OmahaHome July/August 2021 by Omaha Magazine

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

JULY/AUGUST 2021

A LIBRARY WITH STYLE TO SPARE // LISA WORRALL’S WONDERLAND // GREEN ACRES ON GROVE ROAD // WEST OMAHA IDYLL

A STYLE THAT LOOKS GOOD ON YOU Every space in your home should be a reflection of you. From comfort and convenience to style and sophistication. That’s why the creative interior

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DESIGNER DUPE ORCHID ARR ANGEMENT

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A FA R M H O USE K I TC H EN W I T H FL A I R

he summer is heating up and in full swing. Now is the perfect time to enjoy those backyard barbecues and family vacations. After the last year, I think everyone needs at least one weekend getaway.

Summer is also a great time to fluff and breathe a little life back into your home. One of the easiest ways to lighten your decor for the summer months is to put away the heavy throws and pillows and bring out some softer, lighter, and brighter ones. Another way to liven up your decor is to mix in some tropical plants and cheery, fresh flowers from the farmers’ market or your own yard, if you’re lucky enough to have them. You can also add some great faux flowers or plants that will keep your guests guessing whether they’re real or not. Be sure to check out my designer dupe floral arrangement DIY this issue. Hopefully my personalized orchid arrangement will inspire you to test your creative skills and create a chic, custom arrangement for your own home that you’ll enjoy having around for years. This issue, I’m certain you’ll also be inspired by Kim Ahlers’ patriotic farmhouse porch, which is the pride of her Papillion neighborhood; retired teacher Lisa Worrall’s colorful home and yard makeover, which is a feast for the eyes; the Loves’ fresh country abode, and more. Some very cute pooches make an appearance as well. This Independence Day, we can all agree this is one of the most important time periods in the history of our country. Let’s come together with friends, family, and neighbors to celebrate America, home of the brave, land of the free. Enjoy the summer.

Lloyd Randolph, the Ahlers family’s beloved golden retriever, welcomes guests to their renovated Papillion home. The Americana-themed porch is a tradition that locals enjoy seeing every summer. Story page 6. Photo by Bill Sitzmann.

Sandy Matson Contributing Editor

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 11 · Issue 5

EDITORIAL Managing Editor

DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Senior Editor TARA SPENCER

Associate Editor LINDA PERSIGEHL

Contributing Writers

KIM CARPENTER · SALLIE ELLIOTT · JENNA GABRIAL GALLAGHER LISA LUKECART · PATRICK M C GEE · CARRIELLE SEDERSTEN KATY SPRATTE JOYCE · CHRIS STOUT-HAZARD

CREATIVE Creative Director MATT WIECZOREK

Senior Graphic Designer DEREK JOY

Graphic Designer II MADY BESCH

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A Library with Style to Spare S TO RY & P H OTO G R A P H Y

CHRIS STOUT-HA Z ARD

pare bedrooms are too frequently relegated to second-tier status. They’re thrown together as a home office, a guest bedroom furnished with leftovers, or a jumbled storage room. Rather than let our multi-use spare bedroom languish in design purgatory, we decided to make it a standout space in our old farmhouse. Not entirely a guest room and not entirely an office, we decided to create a library.

DESIGN

MADY BESCH

We have worked from home for well over a decade, and know our homeoffice needs are less about monitors and desks and more about a quiet spot to sit while returning emails and making calls. Freed of the requirement of a dedicated desk, our options were open.

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We started transforming a simple, yet sunny, front bedroom by painting the floor a dusty blue, then covering the walls in tongue-and-groove boards to add character. With houseguests an infrequent occurrence, we needed a spot for a single guest to stay over on occasion. We opted for a daybed, which could be used just as easily for lounging with a good book as it could for sleeping. We created a daybed nook by building matching bookcase walls on either end of a twin bed, resting on a custom platform. The bookcases surround a pair of windows, with a lowered, paneled ceiling to add to the feeling of a cozy nest. Additional bookcases were built on two more walls—one filling most of the wall and the other wrapping around the room’s other windows. Paneling and ornamental trim give the built-ins a luxurious, handsome appearance. The walls and built-ins were painted a rich emerald green. We complemented the color scheme with a neutral grass rug under an aged faux zebra hide. Blue denim drapes help frame the daybed, matching our Howdy French club chair in the opposite corner. We added storage with a modern wood credenza, and hung some of our favorite forest-inspired botanical prints above it. The finished room is a delight and fits our needs perfectly. We have ample storage to keep paperwork and tech doodads tucked away, a comfy place for a housesitter to sleep, and a distinctive room in which we love spending time. Until next time, Roger and Chris, at Double Heart Farm. This article is part of a series chronicling the home renovation of Roger Hazard and Chris StoutHazard, furniture designers with Roger+Chris. Read more on doubleheartfarm.com or follow along on instagram.com/dblheartfarm.

