OmahaHome October 2020 by Omaha Magazine

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

OCTOBER 2020

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SISTERS FIND THEIR HAPPY PLACE // A MAN CAVE FOR ALL // ELEGANT ENTERTAINING BY DESIGN // BEYOND TULIPS

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VOLUME 10 · Issue 7

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. m Home Build sto er Cu

EDITORIAL Managing Editor DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Senior Editor TARA SPENCER Associate Editor LINDA PERSIGEHL Contributing Writers HANNAH AMROLLAHI · TAMSEN BUTLER JENNA GABRIAL GALLAGHER · ELENA KERWIN · LISA LUKECART KATRINA MARKEL · CARRIELLE SEDERSTEN · HOUSTON WILTSEY

CREATIVE Creative Director MATT WIECZOREK Senior Graphic Designer DEREK JOY Graphic Designer II MADY BESCH Contributing Photographer S. ROSE STUDIOS · SARAH EVE LEMKE

SALES Executive Vice President Sales & Marketing GIL COHEN Director of Sales ED COCHRAN Senior Branding Specialist MARY HIATT Publisher’s Assistant & OmahaHome Contributing Editor SANDY MATSON Branding Specialists DAWN DENNIS · GEORGE IDELMAN Digital Sales Manager JILLIAN DUNN Senior Sales Coordinator ALICIA HOLLINS

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OMAHAHOME

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O M A H A M AG A Z IN E.CO M

OmahaHome E N T R Y WAY

CON TEN TS 3

OmahaHome Entr y way

Makers

SIS TERS FIND THEIR HAPPY PL ACE

Spaces A M A N C AV E F O R A L L

A rchitecture S TO RIE S O F A SCOT T ISH C A S T L E

Feature B E N S O N B U N G A L O W, R E S T O R E D

At Home MAKING MUSIC & MEMORIES IN FIELD CLUB

Feature E L E G A N T E N T E R TA I N I N G B Y D E S I G N

Har vest

ON THE

COVER

he countdown to winter has begun…But let’s not rush through the crisp, cozy season so many of us look forward to all year. The pumpkin patches are bustling, yards are filling with crunchy, colorful leaves, all the while the smells of fresh-cut fall flowers, apple cider, and fall-scented candles fill the air.

Speaking of candles, in this issue of OmahaHome we profile sisters Nicole Nielsen and Danae McKenzie’s Happy Place Candle Co., which sells homemade scents reminiscent of their childhoods spent with family in Nebraska. This is also the perfect time of year to greet guests with colorful mums, Indian corn bundles, and fun gourds as they pass through your home’s entryway. Our cover feature this round— Bryan Frost and Luka Gonzalez’s transformed Benson bungalow—has the quintessential fall entryway. Even though Gonzalez once said of the home, “It looked like that house where the witch lady lives,” it is far from that vision today. Other harvest-inspired stories in this issue include fall bulb planting tips, entertaining like the McMannamas, and Ed Foral’s grilling and gameday “man cave.” For all you do-it-yourselfers out there like me, don’t forget about Junkstock: Harvest Edition happening Oct. 2-4 and Oct. 9-11. And if you create something amazing, send me a photo at sandy@omahapublicatons.com. We may feature your project in an upcoming issue.

HIGH - COUNTRY DESIGN IN THE BL ACK HILL S

Finally—after you have checked every box on your ‘preparing your home for fall and winter to-do list’—grab your favorite hot toddy, cozy up by the fire pit, and sit back and relax. Fall is here!

Bryan Frost and Luka Gonzalez’s classic bungalow in Benson. The home’s vintage blue palette, signature veranda, and striking yellow front door make the home appear welcoming and authentic. Story on page 14. Photo by Sarah Eve Lemke.

Sandy Matson Contributing Editor

BE YO N D T U L IP S

Welcome October!

Transformations

NIELSEN SAID THEIR CANDLES SMELL SO DELICIOUS, A COMMON QUESTION AMONG CUSTOMERS IS,

“WHAT ARE YOUR FL AVORS?”

STORY TAM S E N BUTLE R

PHOTOGRAPHY BILL SITZMANN DESIGN MADY BESCH

S I S E R S FIND THEIR HAPPY PL ACE HAPPY PLACE CANDLE CO.

OMAHAHOME

MAKERS

NI COL E NI E L S E N A ND DA NA E MCK ENZI E ARE T HE V ENUS AND

SERENA

WILLIAMS

OF CANDLE MAK I NG .

Each talented in her own right, together the sisters make candles that are simply in another class.

