OmahaHome October 2019 by Omaha Magazine

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

OCTOBER 2019

at the barn

AUTUMN'S HEIRLOOM

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“Notice that Autumn is more the season of the soul than of Nature.” —F R I E DR ICH N I E T Z S CH E

CON TEN TS 3

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DIY

AU T UMN'S HEIRLOOM

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Feature E C L E C T I C S T Y L E P U L L S T O G E T H E R C U S T O M - B U I LT H O M E

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Har vest JACK O’ L A N T ERNS TO CHEE SE

Transformations TR ADITIONAL COUNTRY HOUSE MEETS VIBR ANT PEOPLE

ON THE COVER

The massive great room of this rural Sarpy County home resembles a grand lodge one might encounter in a ski-town resort. Reclaimed barn wood from neighboring farms is used throughout. Story page 8. Photo by Bill Sitzmann.

ctober is my favorite month for many reasons. Fall hues, the Halloween holiday, sweater weather, brisk air, pumpkin-flavored coffees, and curling up with a good book or a classic horror movie are just some of them.

Looking for inspiration on how to scare trick or treaters? Check out our feature on the Aksarben mother-son duo who brings out homemade props and frightful tricks to treat their neighbors. You can also learn some tips on repurposing your pumpkins after Halloween in our Harvest piece on page 44. Or, get cozy by the fire pit and gather some great decorating ideas—from incorporating meaningful items into a mid-century modern style, to using reclaimed wood from local vendors, to designing rustic, open-concept floor plans—there is something for everyone in this issue. On a personal note, I paid homage to my paternal grandparents in this issue’s DIY, which showcases their century-old wedding certificate on the countryside backdrop of Phyllis and John Kreb’s family farm just up the street from my home. I would have loved to have witnessed my grandmother’s reaction to seeing the certificate displayed in such a unique and special way. As always, we hope these stories bring you inspiration this season. As you fall back, be sure to enjoy the cooler weather and embrace your home. It’s one thing to have a beautiful residence, but another to live in a house that makes you feel “at home.” Warm thoughts this season!

Sandy Matson Contributing Editor

VOLUME 9 · Issue 7

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From Storage to Front & Center

s n m u t u A ' m oo rl i e H

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DIY story by Sandy matson

photography by Bill Sitzmann

he older I get, the more tangible memories and items passed on from generation to generation become invaluable to me in retaining my family’s history. After my father packed up his home in Iowa, he discovered he had unknowingly stored away his parents’ wedding certificate in a back closet. It was a treasure that I had never seen before. This ornate certificate was not an ordinary legal document, it was a work of art. Beautiful drawings of traditional marriage iconography— f lowers, bells, and shimmering silver ornaments—were speckled throughout the certificate. The bottom of the document read, “Published by Jennings & Graham, Cincinnati, Ohio.” With today’s technology, I was able to do a simple search on the name and learned these certificates were printed in Germany and distributed in places such as North Dakota and Pennsylvania. They are so ornate and beautiful that they are being featured on sites like ETSY and eBay, with names and dates of strangers sprawled across them, and selling for good sums. As it turns out, I only needed to hold off showcasing my paternal grandparents’ wedding certificate until this year, as my father gifted me the century-old document to enjoy now, rather than waiting to inherit it. My full-blooded German grandfather, Otto Nuehring, married my grandmother, Ruth Johnson, his Norwegian and Swedish sweetheart, on October 2, in 1919, in Belmond, Iowa. Together, they

design by Mady Besch

farmed and raised six children, with my father, Robert, being the youngest. After many years of farming, they retired to Mason City, Iowa. After celebrating 62 years of marriage, Otto passed away in October of 1981. Ironically, my dear grandmother, Ruth, also passed away in the month of October in 2007—just shy of 100 years old. She was known to many as “Grandma Sugar Cookie,” due to her special recipe and sweet nature. Fortunately, my siblings and I were able to spend every Sunday with my grandparents and extended family, creating countless cherished memories. I can vividly remember walking into their home and being greeted by the many wonderful smells of my grandmother’s kitchen! Having such a special bond with my grandmother made having the original marriage certificate all the more special to me. It’s with this discovery that I had the idea for our October DIY—to preserve and display family heirlooms on walls and tables, instead of packing them away in closets and storage bins. You can do this with photographs, certificates, and any other memorabilia that is important to your family. Preserving my grandparents’ marriage certificate was important to me, and I knew that, due to the age of the document, great care and consideration were essential. Many people might advise to have a good copy made and store the original away someplace safe. However, I opted to trust professionals with the framing process so I could enjoy this treasure for years to come without damaging the original certificate.

