I OmahaHome ENTRYWAY
Turning Dreams Into Reality
t might be early September, but we are slowly tipping into fall, which is the ideal time to begin dreaming about how to shape our interiors for the coming cooler months. We’ll spend so much time indoors, we might as well surround ourselves with environments that we love. That might mean fall decor, extra fluffy throws and pillows, or changing out furniture and wall colors.
There are so many ways to dream big with this issue of Omaha Home, which shows that even small touches add up to enormous impact. Think of how Heidi Mihelich’s collection of vintage colored glass sets the tone for her jewel-toned apartment, a true testament to how color can transform our spaces.
Sometimes change is beyond our control and for that reason, enormous. When Kandie Borchman and Kathy Hawkins experienced a devastating fire in November 2020, they were forced to build anew. They relied on Diversified Construction and interior designer Marilyn Hansen of The Designers to create their new home from the ashes. This is an inspiring story that illustrates how we can use a major setback to realize something new, fresh, and dare I say, better?
“Better” can also come in the form of everyday items, objects we often don’t pay much attention to or even really notice. Rob Daniel created his business Mailbox Mayhem, which has crafted over 2,000 mailboxes that dot the metro and beyond, to rethink those kinds of quotidian items. Daniel said that a mailbox might seem like a small thing, but it’s something we interact with almost every day, and we should take joy in those encounters.
Speaking of new and fresh, don’t miss the annual Metro Omaha Builders Association’s Street of Dreams multi-site luxury home tour on the weekends of September 13-15 and 20-22. Visit 5 luxury homes in 4 neighborhoods with prices ranging between $1 and $3 million. Get ready to dream big as you visit homes that feature the latest in luxury living. Visit moba.com for more information.
Whether big or small, there is certainly something in these pages of September’s Omaha Home that will inspire you to rethink your interior and dream big.
Kim Carpenter Editor-in-Chief, Omaha Home
kim@omahapublications.com
OMAHAHOME ENTRYWAY
SPACES Clean Slate for a Blank Page
MAKER Curbside Champion
FEATURE A Historic, Heavenly Home
AT HOME From Charred to Charming
FEATURE H is for Heidi
GREEN Mum's the Word
ARCHITECTURE From Disaster to Dream House
ASID AWARD FEATURE Lovely and Liveable
FRANCES IN DUNDEE
Warm to Cool, Complex to Simple
This warm, inviting view beckons visitors into Jenny and Joseph Heieck’s cozy library. Learn more about why this is truly their dream home beginning on page 12.
Photo by Sarah Lemke | Cover design by Nickie Robinson
Editorial
EDITOR EMERITA
SANDY MATSON
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
KIM CARPENTER
ASSOCIATE EDITOR
NATALIE VELOSO
ASSIGNMENT EDITOR
CLAUDIA MOOMEY
CONTENT CREATOR
ISABELLA M C ATEE
CONTENT STUDIOS OMAHA MANAGING EDITOR DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
CALVIN ANDREWS · SARA LOCKE
LISA LUKECART · NATALIE M CGOVERN
LINDA PERSIGEHL · AMANDA YONG HANA YOO
Creative
CREATIVE DIRECTOR
RACHEL BIRDSALL
GRAPHIC DESIGNER II
NICKIE ROBINSON
SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER
RENEÉ LUDWICK
GRAPHIC DESIGNER I
JOEY WINTON
PHOTO EDITOR
SARAH LEMKE
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
ANDERS CREATIVE
SARAH LEMKE
MANDY M CGREGOR
STACIE MUHLE
TIM PERRY PHOTOGRAHY
AMANDA YONG
Sales
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
SALES & MARKETING
GIL COHEN
TOP LEVEL REVENUE GENERATOR
MICHELLE SCHRAGE
BRANDING SPECIALISTS
DAWN DENNIS · GEORGE IDELMAN
CONTRIBUTING BRANDING SPECIALISTS
GREG BRUNS · TIM M CCORMACK
PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANT / OMAHAHOME EDITOR EMERITA
SANDY MATSON
SENIOR SALES COORDINATOR
ALICIA HOLLINS
SALES COORDINATOR
SANDI M CCORMACK
Operations
BUSINESS MANAGER KYLE FISHER
AD TRAFFIC MANAGER DAVID TROUBA
DISTRIBUTION MANAGER DAMIAN INGERSOLL
LEMKE ASSOCIATE
/ PHOTOGRAPHER
SITZMANN
A Clean Slate for a Blank Page
SPACES
STORY Sara Locke • PHOTOGRAPHY Sarah Lemke • DESIGN Nickie Robinson
REMODEL REFRESHES AND REVITALIZES
When Michelle and Cort DeLuna left their farm in Ogallala, Nebraska, they were looking for a fresh start.
“Owning any business is stressful,” Michelle said. “But farming is an even bigger gamble. You put in bids for something you haven’t produced yet, set a price not knowing how the weather is going to affect the yield, or how the cost and price could change by the time you’re ready to harvest.”