The pair founded Happy Place Candle Co. in 2017 in Weeping Water, Nebraska, after growing tired of buying expensive candles that didn’t have the scents they craved. “We both love candles and thought, ‘There’s gotta be a cheaper way,’” McKenzie said. People came calling. “We made candles for about seven years, to give them out as gifts. Tons on people asked if they could buy them,” Nielsen said. “Originally, we made scents to take us back to a memory, like in the summer, when our grandma

DA N A E MCKENZIE

would make black fig and rhubarb jam.” Nielsen said their candles smell so delicious, a common question among customers is, “What are your flavors?” McKenzie said she and her sister like to cook, and culinary favorites are a big inspiration for the scents. Their frequent girls’ trips together help them create new memories that also translate into candle scents. “We go into boutiques and smell lotions and stuff,” she said. Most people picture a small business run by two sisters and probably imagine a lot of bickering—not so with Nielsen and McKenzie. The two talk every day, McKenzie said, adding, “It’s so much fun. We enjoy spending time together.”

Nielsen, an interior designer, now lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, but continues to be highly involved in the business. “I do all the social media. I try to assist [McKenzie] with online orders and things. The candle business is a side gig for both of us...If we get too busy we’ll stop.” Though they live in different states, they both use evenings to make candles in their respective kitchens. “If an online order is placed, it will likely come from here in Texas,” Nielsen said. McKenzie works, and attends school, full time. “She has a lot on her plate this year,” Nielsen said. The sisters source all their candlemaking materials from suppliers in the U.S. , and they’re picky about their supplies. They use soy wax since it provides a cleaner burn. The wicks are made of hemp because it burns longer, gives off less smoke, and “has a better scent throw,” Nielsen explained. The use of hemp wicks is fairly unusual and sets their candles apart from others, she said. “We use natural fragrance oils to scent our candles,” Nielsen continued. “We usually are inspired by something, so we have an idea of a scent in our mind. We then go play with mixtures of different fragrance oils until we are happy with the end result.” Blood Orange+Lavender and Moss+Rain are among their top scents and sold year-round.

Nielsen said she’s hired someone to help with labeling and packaging so she can concentrate on her true passion: candle making. Neither sister has concrete plans for what Happy Place Candle Co. will be going forward. “I don’t know,” McKenzie said. “Personally, I think the possibilities are endless.” Happy Place Candle Co. products can be found at Made in Omaha; Hutch; Downtown Omaha Massage; Simply Styled in Louisville, Nebraska; Stella Clothing in Lincoln, Nebraska; and on their website. Glass jar candles and wax melts are both available. Prices range from around $6 for wax melts and $18 for an 8 oz. candle. Not only do these sisters love candle making, but they also think the world of each other. “I always think ever y thing Nicole does is super cool. She’s always been more creative,” McKenzie said. “We have a strong bond,” McKenzie added. “I know I have a really great sister. Not everyone’s blessed with a great sister like I am.” Visit happyplacecandle.co for more information.

How many candles they make depends largely on the season. “Spring and summer are slower, and we make 20 to 30 per week. However, when it ramps up in the fall and winter, we do 50 to 60 per day,” Nielsen said.

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S PAC ES

THE TA XIDERMIES ON THE WALL INCLUDE DEER HEADS, DUCKS, A BEAVER PELT, AND A 71-POUND CATFISH THAT FORAL SAID WAS CAUGHT IN THE LAKE THAT THE PROPERTY OVERLOOKS—THE ONE HIS WIFE WILL NOW NO LONGER SWIM IN FOR FEAR OF SUCH MONSTROUS CREATURES.

AMANCAVE

FOR ALL

Ed Foral’s Grilling & Gameday Garage

The phrase “man cave” invokes different scenes for people. One person might envision a room dedicated to a bygone era of bachelordom, while another sees a dark basement with a big-screen TV surrounded by overstuffed recliners and a fold-out poker table. Still others might imagine a garage decked out with NASCAR memorabilia and a makeshift bar. In most cases, the images conjured are generally ones of male isolation—a place one can escape from the world and maybe watch sports or play pool with “the guys.” What makes Ed Foral’s variation of the man cave so refreshing is that he uses his to bring together family and friends rather than distance himself from them. “We had a family reunion in here a couple of years ago and were able to pack in roughly 60 people,” Foral said. “We just set up the foldout tables and we’re pretty much ready to tackle any party.”

