OmahaHome June 2022

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

JUNE 2022

A Downsized

DREAM

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E N T RYWAY

“It’s the month of June, the month of leaves and roses, when the pleasant sights salute the eyes and pleasant scents the noses.”

— N ATH AN I EL PAR K ER W I L L IS

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Midwestern summer really starts to show its true colors in June, with blazing hot days and steamy nights making regular stops. It’s also the time of year when my plants (if they could talk) seem to shout “finally!” and begin growing by leaps and bounds. A mega-dose of sunshine can do wonders for the soul, for humans and flora alike.

Also good for the soul is filling your home with the things that bring you joy. This issue we spotlight Spaghetti Toes’ Michelle and Martin Bruckner, who create custom keepsake art using kids’ silly sayings and fun caricatures. We showcase the home of attorney Tom Campbell, who took cool inspiration from two of his favorite films, Batman and Tron, when designing his edgy, masculine abode. And we feature Lana Clarke’s Sanctuary home, chocked full of design nods to her family’s Utah roots. Be sure to check out these stories, and more.

The month of June also brings Father’s Day, and the best present you can give dear ol’ dad is time. Why not spend part of the day simply reminiscing about your favorite memories with them? One of mine was how my dad made each birthday special, whether it was making me my favorite homemade chocolate cake, or treating me to a date night anywhere I wanted to go, then letting me pick out something special from a favorite store.

Remember to stop and smell the roses this season, and appreciate nature’s beauty all around us. Happy Father’s Day!

Sandy Matson Contributing Editor

On the COVER

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Contents 1

OMAHAHOME ENTRY WAY

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SPACES Fine Finishes & Flexibility

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MAKER Spaghetti Toes & HarpAndSquirrel Designs

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ARCHITEC TURE Omaha Heritage Home in Good Hands

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FEATURE A Downsized Dream

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GREEN Going Solar

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FEATURE Dreaming of a World

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AT HOME Love Where You Live

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A SID Aging Gracefully

Lana Clarke’s elegantly styled bath features delicate chrome finishes and a mint color scheme for a modern take on French country. Story page 12. Photo by Bill Sitzmann.

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VOLUME 12 · ISSUE 4

Editorial MANAGING EDITOR DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN ASSOCIATE EDITOR LINDA PERSIGEHL EDITORIAL/DIGITAL SPECIALIST JULIUS FREDRICK CONTRIBUTING WRITERS LEO ADAM BIGA · MEGAN FABRY LIZ LEMPKA · LISA LUKECART KARA SCHWEISS · JULIE STANEK SCOTT STEWART

Creative CREATIVE DIRECTOR MATT WIECZOREK SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER DEREK JOY CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER

CREATE YOUR OWN ENVIRONMENT

MADY BESCH CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

In nature, evolution can require a process of thousands of years.

AMOURA PRODUCTIONS · SARAH LEMKE

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. m Home Build sto er Cu

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SPACES

Fine Finishes & Flexibility The Ramms' midcentury modern bar and island perfectly complete their multi-functional basement.

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omeowners Matt and Emily Ramm envisioned a basement space quite different from the modern farmhouse look of their home’s main level; something that delivered a high-style look, with clean lines and fine finishes.

The 20-foot by 14-foot area also needed to work for their family on many different levels: as a home office, an entertainment area, and a playroom.

A multi-level island and bar area were part of that vision.

As the vice president of Echelon Homes, Matt had the opportunity to build their family's dream home in Gretna from the ground up. Although Matt had years of construction experience, neither Matt nor Emily had expertise in interior design. For this, they hired Alex Trout of D3 Interiors.

“Alex offered so many great ideas based on our initial conversations and helped steer us toward what we wanted,” Matt said. “Emily really appreciated [Alex’s] direction and input.”

After consultation, the Ramms settled on a modern industrial aesthetic for their lower level.

Matt had taken many ideas from his experience on other builds and fallen in love with walnut accents, so the couple incorporated walnut cabinetry, shelving, and beams, as well as a walnut table with a waterfall edge into the design.

“The bar island was custom designed to be a showpiece,” Trout said. “The multi-level design creates designated space for seating, while the raised area is perfect for food and drinks to be displayed while hosting gatherings.”

The counter-height table, outfitted with six comfy stools, is also the ideal spot to play games and do puzzles as a family.