B E FO R E

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“OUR HOME-OFFICE NEEDS ARE LESS ABOUT MONITORS AND DESKS AND MORE ABOUT A QUIET SPOT TO SIT WHILE RETURNING EMAILS AND MAKING CALLS.”

THE AHLERS’ PATRIOTIC PORCH SHINES ALL SUMMER

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Story

K AT Y S PR ATTE JOYCE

Photography

B I LL S ITZ MAN N

Design

MADY B E SCH

“It’s like that movie The Money Pit,” said Kim Ahlers, referring to her 1903 farmhouse in the City Park area of Papillion. Since purchasing the property in 1991, the Ahlers family has shown a lot of renovation love to their home, including an 1,800-square-foot expansion. Perhaps most notably, in 1994, they added a showstopping front porch that not only increased functional space, but transformed the curb appeal of their home as well. In fact, people walking by often say, “We just want to come up on your porch and sit,” Ahlers said proudly. The home makeover almost didn’t happen. “I’m always the big visionary,” Ahlers explained. She could see the potential even as her husband, Greg, voted to bulldoze the place and start anew. Luckily, Kim won that battle, and the couple decided to move ahead with the old home reno, which became a labor of love. Ahlers was inspired by pretty porches seen on frequent business trips to the East Coast, even drawing the design herself. “It added so much to the house,” she said. She and Greg spend mornings on the porch with coffee, and evenings on the porch with cocktails. “It’s an extension of our home…It’s definitely living space,” for the family of five, she said.

AHLERS WAS INSPIRED BY PRETTY PORCHES SEEN ON FREQUENT BUSINESS TRIPS TO THE EAST COAST, EVEN DRAWING THE DESIGN HERSELF. “IT ADDED SO MUCH TO THE HOUSE.”

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S PAC E S

Ahlers, who has owned and operated Papillion boutique Kajoma’s for 15 years, decorates her massive front porch for every season. She starts setting up her summer look in May so the area is transformed with patriotic flair in time for Memorial Day. “I have a love for color and pattern, and I’ve always enjoyed decorating,” the homeowner explained. “You give me a theme, and I’ll run with it.” The summer color scheme has traditionally been red, white, and blue, a nod to her mother, who was a longtime STR ATCOM employee and loved Americana. “She passed it on to me,” Ahlers stated. The decorating enthusiast began with a single flag on the flagpole out front, then started collecting classic Fourth of July decor such as buntings, which she uses to this day. “It really is picture perfect,” said Karri Horton, a teacher at nearby Trumble Park Elementary. “I drive up that street every day and am always anxious to see the seasonal changes on the porch.” The summer setup is Horton’s favorite because it coincides with an annual Papillion Days gathering where everyone is welcome.

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Promoting that community feel is a key focus for Ahlers, a president of theNetwork Down-2019 n’s Circle Diamondformer in the Berkshire Hathaway town Papillion Business Asso0 (Units) in the Berkshire Hathaway National Network 2019 ciation. “The porch has been 00 (CGI) in the Berkshire Hathaway National Network 2019 a central congregating spot,” she said. Even the decor has local flair, as much of it was sourced from Prairie in Bloom in Omaha, Mariposa Home Gifts Design in Papillion, and Robin’s Nest in Springfield. “Whatever catches my eye and makes me smile,” and fits the color scheme, is what Ahlers gravitates toward. New pieces from HomeGoods or Nebraska Furniture Mart, and older, unique pieces, such as a retro bike from a neighborhood garage sale, grace the porch as well. A pale, sky-blue color covers the porch ceiling, harkening back to Southern Gullah tradition. Big ferns, flowers, succulents, and hanging plants found at Mulhall’s and Canoyer Garden Center bring Mother Nature onto the decor team. Even the family’s golden retriever, the everdapper Lloyd Randolph, gets dressed up to match the porch for the summer holidays; he has a collection of hats and ties that match perfectly with the patriotic theme.

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STORY SANDY MATSON PHOTOGR APHY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN MADY BESCH

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As a thrifty shopper and self-taught floral designer, I thought I’d share some advice for creating a high-end arrangement that will keep your guests guessing if it's real or fake and won’t cost a fortune. My research found that you can pay up to $750 for a designer orchid arrangement. I spent $185 creating mine. (Keep in mind, you can choose to use something different for your base, which would signif icantly reduce the cost.)

