OmahaHome November/December 2022

BEAUTIFUL

Neutrals & Nature at NOEL

DIY

MAISON SWEET MAISON

SEMI-PRECIOUS LIVING ROOM

As lovely as it is to host Thanksgiving, almost immediately after the dishes are cleared and the leftovers stored neatly in the refrigerator, out come my tubs of Christmas decor.

Typically, I like to start by decorating my fireplace mantel. Then, I place several trees of varying sizes around and add touches of winter greens every where. I enjoy creating that Christmas-y feeling with holiday vignettes, mini trees in unexpected places, and strands of white lights strung about to lend ambiance.

This issue, we’re sharing three looks for holiday mantels. I created my own woodsy display, and we called on two local designers to share their extrav agant creations. Whether it’s from OmahaHome, Pinterest, or HGTV, it’s great to seek new deco rating inspiration and mix it up from year to year.

Homeowner Kristi Peters, a personal friend of mine, also graciously agreed to decorate her house for the holidays months early, allowing us to showcase the uniquely neutral way she dresses her home for Christmas. She expertly combines elements from the outdoors, vintage knickknacks, and touches of gold and crystal resulting in a very natural noel.

And for those of you looking past the holidays… we spotlight interior decorator Megan Pettipoole’s own front living and dining room, which abounds with color and character, the Mannon family’s French Provincial beauty in Loveland, and more.

Don’t forget to give a little back to yourself this season it’s important to practice self-care during this hectic time of year.

Contributing

Kristi Peters’ nature-inspired holiday dining room features shimmering animal figurines, a faux fur table runner, and a portrait of an elk she took at Wildlife Safari Park. Photo by Sarah Lemke. Story page 20.

“Christmas is a piece of one’s home that one carries in one’s heart.”

—Freya Stark, British explorer & travel writer

CREATE YOUR OWN ENVIRNMENT

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 27 years.

KIM CARPENTER ·

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

FREDRICK · LINDA PERSIGEHL

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

LEO ADAM BIGA · MEGAN KEYSER

M C GEE · STACY ASHLEY MURPHY

SCHWEISS · BRIANNE WILHELM

Creative

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

MATT WIECZOREK

SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER

BUBB

GRAPHIC DESIGNER I

LUDWICK

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

BETHANY GILBERT · SARAH LEMKE

PERRY PHOTOGRAPHY

Sales

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

& MARKETING

GIL COHEN

BRANDING SPECIALISTS

DAWN DENNIS · GEORGE IDELMAN

CONTRIBUTING BRANDING SPECIALISTS

GREG BRUNS · TIM M CCORMACK

PUBLISHER’S ASSISTANT / OMAHAHOME CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

MATSON

SENIOR SALES COORDINATOR

HOLLINS

SALES COORDINATOR

SANDI M CCORMACK

APPOINTMENT SETTERS

HEIDI SLAUGHTER

Operations

BUSINESS MANAGER

FISHER

AD TRAFFIC MANAGER

TROUBA

DIGITAL MANAGER

MEGAN BARTHOLOMEW

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INGERSOLL

Executive

PUBLISHER

HOLIDAY Mantels

STORY - SANDY MATSON & CONTRIBUTED

PHOTOGRAPHY - SARAH LEMKE & BILL SITZMANN | DESIGN - MADY BUBB

Directions

ecorating my home for the holidays is one of my favorite traditions. My living room’s three-sided fireplace mantel is a focal point, setting the tone for the rest of the holiday decor. From year to year, I mix it up, sometimes choosing to go with a very traditional mantel with touches of gold, and other times more modern. This year I chose a woodsy theme with a hint of holiday sparkle. Below are direc tions for recreating my mantel look. I reached out to two Omaha interior design teams to share their unique holi day mantels as well. A big thank you to Hearts & Fire and Maison MxM for lending us your expertise! I hope these looks inspire you to try something new with your holiday decor this year.

Woodsy Holiday Mantel

• Fresh and faux evergreen sprigs (an assortment of styles and types)

• Fresh and faux eucalyptus

• Long strand of white string lights (green cord)

• An assortment of woodsy holiday decor, trees, and ornaments

• Faux branches (for a natural look)

• Iron candle holders for both taper and tea light candles

• Tapered and tea light candles

• A large brass reindeer candelabra, or any centerpiece (consider the depth of your mantel when choosing)

Step 1: Place the candelabra at center stage. Place a smaller, complemen tary figure closeby, then add faux trees and dark iron candlesticks to comple ment the scene.

Step 2: Weave a long strand of white lights through the decor, across the length of the mantel. Bundle the remaining lights at the far end, and set aside for later.

Step 3: Arrange the first layer of faux greenery/garland. This is the founda tion that you will build upon. (Use the least attractive of your greenery stock).

Step 4: Weave the remaining lights back across the mantel for a second layer, taking a bit more time tucking and hiding the cord under decor. Then add another layer of greenery.

Step 5: Add a few rustic holiday orna ments and pine cones for a more woodsy look. Then layer on more greenery and faux eucalyptus.

Step 6: Finally, lay fresh eucalyptus and evergreen sprigs on top. This will add fragrance and an authentic look to your mantel.

