November/December 2017 omaha home by Omaha Magazine

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017

ALWAYS LOCAL, ALWAYS BEAUTIFUL

MANTEL MAKEOVER

ARCHITECTURE

Modern & Eco-Friendly

SPACES

Holiday Over The Old Market

ASID AWARDS 2017 Winners

OMAHA HOME opener Sandy Matson Contributing Editor, OmahaHome

VEN WITH THE best-laid plans, there’s always so much to do! This is the final installment of my yearlong room makeover before the grand reveal in the January/ February issue.

H92

H120

H94

H89

OMAHA HOME OPENER

H92

SANDY’S DIY

H94

SPACES

Mantel Makeover

HOLIDAY OVER THE OLD MARKET

H102 NEIGHBORHOODS

sunset Hills

H107 ASID AWARDS

2017 Residential Winners

H114 FEATURE

Downsizing Home Cameos

H120 ARCHITECTURE

Modern & Eco-Friendly

H126 HARVEST

How to Make Frozen Aronia Berry Wine

H130 TRANSFORMATIONS

One Year, Big Life Changes

Thank you for reading OmahaHome. This stand-alone magazine is also featured as a section of Omaha Magazine. Want to read the entire magazine? Visit: omahamagazine.com/digital-flip-book Subscribe: omahamagazine.com/subscribe

Have you noticed the theme in my DIY photoshoots? Gravel roads, cornfields, old wooden S an d barns, and anything y' s ch il d h o reflecting a country od h o me setting (or the outdoors) makes a great backdrop for photos. Having grown up in rural Iowa, these locations also bring personal meaning to each project. As they say, “You can take the girl off the farm, but you can’t take the farm out of the girl.” Need some holiday inspiration? Look no further than this issue. Granted, we don’t all live in a historic condo that overlooks the Holiday Lights Festival at Gene Leahy Mall, but Mary Jochim’s home will surely inspire you to put up holiday decorations. Everyone has their own tastes. I enjoy pulling out a string of white lights and cutting fresh greens to make the house look elegant and smell like Christmas. I also like to collect items throughout the year while thrifting and shopping for sales. Unwrapping and hanging these decorations for the first time is like giving a small gift to yourself. Here’s another gift: This will be my first Christmas as a grandma. It’s hard to believe—it seems like only yesterday that I was sitting on my own grandmother’s lap at family get-togethers. This little boy (named River) has been a blessing to our family, and I look to memories of Grandma Ruth for inspiration. Whatever you celebrate this holiday season, we wish you a wonderful, tradition-filled holiday.

Sandy OmahaHome

“The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing others’ loads, and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of the holidays.” — W.C. Jones

Specializing in

lizcineg in iala peecp FSir s!lace erp ove akier MF

ers! v o e k a M

Fireplace Refacing Custom Mantels Add a Fireplace to ANY ROOM in Your Home

Add a fireplace to any room! Fireplace Refacing | Custom Mantels 709 N. 132 St. • claxtonfireplace.com 709 N. 132nd St. (next to Lindley Clothing)

Call foraaFREE FREE Estimate! Estimate! 402-491-0800 Call for 402-491-0800

www.claxtonfireplace.com Allied Member ASID

November/December 2017

Publisher TODD LEMKE

EDITORIAL Executive Editor DOUG MEIGS Managing Editor: B2B Omaha, FamilyGuide DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Managing Editor: Encounter ERIC STOAKES

BACK • PAINTED

Editor-at-Large TARA SPENCER

GLASS

Contributing Editor SANDY MATSON

D U R A B L E & V E R S AT I L E

limitless color

matching available

Perfect for residential and commercial projects including interior walls, backsplashes, table and counter tops, marker boards, shower walls, artistic glass and more. Endless possibilities.

Editorial Assistant LINDSAY WILSON Interns KATHERINE HARTNER SYDNEY SHELDRICK • LIZ STEVENS Contributing Writers LEO ADAM BIGA • HANNAH GILL DAWN KANNE • PATRICK MCGEE ALEX PRIEST • KARA SCHWEISS

CREATIVE Creative Director BILL SITZMANN

(402) 630-3436

• • • • •

Ultra clear, low iron glass Highly durable, dual coated, non-porous and easy to clean Small or high volume projects easily produced Can be laminated, tempered, custom cut, hole drilled and more Selective paintings for logos or signage is possible with vector artwork

Art Director MATTHEW WIECZOREK Senior Graphic Designer DEREK JOY

Visit Our Showroom at 10711 Chandler Rd • La Vista, NE • www.EliteGlassServices.com

Graphic Designer MADY BESCH

1120 FORT CROOK ROAD, BELLEVUE, NE 68005

Graphic Designer KATIUSKA NUÑEZ Comments? SEND YOUR THOUGHTS TO: SANDY@OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

50 YEARS STILL THE BEST IN SHOW Since 1967

800.756.7344 | 402.292.1455 | APACHECAMPER.COM LOCATIONS ALSO IN LINCOLN & KEARNEY

/ H90 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

OMAHA HOME MAGAZINE APPEARS AS ITS OWN MAGAZINE AND AS A SECTION WITHIN OMAHA MAGAZINE. TO VIEW THE FULL VERSION OF OMAHA MAGAZINE, OR TO SUBSCRIBE, GO TO OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM/SUBSCRIBE For Advertising & Subscription Information:

402.884.2000

LewisArt Gallery

ess-to-Busine sin ss MA

The Linen Gallery

8723 Countryside Plaza 68114 | 402.399.5242 www.LinensandDown.com

HA ’