(Found at craft stores and online) • Teak root bowl (bought at HomeGoods, but similar ones can be found on ETSY at etsy.com/market/teak_root_bowl) • Dry floral foam • 3 Large faux orchid flower branches • 2 Small faux orchid stems • 3-4 Orchid leaves • 4-5 Bamboo stakes • Prepackaged moss (may substitute 1 jar small pebbles) • Fern sprig • Curly willow (dried or artificial) • 20-gauge floral wire (or raffia ribbon)

DO-IT-YOURSELF

MY SUPPLIES

any of my favorite florals, including peonies and hydrangeas, are available in spectacular faux versions. You can find them at specialty home stores, in the decor section at plant nurseries, at chain craft stores, and online. For my DIY this issue, I created a designer dupe (short for duplicate) floral display with another favorite—one of the most beautiful flowers on earth, the orchid (phalaenopsis).

My research found that you can pay up to $750 for a designer orchid arrangement.

First, a few tips to achieving that designer look: INVEST IN THE RIGHT VESSEL FOR YOUR BASE. It could be a bowl, urn, or pot; made of metal, wood, or resin…the options are endless. Using something different or unexpected adds interest. Check antique stores for unique options. With no watering required, there’s no need for concern about leakage. Teak bowls are popular and found just about everywhere. MAKE SURE TO PROPERLY SECURE THE FLOWERS. Take care when inserting the stems and stake them well so they’re stable and not moving or falling over. If falling flowers is an issue, choose a better grade of foam or use an adhesive to glue the stems in place. DON’T GO CHEAP ON THE FLOWERS/GREENERY. Faux flowers have come a long way in recent years, but they’re all not made the same. Take the time to shop for premium artificial flowers with realistic stems and silk petals. They’re amazingly lifelike, have the best coloring, resist fading, and will hold up to regular dusting.

INSTRUCTIONS

STEP 1: Cut a large piece of floral foam and place in the bottom of your vessel; then fill in the sides with smaller foam pieces as needed. STEP 2: Stick orchid leaves into the foam as desired, leaving spots open for your orchid stems and stakes. STEP 3: Vary the height of your orchids by cutting different amounts off the stem bottoms with a wire cutter. STEP 4: Insert each orchid stem deeply into the foam, spacing them out as desired and staggering the flower heights. Adjust as needed. STEP 5: Insert a bamboo stake next to each orchid stem, then secure using floral tape, wire, or raffia ribbon. Trim the stakes if too tall.

STEP 6: Add the fern or curly willow to the staked stems, if desired. STEP 7: Once you are happy with the placement of the leaves, floral stems, and all is secure, add the moss (or pebbles if you prefer) to cover any visible foam. STEP 8: If you like, personalize your arrangement. (Since I live lakeside and wanted to keep with a water theme, I used a piece of driftwood I picked up on vacation in Mexico and added a starfish accent.) Have fun with this—get creative! If you want to test your hand with some less expensive florals, that works, too; or keep it simple and use one large orchid stem. This DIY is surprisingly easy and a great way to add a little glam to your indoor space. Good luck! J U LY/A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

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e r l d a n n d o W L I S A W O R R A L L’ S

ONCE THE OMAHA ARTIST STARTED TRANSFORMING HER HOME, THERE WAS NO STOPPING HER.

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Story

JENNA GABRIAL GALL AGHERR

Photography

BILL SITZMANN

Design

M A DY B E SC H

Lisa Worrall likes to show visitors before and after photos of her Westside-area split-level home. The before shot, taken around the time she and her then-teenaged son moved in after her divorce in 1999, is a study in earth tones, f illed with imposing antique furniture she inherited from her grandmother. The after shot is a kaleidoscope of color, bold graphics, and some of Worrall’s favorite motifs, including stars, birdhouses, little chairs, and hands. “After a few years in the house, I realized all that brown and beige just wasn’t me,” Worrall said. “I started putting things in estate sales and letting them go in order to have room for what came next.” As she began to clear the space, Worrall knew she wanted to create four pieces of art for her living room walls, but the cost of four canvases proved prohibitively expensive. While she was walking around the art supplies aisle, she spotted some colorful paper and inspiration struck: she could achieve her vision by creating mosaics of cut paper.

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“I STARTED PUTTING THINGS IN ESTATE SALES AND LETTING THEM GO IN ORDER TO HAVE ROOM FOR WHAT CAME NEXT.”

—Lisa Worrall

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The success of that project ultimately inspired a whole new career as an artist. Worrall’s Iddy Biddy Boo Design greeting cards and other artwork can be found at gift shops and specialty stores around Omaha, and her work has been shown at North Carolina’s Biltmore Estate. Recently, she was commissioned to create a large, joyful shadow box for the entrance of the new recreational therapy area at Omaha’s Munroe Meyer Institute. But even before that, those original art pieces empowered Worrall to create a home out of her own creativity and ingenuity. “I never had the money to hire out. Everything had to happen within my power to do it myself,” Worrall said, noting that the extra time

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it took to do everything on her own may have saved her time and money in the long run. “I could really think about what I wanted. Once I figured it out, I never went off the rails.” Worrall and her mother spent an entire summer painting all the woodwork in the 1967-built home to achieve a clean and bright white backdrop for her colorful decorating ideas. A book illustration project she took on funded the new flooring, and she handcrafted pillows out of placemats and tea towels. Other textiles in the home, including the dining room curtains, were designed by Worrall herself; she created the pattern using cut paper art, then uploaded it to the fabric printing website spoonflower.com.