Fresh evergreen and eucalyptus can be bought several days or a week prior to your holiday events. I bought mine at Trader Joe's, then placed stems in a bucket of water until I was ready to use. It looks amazing and smells even better!

More mantel decorating tips:

• Try mixing fresh with faux green ery for a longer-lasting, more affordable look.

• Shop end-of-season sales to score bargains on quality faux sprigs, garland, etc. for next year.

• First, find a centerpiece you love, then shop for accessories that complement it well so your theme is cohesive.

• Buy design elements of different heights and avoid lining up things in a row. You want the viewer's eye to jump up and down with visual interest.

• Keep symmetry in mind. You don't want the arrangement to repeat exactly, but you do want it balanced.

• Layer items as you decorate, back to front, to lend texture and depth to your arrangement.

• Cut long decorating pieces, like garlands, into smaller sections so they're more manageable when arranging around lights and small holiday decor.

• When it comes to accessories, there really are no limits. Be as creative as you want!

Mark and Mikal Eckstrom, designers | Maison MxM

Our objective was to frame the fireplace wall with foliage. We purchased pre-made fresh pine garland and layered in boughs of magnolia, bays, olive, and eucalyptus for a heavier foliage effect. We then added dried orange slices, baby’s breath, white poms, red berries, and grosgrain ribbon in both Caribbean blue and russet red. The ribbons repeat the lucite swags on our vintage Grosfeld House mirror and tie the colors of our soft furnishings into the display. The mantle has contemporary reeded and chrome “trees” that feel like a trio of obelisks for a fun, modern mix. The entire tableaux makes for a cozy spot to pull up a chair with a craft cocktail that readies us to capture the holiday spirit!

Connecting those in need with those who can help.

Lori Kirkpatrick & Tahnee Chedel, owners | Hearts & Fire furniture and decor boutique

We designed this mantel with a bit of whimsy and fun. We anchored the space from above, hanging our “Magic” art print as a backdrop. We layered a white faux fur pelt to add soft texture, and placed blue and frosted glass vases at one end for a bit of modernism. LED candles in the bottom of the vases lend a warm glow. Trees of varying heights, trimmed in cut beige leather, were added to create another soft effect, while tall candlesticks with vibrant blue tapers add more visual inter est. Handcrafted Peruvian gold and silver mirrors were layered in at the back for the reflective factor. The sweet golden dove comes in for another dose of something unexpected. We finished it off with frosted blue berries, spar kling garlands, and hand-cut white origami garland.

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Have a

Green Holiday

StoryPatrick McGee DesignMady Bubb

green

Tips for celebrating more eco-friendly this season

While a white Christmas remains uncertain, a more ‘green’ season can be ensured with a proper plan for holiday buying and waste disposal. Here are some ways to reduce your carbon footprint going into the new year.

Holiday Trees

Christmas trees should be properly disposed of and recycled not cluttering landfills. The City of Omaha provides numerous recycling drop-off points around town in December and January. During the 2021-2022 holiday season, the City collected 84.1 tons of cut trees, the bulk of which were put through wood chippers and turned into mulch.

Historically, drop-off sites have included: Tranquility Park, Henry Doorly Zoo, Orchard Park, F Street Football Field, Ta-Ha-Zouka Park, Kelly West Park, Wehrs pann Lake, Bellevue Old Sarpy County Landfill, Papillion Fire Department, Papio Bay Aquatic Park Parking Lot, Walnut Creek Connector Trail, LaVista Sports Complex, Pierson/Orval Ballfields, and Hughes Mulch production. The 2022-23 dates and locations will be published on Wasteline.org, the website for Omaha’s solid waste program. Be sure to remove all nails, wires, ornaments, lights, rope, and plastic bags from trees before depositing.

As an alternative, Brent Crampton of Hill side Solutions said that its Compost Club members may drop off trees to its Soil Dynamics Yard in Downtown Omaha at no extra charge. Crampton explained, “You wouldn’t want your tree to end up in the land fill, as it’ll put off methane gas and shorten the lifespan of the landfill.” Visit hillside. solutions online for more information.

If you need help getting your tree to a recy cling site, some troops with the Boy Scouts, Mid-America Council, sponsor tree recycling drives in the Omaha metro, picking up trees curbside for a small fee. The fees go to fund troop activities, so it’s a win-win for all. Go to mac-bsa.org for more information.

Holiday Lights

Tangled and broken holiday lights should be recycled rather than trashed. The lights can be recycled because of the small amount of copper within the wires. Scrap Central Inc. near 84th and Maple streets hosts an annual holiday lights recycling drive/fund raiser for local organizations in the Lincoln/ Omaha metro area. In the past, proceeds from recycled lights have been donated to groups that serve educators and emergency responders. Visit scrapcentralrecycling.com for more info.

Gift Wrap

Buyers beware: much of the gift wrap sold in stores, particularly foil types and glossy varieties, is not recyclable. Gift wrappers wishing to recycle should only purchase non-glossy wrapping paper, or simply use newspaper or other paper that is acceptable for curbside recycling. Better yet, gifters should switch to reusable gift bags either paper or vinyl in lieu of one-use gift wraps.

Party Ware

For those looking to dispose of serving ware, such as paper plates and utensils left over from holiday parties, Crampton recom mends using recyclable plastic cups (such as plastic #1). Solo brand cups may be recycled if disposed of in Hefty Energy Bags through your curbside program. Many plastic plates can be recycled as well, but must be free of food debris. Glossy paper plates are typi cally not recyclable.

