OmahaHome May 2022 by Omaha Magazine

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

MAY 2022

She Shed by the Red Brick Ranch

A STEP BEYOND THE ORDINARY // EVOLVING FAMILY, EVOLVING HOME // COMING HOME TO WEDGEWOOD // LUXURY HOTEL VIBES

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E N T RYWAY

“May you walk gently through the world and know its beauty all the days of your life.” — APACH E BLESSI N G

o need to recite the catch phrase “April showers…,” you get the picture. After the ugly season has passed (that’s what I call winter), lovely spring is upon us. Watching the grass green up and the tulips come into bloom is a welcome sight. It’s around this same time that I prep my flowerpots, throw down a new outdoor rug, and splash a fresh paint color on my wooden bench, breathing new life into my home’s entryway. If you’ve followed along with me throughout the years, you know I paint my bench quite regularly. Chris Stout-Hazard from Roger+Chris puts it perfectly in this issue’s Double Heart Farm article, “You’re allowed to change your mind.” Read the story on page 3.

This issue, we also spotlight talented floral designer Brittany Black, who makes a career out of sprucing up front entries and home exteriors all over town for Vickie Lea Designs. We provide a peek inside Denise Meyers’ cherished she shed, which she has filled with family mementos and farmhouse touches, and also give some sage advice about foraging for delicious wild berries in Nebraska. There are several home renovations and artsy interiors featured as well that are sure to inspire your own home improvements or wall decor game. Even as you’re busy with projects this month, don’t forget to spoil your mom this Mother’s Day, May 8th. Some of the greatest gifts cost next to nothing, and time with her is one of the best you can to give. For me, a meaningful card always goes a long way. A gift card to support her hobby, or a beautiful bouquet of fresh spring tulips are other ideas that will show you care and surely warm her heart. Happy spring!

Sandy Matson Contributing Editor

On the COVER

Contents 1

OMAHAHOME ENTRY WAY

DOUBLE HEAR T FARM This Designer’s Rule of Thumb

MAKER A Step Beyond the Ordinary

SPACES She Shed by the Red Brick Ranch

AT HOME A Stage for the Arts

ARCHITEC TURE The Thomas Kilpatrick House

FEATURE Coming Home to Wedgewood

HARVEST Wild Gooseberry Chase

FEATURE Evolving Family, Evolving Home

A SID AWARD FEATURE Luxury Hotel Vibes

Vibrant summer blooms and warm-hued string lights add ambiance to Denise Meyers’ pergola-shaded deck off her beloved she shed. Story page 8. Photo by Bill Sitzmann.

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CREATE YOUR OWN ENVIRONMENT In nature, evolution can require a process of thousands of years. At Curt Hofer & Associates, helping you to create your environment is second nature to us. Bring your designs, your inspiration, your preferences, pictures and even pins. Together we’ll move through a process that lets you ease into a flawless execution of your ideal surroundings. Contact us today to see why Curt Hofer & Associates has earned top awards for our iconic design and inspired living spaces for more than 26 years.

VOLUME 12 · ISSUE 3

Editorial MANAGING EDITOR DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN ASSOCIATE EDITOR LINDA PERSIGEHL EDITORIAL/DIGITAL SPECIALIST JULIUS FREDRICK CONTRIBUTING WRITERS HANNAH AMROLLAHI · TAMSEN BUTLER KAREN CAMPBELL · KIM CARPENTER MEGAN FABRY · SARA LOCKE · BOB PATTON CHRIS STOUT-HAZARD · MEGHAN TOWNLEY

Creative CREATIVE DIRECTOR MATT WIECZOREK SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER DEREK JOY CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER MADY BESCH CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS TOM KESSLER · SARAH LEMKE CHRIS STOUT-HAZARD

Sales EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT SALES & MARKETING GIL COHEN

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BEFORE

This Designer’s Rule of Thumb:

You’re allowed to change your mind. STORY & PHOTOGR A PH Y DESIGN

Chris Stout-Hazard

Mady Besch

ne of the best things about interior design is that it’s not permanent. Furniture can be rearranged, accessories and artwork added or subtracted, and walls repainted. Interior design is not a science, with definitively right or wrong answers. Despite what the self-proclaimed experts on home renovation shows say, there are few rules and little consensus about what must be done to a home.

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We loved the gallery effect and the furniture, but we perhaps should have allowed more open space for our energetic, bouncy dogs.

BEFORE

And that’s a good thing, because we often change our minds. We’ve enjoyed the design choices we made in our old farmhouse, as cataloged in prior issues of this magazine. But, well, some of those choices have been reconsidered.

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Version one of our living room featured deep blue walls, a bronze ceiling, a lot of art, and multiple furniture groupings. We loved how cozy it was in the evening, but we didn’t love how dark it could be on overcast days. We loved the gallery effect and the furniture, but we perhaps should have allowed more open space for our energetic, bouncy dogs.