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The bar area also includes bright-white quartz countertops and melaminetextured matte black base cabinets.

Out of the kids’ reach, a shelf lined with whiskey bottles is illuminated by the LED lights carefully threaded underneath. Matchstick light fixtures hang prominently over the table.

“The black cabinets create a solid base for the other elements to pop,” Trout said. “And the lighting placed over the island brings in a touch of the brass accent, which gives a midcentury modern vibe to the space.”

The Ramm family has lived in their new home for almost a year and hosted gatherings for friends and family, who are often impressed with the versatility of their space.

“We’re in our 30s with young kids, and our basement reflects our stage of life,” Emily said. “I love that it includes several different areas, including a secret toy room under the stairs where the kids play while we’re working in the office or enjoying a drink and watching a game at the bar. The basement has a little something for everybody. The bar is a great retreat for the adults amid the cartoons, toys, and general chaos of having younger kids.”

It wasn’t just friends who were taken by the design and functionality. Trout was recognized with a Silver award by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Nebraska/ Iowa Chapter for her creativity on the project.

“Every step of the way is pretty handson, but as we get closer to the finish line, that’s when I get to try to add some fun little touches,” Trout said.

“You learn so much about the clients throughout the process, so it is always fun to be able to use everything you’ve learned about the family and add those personal touches to finish off their space.”

“The bar island was custom designed to be a showpiece. The multi-level design creates designated space for seating, while the raised area is perfect for food and drinks to be displayed while hosting gatherings.”

— Alex Trout

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Spaghetti Toes & HarpAndSquirrel Designs Couple designs hilarious, adorable, and ridiculous artworks that become keepsakes.

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ichelle and Martin Bruckner, both creative types, were a hip young couple with cool interests and stimulating conversations. Then they became parents.

“When our daughter was about 2, we were having dinner one night and she was playing with her spaghetti, putting it in her hair and dropping it down by her feet. Michelle looked at her and said, ‘Please don’t put spaghetti between your toes,’” Martin recalled. “I looked at Michelle and said, ‘This is our life now. This is what we talk about at dinner.’”

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S T O R Y Kara Schweiss 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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Despite the change in focus, the Bruckners love family life and they’ve never lost their sense of fun. Following the spaghetti toes conversation, Martin, a longtime art director for a clothing company, began writing down some of the “hilarious, adorable, and ridiculous things” said by the family and adding simple illustrations.

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“I made a little book on blurb.com and gave it to Michelle for Mother’s Day that year,” Martin said, adding that Michelle shared bits from the book on her Facebook page. “People got a kick out of them, so we started a little Facebook page called Spaghetti Toes.

It went all over the internet.”

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Longtime crafter Michelle had a l ready sta r ted her business HarpAndSquirrel Designs and launched an Etsy shop for cute and funny baby products, such as mustache pacifiers. Martin began using the existing channel, first to sell Spaghetti Toes artwork with quotes, and later branching out to custom pieces with Martin’s artwork showcasing customers’ own unique sayings, as well as family portraits and original artwork. He even began selling T-shirts and stickers with custom designs.

“When the Spaghetti Toes story went viral, we just added to HarpAndSquirrel. Before we knew it, we had 500 orders from people from all over the world,” Michelle said.

HarpAndSquirrel continues to feature Spaghetti Toes items and custom art, along with Martin’s art, primarily memorial and topical

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designs. Spaghetti Toes lives on via Facebook as well, although now that daughter Harper is 10, her artwork is more likely to be featured than her quips (and she insists on being asked for permission, Michelle said).

Martin is quick to point out, her art “gets more likes than mine.” He has recently been involved with an animated series in development, and the Bruckners have ideas for several children’s books. But as busy parents and entrepreneurs, they’re always trying to find more time.

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“We’re kind of open to anything,” Martin said. “ We’ ll see where it takes us.”

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Frequent customer Caroline Downing has commissioned several custom pieces and purchased other merchandise from the Etsy site.

“From what I told [Martin], he ‘got it’ and put it together, like there was some cosmic connection. It’s one of my favorite pieces,” Koza said. “I trust him completely that he will come up with something absolutely amazing.”