“ WA L K I N G I N T O L I S A’ S H O M E I S L I K E FA L L I N G DOWN ALICE’S RABBIT H O L E . S H E TA K E S S O M E T H I N G T H AT O T H E R PEOPLE MIGHT WRITE OFF A S A LOS T C AU S E A N D U S E S W H AT S H E HA S TO MAKE IT Q U ITE S P E C TA C U L A R . ”

— Julie Taylor

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F E AT U R E

“Walking into Lisa’s home is like falling down Alice’s rabbit hole,” said Julie Taylor, the director of sales and marketing for Iddy Biddy Boo Design. “She takes something that other people might write off as a lost cause and uses what she has to make it quite spectacular.”

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This is certainly the case with Worrall’s garden. Formerly a standard, character-less suburban allotment, it is now yet another exuberant tableau where the artist explores her love of color, contrast, and texture. Sitting out there on a summer afternoon feels like living in a MacKenzie-Childs tea party. With tape and paint, Worrall transformed the concrete-slab patio into a black-and-white terrazzo, surrounded by a riot of perennials (many of which were originally free takeaways from the former community garden at Prairie Lane School where she taught before retiring). Like so much of Worrall’s home, the garden’s layout echoes a traditional folk art canvas—with the pared-down, repeating pattern of black-and-white squares in the center, allowing the border, a multicolored, magpie assortment of f lowers and plants, to really stand out.

It’s a design philosophy that’s given Worrall room to keep, and even showcase, some of the beloved antiques that she couldn’t bear to part with as her style evolved. She sleeps in the bed her grandfather was born in, and one of her guest rooms has a pie safe that had been in her grandparents’ basement throughout her childhood. There’s also a wicker chaise foraged from the nurse’s office at the first school where she taught, and a pristine dust ruff le, hand-stitched with birds, that she made from a set of curtains her mother found at Goodwill. “The shapes of these pieces are so interesting, but you have to get rid of the knick-knacks, the doilies, and all that or else it just looks fussy,” Worrall said.

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Taylor added, “What’s really special about Lisa’s home is that she takes pieces of her past history and her current life and work and puts it all together in a way so that every place you look tells a story about her life.” The two women first met about five years ago when a friend of a friend brought Taylor to see Worrall’s home—the type of thing that turns out to happen frequently in Worrall’s world. As she explained, “I think it’s inspiring for people to see that you can start with just one wall, and before you know it, you’ve changed everything.”

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G R E E N AC R E S

GROVE ROAD

A Bellevue Couple Compromise on Their Love of Country & City Living

at home

he white gravel path dips down, then opens into a panoramic country vista. A red-andwhite barn tints the landscape ahead. This barn isn’t rustic, though, or weather-beaten. A black metal cupola on its roof doesn’t vent. Cows, horses, and pigs are not nestling inside; instead, it shelters a truck. Goats roam the barnyard—three metal ones, placed on and next to haystacks nearby. It’s a modern structure, much like the adjacent house with its farmhouse façade.

City and country life blend on Grove Road in Bellevue. It’s the best of both worlds for Deb and Scott Love. “I would have loved to be a farmer,” Scott admitted. “If that was the case, we never would have been married,” quipped Deb, born and raised in Omaha. “This house is our compromise,” he added.

ST O RY

LISA LUKECART PH O T O G R A PH Y

BILL SITZMANN DESIGN

MADY BESCH

Scott grew up in Crescent, Iowa, where he worked on his grandfather’s 250-acre farm. He majored in agriculture at Iowa State University, but the labs and partying “kicked my ass,” he joked. He later moved to Omaha and worked as a facility manager at the Nebraska Medical Center. There he met Deb, who worked in office administration, while searching for coffee. The two became fast friends and, eventually, partners in 28 years of marriage. The couple wanted their dream home as their twilight years approached. Deb, 65, didn’t want to leave the city life, and Scott, 63, desired country living. They found middle ground with a gem of an acreage on a former golf course. The house rests on what was the 13th fairway of the back nine, while the barn sits on the 13th green. The location, undeniably rural but minutes from the city, nailed down the final decision to buy. The Loves hired Ideal Designs Custom Homes to build a house that combined their different tastes. It took about a year to build the 3,024-square-foot house, beginning in August 2017. Local turkeys took a dust bath while workers constructed it, Scott recalled. Ryan Krejci, owner of Ideal Designs, explained the end goal was to create a “farmhouse on a prairie.” And while the Loves have some city utilities, they rely on well water and a propane tank tucked away underground.

