OmahaHome ENTRYWAY
New Year, New Homes
appy 2025, OmahaHome readers! It hardly seems possible that the new millennium was a quarter-century ago. So much has happened, and so many beautiful homes have been built since that time.
It’s not the 2020s that come into play in this issue rather, the 1920s are a common thread throughout this edition of OmahaHome.
This early 20th century thread is seen in one of the features, a house at 3316 Center St. that has seen much publicity since last fall. This is informally known as “The Magic House,” as it was home to David P. Abbott, a notable magician during the early part of the 20th century.
In the Architecture department is a unique building that shows what determines Spanish Colonial style with an apartment building built in 1921, and renovated by InCommon in 2023. The building is known as Hanscom Apartments, and sits at 1029 Park Ave.
The Spaces article is about a modern bar area with a speakeasy vibe.
Coming into the 2020s, the other feature in this issue has got some major "wow" factor. This “farmhouse modern” style house in West Omaha is a dream home with nearly 7,000 square feet of space, six bedrooms, six bathrooms, and more.
This edition also invites readers to learn about the Haeders. This family of six is very popular in their neighborhood: they host a block party every other week during the summer, Husker parties during football season, and more during the holidays. They renovated their 1980s ranch home so that they can keep the parties rolling no matter the season.
These are a few of the fabulous articles that can be seen on the pages of this first edition of OmahaHome for 2025.
Daisy Hutzell-Rodman Interim Editor-In-Chief, OmahaHome
daisy@omahapublications.com
OMAHAHOME ENTRYWAY
SPACES All That Jazz
MAKER Zero K Woodworking
FEATURE The Mystery House
AT HOME The Haeder Home in Bellevue
FEATURE Empty Nesters' New Hideaway
HARVEST Indoor Herb Gardens
Designing a New Home
OmahaHome About the Cover: Graceful curves are a feature of the impressive kitchen island at this home near Zorinsky Lake. Story page 28.
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Editorial
EDITOR EMERITA
SANDY MATSON
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
KIM CARPENTER
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
NATALIE VELOSO
ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
CLAUDIA MOOMEY
CONTENT CREATOR
ISABELLA M C ATEE
INTERIM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & CONTENT STUDIOS OMAHA MANAGING EDITOR
DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
LISA LUKECART · NATALIE M CGOVERN
CLAUDIA MOOMEY · DEB MUNRO, ASID, NCIDO
CAROL CRISSEY NIGRELLI · HAL SENAL
JESSE D. STANEK · EMMA YOUNG, ALLIED ASID
Creative
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
RACHEL BIRDSALL
GRAPHIC DESIGNER II
NICKIE ROBINSON
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
RENEÉ LUDWICK
GRAPHIC DESIGNER I
JOEY WINTON
PHOTO EDITOR
AMOURA PRODUCTIONS, ASID
SARAH LEMKE
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
SARAH LEMKE
MANDY M CGREGOR PHOTOGRAPHY
BILL SITZMANN
Sales
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
SALES & MARKETING
GIL COHEN
TOP LEVEL REVENUE GENERATOR
MICHELLE SCHRAGE
BRANDING & DIGITAL SPECIALISTS
GREG BRUNS · DAWN DENNIS
FRANCINE FLEGG · GEORGE IDELMAN
TIM M CCORMACK
PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANT / OMAHAHOME EDITOR EMERITA
SANDY MATSON
SENIOR SALES COORDINATOR
ALICIA HOLLINS
SALES COORDINATOR
SANDI M CCORMACK
Operations
BUSINESS MANAGER
KYLE FISHER
AD TRAFFIC MANAGER
DAVID TROUBA
DIGITAL MANAGER
LUIS DE LA TOBA
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER
DAMIAN INGERSOLL
Executive
PUBLISHER
TODD LEMKE
ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER / PHOTOGRAPHER
BILL SITZMANN
ELITE GLASS SERVICES
Elite Glass Services, a La Vista-based company, has been providing interior glass applications for both residential and commercial properties throughout Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa since 2001.
“Our ‘one-stop glass shop’ is staffed by glass experts with years of experience in custom fabrication and installation, co mmitted to delivering high quality
craftsmanship and extraordinary customer service,” says owner, Ben Alba.
“We specialize in heavy glass shower doors, glass handrails, custom mirrors and framed mirrors, cabinet glass and shelving, glass backsplashes, back painted glass, glass furniture tops, niche areas and more.”
