curtain-less windows.

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July/August 2019

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July/August 2019

F E AT U R E

A Villa of a Different

story by Kara Schweiss photography by Bill sitzmann design by Mady Besch

July/August 2019

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“I would ask the builder, ‘Can I do this?’ I tried to kind of go out of the box with everything.”

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F E AT U R E

NGIE ARKFELD SAYS her builder’s style was traditional compared to her contemporary tastes. However, she liked the open template of a particular villa already underway, and she loved the neighborhood developing near 192nd and Pacific streets west of Shadow Ridge Country Club. So within the parameters of a set f loor plan and builder limitations, Arkfeld made some important distinctions to make her new home patently hers.

“There was only so much I could do, but I changed as much as I could,” she says.

Some of her ideas weren’t structurally feasible, but her bold approach helped her get key features she wanted. “I would ask the builder, ‘Can I do this?’ I tried to kind of go out of the box with everything.”

One big box—or rather, frame—Arkfeld stepped out of was windows and doors.

She modif ied the shape and positioning of many of her windows, such as placing them in groups of three squares in a series next to a staircase, and using several horizontal styles high enough to need no coverings. “I have to have lots of light,” she says.

Her front door is a playful lime green and her gray interior doors are painted with white lines to create a modernistic, multi-panel effect. The unique features evident from the outside are subtle, Arkfeld says; her house integrates nicely into the neighborhood, but she’s been amused to discover that its custom elements have prompted several people moving into the development to ask the builder about those options.

F E AT U R E

ARKFELD ROLLED THE color wheel right out of the box with dashes of chartreuse, teals, and magenta throughout her home’s interior. “I’m not into tans…I love color and I’ve always had color,” she says. “And I had a lot from my previous house I wanted to use.”

The primary factor behind moving into a new home may have been downsizing after a divorce, Arkfeld says, but that didn’t mean she wanted to start from scratch. Art and furnishings were transplanted from her previous house, mostly pieces she picked up from boutiques and home decor stores over time simply because they appealed to her. She’d always enjoyed moving pieces around and swapping them out from time to time in her previous home— “ just to give it a new look or feel here and there,” Arkfeld says—and finding new places for everything in the new home was a challenge she enjoyed.

The blue-and-green color scheme was carried over from her previous home and extends to new rooms, such as the lower level bar. “I like my backsplash with its teal tile,” Arkfeld says.

Some decor elements couldn’t be directly transferred, so they were reestablished in new ways, such as brushed metal fireplace tiles that echo some metallic accents she liked in her previous home.

A designer friend, Janine Dunn, suggested bringing magenta accents into the picture, including dominantly in the powder room and as a focal point of Arkfeld’s oasis of a master bedroom.

“I’m not into tans…I love color and I’ve always had color.”

July/August 2019

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F E AT U R E

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“I KNEW I WANTED a black wall somewhere and we ended up putting that in my bedroom behind my magenta headboard,” Arkfeld says. The rest of the room is painted gray and the white beams of the coffered ceiling stand out against the black ceiling surface. She recently re-covered two chairs her grandmother bought as a teenager in 1952 and created a comfortable sitting area with a sentimental touch.

“I love spending time in there,” she says. A master closet she doesn’t have to share adds to the appeal.

“My closet at my old house was very small and that was one thing I knew I wanted to change in this home. I love clothes, shoes, and jewelry, and I wanted a nice-size closet. I had [the builder] build in shelving for shoes, sweaters, et cetera, and also a bureau in the middle for my jewelry,” she says, adding that the closet is so roomy, “I also put a little desk in there because I have no office space here.”

Arkfeld’s fondness for accessories extends to fun and contemporary lighting fixtures throughout the home, many of them ordered online and all selected with care. “They’re like jewelry in a house,” she says. “It adds so much.” A wireless home

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sound system is another personal enhancement that she appreciates every day, Arkfeld says.