Methods used in framing a photo or work of art can have a significant effect on the preservation of that item. Important choices must be made, including: what material to use to mat and back the item; what technique to use to mount it to the backboard; what frame to use; whether to use a glaze or UV protective glass, and more. Do your research on the specific item you want to preserve and follow the experts’ advice.

Pick up an antique frame at the local thrift store and spice it up with a fresh coat of paint, or buy something new that fits your style and home decor. Pick up an antique frame at the local thrift store and spice it up with a fresh coat of paint, or buy something new that fits your style and home decor. Be sure to choose a color that will pair well with your document, as this can either enhance or distract from the piece. The bottom line is that family heirlooms do not “come alive” if they are tucked away in storage. Bring them out and into the open and share these reminders of loved ones with others and yourself.

e g r a L ’ n i v Li Barn at the

ehl Linda Persig story by ma ll Sitz nn phy by Bi photogra h y Mady Besc design b

eat rooM r g ’s e m o h Country odge feel l in a t n u o Lends m

ucked away quietly on a wooded lot in rural Sarpy County sits a house neighbors and passers-by refer to simply as The Barn. Inside this unique home one finds a great room that fully lives up to the moniker, resembling a grand lodge one might encounter in a ski-town resort in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, or Telluride, Colorado. Âť October 2019

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Four or five barns are represented in just our home. We purchased it all from a local vendor, who harvested it from about a 40to 50-mile region.â&#x20AC;? 10

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S PAC E S

S and creek post

& Beam of Wayne, Nebraska, provided the homeowner (who prefers to remain anonymous) with custom plans for the residence, built in 2015. Dwayne Lang, owner of Lang Enterprises of Papillion, was the builder and a design consultant. In total, home construction took two years. The f irst things one notices upon entering the great room is its massive size and expansive feel. The nearly 2,000-square-foot room boasts 40-foot ceilings and features several structural wood

trusses. “A crane was needed to put the trusses in place, which weigh 7,000 pounds each,” the homeowner recounts. “Being that it took place in winter, it was quite a job.” The entire interior of the home was constructed from reclaimed barn wood, lending a great natural warmth to the space. “Four or f ive barns are represented in just our home,” he adds. “We purchased it all from a local vendor, who harvested it from about a 40- to 50-mile region.” Reclaimed barn doors are used as well to separate the great room from an adjoining off ice.

The jewel of the room is an expansive wood-burning f ireplace, featuring a f loor-to-ceiling natural stone wall and a giant 14-foot by 5-foot granite hearth, chosen for its soothing marbled earth tones. The homeowner himself made the substantial mantle from a Douglas Fir beam, to which he took a torch and burned for effect. Artisan Steve Nollette of Nollette Metal Works of Blair designed the rustic mantle hardware, as well as forged the tree-inspired metal accents on the glass f ireplace doors.

October 2019

S PAC E S

A nother standout feature

is the lengthy copper-top island/bar. “When we installed the copper, it was all bright and shiny,” the homeowner says. “We decided to let it age, and with water marks and use it lost its sheen and developed this great patina and character. We decided we liked it so much, we left it.” Stools with spiraling branch legs, also fashioned by Nollette, allow guests to cozy up to the bar. The homeowner found the room’s six wagon wheel-esque rope and metal chandeliers online but altered them to have the desired effect. “We actually hung them upside down so they wouldn’t create shadow rings on the f loor,” he says. “And we installed them with a dimmer, so we could put out ambient light.” The chandeliers, the lights in the dormers and canopy, and the entire house is equipped with LED bulbs, which use signif icantly less power and generate less heat, reducing cooling costs.

“We decided to let it age, and with water marks and use it lost its sheen and developed this great patina and character. We decided we liked it so much, we left it.”