Along with homeowners, they also partner with local builders, remodeling companies and interior designers to create beautiful and unique spaces.
Elite Glass invites you to visit their showroom for design ideas and inspiration for your next project. We offer a wide variety of glass patterns and styles, mirrors, hardware and more. Walk-ins are welcome or you can also schedule a visit by calling their office.
The company moved into their new construction building on the Northwest corner of 108th & Giles along with their sister companies Elite Glazing Services and their newest company Elite Commercial Services.
Elite Glazing Services offers commercial glazing services, including aluminum store fronts and curtain walls, aluminum and automatic doors, windows, skylights and metal panels..
Elite Commercial Services offers services and repairs for hollow metal frame and doors, commercial glass and door replacements, commercial door hardware, bathroom partitions and accessories and more.
S 109th Street #200
8207 S 109th Street #300 Elite Commercial Services (402)598-1183
8207 S 109th Street #100
SPACES
STORY Natalie McGovern
PHOTOGRAPHY
Bill Sitzmann
DESIGN Nickie Robinson
All That Jazz
Stacy Bruhn’s Prohibition-Style Bar
Apatch of land sits atop a hill on the outskirts of Valley. Stacy Bruhn, originally from Elk City, had inherited the land from her family and she built a home on the property a 5,140-square-foot house on a sprawling acreage in Black Hawk Estates. Her basement had been unfinished for six years, a daunting project to tackle. Enlisting the help of some friends, including architect Joe Vodicka and designer Leah Scheppers of Archive Interiors, Bruhn set out on a mission to renovate her basement. Mike James Renovation and Badger Custom Construction signed on as contractors.
Bruhn had envisioned a wet bar that evoked a sultry mood and had plenty of space in which to entertain. She wanted to be hands-on with the redesign, and was integral in every part of the decision-making process. She used pinterest boards to get her ideas off the ground, and started by tearing down a wall to open up the space and achieve the lighting effect that she wanted.
“It’s fun and sexy,” she mused. “I really like Prohibition-style bars, and I wanted there to be warmth with natural light able to come through, since basements are dark. This was originally in the plans.”
Spiffed up in Prohibition-style décor, Bruhn’s bar is a sight to behold. Her space evokes the yesteryear of Chicago bars complete with a rustic, authentic Americana exposed brick wall, sophisticated brass hardware, and mood lighting.
During Prohibition, which was in effect from 1920-1933, cities such as New York and Chicago were rife with underground speakeasies, organized crime, bootlegging, and rampant debauchery. Omaha even has its own storied past with its seedy nightlife origins, hidden watering holes, and illegal “blind tigers” a name meant to make speakeasies appear as inconspicuous business establishments for taxidermic animal displays.
A brick veneer wall from Hebron Brick Co. sets the tone for emulating a 1920s gin joint. The brick’s character is what makes it reminiscent of a bar found in Chicago, adding an organic accent of period-looking masonry against a silestone honed finish backsplash.
A polished quartz countertop is the focal point of the bar area. The island features cinza quartzite with gold inlay. Rivulets of gray veining are complemented by a raised pewter platter, refracting gold shimmers of light from the inlay.
Another signature piece is a modern wine rack built into a muted chocolate brownstained cabinet, custom designed by Kim Heideman of Shoreline Designs. The cabinetry boasts wood tones in rift-sawn white oak. Sconce and recess lighting illuminates the space, casting warm shadows. A horseshoe-shaped sconce made with real horsehair is a unique find, creating a hybrid aesthetic of rustic and industrial elements.
Adjacent to the bar is a sitting area where guests can enjoy their drinks. A Bowman
black oak console table leans up against a corner of the room. Across from the console, a white quartz coffee table from CB2 with acacia wood legs displays an Alfonso vase, its style inspired by Icelandic volcanic rock formations.
Contrast is found in design elements throughout, with plenty of interesting pieces that catch the eye. Several vignettes decorate the room with shelving displaying pastiche pottery pieces, glassware, or novelty knick-knacks alongside the bar.
"I really like Prohibition-style bars, and I wanted there to be warmth with natural light able to come through, since basements are dark."
Stacy Bruhn
Tying the décor together is the pièce de résistance a handmade, 1950s-inspired, midcentury modern chandelier. The antique brass starburst light fixture is a work of art, overhanging a pool table in the center of the room.