Accordingly, the couple made the decision to invest in a new future, moving to Omaha in December of 2021.
“We did a lot of research online before coming bought a new business and started looking at different builders and neighborhoods, and we found this model home with an unfinished basement. It was a completely blank page, and we were really excited to create a beautiful living space out of it.”
While Michelle and Cort were busy juggling their new business, Clean Water Guys, and devoting their spare time to their two kids and two grandchildren, they knew they needed an expert eye to make their dream design a reality.
“I felt like I had a really clear idea of what I wanted, and I’m pretty decisive,” Michelle said. “When I hired Tony Inzauro with Home Matters, he told me they had a designer who would help us with a lot of the details. I was a little surprised that our builder had a designer on staff, but once I met Preslie Mekiney, I was so relieved. She was so helpful, and such a pleasure to work with. She understood what I was trying to achieve, even when I felt like I was struggling to find the words to express what I wanted. And she was so great at communicating with me and with Tony’s team if I ever had questions or if there was anything I didn’t like about how the room was coming together.”
"We
found this model home with an unfinished basement. It was a completely blank page, and we were really excited to create a beautiful living space out of it."
–Michelle DeLuna
For his part, Inzauro knows exactly how lucky he is to have the crew he’s built.
“We have a great team, and I have personally vetted everyone. We’re sending people into your home. We want to be sure you and your family are safe and comfortable at all times,” Inzauro explained. “Michelle had a real eye for design and wanted to create a Vegas lounge feel in the basement. Preslie took that vision and added so many unique touches to make the space really cohesive. Her attention to detail and the way she problem-solves with so much creativity has made her such a phenomenal asset to our team.”
Inzauro is proud of the fact that 93% of Home Matters projects come in at or under budget. “We have a fairly exhaustive planning process, because we know how unpredictable everything else in life can be. We want to be very transparent about the cost of materials and labor, and we stick with the price we set.”
That was exactly the kind of predictability the DeLunas desperately craved after giving up commercial farming.
“This specific project offered some really cool opportunities to show what we could do with a space,” Inzauro continued. “We got to add Murphy doors, which are always such a fun element to incoporate, and helped to create that speakeasy feeling.
“Michelle chose really great furniture that made the lounge feel comfortable but stillvery stylish. Preslie pulled everything together with a crocodile wallpaper, beams in the ceiling, and a unique approach to the flow of the room. The bathroom is central to the lounge, so she added a frosted window to the bathroom, which allows the light to flow throughout the space. Between Michelle’s vision and Preslie’s design, we were really proud to put our name on this project.”
For inspiration, visit hmcomaha.com.
ongoing weekly or bi-weekly
are ready to help!
Rob Daniels' Mailbox Mayhem CHAMPIONCurbside
Rob Daniels didn’t set out to make custom mailboxes, but his unexpected passion for the work has turned Mailbox Mayhem into a thriving business. Daniels, 56, now has mailboxes in nine states, although most of his business comes from Nebraskans.
Daniels has created over 2,200 custom mailboxes since launching his business in June 2020. These creative receptacles include designs like bears, barns, telephones, fish, and many more. The boxes are made out of treated lumber and cedar, a wood that “loves to be outside.”
“I’ve averaged one [mailbox] a day since I began,” Daniels said. “There’re some days that I’ll put four or five in the ground.”
Mailbox Mayhem began “when the world came to a screeching halt because of COVID,” and Daniels was sitting at home, getting fidgety. He ended up building himself a mailbox, while also unsuspectingly building a small business. “We were trapped at home, staring at things we took for granted,” he reflected. “We’re always so busy. We never saw [the mailboxes].” That changed during lockdown, when “we were staring at the ugliness and realizing we should do something.”
Daniels' neighbors liked what they saw in front of his home, and soon he had built seven mailboxes on his street. On June 1 of the same year, he launched a Facebook page for his newly minted company, Mailbox Mayhem. Facebook, along with other social
media platforms, remains the predominant connection point between Daniels and his customers, who receive not only quality mailboxes, but also amazing service. Daniels recalls a couple who were visiting from Tacoma, Washington, who wanted a custom mailbox to take home. “I went in [to my shop] late at night and got it done for them overnight, so they could take it with them the next day,” Daniels said.
Repeat customer Bob Kassmeier co-owns EBK Logistics, a local delivery company for a large national retailer founded in 2018. The company’s 150 delivery drivers run about 60 delivery routes a day. Whenever a driver clips a mailbox or knocks it over, Kassmeier texts Daniels, who typically replaces the mailbox that day or the next.
Kassmeier has referred Mailbox Mayhem to friends, neighbors, and fellow delivery service providers. For instance, when Kassmeier’s neighbors experienced mail theft, Kassmeier recommended Daniels, who installed lockable mailboxes for them.
“I don’t see a lot of other people specializing in [wood] mailboxes,” Kassmeier said. “He just does that and does it very well.”
