OmahaHome January/February 2022

JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2022 A LWA Y S L O C A L , A LWA Y S B E AU T I F U L

CASA SXS Fulfills a Dream

GOING ABOVE & BEYOND THE GRAIN // A PLACE OF THEIR OWN // FUELING YOUR HYGGE // EVERY DETAIL CONSIDERED

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VOLUME 12 · ISSUE 1

Editorial MANAGING EDITOR DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN SENIOR EDITOR TARA SPENCER ASSOCIATE EDITOR LINDA PERSIGEHL CONTRIBUTING WRITERS HANNAH AMROLLAHI · LEO ADAM BIGA KAREN CAMPBELL · CHRIS CHRISTEN LISA M CCOID · PATRICK M CGEE SEAN ROBINSON · ALEX TROUT

Creative CREATIVE DIRECTOR MATT WIECZOREK SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER DEREK JOY GRAPHIC DESIGNER II MADY BESCH CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS THOMAS GRADY · DANIEL JOHNSON TOM KESSLER · SARAH LEMKE

Sales EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT SALES & MARKETING GIL COHEN

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PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANT / OMAHAHOME CONTRIBUTING EDITOR SANDY MATSON SENIOR SALES COORDINATOR ALICIA HOLLINS BRANDING SPECIALISTS DAWN DENNIS GEORGE IDELMAN

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OmahaHome

E N T RYWAY

“Dear world, I am excited to be alive in you, and I am thankful for another year.”

— CH AR LOT TE ER I KSSO N, S W ED ISH AU TH O R & SO N GW R ITER

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ometimes we just need, or want, a change. This goes for our homes as well.

For some, that translates to a dramatic remodel. For others, a simple splash of new paint will suffice. The beginning of a new year is a great time to start thinking about, and planning, home renovations, big and small.

With so many people working remotely, the home workspace should be a design focal point.

You want this space to promote productivity while remaining comfortable. Calming colors in fabrics, on walls, and in artwork can help promote concentration and a sense of well-being. And I can’t say enough about lighting! Lamps add a homeyness to any office, reduce the need for harsh ceiling lights, and are a must for tasks and reading.

This issue, OmahaHome spotlights the Sutton family home, a gorgeous Spanish-influenced abode in Omaha’s Happy Hollow neighborhood. Jason Sutton felt that itch for change back in 2019, and the talented team at Maison MxM helped bring Jason and wife Simone’s colorful, inspired design vision to life. We know you’ll enjoy it.

We also have great stories on a fun family rec room, choosing firewood, a dream outdoor grill room, and more.

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Contents 3

OMAHAHOME ENTRY WAY

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MAKER Going Above and Beyond the Grain

May your next 12 months be full of new possibilities and achievements, and most importantly, happy times for you and your loved ones.

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SPACES A Masterpiece for a Master Chef

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AT HOME A Place of Their Own

Happy New Year! Welcome 2022!

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ARCHITEC TURE Ramble On

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FEATURE Casa SxS Fulfills a Dream

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HARVEST Fueling Your Hygge

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A SID AWARD FEATURE Every Detail Considered

Sandy Matson Contributing Editor

On the COVER

Vivid colors and patterns and nature-inspired designs abound in Jason and Simone’s Happy Hollow home, dubbed Casa SxS by designers Mark and Mikal Eckstrom. Story on page 24. Photo by Daniel Johnson.

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Brian Michaelis elevates the art of cabinet making.

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MAKE R

Brian Michaelis’ hands have seen better days.

“My hands are full of scars from years of abuse. Yet, I depend on them every day, and even at 41 years old I heal very fast,” Michaelis said.

STORY SEAN ROBINSON PHOTOGRAPHY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN MADY BESCH

Both are cracked and calloused— a sported pair that’s been put to the test after decades of wear and tear. Though they might not have a future career in modeling, what they can do is undeniably impressive. They’re proof that pretty and perfection don’t always go hand in hand.

ThE & BEYOND GRAIN

Going

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“I’m inspired by doing something I haven’t done before. I could make more money if I went into commercial cabinets, but to me this isn’t just about profits,” Michaelis said.