The modern kitchen has mitered quartz countertops and unusual champagnecolored cabinets. Arkfeld says Dunn talked her into the color, but she loves it.

“I don’t see anything like them and everyone always comments on them.” The kitchen is also her favorite first-floor vantage point.

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“Everything is so open,” she says, making it easy to cook for guests or chat with her teenagers (Ava, 15, and Jaden, nearly 17) or 20-year-old daughter Sydney hanging out nearby.

“I can oversee everything.”

Heading into the family’s second summer at the home, Arkfeld says it was an adjustment at first leaving a busy neighborhood to live on a property backed by trees.

However, an expanded deck with sectional seating has become a lovely, peaceful space. “I’m very social and I love people,” she says. “But I do love sitting on the deck and looking out at the birds.”

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Planting Native Gardens

for

POLLINATORS story by Patrick McGee photography Provided design by Mady Besch

Monarch Butterfly on Blazing Star Plant (Liatris)

OmahaMagazine.com

H A RV E S T

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FALL

Py ew

Evans says there are 75-80 total certified native gardens across the state. They are mostly on homeowners’ private properties. The garden surrounding the Butterfly Pavilion at the Henry Doorly Zoo, the one at the Sarpy

se a

J oe

Native spring bloomers include indigo, columbine, redbud, snowdrop, and pasqueflower. Summer options are abundant, says Evans. They include single-bloom coneflowers, spiderwort, Solomon’s seal, and liatrice. Evans says that double-bloom varieties of coneflowers are not ideal because

Beneficial insects need water as well as shelter. Evans advises providing a pie pan filled with pea gravel just covered with water in your garden in a discrete location. The pea gravel will make the water less inhabitable to mosquito larvae and will make it easier for insects to climb on and use. A water feature, like a birdbath, is designed for larger animals. “Think of something the size of a bumblebee,” says Evans, noting that these insects can’t swim.

Summer

n' s

Beneficial pollinators need to spread the wealth of blooms across the three seasons because different types of pollinators are active during different times of the year.

Evans advises planting blooming plants in groups of at least three to make them more attractive to pollinators.

The other 2,800 species of bees are ground nesting, meaning they require spare soil exposed in order to thrive. “Leave bare soil in a sunny location—ground nesting bees prefer that,” says Evans. “And watch your watering because you don’t want to drown them out.”

ne

mo

A native garden that benefits pollinators should have plants that bloom throughout the three growing seasons: spring, summer, and fall, says Evans. “A lot of our native plants are not in mainstream horticulture,” he says.

Most popular landscape plants bloom only in summer. A native garden will produce blooms when most other gardens are already done.

Native gardens geared toward beneficial insects should not be cleaned up much in the fall. The dead foliage provides overwintering habitat for those that remain through the cold months. There are close to 4,000 species of native bees in North America, says Evans. Of those, 1,200 species are tunnel nesting, which means they nest in hollowed-out tubes and stems. Leaving dead foliage is therefore crucial to their habitat.

bi

S olo

Pollinators are important economically because they pollinate many food crops.

Unfortunately, according to the website, these populations have become threatened due to causes such as habitat destruction, pesticide use, inadequate nutrition, and disease.

Establishing a native garden can help solve the problem.

These native plants are acclimated to Nebraska’s harsh winters and up-and-down weather during growing seasons. They don’t typically require watering once they are established, and they also do not require fertilization. Most native plants are perennials, so they will come back annually. Because most popular landscape plants require constant care and maintenance, native plants will save a homeowner time and money.

SPRING

lu m

A native garden provides low maintenance along with other benefits. Evans says pollinators such as bees, flies, moths, butterflies are adapted to native plants, so they will thrive in native gardens. UNL Extension offers a Pollinator Habitat Certification for individuals who want to learn more about this subject. Evans says many people want to help conserve these insects. “It is a holistic approach to conservation of our beneficial insects,” he says.

many native insects may not be able to reach the nectar. Evans recommends planting goldenrod, Joe Pye weed, and fall-blooming aster in the year’s final season. There are many more options available, and searching websites or visiting a garden store will provide an abundance of suggestions.