Yves Delorme Bedding Exclusively at

ne azi ag

Oma ha ’s

QUALITY & EXCELLENCE SINCE 1971

2016 Winner

MON-FRI 9AM-6PM • SAT 9AM-3PM LEWISARTGALLERY.COM • 402.391.7733

8600 CASS ST

402-333-5722 • sw-fence.com

KAREN JENNINGS

STANDING TALL FOR YOU! Top Producing CBSHOME Team...2013-2015 Top Producing CBSHOME Individual...2009-2012 402.290.6296 | karen.jennings@cbshome.com

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H91 /

ITEMS NEEDED • Wood mantel • White semigloss paint in White Dove (Benjamin Moore) • Two cans Painter’s Touch 2x Ultra Cover Primer in f lat white • Sponge roller • Sandpaper • Fireplace screen (for added realistic charm) • Table saw • Lumber 3/4- to 1-inch thick (I used two 4-foot long pieces.)

Mantel Makeover ADDING UNCONVENTIONAL ELEGANCE

DIY story by Sandy Matson

here’s something inviting and whimsical about a fireplace— faux or real. I love the way it adds an artistic element to a wall. Even more, it’s a perfect fit for this holiday issue. Who doesn’t like to decorate a mantel this time of year? It’s not the first time I have implemented this clever idea in a room of my house that did not have an actual working fireplace. I have previously added a mantel in place of a headboard in two prior bedrooms. After moving from these houses, each new owner wanted the mantels to stay.

Instructions It’s easiest to work on this type of project upright, so I leaned it up against the wall in the garage with newspaper around and under it. Step 1: Remove any and all nails if you purchased this used. Step 2: Sand down any rough areas or parts that may come through after painting, or if it has high gloss. Step 3: Prime the mantel with spray primer, and use a sponge hand applicator to get into hard-to-access areas. I did several coats of spray, then went back over with the sponge roller for a smooth finish. Step 4: Use top-coat in the color of choice. Seal if desired.

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

It’s not the first time I have implemented this clever idea in a room of my house that did not have an actual working fireplace.

I found my used surround on Craigslist for $25. Someone was remodeling and simply wanted to get rid of it. If you’re not so lucky, you can buy a new one from a fireplace shop (sometimes they have close-out models). Or check salvage/antique shops and auctions. Maybe you could just build one yourself? I ran across several tutorials on building faux fireplace surrounds online.

So, I’m starting over with this mantel makeover project. Thanks to the internet, it’s easy to find tutorials for putting together a mantel and the accompanying surround, which would provide elegant ambiance and interest to the room.

Regardless of how you find your mantel, make it your own. It will provide a real focal point in the room. OmahaHome

How to Mount on Wall This part of my project required me to recruit my husband. After doing a little research, I decided the easiest way to mount the mantel without using any screws or nails was to use what is called a “French cleat.” You’ll find lots of tutorials on this procedure on the internet. The concept is simple: two pieces of wood are cut with a 45-degree angle and then interlock. One piece is mounted to the wall and the other to the back of the mantel.

As far as anything on the inside (normally where your fireplace would be), you can get creative depending on how permanent you want to make it. I had an extra mirror left over from a bathroom redo. It fit perfectly on the inside and the ref lection makes it more interesting. This hard surface, where the hearth would have been, provided a f lat space for arranging candles and decorative items.

Step 1: Take one piece of lumber (3/4- to 1-inch thick), then use a table saw set at a 45-degree angle to split that piece of wood in half. These two pieces of wood now match together.

Now decorate away! Think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to try different and unexpected things. And don’t forget that the grand reveal of my yearlong project will appear in the next issue. OmahaHome

Step 2: Take the lower piece and mount to the wall with chiseled face pointing up and out. Step 3: Mount the other piece to the mantel and then interlock the two pieces.

Sandy’s yearlong DIY remodeling series began with an introduction to the room in the January/February issue. The first of five projects, a hanging cof fee filter lamp, debuted in the March/April issue. Rustic wall vases followed in the May/June issue. Vintage classic chairs were in the July/August issue. A dresser redo appeared in September/October. Visit readonlinenow.com to review back issues.

Step 4: Hang on the wall. Keep in mind, you will want to either remove or notch out your trim boards, where the fireplace legs are, so the mantel sits f lat against the wall.

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H93 /

The design scheme is amazing, too: Egyptian-inf luenced, with 25-foot-tall ceilings, and an art collection that includes works from regional artists Hal Holoun, Steve Joy, Wendy Bantam, and Susan Brasch displayed on the walls.

Spaces story by Kara Schweiss

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

Holiday Over The Old Market MARY JOCHIM’S SEASONAL CONDO DÉCOR

ary Jochim’s penthouse-level condominium in the A.K. Riley Building at 10th and Douglas streets boasts exceptional views of the Gene Leahy Mall and Old Market to the south and an unmatched eastern view of the riverfront, Heartland of America Park, and many notable historic buildings. The design scheme is amazing, too: Egyptian-inf luenced, with 25-foot-tall ceilings, and an art collection that includes works from regional artists Hal Holoun, Steve Joy, Wendy Bantam, and Susan Brasch displayed on the walls. But during the Christmas holiday period, the home of Jochim (and her 4-pound teacup poodle, Mini-Me) transforms into a wonderland. “I quite often joke that Jesus and I were born on the same day, different year. So Christmas is a special holiday, which it would be with or without my birthday,” Jochim says. “I never want to forget that Christmas is a sacred, religious holiday for Christians. It is a serious and joyous holiday.” >