“Every job I take, I want the next one to be better than the last.”

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It was a 10th birthday gift that put it all into motion. Michaelis’ dad, a general contractor, gave him a handsaw to begin developing woodworking skills at an early age.

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Michaelis is a celebrated furniture maker specializing in highend custom cabinets and cabinet doors. Essentially, his hands are his paintbrush—the tools he uses to turn blocks and boards of maple, ash, or red oak into works of art.

Since founding his artisan business Beyond the Grain in 2013, Michaelis has strived to make nothing but the best.

The sawdust lifestyle didn’t come to Michaelis immediately after high school. His hands were first put to the test in the world of automobiles, working in mom-and-pop mechanic shops and for Jensen Tire for a time. Still, as a hobby, he was always making little pieces of furniture for family and friends.

After getting tired of being greasy all the time, he left his career as an auto mechanic in his late 20s to focus on his real passion: building cabinets.

Michaelis balanced a full-time job at custom cabinet shop European Designs with side projects for a time.

“It got to the point where I had so much work on the side, I was doing

8- to 10-hour days at the shop, then I’d come home and continue until bed. I said, ‘to heck with it’ and started Beyond the Grain.”

Four years ago, Michaelis moved his shop from his home to a shared rental space near 90th Street and Irvington Road. His client base continues to grow.

Though he now has running a business to focus on, Michaelis hasn’t pumped the brakes on his creative drive. For him, it’s still all about woodworking that wows, taking on the difficult, detailed work others won’t or can’t do.

From creating a f loating cloud installation hung from the ceiling of a local hair salon, to constructing a home theater room incorporating steel beams and angled glass for superior acoustics, Michaelis loves tackling it all. And if it involves working with walnut—his favorite wood for its variety and natural beauty—even better.

“He’s very meticulous, intricate, and I always trust what he builds is going to be of the highest quality.

If I have a challenging project, he is usually the first person I call for help,” said Justin Mollak, president of Mollak Custom Carpentry.

If Michaelis has any say, those hands of his aren’t getting a rest anytime soon.

“Anything that’s custom or out of the normal…That’s where I really shine.”

Michaelis hasn’t pumped the brakes on his drive. For him, it’s still all about woodworking that wows, taking on the difficult, detailed work others won’t or can’t do.

SPACES S TORY HANNAH AMROLL AHI PHOTOGR A PH Y THOMAS GR ADY PR O VI D ED BY J O H N S H R A M EK

DE SIGN MADY BE SCH

A Masterpiece for a Master Chef

John Shramek’s four-season grill room makes barbecuing in foul weather a thing of the past.

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rilling is a year-round pastime for homeowner John Shramek. It’s some-

thing he was determined to enjoy even through Omaha’s often-inclement weather, including windy days, bitter cold snaps, and rainstorms. That is, until one particularly miserable evening.

“It was dark, I was freezing, I was frustrated,” said John, who's also general contractor for luxury homebuilder Arjay Builders.

It was enough to spark an idea: a covered grill station.

“The one thing I noticed in all our houses is the grill area is always tucked away,” John said of his company’s custom home projects. He workshopped ways to bring the grill area closer to the house and make it an all-season room.

When he and wife Tammy built their current lakefront home at Newport Landing in Bennington in 2017, John incorporated all his experience and ideas, developing the prototype in his own backyard. Small improvements slowly developed into big changes.

“It’s turned into a full-scale kitchen,” John said.

His grill room vents with industrial efficiency and is equipped with a Memphis smoker and searing combination grill, a 36inch Evo hibachi grill, and high BTU Wolf cooktop.

His grill room vents with industrial efficiency and is equipped with a Memphis smoker and searing combination grill, a 36-inch Evo hibachi grill, and high BTU Wolf cooktop. The high-end appliances are supported by a full-sized fridge, easy-to-clean granite countertops, and an extra-deep, extra-large sink to handle big cleaning jobs.

“It’s great because your mess is confined there,” John said, “and you don’t have to go in and out (of the house) so much.”