Two years ago, Daniels offered his services to Habitat for Humanity of Omaha at a steep discount so he could give back to the community, according to Habitat senior project manager Kyler Goodwin.
Previously, Goodwin said, “we were buying stock [mailboxes] off the shelf and putting
them on our houses.” Now, Daniels has installed close to 50 mailboxes for Habitat homes. Most of his work has been concentrated in northeast Omaha, including the Bluestem Prairie affordable housing development near 52nd and Sorensen streets.
Each mailbox matches its house’s color scheme and style. It may seem like a small thing, Goodwin said, but homeowners interact with their mailboxes daily. A unique mailbox helps them “take pride in their homes.”
A “one-man show,” Daniels declined to franchise Mailbox Mayhem because “I want to build and install [every mailbox] like it’s for me,” he said. “If I get too big, then I’ll lose that touch.”
Running Mailbox Mayhem, while an enjoyable business for Daniels, has its challenges. “I chose to go into business for myself so I can pick which 80 hours a week I want to work,” he quipped.
Still, he loves driving through Omaha and spotting one of his mailboxes. “Very rarely is there a neighborhood that doesn’t have one of mine,” Daniels shared.
“I proved to myself that it doesn’t matter what stage you are at in life,” Daniels said. “You just have to have the passion.”
To learn more and see Rob Daniels' work, follow Mailbox Mayhem on Facebook and on Instagram @omahamailboxmayhem.
“I want to build and install [every mailbox] like it's for me. If I get too big, then I'll lose that touch.”
–Rob Daniels
Rob Daniels, Owner of Mailbox Mayhem
“It was meant to be. We are finally home.” –Jenny Heieck
A Historic,
Heavenly Home
"W FROM CHILDHOOD TO ADULTHOOD — AND BACK AGAIN
elcome to ‘Heaven’s Hill,” Jenny Heieck said, pointing at her ranch-style house. The stay-at-home mother of three children christened the residence with this name based on its location in Heavenly Acres and because it felt like a nostalgic paradise.
Her husband, Joseph, grew up in this house, playing tennis on courts built by his father in this backyard. Jenny, meanwhile, crushed on Joseph as he walked his two dogs past her window, where she lived a block away. The high school sweethearts spent hours dreaming of their futures at this location.
Feature
When Joseph attended the University of Notre Dame, Jenny followed him after applying to Saint Mary’s College in Indiana. After graduation, the history major proposed to her next to the fireplace in the basement on New Year’s Eve.
Joseph enlisted in the Navy, wanting to serve his country ever since 9/11. The couple exchanged wedding vows in the living room with his uncle acting as justice of the peace. The special warfare intelligence officer worked dangerous missions, supporting the Navy SEALs and Green Berets in Iraq and Afghanistan while receiving numerous medals. Jenny also took on treacherous employment with a contractor, deploying dolphins to find bombs underwater after a stint at SeaWorld San Diego. Joseph obtained his MBA at Harvard Business School in 2014 and became the President and CEO of gWorks, a software technology company in Omaha, Nebraska.
“We moved back after years of saying we would never come back,” Jenny said.
When Joseph’s parents put their house on the market after moving to Arizona in 2015, the couple couldn’t afford it, but fate in-
“My son sleeps in the room I slept in. I see them having adventures inside and outside that I did. We love that.”
–Joseph Heieck
tervened. Jenny opened the Zillow app by chance six years later.
“The house is for sale,” Jenny called her husband, crying.
“What house?”
“ The house.”
The place held history, a poignant tribute, and both jumped at the chance to purchase it. The residence, constructed in 1967, whispers about former owners, the Lippold family, who owned the Kitty Clover Potato Chip Company. Stories tell of a sparkling disco ball, a dance floor, and neon orange kitchen cabinets. A refrigerated closet for fur coats and a hair-washing station mingled with the hip vibe. The kitschy house sat empty for two years until Joseph’s parents purchased it in 1984. Supposedly, a secret tunnel ran from the Lippold’s home to their son’s next door but remains cemented as part of the original purchasing agreement. A telephone distribution system with 100 lines remains from this bygone era.
His parents re-designed the interior and exterior spaces by themselves. Jenny and Joseph, though, decided experts could capture a sense of welcoming and timeless appeal for a much-needed facelift on the main floor after securing their dream dwelling. Leah Scheppers, the founder and principal designer of Iconic Styling Design + Studio, decided on a California traditional schematic with an airy ambiance and natural elements.
“It’s going to have longevity,” Scheppers said.
The original oak floors needed refinishing and re-piecing, but adding eye-catching details like Chicago red brick in the entryway allowed for creativity. The living room combines country charm with pops of color. Mushroom-shaded Shearling chairs surround a circular table. Gitt Construction removed the brick around the gas fireplace and replaced it with contrasting beige and gray-toned limestone. The mantel, repurposed from 200-year-old wood from a John
Deere factory, inserts raw highlights into the space. Stained hickory beams balance the area. Although the family spends most of their time playing board games in front of the fireplace, they sometimes sprawl on the navy denim couch or chair watching classic ‘80s movies. Leather ottoman poufs serve as modular pieces to draw next to the French white oak coffee table.