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Another frequent customer, Denese Koza, especially treasures memorial art Martin created to honor her two beloved dogs. The work, a 10-year anniversary piece, now appears as a sample on the HarpAndSquirrel Etsy page.

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“My church looked after a kitty, and when she passed away, Marty did a great illustration of Church Kitty and our little church,” Downing said. “An ‘I like makeup and I like bad guys’ [print] is in my bathroom.

Most recently, my mom got me a piece for my birthday of my ‘city kitty’ friends in a limo. I’m so proud of how Spaghetti Toes has grown into a phenomenon. The pieces I had made are the best keepsakes, and I have a piece in every room of my apartment.”

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STORY

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

The Gifford House reflects the discerning tastes of the patrician Omaha family that built it in 1923.

ARCHITECTURE

Omaha Heritage Home in Good Hands

The grand Tudor Revival at 3636 Burt St. was originally the home of societycivic leaders Dr. Harold Gifford and his wife, Mary Louise. He was an ophthalmologist, educator, amateur naturalist, hotel developer, and philanthropist.

She reportedly designed the home, whose big open rooms, crown molding, coffered ceilings, leaded glass windows, and other finely crafted details lend it “a timeless look,” said Omaha real estate broker Tim Reeder, who specializes in buying and selling old and historic homes. He’s long admired its stately beauty and unfussy “fancy, high style.”

“It was a very substantial home in its day and it’s still a very substantial home now," Reeder said. “It’s a large, extremely wellbuilt house on an almost full acre lot.”

The three-story, 4,500-plus square-foot brick, wood frame, and stucco residence features steeply pitched roof lines and the decorative half-timbering aesthetic of the Tudor style. Indoors, there's five bedrooms and four bathrooms, as well as a sun room on the ground level and a sitting room off the second-floor primary suite.

It’s among several vintage properties in the Gifford Park neighborhood, whose green space bears the family name because Dr. Gifford donated the land to the City of Omaha. The couple supported many causes and organizations.

Their son, Harold “Hal” Gifford Jr., became a prominent ophthalmologist and educator himself. His wife, Mary Elizabeth "Emmy" was an artist, set decorator, and co-founder of the Omaha Junior Theatre, which became the Emmy Gifford Children’s (now Rose) Theater. Hal and Emmy took over the house after marrying.

The grounds featured extensive rose gardens and sculptures mirroring Emmy's aesthetic interests. A barn was converted into a garage. The Giffords enjoyed entertaining. So do current

owners John and Carol Higgins, who purchased the home in 2009 knowing some of its heritage. By then, no Giffords had lived there for years. The residence went through several owners until the Higginses acquired it. As the couple learned more, their sense of stewardship over that gilded dwelling has deepened.

“The way we see it is we don’t really own the home, we’re its caretakers,” Carol said. “It’s always going to be the Gifford home. We’re trying to not only maintain the beauty but the happiness that apparently Emmy brought to the home.”

“We’ve done extensive work on the entire property,” John said, “but we haven’t changed a thing about the historical character. It still looks like the house from 100 years ago.”

The Higginses redid the entire third f loor, as well as the kitchen, which features new appliances and amenities.

Outside, the couple added an in-ground pool and well-outfitted pool house. “ They ’ve just done a beautif u l job,” Reeder said.

Carol covets a wine cellar in the unfinished basement someday.

The landmark house attracts art, history, and culture buffs, the homeowners said, with some of them asking to look inside.

Tour groups often stop in front to ogle it.

The established neighborhood it is nestled in adds to the allure with charming, classic single-family homes, mature trees, and walkable streets. The couple appreciate how generations of families live on in Gifford Park. Many of the homes are restored.

Reeder said “it’s a win for our history” when owners like the Higginses do right by an historic home. They just want to leave it better than they found it for the next owners.

“When we’re gone and done with the house, we hope whoever buys it does the same thing we’ve done–keeps it in its glory,” John said.

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DREAM Lana Clarke’s home in The Sanctuary conveys her memories of Utah and love of family.

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...stained white oak beams, their ends detailed with whimsical whispers of small bees crawling on honeycombs.

Bees are another reminder of her home state of Utah.

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unlight streamed through the horizontal stained-glass panels next to the mahogany front door. Vibrant yellow goldenrods seamlessly connected with soft pink sego lilies below. The hardy state f lower of Nebraska, the goldenrod, remains a symbol of the endurance and fortitude of early pioneers. When Mormons almost starved during a harsh winter in the late 1800s, Native Americans supposedly helped the pioneers by showing them how to feast on the bulb.