The room is connected to the garage, deck, and the main kitchen through several points of entry. In poor weather and snow, there is no need to go outside at all. During pleasant weather, the glass doors can be opened onto the low-maintenance concrete deck where a two-sided masonry fireplace overlooks Bennington Lake.

The extra fridge and counter space make serving food and drink while entertaining a breeze. The countertop also suits guests watching Shramek cook with flair at the hibachi grill (often found at Japanese steakhouses).

“People like to come and watch it,” John said. “It’s like a whole different style of food.

What’s neat is you can incorporate it all— chicken, shrimp, vegetables, and steak.”

The addition of the teppanyaki-style grill (often used interchangeably with hibachi in the United States) was John’s idea. Personal touches and custom appliance packages make each grill room Arjay Builders has done unique.

“The function is the function, but as far as the look, I had it match the rest of the home,” said Tammy, who owns the design firm Classic Interiors in Omaha.

Tammy acted as interior designer for the Shramek’s Bennington home and chose the colors, materials, and decor style of the room to sync with the main home, creating a seamless second kitchen. The backsplash of soft gray-and-white tiles in a herringbone pattern match the grill room’s flooring, reflecting the same tones in the granite countertops. Fresh herbs, waiting to be plucked, add an organic touch to the geometric space. Stainless steel touches give the room a modern industrial edge, while the appliances’ neutral appearance make them easy to weave into any existing design.

Of course, the practicality of the room is its best feature, John thinks. “I like to grill 12 months out of the year,” he said, “and this is the nicest way to do it.”

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A Place of Th e i r Own A colorful, creative basement remodel mirrors the Denenberg family vibe.

From left: Sasha, Michael, Tippi, Steven, Solomon, Danny and Sima Denenberg

STORY

PHOTOGRAPHY

DESIGN

KAREN CAMPBELL

SARAH LEMKE

MADY BESCH

When busy professionals Tippi and Steven Denenberg moved to their Happy Hollow home in 2002, they were expecting their f irst child.

The house, built in 1928, had been recently renovated and was about twice the size of their former home.

AT HOME

“Neither of us have any talent in the area of remodeling, and we didn’t want to have to do anything to it at all,” said Tippi, a retired veterinarian, community volunteer, and yoga instructor (she founded OneTree Yoga Studio). Husband Steven is a facial plastic surgeon. “It's a big house, and I just had an inkling we would fill up all five bedrooms,” she said.

Tippi’s intuition was correct. Over the years, the couple f illed the home with five children–Danny, 18; Michael, 17; Sasha, 14; Sima, 12; and Solomon, 9.

“The Romper Room,” as the family referred to the basement, was where the action happened for the clan growing up, overflowing with toys, shelves of books, and even two swings.

While the family was on vacation in Mexico in January 2018, a pipe burst near the entryway inside their home.

Water rained throughout part of the first floor, through the floorboards, and poured down into the basement for two full days.

“I am not big into material things at all, but when I came home I just started crying,” Tippi said. “Everything was destroyed to the point that the water was way up into the bookshelves and a crowbar had to be used to get them out.”

Immediately after the cleanup, Tippi and Steven were faced with a tough decision: remodel or relocate?

With the encouragement of her husband, Tippi spent about a year looking for the perfect next home for their family.

Tippi said her kids weren’t thrilled the swings wouldn’t be making a return to the basement, but installing monkey bars softened the blow.

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“Steven would find something wrong with each one I thought might work,” Tippi said. “I finally just realized he loved this house so much and didn’t want to move at all.”

Once resolved to stay put, the couple chose Angela Larsen, principal designer of Larsen Designs, to take the lead on design, with Doug Kiser acting as general contractor for construction.

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The Denenbergs decided to renovate the entire home, starting with the basement. They had a few simple requests for the Romper Room remodel: It had to be colorful, durable, and fun. It also had to deliver good natural light, as the basement had one tiny window and two window wells.

The family also wanted a lower-level bedroom and bathroom in the plan. This would allow Danny, a 2021 graduate of Omaha Central High School

who’s active in local musicals and theater, to have his own room for a year before heading to Harvard University next fall.