S T OR Y HOUSTON WILTSEY P HOT OGR AP HY BILL SITZMANN DE S I GN MADY BESCH

He’s not exaggerating. The detached garage next to his home in Springfield, Nebraska, is roughly the size of a small home and houses many of the furnishings and accessories that are normally found in a man cave and then some—a massive television, taxidermy mounts of animals covering the walls, a pair of all-terrain vehicles, and a fully stocked workbench in the far corner. There’s also a long wooden bar that seats 6-plus and a refridgerator that’s dedicated almost exclusively to the storage of beer and the meat of the aforementioned game animals. To cook the copious amount of meat that Foral normally has stored, he decided a Weber charcoal or f lat top grill would be insufficient. Instead, in the opposite corner of the room sits a setup that rivals most fast-food restaurants and contains a commercial smoker, fryer, and char-broiler with an industrialsized vent hanging overhead. O C TOBER 2 02 0

S PAC ES

“We’re constantly cooking for everybody with this setup,” Foral said. “We do ribs, brisket, and fish fries. In fact, just last night I smoked 80 pounds of pork butt for my granddaughter’s graduation party.” The now-retired Foral, a 46-year veteran of the general contracting business, oversaw the building project and renovations himself, which began two years after the main house was completed. Fromleft: Todd Mach, neighbor, and Ed Foral

It’s taken much longer to put together the man cave decor, which continues to evolve. The taxidermies on the wall include deer heads, ducks, a beaver pelt, and a 71-pound catfish that Foral said was caught in the lake that the property overlooks—the lake his wife will now no longer swim in for fear of such monstrous creatures. He also made sure to include more personal items. Decades’ worth of pictures from all manner of hunting and fishing trips adorn the walls of both the garage and its bathroom. An avid Nebraska Cornhuskers fan, Foral also displays a good chunk of Big Red memorabilia, including a football signed by members of the 2008 Gator Bowl-winning squad. Though he remembers that Husker team fondly, the ball is of greater significance to Foral. “It reminds me of Brook Berringer,” he said, referring to the former Nebraska quarterback who played for the Huskers is the mid-’90s. “He used to come up, hang out on the lake with us, and water ski,” he continued with just the faintest hint of melancholy and a smile. Berringer lost his life in a plane crash in 1996. That’s what makes Foral’s man cave so special…It hits the sweet spot between being the perfect place to do “man stuff ” and to reminisce and make memories with the people he loves.

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ARCHITECTURE

STORIES OF A

Scottish Castle STORY LISA LUKECART

PHOTOGRAPHY BILL SITZMANN

DESIGN MADY BESCH

“TH E N E IG H BO R HOO D WAS WOVE N T O G E T H E R L I K E A B L A N K E T, T I G H T K N I T.” —A D A M F L E T C H E R S A S S E

OMAHAHOME

The soft, smooth hum of a saxophone. The shimmy of a flapper dancing to a ragtime tune. Omaha high society wanted to know all the happenings behind the stone facade of the imposing Scottish baronial residence at 2060 Florence Blvd.

The home, built in 1915 by Max and Flora Burkenroad, sits at the heart of the north side. The community of Florence contained a melting pot of diversity. A large portion of the population was foreign-born, made up of mainly Scandinavians, Germans, and Irish immigrants.

“The neighborhood was woven together like a blanket, tight knit,” North Omaha history writer Adam Fletcher Sasse said.

a Gatsby blowout, but the soirees at the then-dubbed “Flora Burkenroad House” burned the gossip pages of the Omaha Bee newspaper.

The Burkenroads were entrenched in businesses around the city, from grocery stores to pool halls. Their parties may have been on a smaller scale than

Yet, the imposing structure looks less like a rage venue and more like a fortress. The resemblance to a castle is seen in many details, such as the

machicolations along the crenellated turret; although no one planned to pour boiling liquids onto attackers below. The tower showcases shorter lancet-shaped windows common to the style. The second story features varied window shapes but keeps its symmetry intact.

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A RCHITEC T UR E

Burkenroad wanted to flaunt his wealth on “Omaha’s Prettiest Mile” and commissioned prominent German architect Joseph P. Guth. The Joslyn Castle, built in 1903 and just three miles southwest, could have been an inspiration. Architects often mixed mediums in the early 1900s, and Queen Anne embellishments enhance its unique body. Guth left his signature, a curved arch above a dormer window, towering to the left. The same shape on top of buildings such as the Elks Hall and Druid Hall are reminders of his work.

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OMAHAHOME

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The Burkenroads wouldn’t stay in the house for long, possibly fleeing during the “white flight” to the west side, or Happy Hollow today, once the race riots of 1919 hit. Following the lynching of Will Brown, redlining and segregated neighborhoods became commonplace. After a failed attempt by a swindler who attempted to purchase it with a forged check, the six-bedroom home was sold to businessman Harry Rothkup, a trunk manufacturer, in 1920. For the next several decades, Black Omahans were forced into a restricted area on the north side from 20th to 33rd streets due to hostility and racism. When Charles and Rosalee Trimble took over the home in the ’40s, it became a harbor for Blacks seeking shelter. Trimble, a Black businessman and leader in the community, ran the property as the Broadview Hotel. The Green Book, a road guide, recommended the Broadview Hotel as a safe place to stay for traveling African Americans. Musical legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington played in Dreamland Hall and other clubs, sometimes for a dollar, and are known to have been guests at the hotel.