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H95 /

SPACES < Jochim, a “very visual person” who “draws energ y from my surroundings,” blends an energizing color palette into her holiday decorating. She festoons her living space with exquisite glass ornaments, wreaths and other greenery, ribbons, twinkling lights, and both small tabletop trees and their fullsize counterparts. The décor spans the 3,100 square feet of living space that includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a study, and a library, along with a large open-concept kitchen and dining area, living room, and formal dining room. It’s fortunate that Jochim has ample on-site storage space, because the decorating process takes up to three weeks even with the help of a volunteer or two. “Christmas has evolved as my tastes have changed; I have added some each year as well as retired some decorations,” she says. “Because of my new home I’ve made quite a few more changes this year, many because of the beautiful view of the [Holiday Lights Festival at Gene Leahy Mall] Christmas lights from my two southern windows.” The Riley building was erected in 1879 and a major renovation commenced a century later. The current owner is Pinnacle Bank. “Certainly a lot of credit goes to Thomas Briccetti, former conductor of Omaha Symphony, and his wife, Billie Lee Mommer, who was an interior designer, for redeveloping this building,” Jochim says. “It takes a lot of good people, preservation-minded organizations, and business to prevent the demise of historic buildings.” Jochim adds that she’s turned to two ASID-certified designers over the years to craft the look of both her home and office spaces: “I have depended on Julia Russell of Julia Russell Designs to modify and expand on the late Ruth Ann Davis’ work in my new home and office. Julia has done an amazing job.” >

/ H96 /

“Christmas has evolved as my tastes have changed; I have added some each year as well as retired some decorations.” — Mary

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

Jochim

SPACES

“Entertaining brings me great joy,” Jochim says. Clockwise from left: Desiree Sanders, Julia Russell, Mary Jochim

/ H98 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

She has resided in the Riley building for less than two years, but Jochimâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s home seamlessly accommodates her holiday hospitality.

/ H100 /

OmahaHome â&#x20AC;˘ November/December 2017

SPACES < She has resided in the R iley building for less than two years, but Jochim’s home seamlessly accommodates her holiday hospitality. “The expansiveness of the space allows me to do more than I could in a traditional home. With this space, the tall ceilings, exposed brick, and old beams make for a great space without doing a thing, or any credit due me. So with decorations and the holiday lights up and down the Leahy Mall, it can be jawdropping,” she says. Jochim, who owns the investment advisory firm Sterling Financial Advisors, certainly enjoys the festive atmosphere from her home-based office during the workweek, but the atmosphere enthralls friends and family. “Entertaining brings me great joy,” Jochim says. “Yes, I like to hear that people are a bit ‘wowed,’ but my goal is to set a mood for my guests to feel special, to feel the joy of the season. And yes, provide some of the wonderment we all probably had as kids.” OmahaHome

BUILD MORE THAN MUSCLE

When you join the Y, you’re committing to more than simply becoming healthier. You are supporting the values & programs that strengthen your community. At the Y, children learn what they can achieve, families spend quality time together, & we all build relationships that deepen our sense of belonging.

YMCA OF GREATER OMAHA • www.metroymca.org November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H101 /

Neighborhoods story by Hannah Gill

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

SUNSET HILLS Once-Upon-A-Time Suburban Fringe, Still an Enclave of Tranquility

/ H102 /

OmahaHome â&#x20AC;¢ November/December 2017

hat do the Meat Puppets and Omaha have in common? Sunset Hills and local millionaire Carl Renstrom.

Renstrom, who died in November of 1981, left behind two grandchildren— Curtis and Christopher Kirkwood—who founded the Meat Puppets with drummer Derrick Bostrom. While the Meat Puppets have gone on to punk-rock fame, the Renstrom Farm behind Sunset Hills was sold and developed into One Pacific Place. Many residents still fondly remember the farm. Joyce Green, a resident since 1979, can recall when they could see horses from the backyard. “We felt we were on the west edge of Omaha,” she says. “It was all agriculture.” Green has even heard stories told by older residents of the Renstrom girls, either Vera or Lisa, selling farm vegetables from their chauffeur-driven car. Bordered by 90th Street, Pacific Street, and Big Papio Creek, Sunset Hills is hilly with lush old trees, no through-streets, and little traffic.

Steve Sorensen

Betty Salistean, now in her 90s, moved to Sunset Hills during the early 1950s. She relocated from the barracks at Fort Omaha when Pierce Street was still a gravel road. The city limits moved from 60th to 72nd Street

in the early 20th century, and Salistean watched Omaha creep westward from her thennew home. “It is hard to believe how fast the city has grown,” she says. Sunset Hills’ neighborhood grew, too. An inf lux of young families caused District 66 to operate a temporary elementary from two houses on South 93rd Avenue. Finished in 1956, the Sunset Elementary School was built in the California-pod style— featuring sectioned rooms not connected by indoor hallways— favored for speed of construction. “It was a kind of unique school; it actually doesn’t really belong in Nebraska,” says Steve Sorensen, who grew up in the neighborhood. “You were immediately outside when you step out the door [of the classrooms].” In the early 1960s, hallways were added for security and practicality in Nebraska’s inclement weather, and the beloved Sunset Hills Elementary sign was constructed with beams from the original entryway. A new renovation of the school was underway during this past summer. On Aug. 31, construction workers were busy erecting a canopy entrance for the new building. According to the school’s principal, Michelle Patterson, the local firm TACKarchitects interviewed students about memorable features. These conversations led to incorporating the sign, a canopy entrance modeled