These symbolic treasures of survival greet guests arriving at the recently built home of Lana Clarke. Her relatives trekked the daunting journey of the Oregon Trail from Nebraska to Utah in 1847.

Her family returned to Nebraska where Clarke finished high school at Westside.

The roots of both states spread harmonious and cultural impressions into her home’s layout. French country and provincial blend into the mix, adding decorative depth.

The armless chair at the entrance nods to this concept so it almost feels as if one has stepped into exotic Paris. The upholstered seats in peacock blue bring out the darker grays and navy of the marble medallion motif on the floor. An old console table has been updated with an ivory and grayveined marble top to lighten the space.

A pleated cornflower-colored ottoman tucked under it allows visitors a place to rest while taking off shoes. The crystals of the chandelier cast a sparkly, welcoming illumination at night.

Clarke believes her late husband, Patrick, would have approved of this charming “downsized” house tucked into the woods at The Sanctuary in Elkhorn. The foundation flourished under the personal touch of her youngest son, Brett Clarke, president of custom home firm Frontier Builders. Vaulted ceilings for open spaces in the lower level contrast with the more intimate dormer style upstairs.

It’s topped with a DaVinci-styled roof in synthetic slate.

“I trust [Brett] completely,” Clarke said. “I couldn’t do this alone. He can build anything.”

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“It was an opportunity to help bring her ideas to life. There is nothing like the uniqueness of this architecture in West Omaha.”

— Brett Clarke

“It was an opportunity to help bring her ideas to life.

There is nothing like the uniqueness of this architecture in West Omaha,” Brett added.

The duo collaborated on ideas three years ago to construct a place for her twilight years. An elevator provides a lift to the next level. The laundry room integrates into the primary bedroom closet, ensuring a long hike downstairs would be unnecessary. The heated driveway melts snow so shoveling isn’t required.

Most of the interior exudes the atmosphere of a woman who cherishes her family of five children, 20 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren (a son and a grandson have passed on, but Clarke keeps them in her count).

Nowhere is this more evident than in the great room, where the once-proclaimed motto “home is where the hearth is” leaped out from a centrally located woodburning gas fireplace. M. Wallman Design wanted to play on this narrative of people spending time together chatting about their day. The brick, exposing itself all the way around, contrasts with the formality of the beige limestone mantelpiece. The design continues outside on the patio with complementary brickwork. A German smear, akin to whitewashing, adds a charming texture to it, providing a feeling of stepping back into an ancient world. Vaulted ceilings feature stained white oak beams, their ends detailed with whimsical whispers of small bees crawling on honeycombs.

Bees are another reminder of her home state of Utah.

The insect details have been added in other areas of the house, such as the library. Honeycombs shapes and bees highlight the sides of a roll-top desk. The debonair French blue paint pops next to dark slate panels of suede wallpaper. The scene makes one want to sink into a chair to read a book on a rainy day.

Feminine flavor, however, isn’t missing from the equation. Designer Marshall Wallman added airy pinks and peaches in the laundry room and closet. In the primary bathroom, Clarke can soak in her luxurious jetted tub or bask in the warmth of a steamy shower with heated floors. An artic-colored and gold-lined dual fuel range with an induction plate stands out in the kitchen. It is handmade and took 15 months to arrive.

“Some people buy paintings, I buy French stoves,” she said.

Clarke, though, designed the house with her family in mind.

“I wanted a home comfortable for Lana, but sizable for entertaining,” explained Wallman, who has worked on three Clarke projects.

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Even her Schnoodle, Heber, was catered to in the home design, which includes a dog tub in the laundry room. A black-andwhite patterned wallpaper showcases a variety of cute pups, such as a dachshund in a sweater, a Frenchie in a beret, and a Labrador retriever in a tie. Gold tinges reflect the brassy, traditional notes around the house.

Clarke hopes the younger grandchildren will make some of the same memories as the older ones in this house…holidays filled with the smells of carrot Bundt cake, homemade jams, and wassail.

“They [my family] are my life,” she said.

G R E E N

Homeowners can make a smart investment by installing solar panels.