Unfortunately, the home later developed a reputation. The police often raided it, claiming it was a den for prostitution. Historian Sasse believes the charges were cooked up. He said Von Trimble Jr., who ran the property, was known as a sedate, intelligent man and a positive role model in the community. Four blocks away from the Trimble Castle (as it became known in the 1950s and ’60s) were the Little Vietnam projects, so labeled because the street was “violent as Vietnam and war is hell, ergo, the projects were hell.” The police department’s “morals squad” may have wanted to make an example out of the successful business leader, or “to put him in his place,” Sasse said. Today, the residence is owned by Wesley Dacus, who bought the home in 1998 following its conversion into four apartments; Dacus resides on the main level and rents the other three units. He shared that he still receives visitors on occasion—typically single Black men in their 70s or 80s, arriving by cab—looking for a room to rent. He suspects they remember the house from its Green Book boarding house days and are in search of a safe haven. Despite the design and history of Trimble Castle, it is still not designated as a landmark. Yet it stands regally, with its many stories to tell to all that will listen.

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BENSON BUNGALOW, RESTORED STORY - HANNAH AMROLLAHI

OMAHAHOME

PHOTOGRAPHY - SARAH EVE LEMKE & BILL SITZMANN

DESIGN - MADY BESCH

FEATURE

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FEATURE

In 2014, Bryan Frost and Luka Gonzalez were house hunting in Benson when they discovered a gem in disguise. The property’s overgrown trees and vegetation were so immense, the listing didn’t include a picture of the front of the house. The home exterior’s brown and green palette left it with little curb appeal, and across the street a fire-damaged property lingered. “It looked like that house where the witch lady lives,” Gonzalez said. “This was the witch house in the neighborhood.” And, the neighborhood was not “the Benson” it is now, Gonzalez said. But it already had a bar and music scene. The couple decided it was a good place to make an investment. “We kind of took a risk in this area,” Frost said. The house sat on a relatively rare double lot making for a large yard, and the home was in pretty good shape under the brush, with recently refinished floors and good wood under the siding. Frost, as an interior designer and the owner of vintage decor business Black Awning, had the experience to know it was a realistic fixer-upper. “It had good bones,” Frost said. “A house with all the character in it already.” The possibilities were evident, and the couple made their move. The house is a classic bungalow, with a veranda, sloping roof, and dormer windows that provide good light. The ground floor had two bedrooms, a living area, dining room, kitchen, and a bath with the original enamel tub. “A lot of the houses we were looking at had been flipped and they looked pretty much like an apartment,” Gonzalez said. “[This house] had been flipped somewhat, but not to the extreme where they completely changed the whole character of the house.”

“IT HAD GOOD BONES. A HOUSE WITH ALL THE C H AR AC TER I N IT ALRE ADY.” - BRYAN FROST O C TOBER 2 02 0

FEATURE

“ W E ’ V E R E A L LY M A D E A N EFFO R T…I N OUR SELECT I O N S HIGHLIGHTING ERAS AND DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE T R A D I T I O N A L LY.” - BRYAN FROST

The front of the home is now welcoming, with its pine trees cut back and a quirky street light sculpture lighting the way to a bright yellow door. The exterior’s blue, found on a vintage palette by Frost, is striking and “of the era,” and accents the signature veranda and roof with white trim. “We’ve really made an effort...in our selections highlighting eras and design elements that would have been here traditionally,” Frost said. “[Like] elements of wallpaper that you would have seen in homes.” Bold walls carry on to the inside, with blue crane wallpaper accenting the bathroom and a patterned landscape wallpaper reminiscent of line drawing or metal etching accenting the primary bedroom. The wallcoverings were installed by Debbie Nelson, owner and operator of Stuck on You Wallpapering. After 32 years in the business, Nelson takes referral work only and does not maintain a website. “I like doing stuff for [Bryan],” Nelson said. “It’s always going to be something different, something fun.” Nelson remembers a decade where most of her work was removing paper in favor of paint, but she is glad to see wallpaper making a comeback in the last five years.