“The Denenbergs are all so creative,” Larsen said.

“There’s always something going on, whether it’s music, singing, or discussion, and I wanted the rec room and bedroom to match the creativity of their family.”

Larsen said she chose a Mondrian-inspired design for the basement, referring to the modern, color-block art style made famous by the Dutch painter of the same name. She selected the color scheme based on the multi-hued flecks in the bathroom’s tile.

They had a few simple requests for the former Romper Room remodel: It had to be colorful, durable, and fun.

“This room is why I took a gap year,” Danny said, laughing while referencing his great setup.

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Two shelves along the south wall of the rec room display artwork created mostly by Danny, Sima, and Solomon.

The kids also wanted a place to create art, so the doors of a closet originally used as a root cellar were removed and the entry widened to become an art nook.

Larsen chose a deep eggplant tone for the nook to accentuate the colorful geometric wallpaper on the east wall.

A quartet of simply framed black-andwhite photographs feature Danny in various yoga poses.

“We wanted it to be a door but also art,” Larsen said. “It was designed it to be oversized, which allows as much light as possible in when it’s opened up.”

“The mural is of a photo I took this year at Balloon Alley in San Francisco,” Larsen said. “We loved that it complements the kids’ colorful artwork.”

Larsen designed the deep-gray headboard pattern to complement the lines of the bedroom door and rec room wallpaper.

A hangout area, as Tippi called it, is positioned directly behind the couch and made from maple and wood-grain laminate. The kids use it for doing homework, eating snacks, and watching TV. Four chairs provide additional seating. Warm-toned throw pillows on the dark gray couch add dimension and a casual flair to the rec room.

The decor theme extends into the en suite bathroom.

“Sima is our hyper-social kid and uses the space a lot to host slumber parties,” Tippi said. “This has been the perfect place for the kids to Zoom during the pandemic.”

Tippi said her kids weren’t thrilled the swings wouldn’t be making a return to the basement, but installing monkey bars softened the blow. Jamison Hiner, a local woodworking, metal, and fabrication designer, crafted the monkey bars and the basement railing from coldrolled steel.

Larsen chose an indigo-blue commercial carpet for both the rec room and a majority of Danny’s room because, with zero slack, it's ideal for heavy traffic.

Two windows were installed in Danny’s room in addition to two recessed windows, all with electric window shades. A custom maple sliding bedroom door emulates the rec room wallpaper and provides the room privacy when closed.

The built-in furniture, including a desk, cabinets, and drawers, are also made from maple and wood-grain laminate. Splashes of blue and orange on a few of the cabinet faces add a playful element. Danny’s favorite books, his music and theater awards, and his knitting supplies fill the built-in shelves.

“The bathtub is an original and we found it in Omaha,” Larsen said. “We had it custom-painted gray to go with the color scheme.”

Danny said his favorite part about his bedroom suite is the open, urban vibe.

He points out that the tile on the bathroom wall is reminiscent of what one might see in a subway station.

“This room is why I took a gap year,” Danny said, laughing while referencing his great setup.

Tippi said the kids love their new area and the family was thrilled it was completed just before the pandemic hit.

The remodel of the rest of the house was halted due to COVID-19, and delays continue due to shortages of construction materials. But Larsen said “things are lining up” and remodeling should start again in the very near future.

Until then, the kids are happy to just hang in the basement, sometimes quite literally from the monkey bars.

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The classic ranch home proves popular among those seeking simpler living and vintage style.

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othing says post-World War II American residential architecture more than the rambler, or ranchstyle home. Originating in the 1920s and inspired by working ranch houses, the home-build format caught on decades later with its low-slung, rectangular design emphasizing simple straight lines and open layouts. This premium of function over fancy—but not at the expense of form—made it an affordable fixture in the housing market explosion that accompanied the baby boom of the 1950s and continued into the 1970s.