THE CITY LIMITS MOVED FROM 60TH TO 72ND STREET IN THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY, AND SALISTEAN WATCHED OMAHA CREEP WESTWARD FROM HER THENNEW HOME. after the original entrance, glass block windows, and a beloved piece of concrete play equipment, dubbed “The Cheese,” into the new building. It helped to have a lead architect on the project, TACKarchitects’ Christopher Houston, living in Sunset Hills. “For how small the school is, we had lots of community support,” Patterson says, “which is kind of a theme around here.” The design process included 15 meetings with an advisor y committee of community members and informational meetings that f illed the elementar y school’s g ym. This communication informed the school’s redesign— the low building height protected neighborhood views, and plentiful green space surrounded the educational edif ice. Much of the surrounding greener y came from Sunset Valley Golf Course. >

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H103 /

NEIGHBORHOODs

and “nice.” Jack and Joyce Green, both from small towns, have hosted 37 block parties in an annual tradition stretching over 40 years. “Omaha is made up of a lot of small-town people, and our neighborhood always had that feel,” Joyce Green says, adding that some of Sunset Hills’ newest young families are familiar faces. “That is really a compliment to the neighborhood, that kids want to come back and raise their kids here. They feel like they are coming home to raise their families.”

< Some of “I’VE LIVED IN the greenery, DUNDEE, AND THERE however, could be ARE SOME GREAT disappearing. THINGS ABOUT LIVING Members THERE. I’VE LIVED IN voted on June 13 to sell the COUNTRY CLUB, AND 46 acres of Sunset Valley THERE ARE SOME Golf Course GREAT THING ABOUT to NP Dodge. LIVING THERE. BUT Speaking with Magazine in I FEEL HAPPIEST lateOmaha August, company LIVING HERE.” president Nate Dodge

— Steve Sorensen

says they began a 90-day “due diligence” examination of soil to “test theory if development is possible in an area from an engineering and f inancial standpoint.” NP Dodge may request a second 90-day period and anticipates developing 15 acres due to the Big Papio Creek’s flood zone. The company is considering some single-family lots and multifamily buildings, keeping green space and possibly some golf holes as amenities. “We would love to develop this in a way that would reflect the neighborhood and district,” Dodge says. “We wanted to take in the concerns of people who would be neighbors of the development.”

/ H104 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

NP Dodge held three public meetings attended by roughly 180 people, as well as meeting with individuals. According to the company's president, they have made “meaningful changes because of the input and interaction of the neighborhood.” “I live seven blocks from there. Not only have I played that golf course but biked that trail,” Dodge says. “I love that neighborhood and think it could be a great development.” Dodge is not the only person who thinks Sunset Hills is “on the upswing.” According to Bob Zagoda, chief financial officer for District 66, the district expects growth in the area, and the new elementary building will increase to two sections. This continues a strong concentration of neighborhood students, 83 percent of the total population. “There were gobs of kids,” Sorensen says of his childhood in Sunset Hills. “There were so many friendships you could have, and the whole neighborhood was your playground.” Residents describe the community as if it were a small Nebraskan town: “safe”

Sorensen is one of those kids, born in 1959, back since 2007. His family frequently visited Sunset Hills during the interim years. In fact, he considered moving into his mother’s house after her passing but instead opted to purchase a home a few blocks away. The Sorensens now reside in a beautiful old house he has admired since childhood. As a kid, he enjoyed hot chocolate on Halloween with the previous resident. He also recalls accidentally hitting the former mailbox while showing off in his beige 1970s Pinto one winter vacation home from college. “I’ve lived in Dundee, and there are some great things about living there. I’ve lived in Country Club, and there are some great thing about living there,” Sorensen says. “But I feel happiest living here.” OmahaHome Visit sunsethills.westside66.org for more information about the elementary school at the heart of Sunset Hills.

• Residential Roofing • Roof Maintenance & Repair

St. Frances Cabrini The spiritual home of the Little Italy and Old Market neighborhoods since 1857.

stcabriniomaha.org 10th and Williams Street

Linda Hartough

• Licensed, Bonded, Insured & Locally Owned in Papillion, NE

INSURANCE CLAIMS WELCOME Did that last storm do a number on your roof? No need for you to worry. If your roof sustained fire, snow or hail damage, the repairs can be costly. We are your wind and hail damage experts and accept insurance claims so you won’t have to pay for the repair work yourself.

402.740.0800 | apconstructomaha.com

Aldo Luongo

Cheryl Kelley

Thomas Arvid

Nancy Teague

Bob Mathews

440 Regency Parkway Drive US Bank Building Suite 137 www.regencyparkwayart.com Scott Papek

Jake Vest

MON-FRI 9 to 5 SAT 12 to 4 or by appointment 402.399.9555

Todd Williams

Michael Hagel

Beautiful Art from Around the World!

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H105 /

e Issue

KNOW OF A BEAUTIFUL HOME IN OMAHA? LET US KNOW AT

SANDY@OMAHAMAGAZINE.COM

DESIGNED | GROWN | INSTALLED | UNMATCHED

THE SELECTION YOU NEED. SIDING

Omaha’s #1 Landscape Design Professionals

DOORS

WINDOWS

GARAGE DOORS

THE EXPERIENCE YOU DESERVE.