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OMAHAHOME

FEATURE

“It drives [design in] the rest of the room,” Nelson said. “There is something you can’t get with paint.” Nelson recommends spending extra for a paper sample and being bold with pattern. People don’t stand close to walls, so subtlety will not be easy to catch, she said. If the wallpaper is properly applied with a specific primer, it should not be difficult to remove or damaging to the wall, she added. Also in the bath, Frost incorporated era-appropriate cement tiles and restored the original clawfoot tub. The blue-hued bathroom packs a lot of style per square foot. “We have a really nice blend of antique and vintage and an appreciation of all eras,” Frost said. He estimates 80% of the house is vintage or antique, and his passion as an antiques dealer is felt all through the home. A copper chandelier in the dining area and use of rugs, gallery walls, and “tchotchkes” in many rooms serve as evidence. “You see the difference between the original and the mass-produced,” Frost said. “I like to find something that tells as story, or we found together, or [has] a history.” Some of Frost’s most-treasured pieces are heirlooms, including his armoire. When his grandfather and grandmother moved into their sod farm house in Hemingford, Nebraska, they found the cabinet. “I’m the one who had certain pieces I wanted from my family,” Frost said. “I told my mom that and she let me have them early.”

OMAHAHOME

In the bedroom, eclectic pieces blend easily with Eastlake furniture, an early style from the start of the modern movement in the 1890s, with less extravagant molding and a streamlined feel. This style would eventually be pared down to the midcentury design that’s popular today. “What we think of [as] midcentury has actually been around much longer,” Frost said. Frost has fond memories of his grandparents’ farm, which the heirlooms help bring into his home. “You don’t have to keep it all,” Frost said of furniture and decor passed down through the family. “Anything you loved, you should keep and hold on to.” Whether it’s the furnishings or the home itself, Frost and Gonzalez keep an eye out for the undeveloped. “We knew if we just put in a little TLC, it would become a beautiful home someday,” Frost said. “We saw the potential in it.”

“YOU SEE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE ORIGINAL AND THE MASS-PRODUCED,” FROST SAID. “I LIKE TO FIND SOMETHING THAT TELLS AS STORY, OR WE FOUND TOGETHER, OR H AS A H I STORY.”

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AT H O M E

Story CARRIELLE SEDERSTEN Photography BILL SITZMANN Design M A DY B E S C H

OMAHAHOME

MAKING MUSIC & MEMORIES IN FIELD CLUB Craig & Mary Bircherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Eastlake Home

Their house, built in 1892, sat empty for nearly a decade before they bought it, making them only the fifth owners in its 128-year existence.

AT H O M E

When a harpist from Virginia and trumpeter from Kansas decided to take jobs in Omaha after graduating from college, they probably didn’t think they’d meet the person they were going to marry, or move here and never leave. Nonetheless, Mary and Craig Bircher have spent the last 40 years building a life together in Omaha. The two met in 1981 as musicians with the Omaha Symphony. Craig was only in Omaha for a one-year position and once it was done, he moved to New York City. The bright lights of the Big Apple weren’t enough to keep him there, though, and love wooed him back. He and Mary wed later that year. The couple continue with the symphony to this day: Mary as the principal harp, and Craig as the associate principal trumpet. The Birchers always liked the idea of remodeling a house, so when they bought their Eastlake home in Field Club in 1982, it was just what they were looking for—a fixer-upper at the right price. The Eastlake style—named for English architect Charles L. Eastlake and featuring notched, angular, and carved ornamentation popular in the Victorian era—also fit their penchant for historical homes. “It pretty much had all of the challenges that I wanted,” Craig said. “It had an outbuilding, a carriage house that I thought, ‘well, if we get the house done...’ I thought it would be about a 10-year project, but it was clearly not.”

Their home, built in 1892, sat empty for nearly a decade before they bought it, making them only the fifth owners in its 128year existence. “We were lucky,” Mary said. “It was never chopped up into apartments. No one ever painted the woodwork on the first floor except for the dining room.” The couple didn’t move in right away. Craig and friend Greg Peterson, also a talented woodworker, spent close to a year remodeling the house after work. Starting with the second floor—so that the Birchers, their first child, Walter, and their nanny would have somewhere to sleep—they ripped out all the crumbling plaster on the walls and scraped old linoleum off the hardwood floors. An additional bathroom on the second floor became the next priority; then, converting the open third floor into bedrooms. “So little by little...and then we got the babysitter moved on the third floor, and we had our second child [Josie],” Mary said. With musicians’ schedules of evenings and weekends, having live-in nannies—many of whom were students—was ideal. For as long as the Birchers have lived in their house, it’s been a port of call for traveling musicians from all over the country, as well as a rehearsal space for local musicians and a place where Craig and Mary teach music lessons. All the people they’ve met throughout the years have contributed to their house in some way, even if it’s a height marking on the kitchen wall with their name above it.