STORY

Scot t Stewar t

D E S I G N Mady Besch

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Matt Spielman didn’t want the sunlight hitting his Dundee home to go to waste.

So Spielman had solar panels installed on his detached garage to take advantage of the “thermonuclear reactor in the sky,” aiming to lessen his environmental footprint and hopefully make back his money in eight to nine years.

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“My wife probably thinks I’m a big dork,” Speilman said. “I’ll come home, she’ll flip on the TV or she’ll make coffee, and I’ll say, ‘Hey, you know, the sun’s doing all this for you.’”

He added, “To me, this is cool.”

Speilman invested about $6,000 in solar panels and another $6,800 to bring his garage’s electrical wiring up to code and tunnel it to his home. As a result, his electric bill was slashed, and he’s drawing less power from the grid.

“It’s future-proofing,” he said. “It should, and hopefully will, pay off.”

Spielman recommended shopping around for solar installation contractors, and being wary of anyone promising something that sounds too good or too quick.

He hired Dale Lueck of Great Plains Renewables, who offered him a long list of references and explained options instead of pushing a sale.

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

Lueck agreed, cautioning consumers against fly-by-night installers, as well as those who try to upsell customers solely for greater profit. If an installer wants to put panels on the north side of the house, walk away, he warned. (A south-facing orientation produces the best result; north is far less productive.)

Reputable companies can be found through OPPD and the Better Business Bureaus serving Nebraska. The organization Nebraskans for Solar also has a list of vendors to consider.

Helen Deffenbacher, executive director of Nebraskans for Solar, said a list of suggested questions to ask an installer can be found on its website, nebraskansforsolar.org. For instance, “Is my home roof a good fit for solar?”

“Homeowners can also learn about available financial incentives,” Deffenbacher said, including the federal investment tax credit of 26% for installing solar, which will decline to 22% in 2023.

A reputable contractor should evaluate a home’s needs and review a customer's energy bills up front, Lueck said, because every situation is unique. He said many of his customers aim to generate 80% to 85% of their home energy usage from solar, balancing their financial interests with emission reductions.

OPPD awards credits for electricity that home solar customers put on the grid, and it bills based on energy used. Customers can carry a balance of credits on their bill statements, and a check is cut annually to avoid accumulating an excessive number of unneeded credits.

Think of it like tax withholding: Ideally, the energy credits earned from OPPD during periods of overproduction will equal the energy credits spent during periods of underproduction.

Most people would rather earn credits against their OPPD bill worth 10 to 12 cents per kilowatt-hour than be paid about 4 cents for generating electricity in excess of what they actually use, Lueck said.

Lueck warned that electric bills won’t be zero, however, because there are monthly fees charged to all customers for access to the grid. Customers won’t be able to use the energy they generate during a power outage also, unless they install a battery system, which is expensive.

Often, the best approach is building a residential solar system in stages, Lueck said, and all of Great Plains’ systems are modular, so more panels and batteries can be added later.

Regardless of whether it’s a modest setup or a top-of-the-line battery array, adding solar will add resale value to one's home, Lueck said. After all, there are more potential buyers interested in reducing their carbon footprint and utility bills than there are solar detractors.

“There’s enough people out there nowadays in Nebraska that are going to look at [those panels] and say, ‘I want that house,’” he said.

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DREAMING OF A

Shades of Tron, Batman, and Lecter are found under one roof in Bennington.

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ttorney Thomas Campbell’s home in Newport Landing on Bennington Lake is distinctively contemporary by day, and it’s even more stunning at night with imbedded lighting in the pavement that makes the approach looks more runway than driveway. Inside, the home is a masculine masterpiece influenced by some of Campbell’s favorite movie characters and designed by the owner himself.

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“You’ve got Tron, you’ve got Batman, you’ve got Hannibal Lecter. And it was all visualized before I did it,” Campbell said.

“It’s very unique. It was a fun project to bring to life,” Arjay Builders’ president Collin Shramek said.

The 4,427-square-foot home has three bedrooms—including a two-story primary suite— four bathrooms, and plenty of extras like a gym, sauna, and (of course) theater room.

With clean lines, dark floors, gray walls, and a lot of black, its style is less Midwestern contemporary and more like what contemporary is in New York City or Los Angeles—or Gotham City.