A little modern, a little rustic, with a lot of artistic value and period inspiration, Bruhn’s basement remodel is the ideal place to unwind and entertain.
Zero K Woodworking
| |
STORY Jesse D. Stanek
PHOTOGRAPHY
Sarah Lemke
DESIGN Nickie Robinson
A Legacy of Craftsmanship M AKER
ll artists have special relationships with the materials of their crafts. For painters, it’s knowing the types and textures of the paints and how they mix. A photographer is more interested in film speed and lighting. These are the nuts and bolts of craftsmanship, and woodworking is no exception. The grains of different woods, the notches and nicks giving the piece personality, and durability and color for the right project are all important details. Kyler Goodwin, a third generation woodworker, is following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, and has been interested in the trade since childhood. His work reflects a sophisticated eye with the classic charm most look for in handmade wooden furniture and curiosities.
Goodwin was raised in Omaha’s Keystone area, eventually buying the land on which his childhood home sat, building a massive workshop, and tearing down the old house. In 2021, he built a new home for his growing family. The workshop is warm and bright, with in-floor radiant heat, large overhead lights, and various tools of the trade; but it’s the smell of sawdust and the plethora of curved and shiny hand tools, many of which belonged to Goodwin’s father, that summon the brow sweat charm of beautifully crafted woodwork.
“Both my grandpa and dad were carpenters,” Goodwin said. “My dad passed when I was 6, he was a furniture maker. So I didn’t have him around to show me what a lot of the tools were and how they worked. I just kind of played around with them and figured out
my own way of doing things. That along with what my uncle taught me that’s what got me here.”
"Having that ability to determine on the sliding scale the degree of precision needed and where to apply my skills, I feel that’s in my DNA." — Kyler Goodwin
That way of doing things has served Goodwin well since leaving his position as Habitat for Humanity Omaha's senior construction manager. He graduated from Hastings College with a degree in construction business and is a licensed contractor to boot. Goodwin uses a fair bit of reclaimed wood and recently purchased a sawmill, which will allow him to further prepare his own materials. Goodwin chose to name his company Zero K Woodworking, a nod to the go-kart racing team his family had during his childhood. The family tie is not only in name; Goodwin’s work reflects an old world charm, the product of somebody who has absorbed the craft through a lifetime’s worth of observation and reflection.
“When I left construction I purposefully left the company name kind of vague,” Goodwin said. “‘Woodworking’ can mean any number of other things. I would like to specialize in custom furniture, but I’m also a licensed contractor and that work can help keep things moving.” Goodwin, who has played the guitar since he was 9 years old, quipped that maybe someday he’d like to work as a luthier, fixing and building guitars.
“Having a niche, a specialty, is good,” he continued. “But at the same time I want to learn a range of things I can do. I wanted to be my own boss and having that ability to determine on the sliding scale the degree of precision needed and where to apply my skills, I feel that’s in my DNA.”
Goodwin has set up a clean and easy-tonavigate website that showcases his work, including smaller seasonal decorations, reclaimed shelves, built-in bookshelves, tables of all sizes, chairs, mantles, unique picture frames, and beautiful wooden rings. To make the process of commissioning a piece more efficient, Goodwin has created a questionnaire on the site allowing prospective customers to think about all the details of what they want, asking uncommon but important questions, and ensuring the end result is something they will love.
For more information, visit zerokwoodowrking.com.
Omaha Magical Society Restores 1913 Home House Mystery The
STORY Claudia Moomey
PHOTOGRAPHY Sarah Lemke
DESIGN Nickie Robinson
There’s a historical gem sitting at 3316 Center St., within the Field Club Historic District in Omaha. Built in 1913, the craftsman-style bungalow features a brick exterior with Tudor-inspired elements. Designed for its original inhabitants, magician David P. Abbott and wife, Fannie, the house was built with specific intention. “David Abbott didn’t build this as a home,” Dave Arch, executive director of the Omaha Magical Society, said. “He built it as a theater.”
The front of the house features a large, open patio space framed by thick brick columns. One may also notice a wooden pole at the side of the residence with a birdhouse on top, which was the house’s original hitching post.
Performance was at the forethought of the building, as Abbott was a well-known magician in the late 1800s-1900s. Inside, the
foyer is a spacious, square room lined with windows. A set of glass-paned double doors provides a sneak peek into the large, open space that served as Abbott’s performance space. The fireplace on the western wall heats a giant, welcoming room where guests could mingle and be enthralled by Abbott’s magical acts.