O C TOBER 2 02 0

Mary explained, “We had Creighton law students. We had all different people in all different stages. Harp students. He had trumpet students from UNO helping tear out plaster or hang drywall.” They hired professionals to do the finishing touches and things like electrical and plumbing, which was replaced nearly all throughout the house. Anything the Birchers could do themselves, they did. Craig was able to fix the weight-and-pulley system in all the double-hung windows instead of replacing them. This was something he learned from his trumpet teacher, Armondo Ghitalla, when he spent a summer helping him remodel an 1840s home. The two paisley-patterned chairs and the white couch that sit in their living room belonged to Ghitalla, who was principal trumpet with the Boston Symphony for many years. He left them to Craig in his will. Community plays a big part in the Birchers’ lives, especially relating to their home. “We’ve really developed a lot of great friendships with people that have helped us and that are really experts in their area,” Craig said. Like their neighbor, Matt Heebner, a landscape designer who helped them convert their front lawn into a pollinator garden after it started burning up during the summer. Using regional flowers like indigo Baptisia, colorful coneflowers, long-blooming yarrow, and star-shaped asters, as well as sumac shrubs and bluestem grasses to name a few, Heebner created a haven for bees and butterflies that’s visually stimulating and aesthetically beautiful. “I rely on a cycle of color for my perennial selections—early, long, late/short, medium, and tall,” Heebner said. “This method is especially important for sustaining different stages of wildlife.”

OMAHAHOME

For as long as the Birchers have lived in their house, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been a port of call for traveling musicians from all over the country, as well as a rehearsal space for local musicians and a place where Craig and Mary teach music lessons.

AT HOM E

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He went on: “The Birchers’ garden had the added element of a moderate slope adjacent to the sidewalk. I tried to accommodate for that with the heights of the plants and the view of the [Hanscom] park and surroundings.” Heebner wasn’t their only Field Club neighbor who helped make their home into what it is today. When the Birchers bought their house, much of the stained glass was missing. Their neighbors tipped them off to the seller having the stained glass windows for the front door, and to a previous renter having the stained glass cupboard doors for the dining room built-ins. The Birchers were able to reach out to both parties and retrieve the stained glass pieces for the restoration. Their neighbors also shared contacts to help them find Eastlake-style brass doorknobs and railings. As long as the Birchers live in Omaha, they’ll remain on a never-ending scavenger hunt to find all the missing pieces to their home—such as an Eastlake-style fireplace mantle they found in Nashville five years ago that they’re still refinishing, or locks for all the pocket doors on their main level. Like Mary said, “It’s a work in progress.” Craig did eventually get around to remodeling the carriage house that he and Mary use as a music studio now, albeit long past the 10-year timeline he anticipated. But no worry, the work and the music go on. Visit bircherandbirchermusic.com for more information about Mary and Craig’s music careers.

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Featured in the September 2020 issue. Photography by Bill Sitzmann.

omahamagazine.com O C TOBER 2 02 0

E L E G A N T

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Along the front path and inside the wrought-iron gate of interior designer Susan McMannama’s Regency home sits a lovingly tended classic English cottage garden that hints at the elegance beyond her expansive front door. But around the corner, to the side of the home, is an explosion of native pollinators that tells another important story about McMannama’s decorating style: it’s abundant with color year-round, rooted in personal history, and manages to appear immaculate and effortless at the same time. “I just planted six coneflowers a few years ago, and all of this came up,” she said with a little shrug. Inside the home is the same perfectly planned attention to detail, starting with a renovated kitchen, that was completed last November—giving Susan and her husband plenty of time to use it when they became cooped up at home with the pandemic hitting a few months later. “We’ve spent a lot of time in this kitchen,” said McMannama, an avid baker who, fortunately, had stocked up on ingredients to make Christmas cookies with her grandchildren before baking supplies ran low in stores. “The renovation made it a lot easier to handle quarantine.”

STORY

JENNA GABRIAL GALLAGHER

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MADY BESCH

McMannama, who purchased the home, built in 1978, with her husband seven years ago, knew exactly what she wanted for the kitchen—not only because she’s worked on the kitchens of so many clients, but also because she’d been planning what she wanted to do with the space for two years. “Honestly, if I’d known re-doing the kitchen was an option, I would have gutted it as soon as we moved in,” she confessed.

“WE’VE SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN THIS KITCHEN. THE RENOVATION MADE IT A LOT EASIER TO HANDLE QUARANTINE.”