“We understood right away that Jenny was more outgoing and Joe more analytical and professional,” Gitt Construction owner Tim Silknitter mentioned. “We had to cater to both sides.”
Jenny homeschools her children in the library with moody accent lighting from a flowershaped fixture and hunter-green-painted walls. Built-in bookshelves provide reading opportunities for 6-year-old identical twins, Charlotte and Emma. A couple of wingback leather chairs cradle a table resembling a chess piece. Benji, 8, challenged his father in chess but only defeated his older opponent once.
“It felt really good. I’m totally going to beat him again,” Benji claimed.
The parents relax in the once formal sitting room, but cozy ivory Mongolian sheepskin chairs and an olive-green performance velvet Chesterfield now invite them to sit for coffee breaks while watching the birds. White dove-colored custom-made paneling creates texture and matches the remodeled master bathroom.
Family time centers around the massive kitchen, including an Italian stove containing a bread oven and rotisserie spit. In the dining room, an upholstered banquette squeezes in multiple friends while others can sit in the black wooden chairs around an extendable farm table. The bright quartz countertop on a large island complements its charcoal body that hides two dishwashers. Buckskin leather-wrapped bar stools surround it for additional spots to dine.
“It’s going to have longevity.”
–L eah Scheppers
OMAHA’S PREMIER FENCING COMPANY FOR 60+ YEARS
Michaela Mencke, lead designer and studio manager at Cabinet Design Studio of Omaha, added pantry buffets in a rustic finish for extra space and farmhouse appeal. Gray-painted maple wood swapped out white metal cabinets throughout the kitchen.
“It’s funny, honestly, the metal cabinets were in great shape but just not functional for a family who likes to entertain,” Mencke said.
The mud room expanded, opening more room for cabinets, two laundry and dryer units, a drop zone, and drying racks. Birdie and Norman, their Wirehaired Pointing Griffons, even have a built-in dog kennel and food pull-out drawers. Red brick flooring emulates the entryway and allows for easy clean-up for the occasional muddy paw print.
Birdie playfully nibbles on Norman’s ear, and their nails click on the kitchen floor past the stained-glass window a holdover from the past design.
“It was meant to be. We are finally home,” said Jenny.
Joseph glanced at his son and daughters.
“My son sleeps in the room I slept in,” he said. “I see them having adventures inside and outside that I did. We love that.”
For more information, visit iconicstyling.com, gittdbr.com, and cabinetsomaha.com.
From Charred to Charming
PHOTOGRAPHY
DESIGN
STORY Linda Persigehl
Sarah Lemke
Nickie Robinson
Devastating Home Fire Leads to a Phoenix Rising Above the Ashes
When disaster struck their West Omaha townhouse, Kandie Borchman and Kathy Hawkins ran with the chance to change their decorating style. The results were a surprise to them both.
November 13, 2020. That’s the date a fire ripped through Borchman and Hawkins’ longtime residence in The Abbey, a community of townhomes and villas on the west side of Candlewood.
An extension cord in the garage had likely sparked the blaze which, along with water damage, destroyed the home and nearly all their possessions, rendering the retirees and myriad rescue pets homeless. Their animal friends include an orange tabby cat, Brownie; a black cat, Porchie; a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Tilly; and a 21-year-old Cockatoo, Denver (who enjoys his own soundproofed room in the basement).
The partners in life and formerly, business they used to own Centre Court tennis shop near 120th and Blondo moved into the 3-bedroom, 3-bath townhouse in 1991, just a few years after the unique neighborhood, designed by Tom Findley with Savage and Findley Architects, was built.
“We loved the ease of it,” Borchman said. “[Management] takes care of the lawn, the insurance…Kathy was a tennis pro, and we wanted a home close to the business. We were both so busy.”
Three decades flew by; then came devastation.
Despite the traumatic experience, the couple committed almost immediately to rebuilding, even spinning the event as an opportunity.
“We had recently done a lot of exterior work…the deck, a new roof…but as far as the interior, it still was where it had been,” Borchman said. “It was almost perfect timing…We thought, 'Here’s a chance to rethink how we wanted to live in the space.'”
Doing so, however, proved daunting.
“Overnight, without ever anticipating we were going to do anything inside, we suddenly had to think about pulls and countertops and everything! It was overwhelming to decide the direction, pick out things, choose artwork,” Borchman reflected.
“We had never built a house before,” Hawkins added.
From left to right, Kathy Hawkins and Kandie Borchman
AT HOME
To complicate things, there were no blueprints for their original floor plan.
“We’d lived here long enough to know we loved the layout. We wanted to keep it, with small changes,” Borchman said.
“We didn’t want open concept…Not enough places to escape to,” Hawkins quipped.
The couple chose Diversified Construction, Inc., led by Pete Schulz, as the contractor. Mutual friends put the couple in touch with veteran interior designer Marilyn Hansen and her team at The Designers, who led the interior work.