A RC HITECTURE

RA M B L E O N S T O R Y Leo Adam Biga P H O T O G R A P H Y Sarah Lemke D E S I G N Mady Besch

“The ranch house was a mass-produced, unadorned simple box that could be built inexpensively so that families of all economic levels could afford to have their own house, raise a family, and be a part of a neighborhood. The ranch became a symbol of sorts of the American dream,” said Omaha architect Jared Gerber. The ubiquitous style sprouted in small towns, suburbs, and the countryside.

Considered passé by the 1980s, the ranch has been making a comeback since the dawn of the 2000s, Gerber noted, as homebuyers discover its “simplicity” makes “it easy to renovate, manipulate, and add an addition to.”

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racticality drove Brian Carlin and wife Lauren to purchase their classic walk-out ranch in Omaha’s Loveland neighborhood in 2016.

Drawn to the “equitable potential” of “a blank canvas we can work with to remodel,” Carlin said they’ve been updating the 1951built home with a nod to period detail. “We’re barely scratching the surface at this point. It’s taken us years to just clear, restore the canvas. What we have, we don’t take for granted.”

The wood-frame, single-story home sprawls across a 1.15-acre lot and spans 166 feet, corner to corner, making it one of the longest homes in the metro. Echoing the prairie style, the home blends in with its semi-wooded natural environs.

The exterior features a sleek Roman brick facade. Copious windows, in varied shapes and sizes, afford natural light and privacy views.

“Awesome” is how Carlin, a real estate agent with Nebraska Realty, describes the effect.

In a regional adaptation (outside the Midwest, many ranches do not have below-ground square footage), the home has a finished basement with a footprint that matches the generous ground-level living space measuring 3,100 square feet, giving the couple and their three young children ample room to roam and grow.

“It’s just massive,” Carlin said.

There are six bedrooms—including two guest suites downstairs—and four full bathrooms, two half baths, three fireplaces, a built-in smokehouse, and an attached garage.

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“The ranch became a symbol of sorts of the American Dream.”

— Jared Gerber

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Basement exterior doors lead directly onto a large, paved patio.

An in-ground pool is only a few yards away.

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Stone planter boxes line the home’s exterior, while a black aluminum fence frames the property.

Carlin once thought of altering the big, long, low front eaves that shade from the sun but reconsidered. “To do anything different, like cantilever or peak [the roof ], would not hold true to the architectural style.” The couple’s live-in project is a labor of love. “We’re both all about remodeling. We’ll do it with respect.”

An old addition’s faux beams— a feature not part of traditional ranches—are slated to go.

The couple have already installed new electrical wiring and plumbing. Next up are window replacements and a kitchen redo.

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On the exterior, roofing and grading work has been done. Carlin rebuilt a shed and is now constructing an outdoor kitchenette. “I’m building it in the corner so it doesn’t obstruct the view. We just love living out here,” he said, referencing the landscape beyond his patio.

Gerber said it’s no surprise the ranch-style home, a former symbol of aspirational success, is popular again for the “quality living experience” it affords that McMansions can’t match. “The ranch is not about nostalgia. It’s about living simply and functionally in today’s hectic world.”

It helps, too, Carlin said, when a ranch has the “personality” his displays.

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Fulf ill s a Dream

Jason and Simone Sutton abandoned a custom home project in Seattle for a laid-back Midwestern life in this high-style Happy Hollow treasure.

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ason “Sutty” Sutton appreciates a home that satisfies everyday pleasures. For him, that’s listening to music, cooking, and hanging out with family, friends, and pets.

Jason and his wife, Simone, and their two grade-school-age children relocated to Omaha from Seattle in July 2020 after living in London for two years. Serendipity brought them here.

His ultra-contemporary Zipper House in Seattle set the bar for his model back in 2005. Every inch of the reimagined 1950s split-level house by DeForest Architects was designed for low-key living, working, and entertaining. Jason has realized that again in Casa SxS, a 1920s Spanish-influenced home in Omaha’s Happy Hollow neighborhood.

Jason grew up in Douglas County and has an affinity for Omaha’s historic neighborhoods. Every now and then he would browse residential real estate listings online for virtual tours. In June 2019, a Spanish beauty on Happy Hollow Boulevard caught his eye.