— SUSAN M C MANNAMA

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The biggest change was raising the ceiling from about 8 feet high to 12 feet. Along with other structural changes, such as adding a second doorway (but removing doors) to the dining room and pushing back and widening the peninsula, the ceiling change opened the room and provided a more dramatic backdrop for her family heirlooms on display. Among them, the chandelier that McMannama and her siblings gave to their parents for their 50th wedding anniversary. Pieces collected from travels around the world, including a generously sized Italian majolica biscotti jar and equally impressive large soup tureen, are also featured. McMannama had originally intended to keep the kitchen’s marble floor, but the construction team removed it while she was out of town. “The decision was taken out of my hands,” she recalled with more nonchalance than many could muster when discussing the literal disappearance of the ground beneath their feet. But as a professional designer, McMannama knew how to pivot. She consulted three industry friends for their opinions on three options: 1) Replace the marble; 2) Install a wood floor, similar to that in the dining room; or 3) Get an entirely new floor for both the kitchen and dining room that would complement the colors in the foyer. In the end, she went with option 3, choosing a creamy gold herringbone inlaid wood. “It was a little more expensive, but I’m so happy I did it,” she said. McMannama loves to entertain formally, with fine china, the family sterling silver, and stemware that is displayed with a curated collection of cobalt glassware on mirrored built-in shelves in the dining room. “I like to have dinner. Not just soup and salad,” she said. She was thankful that she got to use her new space for one joyful season of holiday entertaining before the world shut down for most of 2020. “Christmas is formal. I love to decorate and work in my mom’s Christmas dishes. We had 40 people last year, and it worked out beautifully with the new kitchen layout.”

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...THE WALLPAPER IS THE PERFECT EMBODIMENT OF MCMANNAMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SIGNATURE STYLE, WHICH IS BEST SUMMED UP AS A COCKTAIL OF GRANDEUR AND GRACE, FAMILY HISTORY, LOCAL COLOR, GLOBAL ADVENTURE, AND FUN.

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McMannama is also a firm believer that a well-designed room reflects the lifestyle of the people who use it. Since this is a working kitchen, she made sure to have a six-burner stove and covered the bar stools in muslin. “I have five young grandchildren. If these get a few spots on them, I don’t care,” she said, adding that she’s already picked out the upholstery for that future moment when the grandkids are older (and less accidentprone) and she can go a little more formal with them. Throughout the home, McMannama’s sense of play and love of vibrant, jewel-toned color balances refined taste with personality, warmth, and a touch of irreverence. In the living room, an emerald green midcentury modern tuxedo sofa that belonged to her parents features a small needlepoint pillow her mother made that reads, “Thank you for not breathing while I smoke.” (The five grandchildren do not approve.) The formal entryway features a champagne-colored Tibet wall covering from the luxury home interiors retailer Clarence House; the wall treatment looks like damask from afar, but up close features a bold dragon motif. “It was the one my husband and I agreed on,” McMannama said of the intricate pattern. Plus, it spoke to one of McMannama’s most closely held design sensibilities—something she learned from her grandmother that was bolstered by a designer who mentored her early in her career: every home should have at least one important piece from Asia. Although McMannama has several Asian influences around her home, the wallpaper is the perfect embodiment of her signature style, which is best summed up as a cocktail of grandeur and grace, family history, local color, global adventure, and fun.

THROUGHOUT THE HOME, M C MANNAMAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SENSE OF PLAY AND LOVE OF VIBRANT, JEWEL-TONED COLOR BALANCES REFINED TASTE WITH PERSONALITY, WARMTH, AND A TOUCH OF IRREVERENCE.

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COUNTLESS OPTIONS FOR FALL BULB PLANTING FALL BULB PLANTI NG—most notably, tulips—conjures images of striped fields with vibrant blooms, farmers in wooden shoes, and windmills churning in the distance. The magical flower has captured imaginations since it was brought to Western Europe from Turkey in the late 16th century. “Tulips are romanticized because every time you think of tulips you think of The Netherlands,” said Scott Evans, horticulture program coordinator with the University of Nebraska Extension office for Douglas and Sarpy counties. Evans said that tulips, crocuses, and daffodils are among the most popular bulbs to plant in fall, which is the best season for adding them to your landscape. For gardeners who want a resilient f lower, he recommends daffodils. “Daffodils are reliably hardy. They don’t get the wide range of colors like tulips, but the nice thing about daffodils is that they’re critterresistant,” Evans said. He also suggests Species tulips, an older strain of the flower that tends to last longer than the more fragile tulips that have been bred for dramatic color, and also produce multiple blooms per stem. Peonies are another hardy option and are sometimes categorized as bulbs. Evans said that they are the “longest-lived perennial out there.” There are dozens of f lowering plants that grow from bulbs and, despite how easy they can be to cultivate, Evans said the popularity of bulb planting has waned in