“We were in here maybe a week after the fire, walking around with snow dripping on us from the charred rafters, stomping around on soot in our boots,” Hansen said. “Faith [Combs, project designer] and I drew up what had been here…Within an hour and a half, we measured the whole place, put it into CAD, and gave it to the architect.”
The rebuild proved lengthy; the couple finally moved back into the home in February 2023.
“We had to stay in an apartment for two years,” Hawkins said. “It took a lot longer than expected because of COVID and issues with insurance…all the logistics of it.”
Hansen said she spent an hour or more nearly every week working with the couple, making design choices.
Borchman and Hawkins said their design preferences evolved over those two years, moving away from the darker colors, casual furnishings, and mountain-themed décor that dominated their home previously (the last a nod to their love of vacationing in Breckenridge) and toward lighter, neutral hues, more contemporary, elegant pieces, and an emphasis on functionality.
“[Our interior] had been designed with the grandkids in mind…We used to play tag football in here,” Borchman reminisced. Now, with the grands all teenagers, the couple agreed it was time to elevate the space for their next chapter.
"It was almost perfect timing…We thought, 'Here's a chance to rethink how we wanted to live in the space.'"
– Kandie Borchman
Kandie Borchman (standing) and Kathy Hawkins (seated) with cockatoo, Denver
Kathy Hawkins
Kandie Borchman
From left to right, Kathy Hawkins and Kandie Borchman
One of the few structural changes they made was tearing down a massive brick fireplace wall separating the entry from the living space and replacing it with a sleek, white stacked-stone wall, then swapping the wood firebox for a sleek, two-sided gas unit.
“[The room] is much more open now, and being that [the fireplace] is see-through, you get that warmth and coziness right when you come in,” Hansen said.
The team also created an expanded Pullman-style kitchen by removing peninsulas, widening the dining room doorway, and adding French doors. The culinary space now boasts contemporary, light cabinetry, extra-deep quartz countertops, and one of their favorite new features: a hidden coffee bar complete with pull-out drawers and shelving.
“Lance [Hiatt] at Eurowood Cabinets did a great job on all our storage and closets,” Borchman said. “We really love it!”
A matching quartz breakfast table sits at one end of the kitchen; a round dining table, ideal for conversation, anchors the other. Sitting adjacent is a modern buffet and kitty bench at the window.
The main level features ivory and warm, pale grays on the walls, punctuated by an eggplant accent wall in the dining room. Clean white oak planks with a matte finish cover the floors, masterfully concealing scratches and pet hair and drips.
The living room features a large sectional sofa with a dozen pillows, each a different pattern or hue calling back to the abstract artwork displayed above. An 8-foot-long vintage table by artist Matt Jones, salvaged by Hansen years ago, acts as a TV stand. Paintings and works by other visual artists, including John Thein and Dan Boylan, dot the room.
Eye-catching geometrics and shimmery metallics are design elements throughout, from light fixtures in the dining and living room to the antique gold mirror accents in the kitchen backsplash to silver-hued bedding and iridescent geode wallpaper in the primary suite.
$100 NATURAL GAS CONVERSION REBATE
Residential customers who convert to natural gas from another fuel source are eligible for a $100 conversion rebate. The water heater and furnace must be a new purchase by the homeowner. Replacing natural gas for natural gas is not a conversion. Homes with dual fuel or heat pump systems do not qualify. For more information to see if you qualify, please call 402.504.7148.
For more rebate information, please visit:
The couple’s affinity for animals is evident in the home’s décor as well. Ocelot print carpeting covers the basement stairs, and a muted zebra print wallpaper adorns the guest bath. A dramatic print of a blue heron graces the entry wall, while an equine portrait hangs above the fireplace.
“I said we have to have something with horses, because I grew up riding,” Borchman explained.
In lieu of iron or wood spindles on the staircase railing, the couple chose contemporary glass.
“We went back and forth on that,” Hawkins said. “But visually, it adds a lot of space. Once it was installed, we knew we’d made the right decision.”
The couple continues to go through salvaged items from their storage unit and plan to add more personal touches to décor. Finishing the basement is also on the agenda. But right now, they’re savoring their elevated living space and precious time at home with their furry and feathery friends.
They’re both thankful that Hansen nudged them along in their design evolution.
“I think the fire gave us the opportunity to say, let’s pare down a little bit, simplify,” Borchman said. “That’s where Marilyn was very good. That’s her direction anyway… airy, simple, more modern. We’re very happy with how it turned out.”
For more inspiration, visit designersomaha. com, divconstruction.com, and eurowood.net.
From left to right, Kandie Borchman and Kathy Hawkins
ELITE GLASS SERVICES
Elite Glass Services, a La Vista-based company, has been providing interior glass applications for both residential and commercial properties throughout Eastern Nebraska and Western Iowa since 2001.
“Our ‘one-stop glass shop’ is staffed by glass experts with years of experience in custom fabrication and installation, co mmitted to delivering high quality
craftsmanship and extraordinary customer service,” says owner, Ben Alba.