The homeowner says he is not a fan of clutter, so furniture and accents in the space are minimal, yet meaningful. A long slab of black walnut harvested from the property, which the homeowner kiln-dried, sanded, and f inished with butcher block oil, provides bar seating behind two overstuffed chairs. An antique f ire extinguisher, old-fashioned washboards, and a large, ornamental tree fashioned from branches and dressed in LED glimmer string lights lend warmth and a bit of history to the vast space. A cowhide accent chair, chosen by designer Libby Pantzlaff with Creative Interiors by Libby of Omaha, adds a bit of whimsy to the room. Combining the large, airy barn design with natural materials and artisan touches, this great room serves as the ideal family gathering place for this homeowner, their kids, and myriad pets.

October 2019

F E AT U R E story by Hannah Amrollahi

photography by Bill sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

OmahaMagazine.com

F E AT U R E

ime green lawn chairs and a Japanese maple brighten the entry way of the Legenza’s Bennington home, creating an inviting space typical of their style.

“Our last house was so dark and it drove me crazy,” Tara Legenza says. “It was built in ’79 so the rooms were very def ined, and I hated that.” Behind their front door is a curated entry way that melds into the open f loor plan with one great kitchen, dining, and living room space where the Legenza family—including husband Jon, two children, three dogs, and a full tank of saltwater f ish—spend their time. The space features two massive, exposed-bulb chandeliers. “I knew I wanted one, big, open space,” Tara Legenza says. “I wanted tons of light.” After three years searching for an existing carpet-free house with an open f loor plan, natural light, and a modern exterior, the Legenzas decided to build their current home. “We were like, ‘We’re just going to do it our way,’” Legenza says. Their three-bedroom, three-bath home was two years in the making. When their f irst home sold faster than expected, Legenza and the kids moved in with her parents in San Antonio for a year while the custom home was f inished. “Then we moved in Christmas Day,” she says. “It was like a great present.” Tara and Jon collaborated on the f loor plan by “meshing” together several home f loor plans from their builder, Todd Gaver of Gaver Custom Homes. Legenza added a few custom

features for their family, including lower cabinets in the kitchen offering easy dish access for their young kids and a pantry with ample counter and shelf space. “I always think about eff iciency,” Legenza says. “Where will people stand, how will they use the space. Everyone’s family life is different, so you def initely need to plan for your life.” “Life-proof ” luxury vinyl planking, or “LVP” as Legenza calls it, and colored concrete in the lower level were chosen to make maintenance and cleanup a breeze. “We built this house with pets, kids, craziness in mind,” Legenza says. “We like to entertain quite a bit too, and we’re not people that make you take your shoes off at the door.” She grew up in a military family and relocated to Omaha in 1999. Legenza received an associate’s degree in photography from Metropolitan Community College and a Bachelor of Arts and Studio Arts from the University of Nebraska. In 2014, following a successful career in corporate marketing, Legenza founded ReDef ined Interiors by Tara, a home staging and decorating business, that eventually led her to join Berkshire Hathaway Home Ser vices Ambassador Real Estate as an agent.

“We were like, ‘We’re just going to do it our way.’”

F E AT U R E

“I have an eclectic taste, and I incorporate things that have meaning for me.”

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The career shift lets her take “calls on the go,” gets her out from behind her desk, and offers a work-life balance suited to her creative personality. Legenza’s sense of style goes into her staging as well as her home. Favorite pieces displayed in her entry way include antique cameras, f ilm cutting equipment, hardcover books from her grandparents, and canvas displays of her photography. “I have an eclectic taste, and I incorporate things that have meaning for me,” Legenza says. “Everything kind of has a story behind it, and that is what I f ind interesting.” She selects pieces on a gut feeling, sometimes saving them until an artist has a vision, as with a piece of walnut, carved into her favorite coffee table by Peyton Maas of Forged Woodworks in Springf ield, Nebraska. The grand ladder gracing the entry way was salvaged from a demolished barn in the Omaha area. Others, such as a midcentury modern lounge chair bought at a garage sale for $5, were investments she sees as worth revamping. “I grew up going to estate sales with my grandparents [and] my mom, and just f inding these cool things,” Legenza says. “I just found that having meaning was better than having something new and pretty.”

October 2019

Three years of house hunting, two years of building, and future projects for the home have informed Legenza’s practice as a real estate agent. “Going through the building [process] and the selling process of our f irst house [has] def initely given me a different perspective on how to tell people what to expect,” Legenza says. Behind the walls and underneath the LVP are less glamorous but important aspects to consider in custom builds, according to Legenza. “A lot of people don’t spend money on the better insulation and plumbing f ixtures, and over time it is just

going to cost you more money,” Legenza says. “It is def initely worth investing in that.” Location is vital in home-buying as well. After shopping around, Jon and Tara chose their lot for its size and the strong school system in the Bennington area. “This kind of felt like [the] country at the time. It has since exploded, but it is def initely a small-town feel, and that’s what we liked,” says Legenza. “It feels like the iconic USA neighborhood.”