Version two of the farmhouse’s living room retains most of what we loved—the checkerboard floor, the blue and bronze paint, much of the furniture—and adds brightness with a half-wall board-andbatten effect, white trim, and a huge paper lantern pendant. The floor space is more open with less furniture, and we’ve brought our large dining table into the center of the room to eat meals and work.

D o u b l e He ar t Far m

We tweaked our main bedroom and library, too. The blue f loors were repainted in white. The built-ins and paneling in the bedroom—previously a deep chocolate brown—received one rough coat of white paint, giving them a pickled effect, with the headboard wall going black to better integrate our cowhide headboard. The library’s dark green walls and bookcases got the same whitewash treatment, and a rearrangement of furniture opened and further lightened the room.

Total cost for all of these changes? Almost nothing. Other than buying a bit of wood for the board-andbatten treatment and a $30 paper lantern, these adjustments involved nothing more than leftover paint we had sitting in the basement, furniture and accessories we already had, and a bit of time.

BEFORE

Until next time, Roger and Chris, at Double Heart Farm. Visit doubleheartfarm.com or instagram. com/dblheartfarm to see more.

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MAKER

S T O R Y Megan Fabr y | P H O T O G R A P H Y Sarah Lemke | D E S I G N Mady Besch

A STEP BEYOND THE ORDINARY Vickie Lea Designs’ Brittany Black delivers her artistic flair for flora.

ickie Lea Designs has been a horticultural staple in Nebraska for over 25 years, receiving national recognition for their interior plant scapes for all seasons. When owner Vickie Lea made the decision to retire two years ago, the team wanted to find a fresh, modern designer who could capture their classic approach to landscape and floral design as well.

Their search netted artist Brittany Black, who uses her creativity and innovation to create stunning arrangements and scenes of all things floral. Black’s love of art started at a young age. She began drawing as a child, eventually graduating to more advanced art classes as a teenager. Her interest in floral arranging bloomed about four years ago, just as she finished earning a biology degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Black said, for her, it made more sense to join an existing design firm than to start a business from scratch when giving this new creative outlet a go. Today, Black serves as Vickie Lea Designs’ full-time lead designer, using her talents to create and install decorative front entry and patio planters, floral window boxes, holiday greenery displays, and landscapes for commercial and residential customers alike. Vickie Lea Designs currently serves 120 clients and has hundreds of referrals from past customers.

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A lthough some homeowners provide Black with guidelines for custom creations, such as what color scheme or specific plants to use, most grant her full artistic freedom to develop ideas from anything she wishes. Business clients offer a bit less design flexibility. Black said limitless variety is one of the best things about f loral design, Yet, big palms and tropical flowers are wildly popular with their client base. “Nature and art are my primary sources of inspiration, but what’s fascinating is how we can find inspiration anywhere, whether at home, while traveling, on social media, or even some random thing that just catches my eye while driving down the street,” Black said. Container arrangements are one of Vickie Lea Designs’ signature presentations, but the company also offers landscape design, installation, and maintenance, along with interior decorating. Black said each landscape design they create is unique, and they strive to make their clients’ dreams come to life. “Most of the time, that spark of inspiration just happens,” Black said. “I know within moments and conceptualize in my mind how I want the

design to come together. Next comes the fun process of collaboration with our clients, discussing their particular wants and needs, plant species and color preferences, and more. Attention to detail is what takes a little time here, making sure that the design elements we incorporate will integrate well with each other, with the home, and in our climate. Depending on how intricate the design is, this process can take a couple of hours, days, or weeks.” Although Black has created a name for herself through her designs, she faced difficulties while learning to blend Vickie’s original style with her own. Thankfully, she received guidance from her team, including director of operations Fallon Dickes and owner Shawn Kolterman. They were both important mentors in teaching her the business side of floral designing as well. “If someone met or worked with Vickie Lea herself, it is easy to see that replacing her would be a challenge,” Dickes said. “Brittany’s attitude, patience, attention to each individual client, and excitement toward her designs have been a thrill to see. It has been fun watching her abilities unfold and her blossom into the designer she is today.” Go to vickieleadesigns.com to learn more about Vickie Lea Designs’ services and see photos of Black’s creations.

“Most of the time, that spark of inspiration just happens. I know within moments and conceptualize in my mind how I want the design to come together.” — BRITTANY BLACK

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SPACES

he Shed S by the Red Brick Ranch Denise Meyers’ restorative backyard retreat

ucked behind a swooping privacy wall off her house’s facade, Denise Meyers’ “she shed” offers the prerequisite peace and seclusion required for a retreat. The Meyer family’s red brick ranch on a Rockbrook-area corner lot is already angled and landscaped to have a concealed exterior. Denise maintained this aesthetic in her home’s addition.