192 & WEST CENTER | lanohanurseries.com

402.733.6440 • omahadoor.com

/ H106 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

ASID AWARDS | text and photography provided by ASID

2017 impactFULL Awards GOLD AND SILVER WINNERS Great interior design can turn any home into a showcase. Whether a person’s tastes run traditional or contemporary, whether a person prefers bright colors or a neutral palette, professional interior designers can turn ideas into reality. The Nebraska/Iowa Chapter of the American Society of Interior Designers recently announced the winners of their annual design contest. Here are the Gold and Silver winners.

GOLD

DESIGN IMPACT WINNER DESIGNER: BECKY REA, ASID FIRM: FRITZ AND LLOYD PHOTOGRAPHER: LISA GUERRA The client desired a modern interior—executed with finishes of white walls, white acrylic cabinetry, and polished salt-and-pepper concrete floors. Large windows were a must-have. With strategic placement and sizing, some windows bring views of interior art walls to exterior spaces; other placements allow for privacy while providing ample natural light. November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H107 /

ASID AWARDS

GOLD

DESIGNERS: COLBY WASHBURN, ASID, & NANCY PESAVENTO, ASID FIRM: INTERIORS BY JOAN PHOTOGRAPHER: TOM KESSLER Two large islands—creatively designed to fit within the constraints of this kitchen—provide ample counter space and comfortably accommodate the lifestyle of this growing family. Unique materials were chosen for ease of maintenance and to create a dramatic, contemporary kitchen.

/ H108 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

GOLD

DESIGNERS: JULIE ODERMATT, ASID, AND RACHEL COSTELLO, ALLIED ASID FIRM: D3 INTERIORS PHOTOGRAPHER: AMOURA PRODUCTIONS A retreat for relaxation and rejuvenation was created through the use of natural elements, a soft color palette resembling a sandy beach, a steam shower with built–in speakers, and windows allowing the outdoors to become a part of the “spa” experience. Removing the hall closet to expand the space allowed for a private water closet, which was an important element in this design.

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H109 /

SILVER

DESIGNER: COURTNEY OTTE, ALLIED ASID FIRM: THE MODERN HIVE PHOTOGRAPHER: PAULA MOSER The challenge for this “bachelor pad” was working with existing finishes while producing an updated environment. The client required spaces for working from home, relaxing, and entertaining. Contemporary furniture, fabrics, and finishes— using a neutral color palette—complement the existing materials and create an environment that is pleasing to all guests.

SILVER

DESIGNER: JOAN SORENSEN, ASID FIRM: INTERIORS BY JOAN PHOTOGRAPHER: TOM KESSLER This major renovation was the path to generating a transitional/contemporary design with European influences. Upholstered wall panels, mirrors, and a calming color palette were used to create a more spacious and airy look.

/ H110 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

ASID AWARDS

SILVER

DESIGNER: BRIANNE WILHELM, ALLIED ASID FIRM: D3 INTERIORS PHOTOGRAPHER: AMOURA PRODUCTIONS Designing a sophisticated and modern bedroom with industrial influences for a teenage boy’s small 11-by-11-foot bedroom was a challenge. A low platform bed was centered on the longest wall. Open storage shelves with closed door storage at the bottom fit snuggly on either side of the headboard. Adjustable task lamps were clipped to each corner of the headboard and an oversized pendant provided general lighting and drama to the room. Accessories included three metal oil drums, reclaimed wood, and bronze metal items.

SILVER

DESIGNER: KRIS PATTON, ASID FIRM: INTERIORS BY JOAN PHOTOGRAPHER: TOM KESSLER Upon entering this home, the first thing a guest will see is the room with the player piano—which the family enjoys sharing with friends. The room was redesigned bringing the fireplace into scale and flanking it with an antiqued mirror, space for a large piece of art, and a massive carved wood panel with textured wall covering behind it. Furniture and window treatments completed the room, achieving a new level of functionality.

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H111 /

ASID AWARDS

8 SILVER

DESIGNER: MICHELE HYBNER FIRM: FALCONE HYBNER DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHER: AMOURA PRODUCTIONS This new home boasts a minimalist look with a neutral palette and contemporary design. Generously sized closets help to minimize clutter and maintain a clean, open appearance. The busy professional couple, with three active children, required a highly functional home. To achieve this, the mud and laundry rooms were located next to the garage so backpacks and used clothing could be disposed of upon entering the house. These rooms open into the pantry and kitchen, making grocery storage an easy matter. The two bedrooms on the lower level share a built-in-study desk and space for entertaining.

9 SILVER

DESIGNER: SHAWN FALCONE FIRM: FALCONE HYBNER DESIGN PHOTOGRAPHER: AMOURA PRODUCTIONS The love of color and art sets the stage for this custom ranch home. By using neutral tile, cabinetry, flooring, stone, and paint, the space provides the homeowner with the ability to display vibrantly colorful art and accessories (and the potential to rearrange them at will).

/ H112 /

OmahaHome â&#x20AC;¢ November/December 2017

SILVER

DESIGNER: LISA MCCOID, ASID, AIA FIRM: D3 INTERIORS PHOTOGRAPHER: TOM KESSLER The overall goal of this dining room was to create an elegant, yet casual, upscale feeling for the homeowners to entertain within the home. In order to accomplish their goal, the design focused on built-in details and furnishings. The tone-on-tone color palette of soft grays and warm off-whites, accented with faux finishes and antique mirrors, brings a balance to the space and creates a beautiful dining room.