Recyclers should be aware that compostable serving ware needs to be composted at an industrial composting facility. Crampton said Hillside Solutions is the only facility in the metro that qualifies. He warns that plac ing compost-only serving ware into curbside recycling bins will ultimately cost the recy cling facility money, as it will be sorted out and, inevitably, end up in the landfill.

For more holiday tips, check out Hill side Solutions’ Zero Waste Gifting Guide online.

Give a gift to Mother Earth this holi day season celebrate a bit greener.

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2012

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A SEMI- PRECIOUS LIVING SPACE

Like many home decorators, Megan Pettipoole knows one of the easiest ways to change a room is through paint. “With paint you sometimes feel like you have a sunk cost, but it’s just paint and you can change it,” Pettipoole said. And change she has painting her dining room three times and her living room two times in the three years she and her family have lived in their petite 1923 bungalow near 50th and Center streets.

“My whole intent when we bought this house was that I wanted color,” she said, and the first few iterations weren’t working. Pettipoole finally landed on the combination she was looking for with Mint Condition by Sherwin Williams for the living room and a bold teal called Midship, an HGTV Home color by Sher win Williams, for the dining room. “I think they relate really well together,” she said.

Megan Pettipoole’s living-dining area features jewel-tone hues, novel finds, and a whole lot of personality.

Pettipoole was finally pleased with the two rooms but felt something was still amiss. With a sample can of pink paint she had sitting around, she decided to create a faux trim detail in the dining room. She used painter’s tape to frame the lines and slowly went to work, completing the proj ect little bits at a time. It took her six months, but she loves the final look.

The unexpected touches in these two rooms don’t end there. A textural piece of art hangs within the pink framing in the dining room. Pettipoole said she saw the artwork, made of old Wurlitzer organ keys

and living rooms have been thrifted, including the unique take on a plate wall Pettipoole installed above a midcen tury hutch she found at Thrift World. “I call that a hutch, but I think it’s technically a room divider,” she said. “It was one of those things where you find the perfect thing but you don’t have a truck, so you have to call in a favor to your friends.”

Pettipoole’s friends obviously recognize her unique style and love of color. The 1980s striped slipper chairs in the living room came to be hers from a Facebook Marketplace list ing in Des Moines. Someone she considers an old acquain

“I don’t want anything to feel too precious, and everything’s always been secondhand, so even though I love collecting and love making a home feel really polished and magazine-worthy, I want my kids to feel like they can live here, too.” Megan Pettipoole

arranged to look like a skull, while scrolling Instagram. It was made by an acquaintance, and he was offering if for sale.

“We don’t have the budget for original art,” Pettipoole remembers thinking, “but my husband surprised me with it for my birthday.”

As a musician, her husband, Luke, has contributed other musical effects to the space. Vintage synthesizers and old amplifiers add more interest, and a console stereo doubles as a side table in the living room. In fact, most of the accesso ries in the Pettipooles’ dining

tance messaged her “these look like you.” She agreed and had another friend pick them up. Referred to as the rainbow chairs by the family, Petti poole said they get good use as a slide for her 2 and 4-yearold daughters.

“I don’t want anything to feel too precious, and everything’s always been secondhand, so even though I love collect ing and love making a home feel really polished and maga zine-worthy, I want my kids to feel like they can live here, too,” she said.

A roof over your head means so much more than safety from the elements; a wellbuilt roof means a home full of memories, an investment to be proud of, and something to leave behind for future generations. Founded in 1996 by Pat Muhs, Moose Roofing has spent more than 25 years establishing a trust ing foundation in the Omaha community. Current CEO Zac Johnson and the team of experts he’s assembled are ready to put home owners’ roofing concerns to rest.

“Our goal is to always do the right thing, to go above and beyond for every customer, every time.” Johnson said. “We’ve earned Best of Omaha for many years in a row, and we did that by building great relationships in Omaha.”

In a city prone to high winds, hail storms, and even the occasional twister, the demand for replacement shingles remains consistently high. Johnson got his start in sales, and his years of experience means he has perfected the art. However, Moose isn’t in the business of selling an entire roof.

“Pat, our founder, used to be an insurance adjuster. He worked in construction his whole life, and he knows how to build something that is going to last,” said Johnson, who moved into the leadership position five years ago. “He made sure that our first goal was advocating for our customers with their insurance. They are already frustrated, they’re already anxious about the damage and the potential cost. Our first job is to take as much of the worry off their plate as we can. With Pat’s experience, we really had the insider knowledge on how to approach insurance to be sure that we were all on the same team: our customer’s team.”

The team’s second mission is to educate the client, whether they choose to hire Moose Roofing or not.

“We aren’t climbing on roofs, taking 200 photos, developing relationships with agents, businesses, and homeowners to sell someone a roof. We want to leave our community a little better with every visit. This is why we spend

time educating the customer on their options, on why they’re losing shingles or why their ventilation isn’t working. We want people to have all the information about not just the work we are planning to do, but what they can expect out of it for the rest of their time in the home. If they choose another business, we want them to know the facts in plain language so they aren’t going to be oversold or taken advantage of.”