“I always wanted [a private space],” Denise said, “I just didn’t know what to do.” It was another home improvement project that gave her a lightbulb moment. When Denise and husband John renovated their primary bedroom and bath, they added a side entrance to the home and concrete paths up to the deck. This made it easier for Lois Mellend, Denise’s mother, to access the yard. It was then Denise realized she had the perfect space for her she shed. The Meyers put one of their cars into storage, divided the garage space, re-fitted the door, and drywalled a portion of the interior to create the new, private room.

OMAHAHOME

S T O R Y Hannah Amrollahi

P H O T O G R A P H Y Bill Sitzmann

D E S I G N Mady Besch

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“It’s her Superman space. A place to get away— it’s therapeutic. It’s good.” —John Meyers

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Outside, the she shed’s red siding blends seamlessly with the home’s brick exterior across the walkway. Inside, the redesign creates a separate, well-insulated room inaccessible from the rest of the garage and unconnected to the main house. Here, Denise can have a glass of wine, listen to her favorite music (she’s partial to James Taylor and Carole King), and entertain friends. “To bring everything that is so peaceful to you into your space…,” Denise explained, “it’s special to me.”

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White walls and furniture and soft brown tones in the wood accent wall create a neutral, tranquil space, while eclectic and vintage decor add a farmstead charm to the room. Most notable, a ladder for blankets and hats, wine barrels holding up a table, dried flowers, and wine crate shelving. “She had all this stuff, and I said you’re not going to fit all that in there,” John confessed. “She did, and it looks great.” The retreat’s furniture is arranged to give the illusion of a larger space rather than a small, overcrowded room. Two strategically placed mirrors, a small throw rug, and light-colored, lowprofile furniture achieve an open affect. Warm, soft lighting from a column lamp, along with natural light from windows, provide the cozy “hygge” atmosphere for which Denise’s Norwegian heritage is famous.

CONTINUED...

“I have a lot of my family things in here,” Denise said. “Things come from different times and places in my life.” A rocking chair in the corner belonged to Denise’s grandfather and carries memories of them sitting together like she does with her 10 grandchildren now. A wide-brimmed farm hat can be seen atop her lawn-mower-riding mother in a framed picture on display. A crock from the basement of the North Dakota farm Denise grew up on holds a healthy fern rather than sauerkraut, as it once did. Smaller mementos are exhibited on the shelves and tables throughout the room, evoking yet more sweet recollections. “I love my time out here,” Denise said. “My grandkids love to come out here, read, and just hang.” While Denise’s she shed is full of memorabilia for reminising, several seating options create an inviting space to receive guests and make new memories. A wooden pergola and windows overlooking the lawn connect the private and yard areas, while an outdoor sitting area and nearby fire pit expand the relaxing communal space. Paved walkways from the new side door and deck make the shed easy to reach in snowy and icy weather. John is entirely supportive of his wife’s retreat. “It’s her Superman space,” he said. “A place to get away—it’s therapeutic. It’s good.”

Featured in the January/ February 2022 issue of OmahaHome. Photography by Daniel Johnson.

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S T O R Y Kim Carpenter

AT H O M E

P H O T O G R A P H Y Bill Sitzmann D E S I G N Mady Besch

A Stage for the arts At home with eclectic collectors Bob Culver and Dr. Debra Reilly

assersby know where art lovers reside when even the residents’ mailbox and front door are creative works to admire.

Married couple Dr. Debra Reilly and artist Bob Culver’s District 66 midcentury ranch highlights the couple’s shared love of both the performing and visual arts, as well as entertaining. Purchased in 2007, the listed home had one feature that immediately sold the pair. “We took a peek through the windows and saw there was a stage in the living room," Reilly shared. “We could have concerts—quartets and operas. When we saw that stage, we knew.” First, Reilly and Culver had to make the 1959-built house their own. Remodeling and redecorating ensued.

OMAHAHOME

“The kitchen was awful,” Reilly confided. “It was a long, narrow galley kitchen.” To address the paucity of room, the couple converted the screened-in porch that ran parallel to the kitchen into a generous gourmet cooking space that Reilly now describes as a “glorious kitchen for entertaining where everyone can gather.”

In a creative approach to cabinetry, the couple took a 1950s breakfront and painted it a deep green, then added a custom butcher-block top. Colorful fish sculptures, including one by Omaha artist Iggy Sumnik, dot the room for good luck. “Fish never sleep, so they protect the home,” Reilly explained.