F E AT U R E

The grand ladder gracing the entryway was salvaged from a demolished barn in the Omaha area.

October 2019

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The Rhodesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Mid-century Modern Home

A Red-Hot Fireplace & C O C K T A I L PA R T I E S

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AT HOM E story by Carrielle Sedersten

photography by Bill sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

Situated between Pacific and Shirley streets off 132nd Street in Omaha, is the ultra mid-century modern home of Paul Hanson Rhodes and Micah Rhodes. Ash trees line the drive to the Rhodes’ residence, a split-level home with navy siding, white brick, and natural cedar shutters. A bright green door opens to an entryway with irregular-shaped white marble floors and a paneled, antique mirrored wall to the right—both original. Almost nothing else in the house is original. Built in 1967, the Rhodes’ family home had one previous owner before they purchased it four years ago in May. After seeing the freestanding, red enamel fireplace in the listing, Paul knew they had to have the house. Paul is a real estate agent and interior designer who honed his remodeling skills while renovating his previous Midtown home. Upon closing the couple’s current home, he immediately started renovating. Paul’s first project was the upstairs. He began by removing the wall separating the kitchen and the living room because the original floor plan divided the space too much. Next, he tore up the bland, beige carpet, exposing spectacular oak hardwood floors running vertically through the dining and living areas. It’s common to find hardwood floors when tearing up carpet in mid-century homes. Paul decided to restain the floors gray. The kitchen linoleum was next to go, replaced with rectangular, light gray porcelain tile. The renovations continued in the basement. It turned out not to inconvenience them both. During their first year of homeownership, Micah lived in Storm Lake, Iowa, for his job as a volleyball coach.

From left: Paul Hanson Rhodes, Lucy, Nugget, and Micah Rhodes

“ W E WA N T O U R H O U S E T O F E E L L I K E I T C O U L D H AV E B E E N I N T H E ’ 6 0 S , J U S T U P DA T E D .” — PA U L H A N S O N R H O D E S

A FTER SEEING THE F R EE STA N DI NG, RED ENA MEL F I R E PL AC E I N THE LISTI NG, PAU L K N E W T H E Y H A D T O H AV E THE HOUSE.

AT HOM E

Even though Micah and Paul are from the same hometown of Grand Island and share the same birthday, they spent the f irst few years of their relationship living apart. Perhaps the fact that they share the same birthday was fate. The couple got married on their birthday, June 17, in 2016. After two years of marriage, they tackled their last renovation project: the kitchen, which they completed last summer—replacing canaryyellow appliances to stainless steel and oak cabinets to black ones that extend to the ceiling. The addition of a kitchen island adds more countertop space, while new white quartz countertops provide a clean, classic feel. “The quartz countertops were another way to incorporate mid-century modern style,” Paul says. “We want our house to feel like it could have been in the ’60s, just updated.” Their hard-to-miss retro glassware collection of champagne f lutes, coupes, martinis, rocks, and everyday glasses f ill three kitchen shelves, an oak hutch, and a silver metal shelving unit. Some of the glasses trace back to their mothers, and others come from secondhand markets in Nebraska and Iowa. Just like all those who hosted cocktail parties throughout the ’50s and ’60s, Paul and Micah love to entertain and have game nights at least two or three times a month. “During that time period, people [would] dress up, get their fancy glassware out, and take the time making a cocktail,” Paul says.