It's nearly impossible for a customer to become a roof-buying expert, as it shouldn’t be a frequent experience. For a customer to be able to rely on the roof over their heads, they need to know that they are working with builders they can trust. That means expert installation of quality materials, and a crew transparently dedicated to their costumer’s best interests.

“We begin each assessment with a preliminary packet. That includes taking between 150 and 200 detailed photos we can submit to insur ance, so they know exactly what they’re going to be dealing with. We do a whole scope of the damage and then use a program called Xacti mate, which makes sure that we’re speaking the same language as the insurance company.” Johnson explained. “We do absolutely every thing we can for the adjustor up front, which helps us get ahead of the curve and get every thing really well documented. Because of our process, it’s pretty common for us to get approval from insurance without the adjustor ever setting foot on the customer’s roof, just based on detailed documentation.”

While this added effort takes a lot of the anxi ety out of the rebuild or repair process, it’s only the beginning of the Moose crew’s work.

“We want to make sure that every roof we install or repair is going to last, even through Omaha’s winds and hail storms.” Johnson said.

“That requires more than high quality shin gles. First, we ensure that every roof is getting proper ventilation. We focus on intake and exhaust ventilation because if your roof can breathe, it will last as long as the manufacturer says it will. Without proper ventilation, and

about 80% of the homes we are visiting for the first time aren’t properly ventilated, the life expectancy of your roof falls by 30% to 40%.”

With a proper foundation set, the team gets to work installing the most durable roofing materials available. “We offer a fortified roof ing system, which includes using a nailing strip to hold tighter in the high winds we see in Nebraska, and a ring shank nail that bites the deck, which gives us much better reten tion to avoid wind damage. Then we use a hail resistant asphalt or Premium F-wave Class IV shingle. Then everything is sealed.”

Moose Roofing is determined to get the roof over your head as quickly and painlessly as possible, but without cutting a single corner. “We want each home or commercial build ing we put our name on to be beautiful, but we also want it to perform really well and to last. A roof is a big expenditure, and we don’t want to see our customers having to deal with it again and again. We take our time and make sure that once we leave, our customers won’t have to keep calling us back to fix some thing we missed.”

With the process all but perfected, Moose is looking to the future. “Where we’re headed with longevity is to a much greener indus try. We are extending the life of the shingles that exist, and we’re getting greener shingles on a lot of roofs that are going to really last a long time. Keeping shingles out of landfills helps, and reducing that kind of waste also reduces costs.”

With an eye for progress, Moose Roofing is doing much more than keeping up with the latest in roofing innovation they are blazing the trail to a safer, greener, and ultimately, more beautiful way to live.

4760 S 135th St., Omaha, NE 68137 402.763.4851 mooseroofing.com

STORY BY SARA LOCKE | PHOTO PROVIDED

SHINGLING OUT THE COMPETITION

Moose Roofing proves they’re in a class all their own.

Residential Roofing

Neutrals &

Kristi Peters’ woodsy approach to decorating carries through the holidays.

Nature ATNoel

Growing up in a classic Victorian farmhouse in Red Oak, Iowa, Kristi Peters would dream of someday living in a brand-new home with fresh finishes and contemporary styl ing. Once on her own, that’s exactly what Peters sought.

But years later with a husband, two boys, and two dogs Peters was hungry for a home with history and character once again. She yearned for that country charm and more space for their growing boys to play and enjoy the outdoors.

In 2015, the Peters purchased a home in Armbrust Acres, a large, residential neighborhood in south west Omaha. Built in the 1970s, the home’s interior decor was dated, but the house itself was brimming with character and renovation potential.

Immediately, the couple set about updating the home. The carpets were replaced, wallpaper was scrapped, and the golden oak stain on cabi netry and trim was swapped out for modern white. Over the years, Peters and her husband have continued to renovate the home, bit by bit.

What really stands out about the home’s interior redesign is Peters’ reverence for nature and her knack for bringing the outdoors in.

Peters describes her decor style as a “woodsy feel, but a little bit more glammed up.” Much of her home’s furnishings consist of neutralcolored accessories, animal statues, and unique trinkets. One of her favorite local stores to shop is the Brass Armadillo, where she’s able to purchase antiques and collectibles, then refurbish and display them in her home. She also decorates with items she plucks from the outdoors and brings into the cozy dwell ing. “It creates an effect that’s calm ing,” she said.

Story - Megan Keyser Photography - Bill Sitzmann & Sarah Lemke Design - Mady Bubb

Peters often displays vintage Christmas cards with her holiday decor. “I think it’s really cool to read all of the stories that people write on the back of them.”

Peters’ nature-inspired decor does not ‘take a holiday’ at Christ mastime either; rather it’s on full display. She decorates her Christ mas tree with simple ornaments and a few crystal-drop pendants and slides pinecones and berry sprays in between branches for accent. She tops the tree with pheasant feath ers (collected by her husband during his wild game hunting outings), and places an electric train set to run in circles around the base.

The rest of her home features more nature-inspired holiday touches. An asparagus fern, blooming with red berries, swings from the ceil ing nearest the home’s back window. Vintage Christmas storybooks sit on display, nestled between seats in the living room. (The living room chairs, Peters explained, were purchased secondhand from a friend of her grandmother.)