J U LY/A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

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THE BEAGLE LOUNGES ON A CUSHIONED BENCH, SOAKING UP THE NATURAL LIGHT THROUGH THE MAIN ROOM WINDOW WHERE NO CURTAINS HINDER HIS WATCH DUTY.

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“[The house] is unique and has its own style,” Krejci said. Remy, their 3-year-old beagle, is in charge of security and patrols the acreage for “intruders,” such as turkeys, owls, or eagles. Deer sneak bites of pumpkin or flowers, depending on the season. Deb, the executive director of the Holland Foundation, sometimes brings her laptop outside and sits on the shaded wraparound front porch to work. Scott, a safety director at Miller Electric, arrives home later. He sometimes rides his ATV, an Arctic Cat, around the property. A beehive for honey, Loess prairie grass for a natural guise, and a putting green will soon further enhance the grounds. Scott wants a natural fire pit, but may opt to buy one, he said. Tree stumps surround a makeshift one in the meantime. The couple relish entertaining friends at their home. At Easter, they hired a pizza truck and invited friends over for a barn burner. Adults hunted for eggs containing mini bottles of alcohol, lottery scratch tickets, and golf balls. The biggest prize was a $20 bill. Deb hopes for a pool someday, so she can plan more outdoor fun with friends. Scott added a red flagstone path that circles to the back of the house, making it easier for Deb’s coffee group to convene on the patio. This area has black-and-white-striped curtains for shade and soft tan and gray patio furniture, allowing guests to converse comfortably on hot summer afternoons. A pillow reading “B.T.W. Bring the Wine” adds a humorous touch.

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THE HOUSE RESTS ON WHAT WAS THE 13TH FAIRWAY OF THE BACK NINE, WHILE THE BARN SITS ON THE 13TH GREEN. THE LOCATION, UNDENIABLY RURAL BUT ONLY MINUTES FROM THE CITY, NAILED DOWN THE FINAL DECISION TO BUY.

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More red flagstones lead from the barn to the house, but Remy ignores them and sprints across the wide expanse of grass. The pup heads inside, passing a bench area and a custom metal railing near the front entrance. Huge vaulted ceilings, accented by shiplap and beams, create spaciousness in the room, and earth tone bricks enhance the fireplace. The beagle lounges on a cushioned bench, soaking up the natural light through the main room window where no curtains hinder his watch duty. The real star in the room, however, is a heavy sliding door formed of reclaimed barn wood. The rustic, multi-colored door produces drama, while a weathered coffee table and functional furniture create a cozy mood. Craftsman

Dan Toberer, who worked on the renovated Blue Barn Theatre’s wood floors and timbers, crafted the Love’s fireplace mantel and shelves from walnut found in the area, which blends well with the home’s dark wood floor. Black metal light fixtures with faux candles hang over the dining table and island in the kitchen. A charcoal gray island sets off the lighter tones of its quartz top. White kitchen cabinets and shelves provide a contrast with the light-gray patterned backsplash. A farm table stretches out in the sunshine. Benches and chairs surround it, ready for guests. A wine rack hangs on the wall next to a wooden cow print to further blend the theme. A small room off to the side stores pantry items and appliances. A long counter and window give the room depth. Plus, Deb said it’s a perfect spot to hide the butcher block that Scott uses to gut fish and skin birds.

A bonus room upstairs sits directly above a three-car heated garage. It houses two beds for the grandchildren when they visit and a television with surround sound for special movie nights. Remy likes to sneak upstairs to nap on the red leather chair. Scott plans on finishing the basement with a wet bar, a shuffleboard table, and another bathroom. He still has a few years until retirement, when he’ll have plenty of time to work on the house. For now, he’s proud of what he and Deb have accomplished thus far. “I still feel so good about driving down our driveway after work,” Scott said.

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Authenticity Rules Supreme Laurie Leahy’s Home Reflects Her Love of All Things Real & Imperfect

Story

Carrielle Sedersten

Photography

Bill Sitzmann

Design

Mady Besch

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Laurie Leahy takes arts and crafts to the next level. Since she was old enough to hold a sewing needle she’s been be a maker of sorts; as of late, primarily things for the home. She hooks rugs. She knits. She crochets. She upholsters fabric and leather furniture. She makes curtains. She paints. She even installed her granite kitchen countertops on her own. “I have done every crafty thing you could ever possibly think of over my life because I just make, make, make, make,” said Leahy, whose day job is as a food stylist for Omaha Steaks. Nothing in Leahy’s 1940s Morton Meadows Tudor home has gone untouched by her creative hand.