SILVER

DESIGNER: DIANE LUXFORD, ASID FIRM: FALCONE D-LUX INTERIORS PHOTOGRAPHER: TOM KESSLER The owner desired a contemporary feeling for their new home on a lake, which gave them an ideal living environment for summertime entertaining of friends, family and grandchildren. The designer was able to give the space a unique design personality with tile, granite, cabinetry, mirrors, lighting, and paint/wall covering selections.

Â?Â? Â? Â?Â ÂÂ&#x20AC;Â&#x201A; Â&#x192; Â&#x201E;Â&#x2026; Â&#x20AC;Â?Â Â&#x2020;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2C6;Â ÂÂ&#x20AC;Â&#x201A; Â?Â&#x2030; Â&#x160;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2020;Â&#x201A;Â&#x152; Â&#x20AC;Â&#x2039;Â&#x2021;Â&#x2C6;ÂÂ&#x2039;Â&#x2020;Â&#x201A;

Feature story by Leo Adam Biga

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

Downsizing

Home Cameos Meet the Local Residential Stars of Alexander Payne’s New Film

The exterior of one of the duplexes where filming occurred

/ H114 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

Omaha figures prominently in the sci-fi dramedy (starring Matt Damon) that played major festivals in Venice, Italy; Telluride, Colorado; and Toronto, Canada. Its first half establishes Damonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s character, Paul, as an Omaha Everyman.

November/December 2017 â&#x20AC;˘ omahamagazine.com

/ H115 /

Feature

Two new large homes in Elkhorn’s Five Fountains neighborhood portrayed the for-sale property that Paul and Audrey visit.

hen Oscar-winning filmmaker Alexander Payne prepares a film, he not only auditions actors but locations, too.

The writer-director insists on actual locations whenever possible. When he films in his hometown of Omaha, he's extra keen to get it right. Just as local homes brought authenticity to his films Citizen Ruth, Election, and About Schmidt, Omaha homes earned supporting roles for Payne’s new film Downsizing during a mid-April 2016 shoot here. Omaha figures prominently in the scifi dramedy (starring Matt Damon) that played major festivals in Venice, Italy; Telluride, Colorado; and Toronto, Canada. Its first half establishes Damon’s character, Paul, as an Omaha Everyman. The script called for him to reside in an inner-city duplex and, thus, location scout Jamie Vesay and counterparts in Toronto, where much of the film was made, scoured prospective sites.

Two matching 1920s-era, two-story brick duplexes on Douglas Street (in Payne’s childhood Dundee neighborhood) stood in for Paul’s home. The story has Paul and wife Audrey (played by Kristen Wiig) visit a suburban McMansion. Vesay scouted that, too. Two new large homes in Elkhorn’s Five Fountains neighborhood portrayed the for-sale property that Paul and Audrey visit. Scenes were also shot outside La Casa Pizzaria, Creighton Prep (Payne’s alma mater), Jam’s in the Old Market and at Regency Court, and Omaha Steaks' distribution center. The story required a duplex with adjoining back decks to underscore the attachment Paul feels to his mother, who lives next door at one point. Payne loves physical comedy, and the director liked all the business of Paul entering-exiting various doors and navigating steps. Events fast forward nine years to find Paul’s mother gone. He and Audrey

/ H116 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

Call us to safely hang your

christmas lights!

402.516.4 498 / midwestlightscaping.com

WE PAD THE FURNITURE, NOT THE PRICE!

Residential/Apartment Moves Assisted Living/Estates • Pianos/Antiques/Safes • Office Relocation/Industrial Moves • Loading/Unloading of Self Storage Containers • Moving Statewide in Iowa & Nebraska •

The exterior of the Twohig home where filming occurred

now live in his mom’s old place, and he’s renting out his former unit. It’s a commentary on Paul’s limited horizons before his grand adventure. Vesay says Payne also liked the Douglas properties for their small, steep front yards. A yard sale unfolds there that comically shows folks struggling with the tight quarters and severe pitch. Sealing the deal was the alley’s conf luence of yards, fences, garages, light poles, wires, and its downtown view. Carol Redwing lived at one of the two Douglas Street duplexes. The exterior of her residence was used for daytime and nighttime shots with Damon and Wiig. The unoccupied unit next door was leased by the production. The same arrangement was used at the other duplex on Douglas Street, where interiors were shot in a unit doubling for the on-screen duplex. More interiors were doubled in Toronto. In suburban Five Points, Gretchen and Steven Twohig’s home became the McMansion exterior. The home of Ethan and Erin Evans became the interior. Vesay says the sea of cookie-cutter roofs visible from the development caught Payne’s eye. >

•

Quality Moving Professionals • Serving the Metro Area For Over 50 Years FREE ESTIMATES • Competitive Rates • Insured & Licensed

11 YEARS IN A ROW! 2006-2017

402.291.2490 jimsmovinginc.com

Omaha, NE

Thanks for voting us Best of Omaha

Endless amazing interior designs to help bring life to your home!

November 3rd: 9:00 to 5:00 & November 4th: 9:00 to 2:00 217 N. Jefferson St. Papillion NE 402.331.9136 • papillionflowerpatch.com November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H117 /

During the shoot, Vesay says producers broke protocol and allowed civilians on set. "People got remarkably close," he says. Residents who lent their homes to the cause got up-close-and-personal experiences themselves. It was eye-opening.