“We specialize in heavy glass shower doors, glass handrails, custom mirrors and framed mirrors, cabinet glass and shelving, glass backsplashes, back painted glass, glass furniture tops, niche areas and more.”
Along with homeowners, they also partner with local builders, remodeling companies and interior designers to create beautiful and unique spaces.
Elite Glass invites you to visit their showroom for design ideas and inspiration for your next project. We offer a wide variety of glass patterns and styles, mirrors, hardware and more. Walk-ins are welcome or you can also schedule a visit by calling their office.
The company moved into their new construction building on the Northwest corner of 108th & Giles along with their sister companies Elite Glazing Services and their newest company Elite Commercial Services.
Elite Glazing Services offers commercial glazing services, including aluminum store fronts and curtain walls, aluminum and automatic doors, windows, skylights and metal panels..
Elite Commercial Services offers services and repairs for hollow metal frame and doors, commercial glass and door replacements, commercial door hardware, bathroom partitions and accessories and more.
S 109th Street #200
8207 S 109th Street #300 Elite Commercial Services (402)598-1183
8207 S 109th Street #100
STORY Natalie McGovern • PHOTOGRAPHY Sarah Lemke •
DESIGN Nickie Robinson
H is for Heidi
Heidi Mihelich’s Eclectic Maximalism
Maximalism is often colorful and expressive, with contrasting hues and bright, loud accents. When done right, it can be tastefully acquired without the feeling of being too busy or cluttered. Heidi Mihelich has mastered a crossbreed of both maximalism and eclectic aesthetics in her apartment on 81st and Cass streets.
Situated next to Peony Park, a bygone recreational staple of Omaha’s past, the apartment boasts two bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen, dining room, and living space.
Mihelich, a self-employed graphic designer, is a collector of meaningful, eclectic objects from monogrammed “H’s” to cherished souvenirs from international travels. Over time, she has amassed an abundant collection of vintage glassware that can be found everywhere from the living room to the bathroom. With her love for vibrant, saturated colors and vintage statement pieces, her style is bold, whimsical, and fun.
Nostalgia is a prominent theme that runs throughout. Her dog’s name, Peony, even
pays homage to the late amusement theme park. The rescue Rat Terrier Poodle mix definitely owns the place, leading the way as Mihelich gives a tour of her home.
Mihelich has a serendipitous connection to the area she worked at Peony Park, the pinnacle of local family entertainment in Omaha. She fondly remembers its heyday as Omaha’s gathering place, where the Aksarben Ball, Candlelight Ball, and Omaha Press Club were formerly held, along with annual corporate summer picnics and community events.
“The people I worked with there are still close friends,” she said. “I went out to lunch one day with my landlord who was my old ride supervisor from Peony Park, and he told me he had an apartment open.”
A reminder of the popular amusement park hangs on a wall above a plush navy Tov sectional. An abstract design in splashes of pink and white once donned the historic ballroom, its frosted ceiling tiles suspended from a drop ceiling with fluorescent lighting behind it, which Mihelich bought at an auction.
“I’m drawn to bright, shiny things and always have been. I collect a lot of stuff,” she admitted.
When she first moved into the apartment, she knew that she wanted to have glass and plants. Little rainbows can be seen cascading through prisms at certain hours of the day.
“It’s blazing bright in the morning because the [sun] faces east. First thing in the morning, this thing is spectacular,” Mihelich stated. "I don’t subscribe to the theory of having one color. What color is your living room? All of them!” she exclaimed.
All of them indeed, the refracting light from her glassware echoing this sentiment. At night, her haven becomes a disco ball party with light showering in all directions.
An array of colorful, decorative art glass graces cabinets mirroring an ambient fireplace. Designs from midcentury modern sculptural glass, to Carnival glass, to a piece of Peach Blow are displayed. Amberina, another type of art glass, stands out in a gradient of amber to ruby. Not only is the glass beautiful to admire, but it also signifies a part of Mihelich’s family history, holding much sentimental value. Many of the pieces she owns were brought back by plane from her mother’s hometown in Shady Side, Ohio.
Growing up, Mihelich’s family had collected an immense amount of glass from the Imperial Glass Factory. They kept them tucked away in boxes behind a water heater. The factory, established in 1901, was known for its lines of table and colored glassware. Mihelich has been collecting glass pieces from the factory since childhood. A glass bowl on a coffee table stores pieces of cased glass she found from the Imperial parking lot.
“I like to mix color and pattern.”
—Heidi Mihelich
“I’m drawn to bright, shiny things and a l ways have ben.
"
—Heidi Mi h e l ich
When it comes to antiques and furniture, Mihelich has scored some vintage pieces that are in mint condition. A pair of chevron midcentury-modern TV vinyl chairs she received from her uncle were recovered during the COVID-19 pandemic. A metal-and-wicker cocktail cabinet, a Semrow Products midcentury rolling bar, circa 1950-1959, sits in the corner of the kitchen and opens up to reveal a stocked supply of liquor.