“This house is a complete reflection of me. It was like a blank canvas.” —Laurie Leahy

“I think in the past five years, that’s when I really started expressing my style,” Leahy said. “This house is a complete reflection of me. It was like a blank canvas.” The Tuscan-beige plaster walls and timeworn oak floors throughout the first floor provide a warm, organic backdrop for her many Facebook Marketplace finds, lovingly reupholstered and refinished to her tastes; among them, a canvascovered high back sofa and rattan loveseat and chair in her living room, layered with sheepskin and pillows of varying textiles. Leahy’s style includes a bit of everything— smokey glass chandeliers, a midcentury modern dining set, Bauhaus era-inspired chrome-legged chairs, and a lot of plants, including an 8-footwide philodendron selloum which serves as her living room centerpiece. “I always want to be unusual,” Leahy said. “I want to be different and unique and one of a kind.” Her eclectic style creates little moments of visual interest throughout her home that allow you to journey to different cultures and eras all in one place. Leahy started collecting antiques and vintage items at age 15, which only helped grow her appreciation for genuine furnishings. “I am so about authenticity,” Leahy said. “I don’t like anything that is fake French or fake whatever. I just want the authentic, or as authentic as I can afford.”

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Buying from the original source, even if that means waiting longer for it to ship from overseas, is worth it to Leahy so she can have authentic pieces, such as a Moroccan black-and-white abstract rug and French enamel cookware. When it comes to artwork, though, all she has to do is head down the street to Collector’s Choice Estate Sales at 35th and Center streets, where she’s found many of her favorite pieces. Oriental works idealizing Harem girls and rabbis, along with hand-colored Chinese prints from 1790 embellished with intricate gold-painted frames, are among her past finds and now hang in her living and dining rooms. A photo from local artist Justin Grabenschroer, and a gold leaf painting by John Thein, her college art professor, hang above her sofa. Meanwhile, various paintings, etchings, and a Gemsbok Oryx skull rest on the fireplace mantle, along with a wood sculpture titled ‘Weight of the World’ done by Leahy. Having extra time at home over the last year, Leahy started sculpting again after a 30-plus year hiatus. So far she’s created three Louise Nevelson-inspired wood sculptures, each with its own metaphorical meaning. “I would just get into it and lose track of time,” she said. “I’m one of those people where it’s all intuitive. I never plan anything.” Perfection is not her goal. She doesn’t feel the need to smooth out the rough edges of her home (or her life) for it to be beautiful. “I love patina. I love imperfection. I love things that show their age,” Leahy said. That includes the wide-plank raw pine subfloor that’s in her upstairs bedroom, discovered after she and her son pulled up “a gazillion layers of floor.” After that project was complete, Leahy got rid of the black wrought-iron staircase railing she had hidden with a canvas cover for years and replaced it with a railing made of vintage newel wood posts and copper pipes.

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“I love patina. I love imperfection. I love things that show their age.” —Laurie Leahy

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She redid the upstairs more than five years ago, intending to turn it into an oasis. Natural light diffuses through linen curtains covering the space in soft, warm light during the day. At night, a cluster of pendant lights hanging above the stairs glows, and a golden arch f loor lamp illuminates the room. Leahy likes to sit on her rattan couch, surrounded by pillows and her cat, Io, and make shag rugs, methodically hooking yarn through grid-patterned canvas. She says it’s her therapy. Even though she only set out to make the upstairs an oasis, she ended up turning her whole house into a nurturing space. “I want people to come in here and feel at home. And just very serene and comfortable and soft, like you want to touch things... because I’m that kind of person, just very into the senses and looking at beautiful things, smelling beautiful things, touching beautiful things,” Leahy added. Leahy’s made her home into a living art exhibit filled with decor from different eras, styles, and places that all come together to express her truth and wholeness. Visit Leahy’s Instagram to see her latest projects in progress.

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T WO M I N U T E S . ST ORY

KIM CARPENTER

PHO T O GR A PH Y BILL SITZMANN

DE SIGN

MADY BESCH

That’s how long Michael Lyon estimated it takes to mow his entire backyard, tucked behind his and wife Kristin’s home on a quiet street in Omaha’s Skylark-Cryer neighborhood. That postage stamp-sized lawn is by design, though, because what the Lyons' backyard lacks in grass, it more than makes up for in a graciously landscaped garden complete with a cascading water feature and a lighted cedar portico.

The landscaping makeover—a DIY effort requiring lots of backbreaking work and copious elbow grease—started in a way that would make most people hesitate: by removing a towering 70-foottall cottonwood. “It was a difficult decision,” Kristin said of felling the native tree. “It cast shade over the entire garden. But we didn’t want to be bound by a shade garden.”