Feature

< Long before the production reached out to residents, their homes were scouted from the street. When first contacted, they were wary. Once assured that the Hollywood scout was not a prankster, Vesay, Payne, and department heads came for closer looks. The locals only knew their places were in the running before receiving final confirmation. When word leaked about the Downsizing dwellings, reporters and curiosity-seekers appeared. “It was kind of surreal,” says Redwing, who has since moved. During the shoot, Vesay says producers broke protocol and allowed civilians on set. "People got remarkably close," he says. Residents who lent their homes to the cause got up-close-and-personal experiences themselves. It was eye-opening. “There’s a lot of moving pieces and people,” Redwing says. “It was really cool.” Ethan Evans says he was struck “by how many behind-the-scenes people it takes—it’s quite the production. It was kind of a circus and crazy for a while.” Holly wood came calling, but as Gretchen Twohig noted, “There’s nothing glamorous or fancy about any of it. It’s just people working really hard to get a project done. You realize all this hard work and all these tiny moments have to come together to make a movie.” She and her husband have school-age children but opted not to take them out of classes for the f ilming. The Evans' young children watched. Redwing and her son saw ever ything. Twohig echoed the other residents in saying everyone from Payne to the stars to the grips were “down-to-earth, calm, warm, professional, and gracious." The Evans’ garage became a staging spot. That’s where the couple hung out with Payne, Damon, and Wiig. / H118 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

Jamie Vesay

The high-ceilinged, spacious home’s entryway, dining room, and kitchen got the shoot’s full attention. “Besides moving furniture around to make room for lights, screens, and cameras—and taking pictures down— they sort of kept everything the way we had the house decorated,” Evans says, “It only took a few takes.” The Evans and Twohigs met one another as a result of Holly wood casting their homes. They've compared notes about their Downsizing experiences. Twohig says after hours of setup at her place, as crew adjusted window blinds and for-sale signs, moved cars in and out of the driveway, and took the family basketball hoop down, put it back up, and took it down again, the actual shoot was over in a f lash. At Redwing’s old duplex, crew did landscaping and made building touchups but left her recycling bin, tools, and other homey elements intact. She’s confident her old abode made the final cut since it’s such an essential location as the hero’s home. However, the Evans

and Twohigs know their places are more incidental and therefore expendable. “We'd be disappointed, but we knew going in it could very easily be cut,” Twohig says. “But it would sure be fun if it was there.” Redwing spoke for everyone regarding anticipation for Downsizing’s December release. “I'm very eager to see it.” Meanwhile, one of the Douglas duplexes’ exterior has been painted. Last summer, its empty units were under renovation. A real estate listing read: “Come live where Matt Damon filmed the movie Downsizing!” Having glimpsed behind the magic curtain, Ethan Evans says, “I sort of watch movies differently now.” Although he’s certain that he'll forget the mechanics of cameras, mics, booms, and clappers when he finally sees Downsizing. OmahaHome Leo Adam Biga is the author of Alexander Payne: His Journey in Film. Read more of his work at leoadambiga.com.

The holiday’s are for fun and family! Not laundry.

You’ll Love What You See. Personal Service, Professional Results

Carwash & Detail Center

Our Fixed Rate

WASH • DRY • FOLD Laundry Service with FREE Home Pick-up and Delivery

• Dolphins detailing, just like new • Full service gas, at self-service prices • Touchless carwash, hand dry finish

Full Service Car Care . 2511 South 140th Street . 402-697-0650 . dolphinscarwash.com Locally owned with 26 years of service in the Omaha community

VISIT US TODAY!

MAKES YOUR LIFE EASIER! Add WASH • DRY • FOLD service to an existing route service. Or get set up for service today.

To Find Out More

CALL

402.342.3491

or go online: fashioncleaners.com

Hours: Mon-Thu 10-6, Fri-Sat 10-5, Sun 12-4 12965 W. Center Rd • 402.778.0650 House-of-J November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H119 /

ARCH ITECTU RE story by Alex Priest

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

n a winding drive, in the northwest Omaha neighborhood of Hidden Creek, sits a residential showcase of contemporary green architecture. The newest addition to the neighborhood is Christine and Ben Wigert’s sleek home. Designed by award-winning Randy Brown, the structure unfolds down a grassy lot cookie-cutter designs of Omaha strategically nestled grove of dense foliage.

architect angularly with the suburban behind a

For seven years prior to building this residence, the Wigerts had been living in a starter home. By 2015, they were ready for a change—“to start the next chapter of our adventures,” Christine says. Thus began their hunt for the perfect new home. Having green space with a view was a priority, and this quickly took them from looking downtown to Dundee to further and further west. >

Ball House

/ H120 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

The Wigert Residence HIDDEN CREEK’S LATEST SURPRISE

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H121 /

ARCH ITECTU RE < One day Ben saw a home that Brown, his friend, had designed in a new neighborhood called Hidden Creek (near 134th Avenue and Fort Street, close to Standing Bear Lake). They had seen images of this neighborhood before and heard it was out of their price range. However, Christine says they reached out to Brown on Facebook, and “he replied almost instantly and was excited to hear of our interest.” The design process began almost immediately. “After a few e-mail exchanges and sharing of prototypes he designed,” she says, “we were hooked on the idea of working with him.”

/ H122 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

After the initial messages, Brown presented several designs with f loorto-ceiling windows for views onto the creek and a rooftop deck. Then one day, Christine says, “Randy surprised us with an entirely new blueprint for a very unique home. He said that after working with us for a few months, he had created a new vision for our home based on getting to know us.” Hidden Creek and their soon-to-be neighbors were also “perfect because the modern eco-living captured both of our favorite design styles and united us around our love for modern architecture.”