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the last several years. He recommends a resource created by bulb companies to promote and educate gardeners about bulb planting: DigDropDone.com. This helpful resource provides seasonal planting calendars, recommendations for species that work well together, methods to amend sandy or clay soils, and helpful tips for fighting those pesky critters. “Squirrels love to dig up bulbs. I don’t know why. You plant them, they dig them up, and it’s a battle of the wills,” said Evans, who added deer and rabbits also occasionally snack on bulbs. It’s possible to protect more vulnerable plants from hungry herbivores. Online resources recommend placing a mesh barrier over the bulbs like a blanket and then removing it as the plants start to sprout. Some gardeners wrap a chicken wire cage around their tulip bulbs. “It depends on your enthusiasm to have tulips because that’s a lot of work,” Evans said. Most animals that threaten bulbs are of the furry variety, but the iris borer moth is a particularly destructive insect. Its larvae tunnel into the iris leaves and travel down to the rhizome, destroying the plant. Insecticides can sometimes help. “It can be kind of devastating,” Evans said, “especially with the Iris because you can spend a pretty penny on some of those cultivars and just watch them get destroyed.”

There are several species of lilies that do well in the Nebraska climate. “Stargazer is probably one of the most popular, and you can plant that in the fall or the spring,” Evans said. “Ideally, planting it in the fall is better because the plant is more in sync with Mother Nature.” The life cycle process of bulbs requires a winter cooling period. Planting when the ground temperature is cool is also recommended. DigDropDone.com suggests a soil temperature below 50º F. Evans said a common mistake is to plant bulbs at the wrong depth, which varies depending on the plant species. He also reminds gardeners that the pointy-end of a bulb goes up. If the top isn’t obvious, the bulb can be placed on its side and the plant will adjust. Other tips: Always plant in well-drained, loose soil, and add fertilizer to the bottom of the planting holes. “You want to plant in a grouping so you can make your pop of color. Don’t just plant like, one tulip here, another tulip here. Plant like 10 or 15 in a [mass],” Evans said. So, get digging! Come spring, you’ll be happy you did.

For more information visit extension. unl.edu or digdropdone.com.

“SQUIRRELS LOVE TO DIG UP BULBS. I DON’T KNOW WHY. YOU PLANT THEM, THEY DIG THEM UP, AND IT’S A BATTLE OF THE WILLS.” — Scot t Evans

HARVEST

STORY BY KATRINA MARKEL DESIGN BY MADY BESCH

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H I G H - C O U N T RY

DESIGN in the

BLACK HILLS

Story ELENA KERWIN Photography S. ROSE STUDIOS Design MADY BESCH 46

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T R A NSF OR M AT IONS

When designer Elena Kerwin received a call from one of her longtime clients saying they’d bought a vacation home in Deadwood, South Dakota, and needed her expertise, she was thrilled. The Omaha couple had finally found the ideal family retreat they’d been searching for and was excited to see how Kerwin’ s ideas would transform this great home into a high-country mansion in the middle of the Black Hills. Kerwin’s design concept was to bring the beautiful views and wonderful history of the surroundings inside the house, while using furniture and accessories to showcase her clients’ amazing new Western art collection. To start, Kerwin used the magnificent views from the family room as a picture gallery and selected furniture from the Design Gallery at NFM to complement the view. A black Habersham custom media cabinet and a wood-tone bar were chosen to bring down the high ceilings and welcome their guests with a real wow factor. Additionally, a Century Furniture dining set, cozy and light country chairs, plus a custom two-toned sideboard created the perfect frame for the breathtaking views. The primary bedroom features an authentic stone fireplace, so Kerwin selected an embossed king bed and an ethnic accent chair, introducing a Western flavor in a tasteful way. In one of the guest rooms, she chose a lodge bunk bed to give a fun mountain vibe. Finally, the home’s loft furniture was designed to be more relaxed, with a leather sofa and leather/Southwestern fabric recliners. The end result was stunning.

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A few years later, the clients decided to build an addition to their garage to accommodate their collection of cars, bikes, and four-wheelers. The addition kept growing until it became a luxury guest house with more fun high-country furniture and accessories. Shades of aqua were introduced in the living room on accent pillows and a cocktail leather fabric ottoman, as well as fun bar stools with crocodile backs. A dining set with cowhide and leather chairs added more high-country style. And more space meant more opportunities for the couple to display their ever-growing assortment of art. In the guest house’s primary bedroom, dark Western furniture, oneof-a-kind Southwestern rugs, and a bluish crocodile desk chair created the perfect mood for this addition. The final result was a guest home as impressive and welcoming as the main house. Together, they make a vacation retreat to remember.

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Meet the Interior Designer

ELENA KERWIN

Allied ASID Design Gallery NFM Elena has been an international interior designer for many years. Her world view allows her to tailor unique styles to accommodate each one of her many clients’ unique lifestyles. Elena’s work has been published in Architectural Digest, as well as international newspapers and local magazines.