The home’s staircase railings and fireplace mantel are twirled with pine branches. Nearby, the dining table is dressed in a gray, faux fur runner, topped with votive hold ers filled with stones and more branches. Built-in shelving and antique hutches are graced with knick-knacks and collectibles from various decades, including film cameras, postcards from the early 1900s, and worn Bibles.

Peters often displays vintage Christmas cards with her holiday decor. “I think it’s really cool to read all of the stories that people write on the back of them. People have no idea unless they sit down and talk to people about what was going on at the time.”

Stones and hand-carved statues collected and created by her chil dren and husband also sit on living room shelves. A copy of President Abraham Lincoln’s national address rests in the entryway. Peters appre ciates history and relishes decking out her home with family memories and conversation pieces.

“I love a timeless and eclectic look,” she added. “I really like black and white. Growing up, my parents let me redo my bedroom. I had black carpeting and white walls. And all black-and-white pictures.”

She also has a love of photography. A large print of a photo she took of an elk at Wildlife Safari Park, its antlers transporting foliage from one resting place to another, hangs in her home. It’s slightly out of focus, but no matter. “It tells a story,” she said.

Throughout the years, Peters has curated a home that’s filled with soothing neutral tones and antique collectibles, some of which were passed down as family heirlooms, others found at thrift stores or second-hand shops. It seems her value of all things new, so promi nent in her youth, is long gone.

“The old stuff is made with much better quality than stuff today,” she said. “You can go and find things that are vintage...they’ll last an eternity, and they’re a fraction of the cost.”

MAKE AN ENTRANCE AT YOUR BUISINESS THIS SEASON

KAREN

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Ambassador Real Estate:

TEN NATIONALLY Number of Units Sold Mid Size Team

Award for Large Team Producer

Pinnacle Award for Top Large Team Number of Transactions

Summit Award for Team Productivity (#7)

Story - Stacy Ashley Murphy | Photography - Bill Sitzmann & Sarah Lemke | Design - Mady Bubb

The Mannons make a French Provincial beauty their own.

rs. Roslyn and Peter Mannon have made some moves in their lives. Since medical school, the married couple have lived in North Carolina, Mary land, and Alabama. Each home they chose for their growing family had its own set of challenges, and

the two learned from their experi ences how to overcome them. So, when their careers took them to the University of Nebraska Medical Center, they were discerning in their search for the ideal Omaha home.

“Everyone, including our realtor, told us to live in Dundee,” Peter said.

“But there wasn’t a lot (of inventory) and everything was a huge project.” They widened their search to the Loveland neighborhood near 84th and Pacific streets. There, tucked away on a quiet street, sat a French Provincial home with charcoal-gray brick, light-blue shutters flanking large curved windows, and a circu lar driveway.

Peter said when he walked in, he knew immediately this was the one. The stunning entrance included beautiful molding and a curved stair case with a brass handrail and iron detailing. “Plus the kitchen was done and beautiful,” he said. As the cook in the family, that feature sealed the deal for Peter, and Roslyn agreed.

The home, built in 1965 for a Kiewit Corporation executive, has unequivocal charm and original details, including a stunning fire place, brass light fixtures, wain scoting, and a backyard with statues and circular gardens–nods to the French influences of the house. Former homeowners had completed a major overhaul of the

feature

kitchen but, unlike many modern renovations, had chosen not to create an open floor plan on the main level. “We like the more defined spaces with transitions from room to room the ceilings are high but not soaring,” Peter said. “There is a sense of coziness and shelter.”

“We like the more defined spaces with transitions from room to room—the ceilings are high but not soaring. There is a sense of coziness and shelter.”

— Peter Mannon

The house itself was not without its troubles. There was a natural gas leak coming from the furnace, and a burst hot-water supply main under neath the slab foundation. Addi tionally, the entire HVAC system had to be replaced. Peter speculated that, because the house had been corporate-owned for several years, some of the infrastructure needs went overlooked.

Aesthetic updates were required as well. Carpet covered the family room, and the Mannons wanted wood floors. In an act of serendipity, they called on Tom Manley Floors to try to match the herringbonepatterned floors and woodwork finish in much of the house. Manley was happy to oblige, as he had done the work for a previous owner.

And then there were the bath rooms. Two hadn’t been touched since the 1960s; one in American Standard pink, and one in American Standard yellow. In addition, the primary bathroom needed upgrades to better serve the Mannons two busy professionals who desired their own spaces.

“We had to have good bathrooms,” Roslyn said. “We had compromised in other houses, and I was not going to live with bad bathrooms.”

Rosyln said they had learned from their past homes to do the upgrades upfront. “In our other houses, we waited too long and often only got to enjoy the renovations for a couple years, then moved.” Of course, things were different then, she admitted. They had young kids and less money. “We were hellbent on getting things done with this one,” she said.

An online search found HC Remodel & Design, owned by Gary Haldeman. It was June 2020 when they started the first guest bathroom during the first several months of the pandemic. Haldeman and his team took extra precautions, along with their already tidy work proto

cols, and the Mannons were rarely at home during construction, working long hours at the Med Center combat ting so many COVID surges.