“Black, dark. That’s Batman: ever y thing is dark. Not evil, but dark. Black paint, black stone, outside I’ve got black tile, black tile columns, black pavers. Black stone on the sides. Even the paint is gray,” Campbell said. “Black f loors and the Tron lighting everywhere.”

At 40, Campbell seems a little young to be referencing a movie released in 1982, but he’s talking about the universe that includes Tron Legacy (2010). And his Batman is not from the campy 1960s television series, but rather The Dark Knight (and billionaire alter ego Bruce Wayne) characterization in movies from 1989 onward.

So, what is Tron lighting, exactly? It’s lines of illumination that run vertically floorto-ceiling, horizontally and diagonally along wall/ceiling borders and stairwells.

“At nighttime it’s amazing,” Campbell said.

“Lighting was a huge element of the movie Tron and transferred into Tom’s project. And he wasn’t like, ‘Let’s do one accent wall.’ He wanted the whole house to be Tron,” Shramek said.

“We’ve done it before, mostly in commercial settings, but it’s not done very often in Omaha. The builder term is ‘drywall-recessed LED channel lighting.’ That’s not a fun term, so I’m with Tom: call it ‘Tron lighting.’”

The Campbell home features large and abundant windows— i nc lud i n g c u stom-sh ap e d w indows t hat fol low t he ro of l i ne —t h rou ghout t he home. There’s even a window in the pantry, and the three-bay garage’s doors have glass panels.

“People said to me, ‘Too much black won’t look good.’ I said, ‘If you have a window in every single room in the house, it’s not going to matter,’” Campbell said. “Minus the gym and the sauna, every room in the house has windows.”

Shramek said the home has many appealing elements.

“I really like the deck, how he wanted to close off on the sides.

I thought that was cool, and I liked the dual-sided fireplace for that use. The front porch was the same kind of thing,” Shramek said. “I think he did great on the exterior. The fire pit, the pavers... he used nice materials.”

The spaces and surfaces of the home are devoid of clutter, and there’s a theme of consistency in fixtures and materials from tophung sliding-panel doors and countertop granite from Brazil to display shelves Campbell designed himself.

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“I respect Picasso. I think he’s an amazing artist. But I don’t want my house to be a Picasso,” Campbell explained. “Things f it in a specific [way]."

At the same time, there are unexpected things, like the LEGO builds—mostly models from Star Wars, another of Campbell’s loves— displayed in several rooms (he’s still working on an enormous Imperial Star Destroyer); a kitchen island with an irregular-polyhedron base; silvery wallpaper with a print evocative of topography mapping; interesting furnishings like a two-piece asymmetrical coffee table and circle chairs; natural stones hollowed out to serve as bath basins; and distinctive art including a talented friend’s interpretation of Gustav Klimt’s famous painting “Der Kuss” (The Kiss).

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And there’s Campbell’s office, the richly outfitted “Hannibal Lecter classical office” and the only space in the house that’s not entirely contemporary. It features a heavy wood desk with ornate legs atop a gorgeous handmade silk Kashmir rug, high-end wainscotting, and crown molding with accent lighting. Minus the killing and cannibalism, Hannibal Lecter is a refined character with opulent tastes and impeccable manners, Campbell explained, so the office reflects those rich qualities.

Campbell spoke to several builders before landing on Arjay Builders, who respected his vision and, as a highend home builder, had the experience to execute it.

“It was a bit eccentric,” Campbell said.

“Twenty-foot ceilings, tile in the middle, lights running down, and the lights all connect everywhere…I prioritize the aesthetics.”

Construction took just under a year.

Campbell, who estimated having 100 meetings with all the subcontractors involved from electricians to master carpenters, moved into the house in July 2021.

“It’s hard to build these homes,” he said.

“A lot of attention. A lot of meetings. I’m not patient, but you have to have a lot of patience if you’re going to build a home.”

Campbell never handed over the details to a designer, choosing to fill that role himself. For many homeowners, that would wreak havoc on organization and timelines. But not this home. The build was smooth, Shramek said.

“We actually were ahead of schedule on it. We contracted it for a year and finished it in 10 months. It went pretty well,” he said. “A lot of that, to say, is Tom. He’s a very decisive person.”

His home is everything he wanted, Campbell said.