“Abbott
would stand in front of this fireplace to perform his magic. I think he wanted there to be an entrance. The showman in him designed it with a lot of theatrics behind it.”
-Dave Arch
The Omaha Magical Society, a nonprofit organization, now owns the building, which was donated to them in September 2024 by Teller of Penn & Teller. This partnership with the famous magician is intended to bring the house back to life as a place where magicians and magic enthusiasts can gather and perform.
“Abbott would stand in front of this fireplace to perform his magic,” Arch said. “I think he wanted there to be an entrance. The showman in him designed it with a lot of theatrics behind it.”
"When magicians needed new material, they would come to him [Abbott] for that… he was sort of a Renaissance man, very eclectic in his interests."
Dave Arch
Original woodwork and beveled glass paneling stand strong throughout the house, as well as push-button light switches and original hardware on the doors. Although the house was inhabited by a family with four children for 58 years, there are many original features, and the home is in good condition. The second floor has retained a gas lamp that functioned before electricity was in homes. The decor and furniture on display include donated pieces, as well as some staged by designers. The clay tile walls that surround the unfinished basement have kept it intact for over 100 years. “That was a common material in the 1900s,” Bob Perrin, a local independent architect, said. “It’s made out of clay and it’s all extruded, and it’s very structurally strong.”
The rooms were unusually large for the time period, “about one and a half times what you would expect a bedroom to be,” according to Perrin. “You’ll notice the ceilings are a lot higher,” he mentioned. “It gives you that feeling of grandeur.” The closets in each room were also large for the time a practical measure, according to Perrin. “Closets were big at this time because the clothes were just aired out,” he explained. “They wore big dresses and things that were thick and heavy, so they would hang them up to air out rather than washing them.” Plenty of space was essential to give worn garments room to breathe. Extra storage space can also be found within. “It wouldn’t be uncommon to find a secret door like this in a closet,” Perrin said, opening a small panel on the wall. “They stored things back there, like Christmas decorations and stuff.”
When famous magicians such as Harry Houdini, Harry Kellar, and Howard Thurston came through Omaha on the vaudeville circuit, they would take advantage of Abbott’s hospitality and extra space by staying the night. “All the big headliners, or vaudevillians, at the time would always want to come and see what he was working on, because he was an inventor,” Arch said. “He invented the floating ball that trick that’s now a classic where it floats and you pass a ring over it.” This particular trick was a favorite of Abbott’s, and if scrutinized closely, the walls and some decorative columns in the main room reveal small eyelets from which threads would hang to assist in this illusion. “When magicians needed new material, they would come to him for that…he was sort of a Renaissance man, very eclectic in his interests.”
The spirit of hospitality will continue in the house in the future. The Omaha Magical Society plans to use the building as a small museum. “It won’t be a big, public museum,” Arch explained. “Someone is going to live here and we will entertain, that’s all…It will be a membership-based thing. Maybe three times a year we’ll have a dinner and a show from someone coming through, and then they can use it for smaller private events.”
“I think there will be no trouble getting this to be a museum in this neighborhood,” Perrin said, confident as a long-time resident in the area. “I think people will be glad, they’ll be proud of it…this is an absolute gem.”
The organization plans to open the house in summer 2026, perpetually celebrating Abbott and his magical inventiveness.
For more information, visit theomahamagicalsociety.org.
STORY Carol Crissey Nigrelli
PHOTOGRAPHY Sarah Lemke
DESIGN Nickie Robinson
The Haeder Home
in Bellevue AT HOME
Redesigned with Life, Laughter, and Love in Mind
Tina and Adam Haeder don’t need a welcome mat at the front door of their modest home on Quail Drive in Bellevue. Everyone in the Quail Creek neighborhood knows the white, immaculate 1980s ranch-style house as the “Grand Central Station of fun.” Whether indoors or outside in the spacious backyard, family, friends, neighbors, classmates, and an occasional stranger will come over for all kinds of celebrations: birthdays, graduations, college football games, barbecues, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or even a “just because” party.
“We wanted to re-create that small town feeling for our children to grow up in.”