Haldeman said the Mannons were a joy to work with. “I think them being professionals, they were used to making decisions, so they were easy,” he said. “And they realized that they have their expertise and we have ours, so they didn’t try to tell us how to do our jobs.”

Roslyn said she thinks the team was surprised by how decisive they were, and although supply-chain issues reduced some of their choices, she said they weren’t sweating the small stuff. “Some things were unavailable and we’d say ‘show us what is available,’” she said. “We wanted a certain toilet and were going to have to wait for it to come in, but Gary said ‘get what you want, we’ll do something in the interim,’ and it all worked out.”

The Mannons said the remodeling team started on the primary bathroom as soon as the guest ones were complete. While the bath had been previously renovated, its dark finishes made the space feel cave-like. “Our goal was to keep things light and open,” Gary said. One surprise detail that remained from the old design was a shallow shelf lining the length of the wall above the sinks and below the mirror. “They had used the old bathroom for a while and fell in love with the shelf,” he said. “It ended up being super practical, but then design-wise it looks nice, too.”

The day the Mannons moved into their Loveland home in February 2020, the house had no hot water, and it was 10 degrees outside. The pair are happy they focused on the essentials first, but quickly got to some aesthetic renova tions so they could enjoy the entirety of the home. In the end, they couldn’t be more thrilled with the outcome. On warmer days, the two lounge on the back patio with a glass of wine and marvel at their enchanting home. “We sit out under the trees and you do feel like you could be in France,” Peter said with gratitude.

RENEW RESURFACING

Renew Resurfacing is a small, familyowned business operated by Jim and Candy Work, here in Omaha. Above all else, Renew Resurfacing exists to glorify God as they have both experienced the transforming power of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. That transformation pours into every aspect of their life, including their business.

The Works have been married for over 35 years and have been blessed with SIX boys and five grandchildren (FOUR of which are grand daughters…thank you Jesus!). It goes without saying that they appreciate great value and savings whenever possible.

Jim has over 30 years of experience in home renovation and remodeling. Because budget restraints can often be a factor, he loves implementing cost effective solutions with out sacrificing superb craftsmanship. “As God has transformed my life, I love to transform worn and or dated things and make them new again. My standard is quality and excellence. I work alongside many professional craftsmen. We all share a similar belief that “As close to perfect as possible, isn’t close enough.” That same approach is what I bring to every client’s

home.” Jim is not happy until his custom ers are whole-heartedly satisfied with their project results.

Candy embraces all things pretty, unique, and updated. She has become a master of main taining that ideal and how to achieve it with frugality. Her frequent thrifting excursions and “roadside treasures” are a testament to her playful and creative personality. A walk through her home and beautiful sunroom showcases her love of upcycling, repurposing, and finding the value, beauty, and potential in all things.

With their strong roots as our foundation, we are passionate about transforming your kitchens, bathrooms, and other spaces to a fresh new look you will love. We “live” in our homes, so they should be “lived in.” Coun tertops, vanities, showers, and floors inevi tably become worn and lose their luster over time. Renew has perfected the resurfacing process using incredibly versatile epoxy that is customizable to any design or aesthetic you could possibly dream of as well as other indus try leading coatings. We proudly offer you the ability to make changes and improvements without breaking the bank or leaving you with a long and messy tear out.

To start, Jim will come visit with you, get a sense of your lifestyle and unique tastes, inspect your surfaces, and together we will make exciting choices to transform your space!

The Renew crew is a diverse group of individu als who love what we do and will treat your home as if it were our own because we feel it is a privilege to be invited into your space. Each team member has a unique background and skill set that intensifies the quality and crafts manship to each project they are a part of.

From sales and office staff, to installers, each is an important asset and will work to achieve 100% customer satisfaction. We take great pride in delivering the highest quality prod ucts, installations, and services available and cannot wait to help you transform your space!

20515 Nicholas Cir. #7, Elkhorn, NE 68022 402.810.9610

RenewResurfacing.com info@renewresurfacing.com

At Home

STORY - KARA SCHWEISS | PHOTOGRAPHY - SARAH LEMKE | DESIGN - MADY BUBB

Happy Accidents I n HAPPY HOLLO w

The Haverkamps’ century-old home masterfully mixes midcentury modern, art deco design.

w hen Ben Haverkamp’s work in the medical field brought him to Omaha in 2020, he and wife Allison were looking for a home like the large 1950s ranch they had loved in Kansas City. But inventory was slim, and instead of midcen tury modern, they ended up with century-old charm.

The circa-1920 home in Happy Hollow was gorgeous, and spacious four levels, five bedrooms and boasted some features rare for the era, includ ing an attached garage, finished basement, and drywall. Its wood floors and trim work were in great shape. The home’s highquality materials and crafts manship and evident care meant many of the original fixtures and features were still intact 100 years after its construction.

But there were some oddities, like parallel staircases that led to the same landing. Vintage bathroom fixtures in different shades of teal. Small, closedoff rooms. A kitchen with three entrances. Busy primary bedroom wallpaper, with curtains in an identical print. Impractical storage options.

“It hadn’t really been updated,” Ben said. “It wasn’t realistic in this day and age to have a master with no closet and no bathroom.”

So, when the couple purchased the home in the summer of 2020, it was with a vision of “could be” and a plan to remodel.