“It feels like I want it to feel,” he said. “It’s Batman living in Tron.”

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“ I T WA S A B I T E CC E N T R I C .

T W E N T Y- F O O T C E I L I N G S , T I L E IN THE MIDDLE , LIGHTS RUNNING D OW N , A N D T H E L I G H T S A L L CO N N E C T E V E RY W H E R E … I PRIORITIZE THE AESTHETICS .”

— THOMAS CAMPBELL

AT H OM E

Love

W H ER E YOU LI V E

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Designer Lorrie Williams becomes her own client.

S TORY - K A R A SC HWE ISS | PHOTOGR A PH Y - BILL SITZM A NN DESIGN - M A DY BESC H

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L

o rrie Williams and her husband, Andy, thought they had built their forever home, a just-right villa.

But life happened. The empty-nesters unexpectedly found themselves in the market for a new home because they wanted to accommodate Lorrie’s parents as her mother’s Alzheimer’s disease advanced and care needs increased.

Their first find, a 3,900-square-foot, five-bedroom/ four-bathroom house in northwest Omaha’s Huntington Park neighborhood, was excellent in many ways. It had exterior brick on all four sides. Its previous owners had taken exquisite care of the property, which had high-quality finishes and treatments. Best of all, it had a finished and updated lower level with a separate entrance, bedrooms, bathrooms, a living area, and even its own laundry. With the addition of a wall kitchen, it could serve as a home-within-a-home for Lorrie’s parents.

“The basement sold us,” Lorrie Williams said. “It was perfect.”

Not so perfect, however, was the dated main-floor decor: oak cabinetry and trim everywhere; pastel walls, enclosed living areas. As a designer and president of Fluff Interior Design and Fluff Market, Williams wanted to freshen up the home’s look.

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“We love to entertain and we love to feed people. We went from our villa where we could squeeze eight people around a table to having three tables where we can sit maybe 20 people.”

—Lorrie Williams

“This is a very traditional neighborhood and a pretty traditional home itself, so I didn’t want to come in here and turn it into something super-modern,” she explained. “I really wanted to respect what the home was asking for and take it to a very updated place, but still keep in mind the architecture and bones and neighborhood and not be the sore thumb.”

Williams, who worked with contractor David Thoms, said her biggest musthaves included a full kitchen remodel and opening up the main-floor common spaces. The kitchen was transformed with new white cabinetry that extends to the ceiling and includes glass doors with accent lighting, some open shelving, a large island with ample seating, new bench seating with storage in the breakfast nook, and a large table alongside the two-sided fireplace. Black trim and wood and black accents add warmth and dimension.

“We love to entertain and we love to feed people. We went from our villa where we could squeeze eight people around a table to having three tables where we can sit maybe 20 people,” Williams said.

The remodeling coincided with the start of the pandemic in spring 2020, and supply-chain problems caused delays and forced some compromise.

“I’m probably the only person who really notices this, but I have four different brands of appliances,” Williams said, with a laugh. “We ordered appliances in March, and in August we still didn’t have them and it was time for inspections. I had to go out and buy what was available—that day—that fit the holes in my kitchen. This stainless doesn’t quite match that stainless, but overall, it’s good. You have to flexible, and gratefully, that’s my nature anyway. When you remodel during a pandemic, you ‘do what you gotta do.’”

Another compromise was letting go of her original vision for the fireplace.

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AT HOM E

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“When we first talked about the remodel, I said, ‘The fireplace has to go. We’re going to put it on that [exterior] wall.’ I wanted to open the space up. Then we got the bids back and I said, ‘Oh! Nevermind,’” she said, adding that the fireplace stayed but the surrounding wall was removed. She loved the resulting look that delineates spaces but still feels open. “In retrospect, I’m really glad it stayed where it is.”

Flooring on the main level, originally a mix of tile and red oak, was another design challenge, especially considering new exposed areas where walls had once stood.

“I couldn’t bear to tear up the real wood,” Williams said. “We pieced it in everywhere we took walls out…[The contractor] probably showed me 25 different samples before we landed on this. For me, It’s perfect. It’s not too light, it’s not too dark, it’s not too gray, it’s not too cold. It’s nice.”

The dining room retained the same layout, but cosmetic updates that dramatically transformed its look included turning curved tray-ceiling edges to right angles, adding white board-and-batten topped by dark gray walls, replacing the staid light fixture and adding some fun, contemporary art.