F E AT U R E Story: Chris Christen Photography: Daniel Johnson Design: Mady Besch

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“WE’RE ALL ABOUT STRETCHING CREATIVE BOUNDARIES. IF WE’RE NOT MAKING YOU FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE, THEN WE’RE NOT DOING ANYTHING SPECIAL.” — MARK ECKSTROM

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AMONG ITS DISTINGUISHING FEATURES ARE A SALON WITH A MASSIVE SMOOTHSTONE HEARTH AND JULIET BALCONY, AND A 40-FOOT SUNROOM WITH BROKENMARBLE-AND-TILE FLOORING.

Even as a boy, he knew the neighborhood had “magical appeal.”

Jason couldn’t resist clicking to learn more.

At the time, the Suttons were days away from breaking ground on a Swedish-modern farmhouse—designed by the same architect as the Zipper House—in Seattle. “We were shovel in the ground,” Jason said, when the Happy Hollow listing changed everything.

His first call was to friends Mark and Mikal Eckstrom, designers with Maison MxM, with a request to check out the property. The Eckstroms did one better with a FaceTime tour.

Jason was immediately sold on buying the 5,500-square-foot home and relocating his family to Omaha. Simone needed convincing.

“We had to sell her on the idea of living here,” Jason said. “She had never been to Nebraska.”

Horses are a big part of Simone’s life, and Nebraska’s wide-open spaces cinched the deal.

The Suttons’ purchase offer was contingent on closing the sale in six business days.

“It was all about hitting our wedding anniversary,” Jason explained. Plus, time was of the essence in pulling the plug on their Seattle building project.

The Suttons enlisted the Eckstroms as creative directors for the home’s makeover, setting a firm completion deadline: one year from the closing date. It would be dubbed the Casa SxS project, in a nod to the homeowners’ names (Sutty x Simone) and the style of the house.

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The Eckstroms delivered, one year from the date of purchase. And the results found their way into Luxe Interiors + Design magazine’s 2021 RED Awards competition.

“I still can’t believe we did it in 12 months, with long-distance clients, during a pandemic,” Mikal said.

“Under typical circumstances, it would be a multi-year project.”

A design plan meticulously developed and managed by Mikal provided a detailed roadmap for architect Brian Stokes, general contractor McDaniel Wallquist, and a long list of subcontractors, suppliers, and vendors.

“Everything was front-loaded,” Mark said. “Jason didn’t want anything left to chance because of the tight timeline…We hunkered down for about 80 hours one week and mapped out the design plan for the whole house— room layouts, hardscapes, custom rugs

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and metalwork, carpets, fabrics, fixtures, everything. Then it was all about implementing the plan.”

Zoom meetings, FaceTime chats and text messages at all hours kept everyone in the loop. Scheduled work time in the house protected subcontractors from COVID19 exposures on the job.

The Eckstroms love deep dives into design, and Casa SxS displays a high degree of creative license.

“We’re all about stretching creative boundaries. If we’re not making you feel uncomfortable, then we’re not doing anything special,” Mark said.

A cardinal rule: “We don’t like everything to be one note. If there’s something old, something new has to be next to it.”

You’ll find a nod to Mexican artist and designer Pedro Friedeberg in their work.

In the Sutton home, the surrealist’s influence is seen in graphic plays of black and white in flooring, tile, upholstery, and ceiling wallpaper.

Spanish colonial accents borrow from the home’s architectural style and Simone’s love of Spanish equestrian themes and motifs in textiles, art, and decor.

“Throughout the house, we considered who they are, where they’ve lived, where they’re going,” Mikal said “Everything is connected in the design— furniture, lighting, art, rugs, draperies, motifs,” Mark said.

A highlight is a custom family crest—two interlocking S’es in a quatrefoil with a corner star for each family member. The crest graces everything from china and glassware for entertaining, to decorative ironwork, to a 27-foot cowhide area rug in the salon.

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Equally innovative: A Cole & Son Fornasetti cloud mural on a newly arched ceiling in the primary bedroom suite, and Gucci’s Green Heron print wallpaper in the ensuite bath.