A ceramic plate purchased in Italy during the couple’s honeymoon hangs above the stove, serving as a focal point. The memento provided the blueprint for the home’s color scheme, with an aubergine hue serving as the inspiration for the living room. It’s the home’s original art, however, that truly rivets the eye. Culver and Reilly have been long-time supporters of the arts and have volunteered on boards for the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts and Opera Omaha. Their devotion is obvious with dozens of works on display, such as paintings (including numerous works by Culver himself), sculptures, textiles, and even digital pieces, like an NFT (non-fungible token) by son-in-law Bryan Brinkman, an artist and animator whose work has been featured in Times Square in New York City. “It’s eclectic,” Reilly said of their collection, “but we like it. We’re eclectic people.”

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Two artful rabbits dominate the foyer—a mammoth rabbit head by Deborah Masuoka; and a smaller sweet, sleepy blue rabbit stretching its paws by Rebekah Bogard. In between is a large-scale portrait of Reilly seated in her scrubs, created by Culver. The painting highlights his wife’s passions, including her decades-long career as a plastic surgeon and wound specialist who travels to developing nations to help women injured by burns, domestic violence, or breast cancer. The couple’s art collection—the majority of which they purchased in the past 15 years—is exhibited throughout the spacious home. A work by Nancy FriedemannSánchez dominates the dining room, with walls painted a deep cinnamon. An ornate chandelier, liberated from an estate sale, casts a warm glow throughout the room. The dining space also features a self portrait of Culver, which portrays him as a Gary Cooper-esque cowboy from the classic Western film High Noon. A cozy sitting area opposite the dining room features works by late Omaha artist Wanda Ewing, as well as a sculpture by Jun Kaneko. The built-in bookcase is crammed with titles. “Ninety percent are art library books,” Culver declared. Flanking the room is a lighted display case chock full of antique toys, many of them hand-painted German Elastolin Old West cowboys from before World War II. Culver joked that his grandchildren can look but not touch.

OMAHAHOME

“They say it’s like the Louvre, only homier.” - D EB R A R EI L LY

AT HOM E

The lively purple living room is brimming with contemporary art and colorful masks. A pink Larry Sosso mobile, suspended from the ceiling, echoes the colors of the large-scale Betty Woodman ceramic vase installed on one of the walls. A lovely tribute to Omaha’s zoo hangs over the sofa. Titled “Ride or Die,” the work by Robert Pruitt showcases a magnificent tiger wearing a gold necklace, inspired by Mia, a three-legged zoo denizen. Closeby hangs a bright yellow star by Stewart Hitch, one of the couple’s more recent purchases. A grand piano, topped by a sculpture by Omaha artist Renee Ledesma, occupies the living room’s stage. Here, the couple put on concerts for friends, including a performance last year by an opera soprano to celebrate Reilly’s birthday. A pop art portrait of Beethoven hangs above the piano— a nod, she said, to her status as a “self-proclaimed Beethoven fanatic.”

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A sculpture by Red Grooms has special meaning. Culver worked for the famed pop artist in the 1970s, and Grooms affectionately referred to Culver as “the Nebraska kid.” He created the sculpture for Culver’s 23rd birthday and used the nickname as the work’s title. A poster from Grooms’ 1972 show at the Guggenheim Museum, which Culver helped put together, hangs in the alcove. Friends and family love visiting the couple to see their art. “They say it’s like the Louvre, only homier,” Reilly chuckled. Culver agreed with a smile. “My dad,” he added, “always calls it ‘the museum.’”

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ARCHITECTURE

The Thomas Kilpatrick House A classically inspired “irregular” house S T O R Y TA MSEN BUTLER P H O T O G R A P H Y BILL SITZMANN D E S I G N MADY BESCH

OMAHAHOME

Some mystery surrounds the Thomas Kilpatrick House in the historic Gifford Park neighborhood in Omaha.

he history of the home’s ownership is well-documented, yet it’s unknown who the architect was, or what contractor built the home in 1890.

Joseph Garneau Jr., proprietor of Garneau Cracker Co., was the first owner of the residence at 3100 Chicago St. He eventually sold the home and moved to New York to start a wine importing business in 1903. Harriet Kilpatrick purchased the house from Garneau, though it’s her husband’s name—department store magnate Thomas Kilpatrick—that is most commonly attributed to the residence. The home was placed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Garneau-Kilpatrick House in 1982. The registry describes the structure as featuring an “irregular plan.” Zillow lists the house as having 15 bedrooms and seven bathrooms, which made it an ideal property to divide into several apartments in later years. The residence also served as a fraternity house from the late 1900s into the early 2000s, and housed a nonprofit organization for a time. “The Joseph Garneau Jr./Kilpatrick [House] exemplifies the Richardsonian Romanesque Style, named after the American architect Henry Hobson Richardson,” explained Steven Ginn, founding principal of Steven Ginn Architects in Omaha. “Richardson advocated using Roman and medieval architectural elements and proportions in ways, using stone construction to emphasize the solidity and permanence of his work.” Ginn further explained that Richardson’s work, “though classically inspired, was very influential throughout the U.S. from 18801900.” The arched front door and windows are telltale indicators of this home’s Richardonian style.