AT HOM E

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Paul’s favorite cocktail is an Old-Fashioned. The couple also like to spend time at home cooking, and they almost exclusively cook on the grill. Even during the winter, they grill anything from chicken to salmon burgers to vegetables. Brussels sprouts are their favorite food to grill. Micah and Paul swear that eating brussels sprouts cooked this way, served with ketchup, makes them taste like french fries. A cornerstone of mid-century modern design is a connection with the outdoors. Natural elements feature largely in their home, from wood tables and f loors to the abundance of potted succulents and other green plants sprinkled throughout that bring the outdoors indoors. Organic green, blue, and brown hues mixed with whites and grays create a calming effect in the living space. One of the reasons Paul and Micah love living in Omaha is the relaxed Midwestern pace. Spending time at home making dinner and watching their favorite TV shows, including Windy City Rehab and The Bachelorette, are things they both enjoy. “We usually hang out downstairs during the winter, and it gets nice and toasty with the f ireplace going,” Micah says. “During the summer,

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Another reason they love living in Omaha is being close to family. It’s one of the reasons Paul says he wanted to move back after living in New York. They also like how friendly people are in the Midwest. “I like that people say hello to each other on the street,” Micah says. “I like that Nebraska is a place where you can feel comfortable, for the most part…Anybody’s willing to strike up a conversation, just learn about who you are. I don’t feel like you can f ind that in other places.”

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Nebraska holds a special place in their hearts, and on their dining room wall. A map of the state from the school where Paul’s mom once taught is a focal point of the space and a conversation starter at every party. People love pointing out where they’re from. Although most of the home is new, the Rhodes’ household is full of collected pieces that have a history. Whether it’s the wooden coffee table Paul remembers seeing in his grandparents’ basement that now sits in their living room or the custom pop art paintings of their two dogs, Nugget and Lucy, that’s really what sharing a home is all about—creating history together.

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October 2019

ON N ROBINS H LEMKE A E S Y B STORY PHY BY SARA A PHOTOGR MADY BESCH Y DESIGN B

AKSARBEN HOME UPS THE FRIGHT FACTOR

ntolli Anesi has never been scared of anything.

“Except at night when I get up for water,” says the 10-year-old who has enough courage to rival most adults. “Oh, yes. I forgot about the haunting old man who hangs from the wall,” his mother, Anitra Williams, remembers. Every October, this mother-son duo, along with Antolli’s brothers, Dominic and Giovanni Williams, play roommates to a festoon of frights. And they wouldn’t have it any other way. Turning their home at 60th and Center streets into arguably Aksarben’s best-decorated haunted house, the family has invested an estimated $10,000 on things that go bump in the night, including ghosts, zombies, and serial killers by the dozen. The whole front yard of their two-story residence is transformed into a cemetery f illed with tombstones and bushes that project bloody hands. Lining the iron gate are skulls entangled in cobwebs, and those who are brave enough to make the walk from street to front porch will encounter towering statues of Michael

Myers (the character from the Halloween f ilms), a killer clown, and a guillotine. There’s even a pair of handmade coff ins f illed with the undead waiting to greet visitors.

skeletons, deranged dolls, a toilet seat dressed in a sweater, and props to look like Nightmare On Elm Street ’s Freddy Krueger, Williams’ aesthetic gives terror a place to call home.

“The neighbors and everyone who passes by seem to really enjoy it,” Williams says. “That new blow-up stuff is so cheesy. To see something that’s handmade and realistic instead is probably what surprises most.”

Her favorite piece has got to be the animated corpse being eaten alive by a large rat that’s hung in no less of a prominent place than right above the dining room table.

That’s right, this scary scene won’t be found any where else and isn’t courtesy of a home supply store—it’s the work of Williams and her boyfriend, Todd Sterba, as a majority of the outdoor décor has been crafted by the couple. “Todd’s more the saw and nails, and I guess I’m the mastermind,” Williams says. “However, I did get my hands dirty helping with the headstones.” Then there’s the inside. The scares don’t stop at the front door. Almost every inch of every room is covered with creepiness. Ditching cheap, plastic pumpkins in favor of mummif ied

“It’s all just for fun, and as long as it looks good, anything goes,” Williams says. Keeping up with the Addamses wasn’t always her M.O. While Williams admits that Halloween has been a favorite time of year for her since she was young, it wasn’t until Anesi was born on the holiday in 2008 that it acquired an entirely new meaning. Her son was her October surprise, arriving a week earlier than expected. He was born shortly after 3 p.m., and by the early evening Williams was helping her other children get costumed for trick-or-treating without leaving her hospital room.