—Tina Haeder
The three-car garage doesn’t house cars but holds about 50 folding chairs and a dozen folding tables, all neatly stacked. Three large refrigerators contain refreshments. A vintage Pac-Man arcade game stands off to the side. “Just one more piece of entertainment,” Tina said.
Why all the gatherings? The answer lies in where the Haeders are from and who they are as individuals: two farm kids from the tiny, tight-knit community of Rockwell City, Iowa, east of Sioux City. They met on the school bus as children, dated through high school and college, and married in
1996. Each has a big heart. Their generosity knows no limits, nor does the love for their four children Arin, Ethan, Stanley, and Stefon.
“After Arin and Ethan were born and we found out we couldn’t have any more chil-
Everyone in the Quail Creek neighborhood knows the white, immaculate 1980s ranch-style house as the “Grand Central Station of fun.”
dren, we looked into becoming foster parents,” Tina said, a decision that coincided with the passing of her sister in a car accident. “We helped raise my sister’s two sons until they went to live full time with my parents. We then started fostering.”
The Haeder twins, 17-year-olds Stanley and Stefon, began life as foster children but became a permanent blessing, growing up in the Haeder house, the only family they have ever known.
“We brought them home from the hospital when they were three weeks old,” Adam said. “We adopted them right before they turned 2, after lots of the required court stuff.”
The big, happy, diverse family moved into the Quail Drive home on March 3, 2007. The date still resonates with Ethan. “It was my fifth birthday,” he said with pride. Now 22, Ethan is married to his high school sweetheart, Bri.
Knowing this was her “forever” home, Tina started plotting all the renovations she wanted, configuring the house to fit the family. She determined the walls eventually had to go.
“When you walked into the house, you couldn’t even see the kitchen,” Tina said. “There was a wall that separated the living room from the kitchen, and another wall that separated the dining room from the living room. The dining room was like wasted space.”
The removal of those undesired walls finally got underway in 2022. The Haeders called their go-to contractor, Dan Detavernier, owner of DRD Home Services in Papillion. His earlier projects included rebuilding the back deck and putting a roof over it, virtually creating a second living room. He also remodeled the master bedroom and bath. The living room redesign, which included new flooring, was a little more complicated.
“Oh, it was very tricky,” Detavernier said. “We had to take down not just one loadbearing wall, but two of them. They were supporting the roof.” The project required heavy lifting.
“They were bringing beams in through our window!” Adam recounted with a touch of awe. “They had to bring in some serious beaming to lay above the ceiling and reinforce the roof to make sure the house didn’t fall in.” Detavernier says his crews are used to it. “Everybody wants a big, open floor plan these days.”
Openness suits the Haeder family perfectly, considering the time they spend with each other and with guests. No one feels isolated. When Arin, Ethan, and Bri come to visit, they can lounge in a comfortable chair or sofa in front of the living room’s fireplace and carry on animated, full-volume conversations with people perched at the new kitchen island with bar seating.
The dining room, no longer “wasted space,” features several white, floor-to-ceiling cab -
inets along the outer wall, and they’re all full. Stefon opened the doors of the “snack cabinet” to reveal rows upon rows of neatly stacked, packaged snacks of all varieties. It looks like a gigantic vending machine without plexiglass.
Whenever Stefon’s ice hockey buddies or Stanley’s Bellevue West High School football teammates come over, they grab something from the snack cabinet before heading downstairs to the finished base -
ment, which doubles as the twins’ living space and an entertainment center. They can use the elliptical machine in the workout area, play video games, shoot pool, smash ping pong balls, or join guests for football parties in a large, theater-like room.
A projector brings the gridiron into clear view on a video screen that covers an entire wall, flanked by two smaller TV monitors for multiple game-watching. “We have theater seats that recline, enough for 16 people,”
said Adam, who works as site manager at the Google Data Center in Council Bluffs.
Adam and Tina, both 50, have torn down walls and built up community throughout Quail Creek. They’ve created a home where people knock once and just walk in, no doorbell required. “We wanted to re-create that small town feeling for our children to grow up in,” Tina said. “We intentionally invited neighbors to our home
so the kids could get comfortable with it, and the neighbors comfortable with it.”
Mission accomplished.
Form more information, visit drdhomeservices.com.