“That’s the power of design,” Williams said. “It’s crazy what you can do with accessories and furniture and paint and a little bit of personality.”

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NEW OR REPLACEMENT WINDOWS Oak doors were replaced with black panel doors throughout the house, and oak window trim was painted black in most areas. Williams chose a soft, light gray shade for the walls of the rooms on the main level and bright white high-profile trim.

FOR YOU R

HOME

“When you’re not doing a lot of color, that black contrast and texture become very important,” Williams said.

The primary bedroom now has a dark shiplap accent wall and the primary bath’s corner tub and enclosed shower have become a long open shower. Fixtures and finishes in both bathrooms are all new, but contractors worked around the original plumbing and layout.

Williams said she enjoyed adding “little touches of meaning” throughout the home, from photo tiles that fill a hallway wall (“I walk by here and it makes me happy.”), to her father-in-law’s hat on a hook in the entry, to artwork with quotes from the family’s favorite literature. Most of all, she’s thankful she was able to add her parents to the household and help with her mother’s care. Her mom has since passed away, but Williams’ father continues to live with them, independent but closeby.

“I tell clients that your home should serve you, not the other way around,” she said. “I really do love my house,” Williams said. “Just like our business tagline: ‘Love where you live.’”

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Meet the Interior Designer

LIZ LEMPKA

ASID, NCIDQ, The Interior Design Firm Lempka was born, raised, and educated in Lincoln, Nebraska, where she attended UNL for her degree in interior design. After graduation, she moved to Omaha and joined The Interior Design Firm. She is proficient in Auto CAD, Revit, Photoshop, and Illustrator, enabling her to generate creative solutions no matter the project’s size. Outside of work, Lempka enjoys spending time with her husband, new baby, and pup Nigel.

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ASID Story - Liz Lempka & Julie Stanek // Photography - Amoura Productions // Design - Mady Besch

A dated home gets a European charm refresh, layout redesign with seniors’ needs in mind.

Meet the Interior Designer

JULIE STANEK

ASID, NCIDQ, The Interior Design Firm Stanek grew up in Omaha and attended the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, earning her B.S. in architecture with an emphasis in interior design.

She has been with The Interior Design Firm for 28 years and has received several ASID awards for residential and commercial design. Stanek likes to golf, travel, and hang out with her husband, newly married daughter, and son-in-law.

T

he main intention of this home renovation was to take a dated, compartmentalized floor plan and turn it into an open, functional space for aging in place. This would enable the clients to feel comfortable and safe in their home for many years to come.

The kitchen was reconfigured, bringing it forward 10 feet, while the butler’s pantry, laundry room, and mud room were relocated behind the kitchen, separating the common areas from work spaces.

The primary bath, with an odd layout, was not functional for these aging homeowners and needed restructuring as well. The large tub was removed, and a walk-in shower put in its place. The original shower location was turned into a walk-in stool area and outfitted with grab bars. And the lighting temperature and spa-like colors used in the bathroom helped the clients see with more clarity.

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Our challenge throughout this project was finding a way to connect the old elements and the new. Light fixtures played a big role in this solution.

ASID

We Deliver All Over the Omaha Metro Area The fireplace wall that separated the hearth room and great room was removed, creating more flow for daily living, and several types of f looring were replaced with a rich hardwood throughout the main level to give the home a cohesive feel.

The homeowners did not want a typical gray home, but instead opted for a soft color palette, establishing a gallery effect for our client’s historic art collection.

The design challenge throughout this project was finding a way to connect the old elements and the new. Light fixtures played a big role in this solution. The client’s antique light fixture was incorporated along with new fixtures that played into the transitional theme.

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Special thought was paid to using integrated lighting as well. Lights were added to the toe kicks in the kitchen and primary bath to highlight circulation paths and aid in way-finding, and undercabinet lighting and strategically placed can lights were installed to provide greater task lighting.

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Another component of aging in place is having the appropriate passage widths. All the interior doors were made ADA compliant, and all hallways were oversized to allow wheelchair use in the future, if needed.

This newly renovated main level became the perfect transitional space, combining new features and heirlooms. The clients are now able to age in place without fear while enjoying an elegant, more functional home.

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