An Omaha World-Herald story from 1931 called the Sutton home one of the best examples of Spanish architecture in the Midwest, with its red-tiled roof, symmetrical stucco design, and arched windows. The house reportedly was built in 1928 for the then-princely sum of $16,000 by noted architect Bert Hene, whose timeless mark can be seen throughout the Happy Hollow, Fairacres, Dundee, and Country Club neighborhoods.

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“THERE WAS AN ENERGY AND WILLINGNESS TO LET EACH OTHER BREATHE, THEN TAKE CONTROL. THE END RESULT WAS MAGIC.” — MIKAL ECKSTROM

Among its distinguishing features are a salon with a massive smooth-stone hearth and Juliet balcony, and a 40-foot sunroom with broken-marble-andtile flooring.

The salon—originally a library/music room—holds one of the home’s most intriguing stories.

On Sept. 29, 1947, a gunshot was fired through a window of the home. The bullet hole remains to this day in a bookcase shelf. The shooter is unknown.

“It makes for great cocktail fodder,” Mark said.

“We love to entertain, and this is a perfect house for it,” Simone said. “Although that’s been a little limited with COVID.”

She’s a laid-back, informal hostess. For her, the ideal party has “great food, good drinks, and loud music” with a playlist compiled by her husband. “Jason is the resident DJ.” He thoroughly enjoys their whole-house audio system and media room surround-sound system.

“We always have music going on, kids around, families around,” Jason said.

“Friends are coming around again, too.

The pool attracted a lot of neighbors over the summer.”

“We had a dream team, from the contractor to the architect to the project manager to the landscaper,” Mikal said. “There was an energy and willingness to let each other breathe, then take control. The end result was magic.”

From Mark’s perspective, “The client had a lot to do with that because Jason is so diplomatic and so kind. He would listen to people and be a mediator and keep the project moving forward.”

“Most people don’t match my aesthetic,” Jason said. “Our dialogue was nonstop.”

“We knew that we were in great hands,” said Simone, a speech therapist at a therapeutic riding stable in the Omaha area.

“The house lives well.”

The Suttons’ collaboration with Maison MxM continues on a farmhouse renovation near Kennard, Nebraska.

“You will never see a farmhouse like this, ever,” Mikal promised.

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FUELING YOUR HYGGE Stock Your Fireplace with the Best Wood This Winter

Story Patrick McGee Design Mady Besch

W

hen winter lays a blanket of sparkling snow over the city and chilly temps settle in for the night, there’s no better way to bring a touch of hygge (a Danish term for cozy contentment) to your home than to start a crackling fire. And when it comes to wood-burning fireplaces, choosing the right fuel makes a difference in how long that warm comfort will last.

Melissa Bolejack, owner of Knotheads Wood Services in Omaha, said hardwoods make the best fuel for a fireplace. “They burn hotter, they burn slower,” she said, adding that denser woods such as oak, hickory, and locust are particularly good.

Burning hardwoods also leaves less residue and waste. “Chimney sweeps will tell you that using hardwoods keeps a cleaner chimney,” Bolejack said. Coniferous soft woods such as pine put out a lot of soot

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and burn faster, while woods such as sugar maple contain considerable sap or pitch and aren’t ideal for fireplaces.

Wayne Chrisswisser, owner of Wayne’s Firewood in Louisville, Nebraska, said that mixed hardwoods including ash, hackberry, and red elm are also good for fireplace burning.

Readers who want to try their hands— or saws—at cutting wood themselves are a bit limited here in the metro, as no public lands in eastern Nebraska allow tree harvesting. For that, you’ll need to drive a few hours west or north. See the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service websites for details regarding permits to harvest wood on federal lands in outstate Nebraska and parts of South Dakota.

On private land, wood collectors will need permission from the landowners to harvest fallen trees. Following a July 2020 windstorm that took down thousands of trees and tree limbs in the region, many private owners may be willing to grant access the next couple years.