STORY Lisa Lukecart
PHOTOGRAPHY Sarah Lemke
DESIGN Nickie Robinson
New Hideaway Empty Nesters’
TWO-MILLION-DOLLAR HOME BALANCES RUSTIC AND URBAN
The stone-pillared house separates itself from the hustle of life. It sits silently away from the raucous construction on Q Street. Multiple windows face trees surrounding Zorinsky Lake. The picturesque backdrop allows a natural escape to sip a steaming mug of coffee on the deck
while watching foxes, coyotes, and deer. Or one can take a relaxing walk on the trails around the lake.
After their three children left, the homeowners wanted a one-and-a-half-story residence that allowed them to bridge the
gap between rustic and urban. The married duo wanted the city close to their fingertips, but desired seclusion at the same time.
“I didn’t know these houses even existed,” the wife mentioned.
Luck landed them the 6,904-square-foot home nestled in the trees with ample room to entertain friends and family in 2020. Despite this, the kitchen’s dark tones didn’t blend with the couple’s vibe. Tuscany-inspired décor, once popular, needed a modern update with a farmhouse twist three years later. Neither had an eye for design, calling in owner and expert Marilyn Schooley Hansen of The Designers, who worked on their kitchen in a previous house. Hansen considers functionality before uniqueness.
“I can make it gorgeous, but you can’t wear high heels on the sand at the beach,” Hansen quipped.
In this case, Hansen centered her concept around the island in the kitchen. She visited stone yards for months, settling on a Yosemite Falls quartzite for the warm platinum-colored countertop with slate blue and green veins. The homeowners desired abundant seating, so the island needed to stretch 14 feet, not an easy feat when considering how to integrate the slabs. Hansen utilized a “butterfly installation” to seamlessly blend it while hiding the microwave and dishwasher below in painted wrought iron-colored cabinets, highlighting the blue tones of the countertop. A hand-forged iron serpentine fixture with rock crystals splashes subtle light onto the scene. Eight copper leather bar stools slide under the island to allow for space instead of taller furniture that would block the windows.
Light gray tiles with charcoal accents in the backsplash brighten and flatter the space behind the six-foot exhaust hood in the same deep pigment as the bottom of the island. Hansen knew the homeowners like to cook, so a pot filler on the wall provides convenience. The GE gas double oven has enough room for a large prime rib and a casserole of cheesy potatoes. A ledge behind the range offers a niche for salt and pepper shakers, and a walnut-stained alder beam complements the mellowed-out shade of the wooden floors to incorporate a rustic charm. Pale gray cabinets, almost white on a sunny day, with silver handles, flatter the gold tint of the umbrella light fixture over the round dining table.
“It creates a sense of intimacy. You feel cozy. That’s the atmosphere you get from it,” Hansen said.
“It creates a sense of intimacy. You feel cozy. That’s the atmosphere you get from it.”
— Marilyn Schooley Hansen
In
the great room, vaulted windows showcase the striking scenery.
In addition, the owners wanted a bar area to serve drinks or to act as a buffet. A glass-paneled cabinet filled with alcohol extends across the window but doesn’t obstruct the view of the pool or block the sunlight from above.
“I had trouble picturing it at first, but I love it now,” the husband said.
On the other side of the kitchen, guests can select a bottle of wine from the cooler. Others might grab a cup of espresso from the coffee bar, emphasized by charcoal tile.
Hansen continued the tone theme in the laundry room and office, incorporating soft grays and milky tiles. The guest bathroom, though, affords some variety with bronze metallic tiles and textured vinyl wallpaper. Lantern chandeliers bring back gold touches with light reflecting off the silver sink.
“It doesn’t photograph well, but oh boy, it’s pretty,” Hansen said.
It ties the parts together like colorful puzzle pieces, just like in the great room, where
vaulted windows showcase the striking scenery. An identical wooden beam runs above the gas fireplace, where two asymmetrical creamy limestones accentuate the wall with dimension, almost mirroring the patio fireplace on the deck. A black flatscreen television hangs there, taking center stage for a couple who enjoy watching football games and movies. Open glass panels, painted in the same hue as the hood in the kitchen, run the lengths the sides while LED lighting underneath illuminates items on the shelves.
The furniture reflects comfort, as the laid-back couple want visitors to relax without worrying. Hansen replaced the previous chandelier with an efficient fan and rustcolored pillows pop on smoky-hued tweed
sofas from Lee Douglass Interiors. A bichon poodle utilizes the cow-hide ottoman, covered with a white furry throw, as a place to stretch her paws. The Goldendoodle lays at his master’s feet as he sits in a dark blue
leather recliner watching a Dallas Cowboys game while the cocker poodle dives into the lap of her mistress, who sits in the matching chair. The homeowners plan on renovating the master bedroom soon, but for now, both want to enjoy their calm oasis.