Along the corridor, treasures from her travels abroad are exhibited. Artifacts from Romania, Mexico, and Russia complete what she calls her “folk art wall.” Plates, plaques, and decorative wall hangings present a global gallery of art and culture.
In the primary bedroom, a stately, cherry wood vintage vanity from the 1940s was inherited from her grandmother. A matching bed stands out with a patchwork quilt duvet in bold hues of orange, yellow, blue, and pink.
“I like to mix color and pattern,” Mihelich enthused. On a whim, she paired the bedspread with curtains to see if they could mesh. The colors worked and even harmonized against the backdrop of kaleidoscopic paisley and patterned curtains.
Mihelich embraces maximalism and eclectic aesthetics and all that they have to offer. Artsy, whimsical, and charmingly quirky vibes all come together to reflect her charisma, personality, and mood. Her connection to Peony Park is a sentimental one, and coming back to her old stomping grounds has been a reflection that’s come full circle. She’s found a space that she can relish alongside all the things she loves to collect.
It’s a space of which Peony certainly approves.
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 30 years.
GREEN Mum's the Word
DESIGN
How to Overwinter These Hardy Plants
Whether Anemone, Button, or Pompon mums, these unique flowers are a staple for any garden and “the stars of the fall perennial garden.” Though one of the hardier specimens in flower gardens, they can be tricky to keep alive during cold months. When it comes to protecting mums from winter weather, there are a couple of options.
Of course, bringing the plants indoors is a popular practice. These flowers will appreciate a mild climate between 32 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit, so an unheated greenhouse or garage will do nicely as a temporary home. The key here is keeping them in a place where the temperature is above the freezing point of water, as it is usually ice on the roots, not just cold temperatures, that harms mums.
When planting mums, be sure the soil drains properly. According to Acreage Life Nebraska, “Chrysanthemums are adaptable to many soil types, but the soil must be well-drained due to their relatively shallow root systems. In poorly drained soils, soilborne diseases may injure plants during wet summer periods resulting in root rot, while winter injury is likely if water stands around the crowns of plants during winter thaws.” Many gardeners will also recommend cutting back the plants in the spring rather than the fall, as well as discontinuing fertilization by the end of July as tactics to help mums survive the winter.
If you prefer not to uproot your mums from the ground, mulch may provide a good solution. Applying 3-4 inches of mulch around the plant’s crown will provide some protection from snow and frost by moderating the soil temperature. When Spring time rolls around about early April remove half the mulch and loosen the rest. In May, remove the rest of the excess, leaving an inch or so for summer to suppress weed growth and conserve moisture.
To learn more, visit acreagenebraska.org.
STORY
Claudia Moomey
Nickie Robinson
From Disaster to Dream Home
architecture
STORY Claudia Moomey | PHOTOGRAPHY Sarah Lemke | DESIGN Nickie Robinson
Chantell Rust’s Bucolic Residence
hen Chantell Rust heard about the plans to burn down a barn in Elmwood, Nebraska, she immediately rushed to its rescue. She eventually bought the sixacre property from its 87-year-old owner, which included the barn and a farm house, and began renovation work immediately.
“That morning, I was going to just burn some brush,” Rust said. “But by the end of the day, I owned six acres with an old farmhouse.
“I brought over my dad, who was a residential home builder for over 50 years, and we went through the house and it was really rough. It was beyond a disaster,” Rust said of the home, which she purchased three years ago. “There was all kinds of stuff in the house there was tape on the ceilings where he was trying to keep the plaster from falling in… there was one bathroom that just wasn’t usable,” she recalled.
While the house definitely needed work, Rust saw the positive aspects of what was left. Enlisting the help of her father and nephews, she began to recreate the residence in her vision.
She discovered the original flooring on the main level had been covered with carpet and linoleum for most of its life and therefore still in good condition, along with the “guts” of the house things like the exterior walls and inner framing. There was, however, a problem with the foundation.
“I always felt like the house should be turned anyway,” Rust said. “I didn’t like that the front door was facing the road and there was no sidewalk or natural entrance to the door.” To remedy this, Rust decided to build a nine-foot basement slightly behind where the house stood, then had a company lift the house and move it onto the new foundation.
"I thought about fixing up the barn and turning it into some kind of venue, but I decided to fix up the house first and see how I felt. At this point, I think it’s just screaming for a family."
Chantell Rust
“It’s the coolest thing,” Rust said of the relocation. “They literally just lift the house off the ground and move it.”
Rust plans to sell the property when it is ready. “I thought about fixing up the barn and turning it into some kind of venue,” she said, “but I decided to fix up the house first and see how I felt. At this point, I think it’s just screaming for a family.”
Family does seem the appropriate theme for the property; before Rust and her family took it over, the land was home to a family who cherished it. The granddaughter of the man with whom she negotiated for the house got in touch with Rust. “She had heard that her grandpa signed his initials on a beam in the barn before he went off to the service,” said Rust. They found that the initials were on a board that was attached to the beam, so she was able to detach it to have as a keepsake. “It was a very sweet and tender moment,” said Rust. “She was kind of tearing up, and it meant a lot to her.”