“The rusticated stone shown at the doors, windows, and gables provide ornamentation, contributing the expression of structure,” Ginn continued. “It is not frivolous decoration demonstrated in other styles of the day, but an honest expression of how the stone works in the arches and lintels at the openings.” It’s a home that certainly stands out, not only because of its impressive size, but because of its interesting look. Ginn said the house also “demonstrates an acute study of scale and proportion with a heavy base and subtle shifts in scale of the windows as your eye proceeds up the building from the main floor to the attic.” “Overall, the composition of the front façade is quite successful,” Ginn said. “The bay window is not small and delicate but wide and squat, and it is balanced with the embellished gable acting as a cap to the simple, planar façade. These elements come together to create an asymmetrical composition that is well-balanced, cohesive, and pleasing to the eye.” Zillow lists the 10,000-square-foot home as currently for lease, with the monthly rent listed at just under $5,000. Renters get the main house along with the four-bedroom, twobath house located on the north side of the property. This Romanesque style home boasts an interesting past, even if the name of the person who designed it has long been lost to history. The legacy of the home with the “irregular plan” continues on as an Omaha landmark.

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Coming Home to Wedgewood COLLEEN KAVAN'S QUICK RANCH RENO BRINGS HER BACK TO HER FAVORITE NECK OF OMAHA.

maha real estate agent and interior designer Colleen Kavan has a success story to share; one virtually unheard of in today’s era of supply chain issues and construction worker shortages: She purchased, gutted, and completely remodeled her 1976 ranch home in the Wedgewood neighborhood in southwest Omaha in seven months.

OMAHAHOME

Kavan didn’t accomplish this feat alone, but rather with help from her family and a bevy of trusted subcontractors, many of whom have become friends over the years. “In this market, I sold my [old] house five seconds after I put it on the market, so I had to get this one done. But, you have to be patient,” Kavan said. Luckily, she didn’t have to wait long at all.

P H O T O G R A P H Y Bill Sitzmann

D E S I G N Mady Besch

F E AT U R E

S T O R Y Meghan Townley

A FOCAL POINT OF THE HOME DECOR IS ARTWORK BY KAVAN’S BROTHER, THE FAMED LOCAL ARTIST DAN BOYLAN. HIS PAINTINGS HANG IN ALMOST EVERY ROOM IN THE HOUSE.

OMAHAHOME

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“My three boys demoed the entire house. It took three days and five dumpsters. We got it done fast,” Kavan said. “And my youngest son trimmed out the entire basement.” Kavan used to work in the home building industry and formed relationships with subcontractors when she co-owned Kavan Custom Construction with ex-husband Rich Kavan, with whom she remains friends. On this home project that was uniquely hers, she acted as her own general contractor. “I had subcontractors in here that I went to grade school with, and my kids went to high school with my painter,” Kavan said. “A lot of relationships were formed while we were building.” The ranch home renovation was a labor of love, she said. Rich Kavan, Kavan’s three sons, and her builder worked together installing a 16-foot, 600-pound steel support beam into the basement ceiling. The beam and a 10-foot header became necessary when the upstairs kitchen floor started to droop after removing two walls. The beam was carried around the side of the house (requiring the back fence be removed), then hoisted into place through a basement window, secured, and drywalled over. It was quite an ordeal.

“A LOT OF RELATIONSHIPS WERE FORMED WHILE WE WERE BUILDING.” THE RANCH HOME RENOVATION WAS A LABOR OF LOVE, KAVAN SAID.

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“I HAD PICKED OUT THE HARDWARE AND THE LIGHTS AND THE GOOD STUFF MONTHS BEFORE. I SHOPPED ALMOST EVERY DAY SOMEWHERE. LIGHTS, CARPET, HARDWARE, VANITIES...BUT IT DIDN’T COME TOGETHER FOR ME UNTIL THE HARDWARE WENT IN, THE COUNTERTOPS [WERE] PUT ON, AND THE STAIN WENT ON THE FLOOR.” — COLLEEN KAVAN

“Watching this scared me to death,” Kavan said of the arduous process. “My boys and Rich did a lot of the labor in here,” Kavan said. She credits the relative ease and speed of the project to her network of contractors and her extensive experience building houses. Kavan’s advice for novice home renovators? “Oh boy. If you don’t know what you are doing, don’t do it.” Sticking to her timeline took a lot of preplanning, she added. “I had picked out the hardware and the lights and the good stuff months before. I shopped

almost every day somewhere. Lights, carpet, hardware, vanities…but it didn’t come together for me until the hardware went in, the countertops [were] put on, and the stain went on the floor.” Kavan’s style—clean-lined contemporary design with a hint of traditional— is on view throughout her home. The upper level is flooded with natural light streaming in from her glass front door and sliding glass deck doors. The white pine flooring throughout the entry, living room, and kitchen, paired with the clean lines and black and brass finishes, provide a fresh, modern landscape for the colorful art on the walls. M AY 202 2

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A focal point of the home decor is artwork by Kavan’s brother, the famed local artist Dan Boylan. His paintings hang in almost every room in the house. “They make it special for me, which I love,” Kavan said while looking at one of Boylan’s portraits in her living room. The work hangs above another treasured piece—a framed photograph of another brother, who passed away.