Indoor Herb Gardens
Tips for Year-Round Greens
or those who love the great outdoors, winter in Nebraska can be long, dark, and disheartening. With a new year, however, comes new hope and perhaps a new hobby. While plants are bare and withering in the snow, some opt for a bit of greenery inside and plant herb gardens. The idea of committing to gardening may seem daunting, but small herb plants are easily manageable. This is a fun, unique winter project that provides fresh cooking ingredients year-round and can help with healthy eating habits and saving money on groceries.
When considering growing herbs indoors, take into account the lighting they will need to grow. A south-facing window is ideal, as most herbs will need at least four hours of direct sunlight each day. If such a natural light source is not available, artificial lighting will do the trick. Plants express phototropism, a phenomenon in which they will physically lean toward the strongest source of light to get the most energy. If this occurs, try turning the pots periodically to counteract excessive bending.
Next, decide which herbs will go in the mini garden. Some popular ones that have proven to do well indoors are dill, parsley, cilantro, mint, chives, basil, lavender, oregano, and thyme. Consider the types of herbs that will be the most useful, whether they’ll be used for flavoring food or their aromatic properties. The easiest way to begin with an herb garden is to purchase a small plant to pot, rather than starting from scratch with seeds. While seeds will work eventually, it will take more time
for them to sprout and grow their own leaves. Starting with a plant that already has a root system will allow for a focus on growing and expanding, rather than needing extra time and attention to care for new seeds.
Soil is also important in creating your indoor herb garden. A key aspect of growing plants, soil provides nutrients and protects the roots. A more contained garden indoors may require a different medium than regular gardening soil, which doesn’t drain as well in an indoor environment. After ensuring there are adequate holes in the bottom of the pots, fill them with an even mixture of peat moss, perlite, and vermiculite. This combination of moss and minerals will help the herbs thrive. Water them lightly so the soil stays moist but there’s no standing water in the pot. If the leaves start turning yellow, cut back on water.
When the plants are ready for harvest, pick only a few sprigs at a time as they become leafy. Regular cutbacks (with kitchen shears or fingers) encourage new growth, so harvesting multiple times may lead to increased production from one plant.
Once spring rolls around and the threat of frost is gone, feel free to move the pots outside or transfer the plants to an outdoor garden with plenty of sunlight. By this time, roots may be growing out of the drainage holes, or the plant may become too heavy to stand upright on its own. When taken care of properly, most herbs will survive even when transplanted, as long as they have enough room to grow.
STORY Claudia Moomey
DESIGN Nickie Robinson
HARVEST
The idea of committing to gardening may seem daunting, but small herb plants are easily manageable.
A S I D G O L D A W A R D F E A T U R E
Impact Award for Best Use of Lighting People’s Choice Award
Designing a New Home
Story: Deb Munro, ASID, NCIDQ & Emma Young, Allied ASID Interior Designers: The Interior Design Firm Builders: L&L Custom Builders
Photography: Amoura Productions
Story Design: Nickie Robinson
Where Functionality Meets Sophistication
Creating the interior design for a new home is an exciting challenge, especially when the goal is to craft a relaxed, yet sophisticated, space for a lively family of five and their assortment of pets. This project required a careful balance among aesthetics, functionality, and a seamless connection to the natural surroundings, all while accommodating the specific lifestyle needs of the homeowners.
The result of this project is a home that doesn’t just meet the family’s needs but elevates their daily experience. The mix of natural materials and refined finishes creates a tranquil, yet lively, environment. By prioritizing both form and function, the design ensures the home feels as good as it looks.
From Blueprint to Finishing Touches
The scope of this project went beyond simple decorating; it encompassed the entire design process from the earliest stages of construction to the final details. This included reviewing plans and detail drawings, selecting hard surfaces, plumbing fixtures, hardware, color palettes, and furnishings. Custom-designed cabinets, millwork, and lighting were also tailored to the family's unique needs and preferences. Every design decision was carefully considered to enhance the home’s functionality while delivering a cohesive and visually appealing result.