The house with plenty of family history has now seen plenty of family work. Rust hopes another family will soon be able to make more memories in the newly renovated home.
Lovely and Livable
A HAMPTONS RETREAT IN NEBRASKA
luff Interior Design is helping the Tuls family take the long view of their spacious, 20-year-old home on a picturesque lot in The Hamptons subdivision in Omaha all while helping them enjoy it today with a strong nod to the family’s 100-year-old dairy business as well as craft an aesthetic that fits their inviting lifestyle.
Story by Calvin Andrews | Images by Anders Creative | Design by Nickie Robinson
T.J. and Erin Tuls owners and operators of Tuls Dairies with locations in Nebraska, Kansas, and Wisconsin eventually plan to remodel the kitchen and bathrooms in the four-bedroom, six-bath rustic traditional that sits on 1.5 idyllic acres that even features regular visits from a wild peacock. But they made the decision early on to update and enjoy the house as-is with furniture, lighting, art, and accessories and tackle the bigger projects as they go.
“I have so much respect for how they’re going about this,” said Fluff designer Lorrie Williams. “I appreciate that they saw the massive potential in this property, but are willing to wait and transform it over time. They wanted a home that was beautiful and livable today and it is but it’s going to be a stunning show-stopper when they’re finished.”
The Fluff team created a space that’s perfect for the Tuls by introducing coastal colors and traditional styles all while capturing the family’s past and present with highlights from the farm that include a cowhide leather chair and rug, pictures from business operations for T.J.’s home office, and enlarged photos of some of their dairy cows (“We raise happy cows” is the Tuls’ charming business slogan.)
Furniture was chosen that is comfortable and functional for the Tuls and their young son and dog, and they even moved from a fabric couch to white leather to give T.J. a relaxing place to land after a long day. “He literally comes in directly from being on the farm working with the cows, so like many Nebraska farmers, they need a wipeable couch,” Williams said.
All of it has combined to give the Tuls a lovely and livable space now while they work on making it their dream home in the future.
“That’s what a home is meant to be,” Williams said, “lived in and not just looked at. It should be a refreshing, restorative, happy place to be that reflects who you are and how you live every day.”
For more information and design examples, visit fluffinteriordesign.com.
“They wanted a home that was beautiful and livable today—and it is —but it’s going to be a stunning show-stopper when they’re finished.”
—Lorrie Williams
CFrom Warm to Cool, Frances in Dundee
Complex to Simple
The Wonderful World of Color and Pattern
olor and pattern–both tell a story in your home. Each of us gravitates toward something different depending on our experiences, natural preferences, and moods.
There are also factors such as lighting, room purpose, and room size. For my north facing rooms, I tend to go warmer in paint color. For my south facing rooms, I go lighter and cooler.
Story and Images by Amanda Yong | Design by Nickie Robinson
Beyond paint, pattern and color can be introduced into a space by way of fabrics, accent pillows, wallpapers, and rugs. Even smaller accents such as vases, towels, lampshades, fresh or faux flowers, and artwork can have a substantial visual impact. I like to play with both neutrals and color in my home, which is one of the reasons I’m drawn toward the closed layout of old homes so much. Every room can have its own personality, and I tend to meander around to rooms that suit my mood at different times.
On the main floor, I find myself gravitating toward neutrals and soft, natural colors such as sages, creams, dove greys, dusty blues, and quiet mauves. Because the color scheme is calm, I can be bolder with pattern than I otherwise would be. A whimsical Chinoiserie wallpaper from Rebel Walls in the dining room and the checkerboard kitchen flooring are the two most striking examples, but other details are allowed to shine as well: the
lush greenery seen through all our main floor windows becomes a beautiful focal point.
"I like to play with both neutrals and color in my home, which is one of the reasons I’m drawn toward the closed layout of old homes so much. Every room can have its own personality, and I tend to meander around to rooms that suit my mood at different times. "
Amanda Yong
Upstairs on the second floor, I enjoy more adventurous color choices. The library is drenched in "Modern Love," a delightful-
ly glowing pink shade, which is marvelous during the sunset hour. The bathroom vanity is painted in a periwinkle blue and paired with the cheerfully green "Bird and Blossom" paper from York Wallcoverings. For the bedroom, I needed something that would feel like a palate cleanser from life, so I chose a soothing white that worked well with the natural wood bedframe and linen bedding. Our most recent addition is the "Blooming Stripe" Seabrook wallpaper in the dressing room! It has the loveliest pearlescent shine to it. However you add personal touches to your home through color and pattern, the most important takeaway is that it reflects you and what you love.
Frances is a historic home in Dundee being affectionately restored and cared for by homeowner Amanda Yong and her husband, Kyle Dworak. Follow the couple’s journey in Omaha Home and on Instagram @thebirdsdothus on Instagram.
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