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BACKYARD REMAKE RESULTS IN CHARMING CALM

Down came the massive tree, and the couple removed scrubby lilacs and a few sad annuals that comprised the landscaping, and replaced them with a water feature and carefully planned plantings that add color and calm. Their son, Max, was the impetus behind the former. It started as a senior class project in 2000. Michael worked with Max to add the water feature, which he revamped several years later into a gently sloped waterfall that ends in a tranquil pool—all the better for the couple’s boxer puppy, Lily, to surreptitiously steal a drink.

“The hole was already dug,” said Michael, justifying the water feature expansion. That landscaping prompted an entire reenvisioning of the space, and over the past 17 years, the Lyons have made their backyard into a garden idyll. Michael added a berm for height, landscaping rocks for textural appeal, and cascading ground cover to soften the lines. In an homage to the felled cottonwood, the Lyons turned the stump into a seating area

and planted a spritely crabapple tree flanked by Korean lilacs to add shade, color, and fragrance in its spot. On the other side of the garden, a bright Japanese maple provides purplish foliage, and maroon day lilies complement with deep, vibrant blooms. The rest of the landscape features a shimmering birch tree, a Seven Son tree, bright roses, hearty hibiscus, Asiatic lilies, graceful irises, abundant begonias, fragrant salvia, and twining clematis, among other perennials and annuals. J U LY/A U G U S T 2 0 2 1

IN AN HOMAGE TO THE FELLED COTTONWOOD, THE LYONS TURNED THE STUMP INTO A SEATING AREA AND PLANTED A SPRITELY CRABAPPLE TREE FLANKED BY KOREAN LILACS TO ADD SHADE, COLOR, AND FRAGRANCE IN ITS SPOT.

In a nod to Michael’s British roots— he moved to the U.S. in 1979—the couple installed a gravel walking path to the front of the landscaping. He explained: “It’s an ode to the English garden.” Kristin’s collection of yard accessories rounds out the landscaping. Antique jugs are tucked among the rocks and plants around the water feature; rustic wooden birdhouses invite wildlife; and an assortment of wind chimes provide melodic ambiance. Michael enjoys surprising his wife with new additions, the latest of which are Tibetan bells, notable for their deep, round, resonant tone. The Lyons’ yard houses two seating areas: a dining space for meals, and a covered portico with fire pit for relaxing. During quarantine, the couple made updating the latter their joint project. They replaced the portico ceiling with new cedar planks, cutting, treating, and staining each board themselves. Michael added an LED strip to the underside for a soft nighttime glow. The couple is happy with how the garden developed over the past two decades. However, Kristin hopes the major work is done. It’s time to sit back and enjoy it.

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harvest S TO R Y P A T R I C K M C G E E D E S I G N M A D Y B E S C H

Make Sure O n ly Rai n Goes D ow n th e Drai n WATER MANAGEMENT TIPS FOR YOUR YARD

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It’s midsummer, that time of year when Omaha heats up and lawns and gardens begin to dry out. Although running an unattended sprinkler is a temptingly easy way to maintain a green yard, there are more efficient and resourceful ways to feed the flowerbeds. Steve Rodie, a professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and parttime instructor at the University of Nebraska at Omaha, teaches about green infrastructure and sustainable landscape design and advocates for practices that minimize water waste. Andy Szatko, supervisor of the City of Omaha Stormwater Program, said yard runoff, contaminated with lawn chemicals, fertilizer, and other pollutants, causes issues downstream in the watershed. He, likewise, encourages water conservation as well as green infrastructure practices to divert runoff. The two pros explain a few of the best and simplest tools for water conservation and management in the yard: rain collection barrels, smart irrigation systems, and rain gardens.

Rain Barrels Building roofs, including residential rooftops, provide vast surface area for rainfall to be captured. Instead of diverting rain via gutters directly to grass

Rodie cautioned against using rain barrels to water garden vegetables due to possible contaminants; however, the water is perfectly safe for lawns and landscapes, he said.

R o d i e c a u t i o n e d ag a i n s t u s i n g r a i n b a r r e l s t o wat e r g a r d e n v e g e ta b l e s d u e t o p o s s i b l e c o n ta m i n a n t s ; h ow e v e r , t h e wat e r i s p e r f e c t ly s a f e f o r l aw n s a n d l a n d s c a p e s . lawns or down storm drains, Rodie and other conservationists suggest collecting rain in barrels for later use. He said 55-gallon barrels work well, but need to be retrofitted to collect water from the downspout of a house. Barrels should be elevated and equipped with a spigot that can accept a hose, and the water should remain covered in order to prevent mosquitos from breeding, Rodie said. Rain barrels are useful for water collection, and their simple presence helps generate awareness of the ease of residential water conservation. Although they may not capture a lot of water, or save homeowners a big sum on their water bill, they are a visible example of conscientious homeowners wanting to do the right thing, even at the smallest level, Rodie said.