Co

and many beautiful yards have gardens. Breathtaking gardens look natural and maintained. One secret is low-maintenance plant selection. Scott Evans, horticulture program coordinator with the University of Nebraska—Lincoln Extension, advises property owners try using native plants when planting a low-maintenance garden.

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County Fairgrounds, and the Hope Garden near 165th and Center streets are all native, Pollinator Habitat Certified gardens.

A native garden has the look of a natural and well-maintained garden while actually being low-maintenance. By establishing a native garden, a gardener provides pollinators with the essential food, water, and habitat they need to survive.

Visit entomology.unl.edu/pollinator-habitatcertification for more information about the Pollinator Habitat Certification application.

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July/August 2019

T R A NSF OR M AT IONS story by Marilyn s. Hansen

photography by Tom kessler

design by Mady Besch

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OmahaMagazine.com

R EUSE FOR A R E ASONA BLE R ENOVATION A Regency Villa’s Kitchen Makeover THIS TR A NSFOR M ATION project began as a renovation in one of the Regency Villas— a 40-year-old kitchen needed a makeover. Although the layout was eff icient the look was dated.

As we explored options, it became obvious this kitchen would be an expensive project for the homeowner. It needed a new counter but the cooktop was in good shape. The existing exhaust was vented to the outside, but the hood was outdated. Decorative touches were cottage-like, with scalloped trim over the sink and a f loral valance at the window—not quite the look we were going for.

In addition, the cabinetry above the peninsula blocked the view to the dining area. The chandelier was not centered over the table.

The existing wood f loor had been ref inished recently and would need to be protected. Unfortunately, the microwave had to rest on the counter next to the refrigerator due to the era when this kitchen was built. Lastly, if we didn’t tear out the kitchen, we were forced to keep the 30-inch-wide refrigerator space.

How do you renovate a dated kitchen while keeping it practical and within budget, as the homeowner requested?

To start, we discovered a showroom refrigerator perfect for the space, as it measures only 30 inches wide by 84 inches tall. The doors just needed a little paint. We removed the unused cabinets over the refrigerator, and it fit perfectly.

We also removed the cabinet next to the refrigerator and replaced it with a shorter one to hold the microwave.

The remaining cabinet doors and drawers received new fronts and hardware. We removed the cabinets over the peninsula, allowing us to place recessed lighting in the soff it. Under-cabinet lighting of dimmable LED strips were placed behind a small piece of trim along the bottom of the cabinets.

BE FOR E

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July/August 2019

T R A NSF OR M AT IONS

BE FOR E

Meet The Designer Marilyn S. Hansen is a fellow of the American Society of Interior Designers.

Over the past 39 years, she and her firm, The Designers, have created beautiful, refreshing interiors that inspire her clients. She is chair of the restoration of the Nebraska Governor’s Residence, one of her favorite projects.

We discovered three different colors of white paint had been applied to the trim over the years. Fortunately, the wainscoting was in perfect condition compared to other parts of the kitchen.

By matching the wainscoting paint color we avoided having to paint the entire kitchen—another cost saver.

One of the challenges was re-positioning the chandelier. As we attempted to move it, we discovered a structural support that would make it difficult to move. However the electrician was able to shift the box slightly and the medallion covers the necessary electrical changes.

The homeowner fell in love with a Cambria quartz composite material for the countertops. Coordinating an undermount sink and a new faucet with silver-toned wall covering helped unify the dining area with the kitchen workspace.

We saved the f loor, reused the cooktop and ovens, added a new hood, and avoided painting the wainscoting. The f inal touch was a consignment table and chairs, f inishing the effect while staying on task.

Designing with my client’s budget in mind is my foremost focus. Sometimes magic can happen when you least expect it. Taking into consideration what is usable and designing the space to be as functional, creative, and refreshed as possible is the f inal goal.

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