F E AT U R E

To celebrate and commemorate the moment, Williams started spooking up her space in 2009, beginning with just a few coff ins in the yard. The decorations that once f it in a single tote now occupy dozens of them and a good portion of her shed. “My son’s birth def initely made the holiday more special,” Williams says. “We throw a big party the Saturday before Halloween with over-the-top themes like Fear Factor, where the kids competed and ate real worms.” After a decade of big scares and even bigger celebrations, the family has only encountered one incident that spooked even them. Last year, a man walking by one afternoon tried breaking into their home after taking one of their “Enter If You Dare” signs a little too literally. Sporting Fireball whiskey in his pocket, he began ripping down the décor when he couldn’t get inside and was quickly arrested and charged with trespassing and destruction of property.

“OH, YES. I FORGOT ABOUT T HE HAUNT ING OLD MAN WHO HANGS F ROM T HE WALL.” — ANITRA WILLIAMS

Neighbors, friends, and even the Aksarben Elmwood Park Neighborhood Association encouraged Williams to keep her makeshift graveyard and continue the festivities. Not one to disappoint, she plans to go bigger than ever this year, toying with the idea of creating a walk-through haunted house on her property for Halloween night. “My mom was more traditional and didn’t decorate when I was growing up,” Williams says. “I sort of got deprived of it, so once I got the chance to do it, I just ran with it and haven’t looked back.” When it comes to Halloween, there can never be too much of a good thing for Williams. Once Nov. 1 rears its chilly head, she begins to suffer from self-diagnosed Post Traumatic Halloween Syndrome. “Nobody does Halloween like we do,” she says. “So, the day after it all comes down, it feels like we just moved because the house is just so empty and sad.” Not to fear. The next one is only 364 days away.

October 2019

A RCHITEC T UR E

The Bergstroms lived in Fremont for almost 40 years before relocating to Waterloo’s West Shores Lake neighborhood to be closer to family. And close they are: their daughter, Annika, resides two houses away from them. “I was driving here every morning anyway,” Sheryl says with a laugh. The house’s contemporary take on mid-century modern design emulates the clean, simplistic style popular

The house’s contemporary take on mid-century modern design emulates the clean, simplistic style popular in Scandinavian

design by Mady Besch

Drawings line the light gray walls, an homage to the time the couple spent living in Linkoping, Sweden. Just down the hall is a library with cozy leather armchairs and shelves of books stacked 11 feet high. One shelf is lined with diaries written by Dick that date back 50 years. After over a year of planning and another year to build, they f inally live in the home they always dreamed they would own.

Linkoping-inspired Home

heryl and Dick Bergstrom decided to build their dream home from the ground up, but they knew it was going to take a lot of patience and attention to detail. Sheryl was up to the task.

photography by Bill sitzmann

Bergstroms’

story by Megan Fabry

The

in Scandinavian countries. The style emphasizes ample windows and open f loor plans while accentuating the design and material usage. The richness of wood contrasts with stone, adding a sense of warmth and a homey feel. Sheryl and Dick spent a year living in Sweden, where he did a fellowship in orthopedic surgery. They have since traveled to Sweden and other Scandinavian countries over 20 times and speak Swedish f luently. They loved the Northern European look so much they decided to use a similar style in their home.

countries. October 2019

October 2019

“Usually we string a and linear—because we try to get each room to have natural daylight

STEVE GINN

house out—very long

from two sides as much as we can, to balance the light.”

Sheryl, who spent most of her life as a homemaker, was given free rein to design the home and found inspiration in home magazines. She collaborated with architect Steve Ginn to ensure each idea was possible to create. “I’ve always liked to look at home designs and things, so I would pull each idea out and send it to the architect,” she says. Ginn says a lot of the architecture was informed by the layout of the build site. “Usually we string a house out—very long and linear—because we try to get each room to have natural daylight from

two sides as much as we can, to balance the light.” However, he says, that wasn’t possible on this site. “We just pushed it from both sides and it got fat,” he says with a laugh. A long stone wall that runs perpendicular to the shore of the lake separates the open-concept kitchen, living room, and dining room from the bedrooms and master bath. This resulted in airy spaces ideal for entertaining in public areas, as well as creating a low-key atmosphere for contemplation in those private corners.

October 2019

The home has three bathrooms, a sauna, and four bedrooms. One of the bedrooms is f itted with three custom bunkbeds, a toy room, and a Playstation. It also includes a small, cut-out niche next to each of the six beds for the grandkids and their friends to place phones and glasses of water. Thoughtful details such as this are in line with the eff iciency characteristic of Scandinavian design.