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A custom metal fireplace in the living room was created by Steve Nollette at Nollette Metal Works of Blair. The distinct work is made of an oxidized steel sheeting finished with carriage bolts and metal strapping secured with screw rivets. Nollette oxidized the black steel and then sealed it with a satin clear coat to protect it from rusting and oxidizing further. The project took about a week from start to finish and has an industrial feel to it. The carriage bolts give the whole facade a stylish look. The end product is a statement piece at the center of Kavan’s living room. Nollette also restored the once-rusted government desk in Kavan’s office. “We cleaned it up, reinforced some spots, oxidized, and sealed it,” Nollette said of the desk. “We had to do a four-part clear [coat] to get that durable finish using both satin and gloss automotive paint.” Nollette said he appreciated Kavan’s trust in his design skills.

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“She said that she would love whatever we came up with because she knows our work,” he said. “Those are the jobs that we really enjoy; when we have the freedom to get creative.” Besides the renovation and design, Kavan had insight on how to buy the right house for renovation for the right price, thanks to her history selling real estate.

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“I had a lot of things going for me, I guess,” Kavan said. “And a supportive neighborhood. You can imagine the trucks that came through here.” Residents complaining about the noise and traffic were not an issue, she said. Wedgewood, near 120th and Pacific streets, has proved to be a great location for Kavan for other reasons as well.

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“This is a fantastic place to live,” she said. “I belong to St. Robert’s [Bellarmine Parish] and I can just walk up to church. It is a social neighborhood and the friendliest bunch of people.” The neighborhood hosts a book club and wine nights at the Wedgewood club house, which is also walking distance from Kavan’s house. There are tennis courts and a pool as well. Kavan couldn’t be more pleased with her renovated home, its ideal locale, and her congenial neighbors. “I have lived all over Omaha, and knew that I wanted to get back here. My son’s mother-in-law lives right down the street, and my son lives right over there,” Kavan said, pointing west across 120th Street. “I just felt like I was coming home.”

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M AY 202 2

Wild Gooseberry Chase harvest

The hunt is on for forageable fruits.

Goo

seberries

Story - Sara Locke

Design - Mady Besch 32

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When foraging, be sure to bring a reliable field guide, or download a berry identification app, to positively identify the plant before picking.

ebraska is known for the food it can grow, and berries are no exception. From tart to sweet, tender to crisp, each berry brings its own resumé of delicious vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants to entice and delight. Fresh-fromthe-vine foragers and put-itin-a-pie guys alike will find a sweet treat growing wild all across the state.

Andrew Tonnies and wife Kate are growing their own expertise in the f ield via Hideaway Farms, an acreage they bought near North Bend, Nebraska, and built up over the last decade. The pair had their first farmer’s market season in 2021 at Village Pointe in West Omaha, and plan to add to their offerings this season. “We planted so many different things, and they’re just really starting to get going,” Andrew said of his crop’s maturity. “We raise berries and make value-added jams and jellies. We forage wild choke cherries that grow on our land, and elderberries. We use lilacs, dandelions, marigolds, and lemon verbena in our jams to create really interesting combinations.” Tyler Glesne of Omaha is an amateur grower who makes foraging a family affair.

“I actually make elderberry jelly with my mother-in-law every year, in addition to elderberry liquor,” he said. “It’s the kids’ job to pick them and wash them. They actually really enjoy it. It’s a good bonding time every fall.” Nebraska’s wild berries tend to be of the hardiest stock, thriving anywhere they can find full sun and be left to ripen without danger of being mowed down. Bushes can be found flourishing along the edges of wooded areas, vines climbing fences, even trees taking root in overgrown ditches and meadows. In fact, growers beware— some berry plants are invasive, spreading extremely fast and quickly taking over a habitat! Before heading out to harvest, be sure to consider the following three questions.

Should I?