Property owners clearing land for development may also be receptive to allowing access to harvest fallen trees, Chrisswisser said. Accessing live trees for harvest is trickier. Lots of timber are put up for bids, he said, but not often. He discouraged folks from ‘helping themselves’ to trees without permission, and even more importantly, warned them not to damage trees in public parks.

HARVEST

“Chimney sweeps will tell you that using hardwoods keeps a cleaner chimney.”

— Melissa Bolejack

Summer and early fall are the best times to get fireplace wood, Bolejack said, because cut wood needs several months to dry out and cure before burning. Wood cut in June or July should be perfectly cured to burn as the winter months arrive.

seen wood sell for as low as $200 per cord and up to $700 per cord, depending on the quality and vendor. His mixed hardwood sells for $600 per cord. Knotheads’ crates cost $125 for hardwoods, and more for premium firewoods.

Knowing how much to store depends on one’s burning habits, Bolejack said. Woodburning stoves, fireplaces, and fire pits all consume fuel at different rates. Those who heat their homes with home stoves will consume wood at a much faster rate than those who enjoy a roaring fire now and then. She recommended tracking wood usage for a few years to help gauge future needs.

Firewood is best stored in a covered, dry place, such as a storage shed or detached garage where it will be sheltered from the elements yet accessible. However, if it must be outdoors and exposed, split logs should be stacked with the bark side up, so as not to trap rainwater in the u-shaped trough. It’s also best not to stack wood too close to a house exterior, as it may draw termites and other insects to the home.

Commercially, wood is sold by the cord (4’ x 8’ x 4’, or 128 cubic feet), or roughly half a truck bed. This wood is typically not split. Knotheads sells wood by the cord, as well as split wood in smaller quantities, such as crates and bundles. Crates measure slightly less than a half-cord. Wayne’s Firewood sells cords, half-cords, quartercords, and bundles. Chrisswisser said he’s

Whether you burn wood for home heating or for cozy atmosphere, the quality of any fire truly depends on the wood.

Spending a bit more up front may be worth it, both in time and money spent cleaning your fireplace and chimney and saved trips to the wood pile. And that leaves more time to enjoy some hygge.

Happy winter!

J A N UA R Y/ F E B R UA R Y 202 2

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E V E R Y

D E T A I L

C O N S I D E R E D A Lake Home Gets a High-End Rustic Makeover

T

his lake home project with Grace Custom Homes features a floor plan designed for entertaining friends and family. We started by selecting warm, inviting hues as the foundation, creating a unified and cohesive palette that could be carried throughout the space. Then, materials and lighting elements were chosen with a sense of scale, material, function, and overall impact on the space considered.

Meet the Interior Designer

ALEX TROUT

Allied Member ASID, D3 Interiors Alex Trout began her design career in 2012 and joined D3 Interiors in 2014. She has worked on diverse residential and commercial projects of all sizes. Her goal is to build lasting relationships with her design clients, bring a fresh, creative eye, and create inspiring spaces.

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A SI D AWA R D F E AT U R E Story Alex Trout & Lisa McCoid

Photography Tom Kessler

Design Mady Besch

Meet the Interior Designer

LISA MCCOID

ASID, AIA, D3 Interiors Lisa McCoid is one of the Midwest’s few design professionals with an architecture license and interior design certification. Her goal for all aspects of her design business: total customer satisfaction. “The client has to love it.” Interacting with and improving the lives of her clients is what she enjoys most about design.

J A N UA R Y/ F E B R UA R Y 202 2

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A POWDER ROOM, OR MAIN FLOOR HALF BATH, IS OFTEN AN AFTERTHOUGHT IN MANY DESIGN SCHEMES. BUT IN THIS HOME, IT BECAME A MAIN DESIGN FEATURE.

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The floor plan’s visual connection of the great room and kitchen provided the biggest challenge. The style and use of the rooms are different, but they needed to flow and complement one another. The more formal kitchen features high-gloss quartz, large chandelier light fixtures over the island, and leather counter stools with brass metal accents. The more casual great room features a dimensional fireplace wall that uses varying depths of stained woodwork as accents.

The result is a pleasing aesthetic, as well as display space for sculptures the homeowners acquired on their travels.

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