A RCHITEC T UR E

The Bergstroms’ daughterin-law, Renee, is an interior designer based in Denver who assisted in decorating and picking unique lighting f ixtures for Dick and Sheryl’s home. One of the f ixtures has lovingly been dubbed the “f irecracker” by their son, Lars, due to its intricately arranged branches resembling the pyrotechnics used for aesthetic and entertainment.

Thoughtful details such as this are in line with the efficiency characteristic of Scandinavian design.

A RCHITEC T UR E

Dick has relaxed his busy schedule, but works two weeks out of each month in Morris, Minnesota. This allows Sheryl ample family time. She sees her grandchildren every day; they often get together to swim and sail on the lake just feet away from their home.

A RCHITEC T UR E

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Although Sheryl often thought about building a home from the ground up, she was never sure it would come to fruition. Once it did, she wasted no time perfecting even the smallest details, from the marble f looring upstairs to the tile f loors in the basement (ideal for cleaning up after her grandchildren). “You can choose everything from colors to the wood f looring and the stone,” she says. “I picked everything from [all] that to the handles on the cupboards myself. It was something I’ve always dreamed of doing and it was really nice to be able to do it.”

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October 2019

H A RV E S T story by Patrick McGee

photography PROVIDED

design by Mady Besch

s the air begins to chill and the leaves begin to fall, many people here in the Midwest begin to think about pumpkins. In October, people specifically think about the jacko’-lanterns they will place on their doorsteps on All Hallows’ Eve. Pumpkins have many uses aside from Halloween decorations. In fact, 2019 is the year of the pumpkin, according to the National Garden Bureau. These iconic October edibles are a type of squash, and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes can be baked in breads, puréed, roasted, or made into pie. Their seeds can be toasted with salt and spices or herbs for a savory fall snack. Pumpkin-f lavored brews are popular, and pumpkins make an interesting wine. Consider these options when it’s time to bring those pumpkins in from the porch.

C. pepo pumpkins are edible and have a traditional pumpkin f lavor; however, some have better f lavor and texture than others. The variety called Jack O’ Lantern pumpkins are iconic and ideal for carving. They can be used for baking (only if fresh and uncut) Their f lesh is grainy and stringy, and their shells are thin to allow for people of all ages to create faces that keep away ghosts and invite candy-hunters. They do make decent pie. “Jack O’ Lantern pumpkin pie will still be pleasant, but it won’t be as high quality as [one made from] pie pumpkins,” says Porter, noting that the f lavor is not quite as good and the texture not as smooth. Pie pumpkins such as Small Sugar, Golden Nugget, or New England Pie, are smaller than Jack O’ Lanterns, though still in the C. pepo species. Their f lesh is dry and

These iconic October edibles are a type of squash, and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes can be baked in breads, puréed, roasted, or made into pie. Their seeds can be toasted with salt and spices or herbs for a savory fall snack. Pumpkin-flavored brews are popular, and pumpkins make an interesting wine. Many traditional pumpkins come from the genus and species Cucurbita pepo and share trademark pumpkin characteristics, including f lavor and texture. According to John Porter, a University of Nebraska Extension horticulturalist who focuses on urban agriculture, C. pepo is a surprisingly broad species containing traditional pumpkins and squashes such as acorn, spaghetti, and zucchini. It may be a surprise to most pumpkin enthusiasts that these cultivars that taste and look nothing like a pumpkin are so closely related to pumpkins that they may cross-pollinate.

starchy, and is sweeter than that of a Jack O’ Lantern pumpkin. They are ideal for baking but not as ideal for carving. If one were interested in brewing with pumpkins, this would be the best candidate. Mini Jack-Be-Little pumpkins, often used as mantlepiece decorations, are also tasty. They are technically a type of butternut squash but can be baked and used for fillings just like the other pumpkins described. The seeds of all the Cucurbita pepo pumpkins are very good for roasting, whether one is using the rest of the pumpkin for a jack o’ lantern or a pie.