While many of Nebraska’s wild fruits are not only safe to eat, but wildly delicious, several berries bear the burden of toxins that can cause anything from mild itchiness to paralysis. Foragers should bring a reliable field guide, or download a berry identification app, to positively identify the plant before picking. Wild Berries and Herbs LITE is free on the App Store. Seeing an animal snacking on a few fallen fruits might lead a person to believe the same would be safe for humans, but don’t be fooled. Many fruits that are toxic to people are a delicious, nutritious snack to birds and deer. Even the elderberry, popular for its medicinal qualities and immune-boosting properties, is dangerous to eat raw or unripe. The entire plant is poisonous to humans, and uncooked berries can react in one’s gut to create a deadly hydrogen cyanide cocktail.

May I?

Any berry picking needs to be done safely and with permission. While a bush growing along a favorite walk might be tempting, picking fruit may mean risking more than the social faux pas of stealing. Pesticides, herbicides, or ground toxins may have leeched their way into the fruit, and a pilfered handful gobbled down might result intestinal distress and abdominal pain.

Permission to forage from state parks and forests can be attained be reaching out to the park’s superintendent, while farmland and acreages often allow individuals or small groups to forage by contacting the property owner directly.

When?

Nebraska’s many fruits each come into season in their own time. Mulberries, strawberries, and raspberries ripen from mid-June to mid-July. Choke cherries and currants are best from mid-July to mid-August. Sand cherries, blackberries, and gooseberries should be harvested from early July to mid-August. And ground cherries and buffalo berries can be enjoyed between July and September. Elderberries can be harvested (only the ripe fruits, and cook before eating) from mid-August to mid-September.

A day of adventure and the sweet fruits of your labor are still green and wild on the vine, and just a sun-drenched summer day away from being ripe and ready to be plucked. Learn more about foraging from state parks by visiting OutdoorNebraska.Gov/Parks/.

M AY 202 2

Evolving Family, Evolving Home D R . SC OT T A N D M A RY C A RO LLO R E LI S H M A K I N G T H E I R W E S T O E M P T Y N E S T T H E I R OW N .

FEATURE S T O R Y Karen Campbell P H O T O G R A P H Y Bill Sitzmann D E S I G N Mady Besch

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or a couple who “never thought we’d end up settling in Omaha,” Mary and Scott Carollo admit they’re surprised to say they’ve been happy homeowners in the heartland for more than 25 years. In fact, they’ve lived in their Linden Park home so long, they recently began renovating it a second time.

The two met during student orientation at Creighton University. Mary, originally from Minneapolis, is a yoga instructor. Scott, a native of Los Angeles, graduated from Creighton University School of Medicine. He’s an interventional cardiologist at CHI Health.

“Sir Reginald,” a bronzetoned aluminum pipe-smoking bespectacled deer head given the moniker, adds a playful touch to the room. M AY 202 2

“We really wanted to showcase the art we’ve collected over the years. We have art from our travels, from friends, and from the Bemis Art Auction.” —Mary Carollo

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“I had two sisters living here, and Scott and I have friends and colleagues from Creighton here in Omaha, so it made sense to live here,” Mary said. They moved into their current home in 1997 with their two small children. Within a few years, two more children joined their family. Decades later, the kids have all moved away. Vince, 26, works in Washington D.C.; Erin, 24, is a medical school student in Chicago; Isabella, 23, works in Kansas City; and Joey, 20, is a student at the University of San Diego. Yet, Mary and Scott remain in their spacious West Omaha home, not yet ready to downsize. Instead, they’re reinventing it.

“When we bought this house, everything was white,” Scott said. “And I mean everything from top to bottom.” In the late 1990s through the early 2000s, the Carollos renovated their home to reflect a rustic, Tuscany-inspired look. In 2021, with their nest now empty, the Carollos decided it was time for more updates.

M AY 202 2

“The house had a very comfortable feel, but the warmer colors and deep red tones made it much darker,” Mary said. “We really wanted to maintain the welcoming vibe of the house while lightening things up.” The couple worked with Bryan Frost, owner of Black Awning Interiors, for the renovation of their kitchen, guest bathroom, and living room. The kitchen was the starting point to bring in greens and earth tones and more of a natural feel to the house. The kitchen’s heated tile floor and all of the appliances were in good shape, so they stayed. But Frost faced the challenge of making the existing floor work with the new color palette. “We used Moroccan zellige tile for the backsplash, which is a really popular tile,” Frost said. “It has a slight undertone of pink that is pulled out by the terra cotta color of the floor.” The contrast between the matte black granite countertops and the Sherwin Williams’ Earth Greenpainted cabinets lends depth to the space. The centerpiece of the kitchen is the marble-topped oval table encircled by four retro leather chairs. The black rattan pendant light above the table, much like the black countertops, adds contrast. Frost said the “fun” green kitchen curtains, which allow in great natural light, inspired the push to sprinkle in more vibrant and varied colors throughout the threeroom renovation.