“We had never renovated anything before,” Allison said. “I felt like we started with a much smaller plan and then we’d run into things.”

“We didn’t know what we were getting into, I think,” Ben reflected. “We took a crash course in 1920s homes, but I think we bit off a little bit more than we expected.”

There were some unpleasant surprises during the renovation, like the discovery that the slow drains were due to 100 years of buildup in the home’s pipes, or finding five inches of concrete where they were expecting to find subfloor. But with the proj ect managed by G. Lee Homes, the renovation yielded beau tiful results, and the family moved in by the end of the year.

“The kitchen and the primary suite were really our biggest projects,” Allison said. “They were the things I wanted to updated the most, just to be more functional.”

By removing the superflu ous staircase, space was created for a kitchen expansion. Angie Hall, a project coordinator for the builder, said the homeowners had solid design ideas that were also achievable.

“The white and brass vintage range, green-painted cabinets with gold cabinet hardware, along with full quartz backsplash and waterfall ends on the island were the main design elements that they wanted to see in the kitchen area,” she said. “In the master bathroom, a large, vintage clawfoot tub and walk-in shower were important to them, along with keeping two arched stained-glass windows original to the house.”

The quartz and other kitchen colorations were copied from the previous Haverkamp residence.

“We pulled a lot of inspiration from that (Kansas City) house,” Allison said.

“This house obviously is from a very different period, more of the Art Deco period,” Ben said. “So we had to change our style a little bit; we tried to meld it together.”

The spacious new kitchen nicely accommodates entertaining a large extended family. The wood floors, refinished for uniformity after being concealed under carpet for decades, stands up to the couple’s energetic Bernese mountain dog, Malfi, and their nearly 3-year-old daugh ter, Maeve (a baby boy is due in late October).

“It’s not a museum. It has to be functional for us and our daily life,” Allison said. “It can’t stay pristine '24/7/365.' It’s right in

that balance between wanting to have a cool, unique home space, but also make it livable.”

Allison and Ben also have their dream ensuite, sacrificing a small bedroom but gaining the features they desired.

“We expanded the master bath into an unused guest bedroom to create a larger master bath with a freestanding tub, walk-in shower, double-sink vanity and a private water closet along with walk-in closet and a second-floor laundry room,” Hall said.

The Haverkamps made a few fun discoveries, or as Ben called them, “happy accidents,” like an old-fash ioned phone nook, and a wall safe behind a wing-out mirror. A lock smith was able to open it, and inside was a decades-old business card from the very same locksmith business.

“It’s so old that it has four digits for the phone number,” Ben said.

Other happy accidents include two bookcases brought over from the Kansas City house that fit spaces between living room windows like they were custommade for it, and a vintage sofa that nestles perfectly into a spot in the sunroom off the living room itself a happy accident of sorts, with a one-of-a-kind floor the previous owner found under carpet.

“The black-and-cream marble checkerboard floor in the sunroom is a very unique element that is original to the house,” Hall said. “My favorite room in this house is the sunroom.”

Ben spearheaded many of the design details, Allison said. “I have the ideas, and she helps make them realistic,” he said. “It’s really a joint effort.”

The couple’s midcentury modern furnishings some vintage, some merely with the look of the era and decor have trans ferred nicely to their 1920s home. Ben’s pride and joy, a bar he made from a vintage console television, is a nice showpiece that reflects the homeowners’ desire to respect the home’s best period features while expressing their own style.

“Hopefully we balanced that,” Ben said.

GET INSPIRED

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ARCHITECTURE

Story - Leo Adam Biga

Photography - Bill Sitzmann

Design - Mady Bubb

“The outside features draw you to the home. You instantly fall in love and can’t wait to see what magic and fun is inside.”

— Jennifer Bergin

A Historic Home Charmsin Hanscom

The elegant 19th century Victorian finds new life as an Airbnb.

History and beauty speak through time and distance. An appre ciation for both led a Colorado-based family to recently purchase a Victorian Colonial Revival home in the Hanscom Park neighborhood without visit ing it in person.

New owners, Christine Hethcock and daughters Jennifer Bergin and Brittany Hethcock, said the house built in 1892 as the model home and residence of Hanscom Place developer George N. Hicks checked all the boxes for their ideal Airbnb investment property.

An online search led them to the designated Omaha landmark property at 3017 Pacific Street, whose bright blue and white exte rior pops as much as its architec tural detail delights.

“We bought it off the pictures,” Christine said. “Our realtor, Mari lyn Hinn, walked the house with us on a Zoom video tour. It was

just what we were looking for in terms of something very unique that had some great historical charm. As the model home, [the developer] put in every single upgrade offered at the time. For that era, it was completely state of the art.”

“We love history,” Jennifer added. “It’s part of the heart of the home. We want to bring our guests into that history. As they walk through the home, we’re going to have newspaper articles, photos, and other pieces for them to enjoy. We want to leave them with a greater sense and bigger understanding.”

Developer Hicks and architect F.C. Ledebrink had opulence in mind when they built the resi dence. The new owners appre ciate how every design element is substantial and considered: the interior’s massive oak main staircase with fluted columns and intricate lattice work; eight-foothigh, four-panel doors with tran

soms and large wood-framed bay windows throughout; generous baseboards feature molded trim and corner blocks.