The next genus and species is Cucurbita moschata. Commercial pumpkin pie and pie filling, interestingly, are made from C. moschata pumpkins. Libby’s Brand, which sells the majority of canned pumpkin in the United States, uses the Dickinson pumpkin. The Dickinson is part of the C. moschata species, says Porter. C. moschata pumpkins do not cross-pollinate with C. pepo, and although they are related to Jack O’ Lantern pumpkins, they are not the same. Porter says Dickinson pumpkins are oblong, have a tan rind, and do not resemble traditional pumpkins, although the inside is orange and similar to a pie pumpkin in that the f lesh is dry. C. moschata includes butternut squash, crookneck squash, Long Island Cheese pumpkin (often called Cinderella pumpkin), and a few others. Giant pumpkins seen in competitions are yet another species known as Cucurbita maxima, says Porter. It will not cross-pollinate with C. pepo or C. moschata but is closely related, says Porter. Giant pumpkins are nice to look at, but not to eat. They are watery and grainy, says Porter. They do, however, make impressive decorations. Pumpkins grow well in all parts of the country, including Nebraska. Finding fresh pumpkins will not be difficult this fall. It’s a safe bet that there will be many uncut pumpkins lining porches after Halloween. Give those pumpkins a second purpose. Visit grobigred.com for information on pumpkins and other harvesting tips. Visit ngb.org for more information on 2019 as the year of the pumpkin.

October 2019

Traditional Country House Meets Vibrant People im and John Erickson purchased a house outside of Blair, Nebraska, having fallen in love with pictures of the pool and the beautiful acreage on which the home sits. Sight unseen (at least in person), they closed on the house and moved in. Within the first month, Linsey Lisowyj answered Kim’s SOS call for an interior designer. The main level’s fragmented f loor plan didn’t meet the requirements for the Ericksons’ love of entertaining. The Ericksons had two major requests for the remodel: reconf igure the kitchen cabinetry to offer more storage and serving space; and expand the great room into the home off ice. Their discussion led to napkin sketches; those sketches evolved into drafted plans and elevations in AutoCAD. Linsey began with the kitchen f loor plan–its original shape was a single “ bat wing” peninsula with a raised counter. It left a massive 12-foot expanse of f loor space between the sink and the refrigerator and crowded the dinette seat-

BEFORE

ing area. Her solution was to straighten out the peninsula, shave off the raised counter, eliminate the bar seating, and add an eight-foot island. Tying in the Erickson’s custom artwork and furnishings in the dining room, Linsey suggested Sherwin-Williams’ Indigo Batik as the new island’s striking blue f inish. New f looring, countertop, and backsplash selections were implemented, adding a chic sophistication lacking in the original design. Turning their attention to the great room, it was determined that the actual f ireplace would remain in its original location; however, everything aesthetic would be repurposed in John’s future workshop.

OmahaMagazine.com

T R A NSF OR M AT IONS story by Linsey Lisowyj

photography by Amoura Productions

design by Mady Besch

BEFORE

Linsey’s solution was to straighten out the peninsula, shave off the raised counter, eliminate the bar seating, and add an eight-foot island.

Meet the Interior Designer / LINSEY LISOWYJ

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Linsey Lisowyj (pronounced lee-so-vay) is an Omaha native and graduate of University of Nebraska–Lincoln. Since 2007, she’s been professionally designing projects of all shapes and sizes nationwide, both residential and commercial. When she isn’t designing, Linsey moms-so-hard with her two kids, brews beer with her husband, practices yoga, and directs the Millard West HS Color Guard. Have a project in mind? Please reach her at llisowyj@idfomaha.com.

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T R A NSF OR M AT IONS

A consultation with their contractor, structural engineer, plumber, and electrician confirmed the removal of the wall between the existing great room and home office was possible and financially feasible. By eliminating this wall, there became nearly 30 feet of wow factor potential and a fireplace that need not move from its previous center.

By eliminating the wall, there became nearly 30 feet of wow factor potential and a fireplace that need not move from its previous center. Interior designers often have an innate ability to comprehend the elements and principles of good design. This is a skill Linsey has been honing (sometimes inadvertently) since she f irst saw a color wheel in elementary school. Subsequently, it’s the reason she welcomes the challenge of how to achieve balance on a uniquely long, asymmetrical wall. By implementing picture ledges of varying lengths, adding storage nooks hidden by custom cabinetry, and creating intentional display areas, she makes 30 feet feel cozy. Prior to the remodel, the Ericksons’ home wasn’t functionally meeting their needs. Bland tile f inishes, lack of interesting lighting, and excessive motif of country arches added to the tired, dated feel. Now, the Ericksons have a home that is uniquely theirs, exploding with texture, color, and creative solutions at every turn.

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