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The guest bathroom, Mary said, is really “all about the wallpaper.” The fair-trade L’Aviva Home wall coverings feature an original design by African women artisans. The background of the wallpaper is a natural linen tone, creating continuity with the earth tones of the kitchen and the living room. “The vanity is a vintage piece that we put some legs on and made it into a midcentury style,” Frost said. “The top is the same matte black, honed granite we used for the kitchen countertops.” The sconces, featuring a hint of linear travertine, appear as if they were custom-made to be displayed next to the mirror over the vanity. Although it is technically a living room, the Carollos use the space more often as a bit less formal family room. It was imperative to make the space inviting to guests when entertaining, while still casual enough to lounge

cozily while reading or playing guitar, as Scott sometimes does in his downtime. “The biggest compliment I am given about my home is that it’s comfortable.” Mary said. “We are comfy people, and if you spill your coffee here, we don’t care.” Frost said guests cannot help but want to touch the two 96-inch moss green-colored couches in the living room, which were created by local furniture designers Roger + Chris. The coffee table between the couches is also an eye-catching piece. “It is made from genuine South Pacific teak wood,” Frost said. The burnt orange drapes in the living room help balance out the green couches, he explained. To add a layer of texture and visual interest, Frost chose to add a grass cloth to the back of the living room cabinets and went with a carpet with a tartan-plaid design.

The centerpiece of the kitchen is the marble-topped oval table encircled by four retro leather chairs. The black rattan pendant light above the table, much like the black countertops, adds contrast.

M AY 202 2

F E AT U R E

While the couches are aweinspiring, the real highlight of the living room is the gallery wall that features pieces from the Carollos’ artwork collection. “We really wanted to showcase the art we’ve collected over the years,” Mary said. “We have art from our travels, from friends, and from the Bemis Art Auction.” Past travel destinations include Barcelona, Tibet, Pompei, Sicily, and Easter Island. A sentimental piece from Mary’s grandfather and a painting by local artist Bob Bosco (one of Mary’s favorites) are counted among their cherished works as well. “I love their art and the great diversity of their collection, I think their collection is super cool, and I challenged myself to incorporate the colors in their artwork in that space,” Frost said. “Sir Reginald,” a bronze-toned, aluminum-pipe-smoking bespectacled deer head given the moniker, adds a playful touch to the room. “We even put a tie on him at Christmas,” said Scott, smiling. The couple plan to continue making their home all their own by renovating the formal dining room and converting an upstairs bedroom into a dressing room.

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“We’ve just been really happy living here,” Scott said. “We have four kids who out are of the house, and we now have this space to enjoy for ourselves.”

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TOM KESSLER

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Patton attended the University of Nebraska— Lincoln and began her career at Interiors Joan and Associates in 1998. She has been deeply involved in the ASID Designer Showhouse and Omaha Street of Dreams, and was recognized with an ASID national design award. She’s also involved with Completely Kids, Rose Theater Guild, Lauritzen Garden Guild, and Nebraska Humane Society Guild. Her design tip: “When someone enters a space, I like to keep their eye moving with a balance of interest, color, and texture.”

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Fuller interned at two design firms, garnering diverse experience before joining Interiors Joan and Associates in 2015. She’s been active with ASID since 2006, as well as Young Building Professional Council of the Home Builders Association of Lincoln, Green Omaha Coalition, and Habitat for Humanity Omaha, even being named HFH 2018 Volunteer of the Year. Her design tip: “Mix finishes! I like to create contrast in a space by mixing textures and materials with proportion and scale for an overall fresh look.” M AY 202 2

The home’s luxurious feel was created using metallic gold tiles, clean finishes, glamorous touches, and high contrast with black walls, black ceilings, and crisp white floors.

his new-construction project in Elkhorn posed a welcome challenge—how does a team of designers meld their clients’ two very different visions for their brand-new dream home into one spectacular design? Together, designers Kris Patton and Melanie Fuller with Interiors Joan and Associates and R & A Builders worked to create this very special residence.

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The husband envisioned a high-contrast, hotel lounge look for their new home, while the wife craved a comfy, inviting feel. With a young, growing family, they knew that open spaces and great sight lines to keep a watchful eye on the children from all living areas were necessary elements.

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The home’s luxurious feel was created using metallic gold tiles, clean finishes, glamorous touches, and high contrast with black walls, black ceilings, and crisp white f loors. A black tile was used throughout the main floor to give the whole home contrast. The integration of warm woods, a warm natural stone on the fireplace, and warm chestnut accents help ground the home, giving it a livable, cozy feel. Furniture selection included pieces that had a midcentury style to them, lending a clean, modern feel, while layered details helped add texture and elements of comfort to the the final look.

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The clients’ courage to adhere to their own unique tastes and their willingness to trust the designers’ ability to bring those visions to life in a cohesive way allowed this stylish home to come to fruition.

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