Designing for Comfort and Connection
The primary objective was to create a home that balances comfort and elegance a space where the family could relax and entertain without sacrificing style. By incorporating natural elements such as wood, stone, and greenery into the design, the home reflects the surrounding environment while maintaining a refined aesthetic. Thoughtful touches, like strategically placed windows, invite an abundance of natural light and maximize views of the outdoors, fostering a strong connection to the natural world.
The design also considered the practicalities of daily life for a bustling family. Durable, yet beautiful, materials were chosen to withstand wear and tear while maintaining an elevated look. For example, tile flooring was installed throughout the main level for ease of maintenance, complemented by carefully selected insets in high-traffic areas like the entryway and hall leading to the pool. These insets not only break up the visual expanse of the tile but also enhance safety by reducing slippage.
Designing for Everyone Including Pets
One of the most unique challenges of this project was accommodating the family’s pets, which include dogs and reptiles. A custom under-counter kennel system was designed to seamlessly integrate into the cabinetry of the main living area. This innovative solution provides a functional and attractive space for the dogs while ensuring the overall design remains cohesive. Above the kennel system, a dedicated space was created for the reptiles, blending their enclosure into the home’s finishes. This thoughtful approach ensures that every member of the family, human or otherwise, has a place in the design.
A Space to Be Experienced
The result of this project is a home that doesn’t just meet the family’s needs but elevates their daily experience. The mix of natural materials and refined finishes creates a tranquil, yet lively, environment. By prioritizing both form and function, the design ensures the home feels as good as it looks. Ample natural light, stunning views, and personalized details make this house a welcoming sanctuary for its occupants.
In the end, this project demonstrates how thoughtful interior design can transform a house into a home a space that reflects the unique lives of those who inhabit it while embracing the beauty of its surroundings.
Architecture
STORY Hal Senal | PHOTOGRAPHY Sarah Lemke | DESIGN Nickie Robinson
MissionPossible
A Revamped 1920s Building Evokes California Homes
building, really, is kind of its own story. In fact, it can have many stories. The one thing they all have in common?
They all end.
Just like humans, they either stand tall and face the years that weather them away or they fall.
But some are reborn.
With its uniquely classic architecture, this phrase takes on many different meanings especially as it relates to
Hanscom Apartments, a building revamped in 2023 for low-income individuals and families.
Sitting at 1029 Park Ave., the building that now houses Hanscom Apartments was originally established in 1921 and built in a Spanish Colonial Revival style. The residence was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2018.
Spanish Colonial Revival style is often found in California and Florida, where the sunnier weather is more conducive to these houses, which make liberal use of smooth plaster (stucco) for walls and chimney finishes.
According to the paperwork filed for application to the National Register of Historic Places, the building features an “entrance vestibule delineated by a Spanish Baroque-inspired door surround: concentric arches radiate outward to the surround itself, with pilasters surmounted by heavy square capitols supported by brackets. The pilasters support an elaborate arched pediment. The entry into the vestibule is flanked by original porch lights. Inside the vestibule, two entries lead to/from the lobby, and the north and south walls of the vestibule each has a small, arched window filled with a single-light vinyl replacement sash.”
Other architectural features at Hanscom Apartments include a mission-shaped roof parapet and decorative overhangs near the top of the building that mimic the classic clay tiled roofs of Spanish Colonial architecture. Adding to the idea of “mission,” the building is shaped in the form of a Maltese cross.
Bryan Zimmer, principal architect for The Architectual Offices (AO), which coordinated the renovation, said a building has the ability to capture a moment in time. “I think buildings have the ability to tell a story about the past and make it relatable to our current or future people; (creating) a tangible link to our past is probably what my passion is.”
“All the public spaces on the main level, we kept them,” Zimmer said. “All the public hallways, and the doors to the (complex), to the public corridors in the apartment (building) those are all historic. We did complete renovations inside the apartments, but basically...we left the area of each apartment the same. So, we worked within the existing building to create new modern apartments within the historic shell, (we) saved all the wood floors.”
It was ultimately Zimmer’s great passion for the past that helped him rise to the occasion when it came to the Hanscom Apartments, and to see the project through.
But with passion must come patience and the ability to get the details just right.
“We like to preserve our history and redo buildings, and celebrate architecture,” Zimmer explained. “I mean, I’m a lover of history, so I’d say that’s what inspires me to take on these projects is (that) they’re difficult."
Visit incommoncd.org for more information.