Solidity and whimsy start outside. “The grand front doors are so beautiful, tall, and heavy,” Jennifer said. “Solid pieces of oak,” Christine noted, adding, “Every door in the house was hand-built on-site.”

Exterior adornments include the frilled columns and crowns framing the facade, a steely pitched roof with cornices and dormer, and the recessed, arched second-story balcony off the primary bedroom accented by a diamond-paned slit window above. A rich color palette and a full-length front porch add warm, welcoming elements.

“The outside features draw you to the home,” Jennifer said. “You instantly fall in love and can’t wait to see what magic and fun is inside.”

The 3,800-square-foot inte rior practically glows from a subdued white and dark espresso motif that makes the already spacious rooms seem even larger.

“The wallpaper is stunning. It really gives the whole house an understated but dramatic effect,” said Jennifer, adding that a 2016 restoration by the previous owners brightened and updated the house. “The family that owned it before obviously took a hold of that and did a very nice job with it.”

Additional interior delights include an original clawfoot tub, a Pullman sink, pine floors, and a nursery. “Chan deliers add an extra touch of elegance to every room,” Jenni fer said. Two sitting rooms and a bedroom feature stained glass window flourishes.

Omaha’s real estate values made it too good an opportu nity to pass up.

“A house of this historical magnitude, size, and detail in Denver would sell for over $1 million,” said Christine, who purchased the Omaha home with her daughters for $320,000.

The location, near amenities Hansom Park, Midtown, Old Market, Henry Doorly Zoo, and Lauritzen Gardens, also makes it appealing.

With its landmark status, the owners cannot make major renovations without special permit. Not that they want to anyway. “We like it just the way it is,” Christine said, though new safety and access features have made it code-compliant and user-friendly.

The women see it as an ideal home away from home for visit ing nurses, doctors, and other professionals, as well as tour ists or locals seeking a unique staycation site.

A property manager handles rentals and upkeep. Though they reside in Colorado, the family uses it for their own getaways. “We just love it,” Jennifer said. “We want to share it with as many people as possible to see its rich histori cal value and aesthetic appeal.”

To see more of this charming home’s interior, visit airbnb. com and search “Historic

1892 Hanscom Park Home 4 Bedrooms/3 baths.”

When

ASID

A Model to Remember

Ample light, warm woods, and elegant fixtures blend in display home designed to impress.

British interior designer Kelly Hoppen wrote, “The whole experience of ‘coming home’ is one we value more and more in a world that is fast, noisy, and at times, threatening.”

As a designer, I have one goal: that people walking into a space I’ve designed feel instantly welcomed, relaxed, and inspired. Such was the case for this model home I designed for Silverstone Building Co. The builder, Ken Swain, and Silverstone’s broker, Ben Proctor, both give me the space to do my job, but also offer feedback to keep improving the presentation and function of every home that hits the market.

Story - Brianne Wilhelm | Photography - Tim Perry Photography | Design - Mady Bubb

A model home, I believe, must be designed to appeal to all (or at least most) homebuy ers, but also requires touches that make it memorable and distinguishable from others. In new construction, we don’t have the luxury of time and an unlimited budget. We must work within the built-in constraints of the architectural plan we are showcas ing and the capabilities of each supplier or subcontractor.

I consider every finished detail for its effect on the overall look and feeling I want to create in each house. I am inspired by trends that are rooted in history, such as the modern version of a patterned encaustic tile used in the kitchen backsplash. The kitchen also features ample storage in custom cabi netry painted in a shade of white. The island countertop is a light quartz with contrasting black countertops on the perimeter cabinets, which complement the black slate appli ances and black hardware.

The two-story great room is anchored by the fireplace and a large chandelier. The fire place wall features knotty alder cabinets and floating shelves in a warm chestnut-brown custom stain, which contrasts well with the black accents throughout the home. The linear stair railings are custom fabricated by a local welder and have their own sculp tural quality.

The front door with sidelites and transoms allow natural light to flood the two-story entry area. The two wall sconces provide a great frame for artwork or a mirror in the entry. Light fixtures act as the home’s jewelry, providing a beautiful accent in each location, illuminating and bringing interest to simple spaces and blank walls.

Silverstone’s huge windows bring the outdoors in, and the contrasting black window trim creates a frame to view the picture outside. Huge glass sliding doors help illuminate the space as well.

ASID AWARD FEATURE

Silverstone’s huge windows bring the outdoors in, and the contrasting black window trim creates a frame to view the picture outside. Huge glass sliding doors help illuminate the space as well.

When this home was shown as a model, I filled the rooms with the essentials to showcase the possibilities for comfortable but stylish daily living. Furnish ings keep the space feeling open, yet provide ample seating for entertaining. It is now home to a family creating memories every day.

Brianne Wilhelm and D3 Inte riors was recognized with a Gold award for this project at the ASID Nebraska/Iowa Chapter annual awards held in September 2021.

ABOUT THE INTERIOR DESIGNER BRIANNE WILHELM ALLIED ASID, D3 INTERIORS

Wilhelm joined D3 Interiors as an interior designer in 2009. Her background in fine art and art history is a major influence on her design work. She specializes in residential new construction, remod els, basement finishes, window cover ings, and small commercial projects. She lives on an acreage north of Syracuse with her busy family.