Irrigation Many homeowners rely on a garden hose or old-fashioned sprinkler to keep their lawn green, but so much of that water fills the gutters, evaporates off the pavement, or simply runs down to the storm sewer. Today’s lawn irrigation systems are a much more efficient means of delivery, Szadko said, especially “smart” systems. “Simply put, get [one with] a rain sensor,” Szatko said. Irrigation systems that use rain gauge sensors and evaporation sensors are ideal. Rain gauge sensors measure precipitation to determine when watering is needed and when it’s not. Evaporation sensors do the same, but they also take into account the sun, heat, and evaporation rates to determine when to turn on the sprinklers. Rodie agreed, saying that golf courses and commercial farms use rain gauge and evaporation sensor technology for a reason—it’s highly efficient and

delivers exactly what grasses and crops need. He suggested that if the technology isn’t available on a home system, homeowners should utilize the system’s auto-shutoff feature, at the bare minimum.

Rain Gardens Rodie also encouraged designing landscapes to diffuse runoff and minimize erosion by planting rain gardens. These gardens, planted in boggy areas where rain naturally collects, should include moisture-tolerant plants and substrate materials, such as stones or pea gravel, that allow water to drain slowly. Native grasses and perennials that are resilient to moisture are ideal. Planting in groups and utilizing hard edges increase the visual appeal of moisture-tolerant plants, he added. Szatko agreed, saying that using soil and plants to slow down water helps prevent erosion and other problems downstream. Rain garden designers should consider that while waterways cannot be stopped, they can be managed. Interested readers can see a rain garden designed by Rodie on the grounds of Omaha Northwest High School at 8204 Crown Pointe Ave. Homeowners can and should take simple steps to reduce water runoff from their yard. What goes down the drain ultimately goes into the watershed, so make sure only rain goes down the drain in your neck of the woods.

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A FA R M H OU S E KITCHEN WITH FLAIR ASID AWA R D FEATURE STORY SALLIE ELLIOT T

PHOTOGR APHY AMOURA PRODUCTIONS

DESIGN MADY BESCH

OMAHAHOME

A traditional English farmhouse kitchen was my inspiration for this unique heart of the home, designed using century-old kitchen concepts that stand the test of time while incorporating modern touches that bring it into the 21st century. Gorgeous Bertazzoni professional series appliances from Italy anchor the kitchen, inc lud ing a n oversiz ed 72-inch column refrigerator/freezer combo and a red 48-inch professional range/ oven. The crimson range makes a bold statement while paying homage to Nebraska’s beloved team color.

I chose to integrate the range hood into a drop ceiling, providing a seamless elevation and modern feel while creating a space for new sconce lighting. The range backsplash was sourced from a large slab of Plane tile to create a seamless look to match the hood. Since the pantry offered a large storage area, I made what would have been cabinet space into open shelving (with the option to add cabinet fronts later, if desired). A sliding ladder was installed, adding function with easy access to upper cabinets while also bringing a romantic touch to the kitchen.

THE CRIMSON RANGE MAKES A BOLD STATEMENT WHILE PAYING HOMAGE TO NEBRASKA’S BELOVED TEAM COLOR.

Meet the Interior Designer

SALLIE ELLIOTT

Allied Member ASID Inspired Interiors

Creating inspiring spaces and excellent client experiences has always been my passion, beginning with my own catering and restaurant business in the ‘80s. In the 2000s, after earning my interior design degree, I put all that creative energy into designing homes. Having Inspired Interiors partner with Nathan Homes on beautiful design projects in the Omaha area since 2015 has been the greatest blessing!

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Plumbing hardware was carefully selected following a design trip to New York, where I discovered beautiful products from DXV Plumbing. I chose a a sleek, modern coil faucet, a farmhouse sink, and a pot filler, all of which make the space feel updated while still looking appropriate with the traditional kitchen aesthetic.

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Other unique touches include handcrafted leather straps, brass latches on the upper cabinets, and oversized brass pulls for the cabinet drawers.

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The kitchen island features a double-edged quartz top and is painted in Benjamin Moore’s Tarrytown Green, while on the range wall we used SherwinWilliams Pure White paint and natural soapstone countertops. As with all our joint creations with Nathan Homes, Inspired Interiors strives to create one-of-a-kind spaces in the Omaha area. This kitchen meets that definition with unique style and grace. Sallie Elliott and Inspired Interiors were recognized for this project with a Silver award at the 2020 Nebraska-Iowa ASID awards, held last September.

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