DARK WOOD FLOORS WRAP THE SPACE WHILE COMPACT NOOKS, ANGULAR SUPPORTS, AND WALL CUTOUTS ARE SCATTERED THROUGH THE SPACES. THERE ARE FEW, IF ANY, 90-DEGREE ANGLE WALLS—EVEN SOME OF THE FLOORS ARE RAMPED. THE RESIDENCE IS ONE LARGE OPEN FLOOR PLAN WITH THE LIVING ROOM ATTACHED TO BOTH THE KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM. The result is a 4,000-square-foot one-of-a-kind structure clad in vertical charcoal-gray siding. It is not only userspecific, but site-specific. Cantilevered spaces and open-ended decks complement the fusion of outdoor and indoor space. Strategic views are emphasized with a f lood of indirect and natural light, and a 2,000-square-foot rooftop deck (with space for future gardening boxes) looks onto the wild grasses, forest, and creek adjacent to the building. >

ARCH ITECTU RE

< The interior design matches and extends many of the tropes found on the exterior. Every space in the two-bedroom home is unique, and nothing is left unconsidered. Dark wood f loors wrap the space while compact nooks, angular supports, and wall cutouts are scattered through the spaces. There are few, if any, 90-degree angle walls—even some of the f loors are ramped. The residence is one large open f loor plan with the living room attached to both the kitchen and dining room. The open concept and highlofted ceilings “allow us to share the space at all times,” Christine says. Although the home is now complete and they have moved in, with Brown’s open-ended design, the Wigerts say that there is still “lots to dream about” on both the interior and exterior of their contemporary home. OmahaHome Visit moderneco-homes.com to learn more about Hidden Creek. / H124 /

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

T HE WIGERTS SAY THAT THERE IS

STILL “LOTS TO

DREAM ABOUT” ON BOTH THE

INTERIOR AND

E X TERIOR OF THEIR CONTEMPORARY HOME.

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H125 /

HARVEST story by Patrick McGee photography by Bill Sitzmann design by MADY BESCH

HOW TO MAKE

FROZEN ARONIA BERRY WINE

f you’re anything of a forager, after summer and fall, you have a freezer full of frozen berries. They can keep for a long time, and it’s easy to pick more than is necessary once you get into the bushes. Foraged berries are great. But when the next year rolls around, you need to make room. It’s time to use up those frozen berries.

firm and tart, a bit like cranberries, and are loaded with antioxidants. Because they are so sturdy, freezing helps to pulp them, lending to a better wine with less effort.

Producing wine can use up quite a few. Frozen berries are easier to ferment because the freezing and thawing breaks down the cell walls of the fruit, making it easier to juice firmer berries. And just about everyone loves wine. It makes a great gift, and the wine will be done just in time for the holiday (if started far enough in advance in the fall). Clearing out your freezer will make room for fall berries, winter trout, and other game.

The aronia berry wine is simple and uses the same equipment and basic knowledge discussed in my previous article “Foraging and Fermenting Wild American Grapes,” which can be found in the August 2016 issue of Omaha Magazine online. The same basic equipment used to make grape wine can be used for aronia berries.

Personally, I had a freezer full of aronia berries from Kurt and Tina Geschwender, who live in Ponca Hills, and were gracious enough to let a friend and I pick their excess. The berries are / H126 /

Finished aronia berry wine is crisp and dry with a beautiful dark maroon color. It retains the f lavor of the berry.

It is essential to have a fermentation bucket, fermentation lock, and straining bag—all of which must be sanitized.

OmahaHome • November/December 2017

FROZEN BERRIES ARE EASIER TO FERMENT BECAUSE THE FREEZING & THAWING BREAKS DOWN THE CELL WALLS OF THE FRUIT, MAKING IT EASIER TO JUICE FIRMER BERRIES.

Plenty of berries, sugar, and other items are also necessary. My recipe is modified from Winemaker’s Recipe Handbook ’s cranberry recipe (the Blackberry recipe is also a solid option). The following makes one gallon of wine—or step up the quantities to make more: • 3 pounds aronia berries • 7 pints water (preferably not tap) • 2.5 pounds sugar • 0.5 teaspoon pectic enzyme • 0.5 teaspoon yeast energizer • 1 Campden tablet (crushed) • 1 package wine yeast (EC-1118 yeast best tolerates the antioxidant-rich aronia berries) Adding half a pint of red grape concentrate is preferable to some, but I like to let the aronia berries shine. First, place washed, frozen berries in a straining bag in your fermenter. Mash and squeeze the thawing pulp in the fermenter. This would be difficult

with fresh, firm berries. Tie the bag and leave it in the fermenter. Stir in all other ingredients except for yeast. Cover the fermenter. Twentyfour hours later, add the yeast and cover. Stir daily. When fermentation slows to a near standstill (after about five days), remove the straining bag and pulp. After about three more weeks, siphon the wine into a sanitized glass secondary fermenter. A hydrometer is useful for assessing the progress of fermentation. In about two months, if it is clear, bottle it. A deep, red bottle of aronia berry wine is sure to be a memorable Christmas gift to anyone lucky enough to receive one. More importantly, there’s room in the freezer for that fall turkey. OmahaHome See omahamagazine.com/ articles/foraging-andfermenting-wild-americangrapes for more information on basic winemaking with wild grapes. Visit fermenterssupply.com for more information.

November/December 2017 • omahamagazine.com

/ H127 /

Marco Closets