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SEPTEMBER 2019

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

CHICKEN PEDICURES & SLUMBER PARTIES

CONSIGNMENT TO CREATION

A HOUSE WORTHY OF MOVIES

A LAKESIDE HUB

BRINGING BACK THE GLORY DAYS

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OmahaHome E N T R Y WAY

CON TEN TS 3

OmahaHome Entr y way

Maker

C O N S I G N M E N T T O C R E AT I O N

Spaces C H I C K E N P E D I C U R E S & S L U M B E R PA R T I E S

Neighborhoods STILL SHINING A CENTURY ON

Feature A L A K E S I D E H U B & W I S H C O M E T R U E AT W I L L O W P O I N T

A rchitecture B R I N G I N G B A C K T H E G L O R Y D AY S

At Home A H O U S E W O R T H Y O F M O V I E S , B U T F I T F O R FA M I LY

Har vest N AV I G AT I N G T H E R I V E R

Transformations DESIGNED FOR A LIFETIME

ON THE COVER

The Donscheski family’s chicken coop was built for daughter Josie by her father, Barry, and features cedar shingles, a custom roosting bar, and space to play school with feathered friends. Story page 8. Photo by Bill Sitzmann.

Falling for Fall hile living on the beach is hard to beat, fall will forever hold a special place in my heart. The leaves slowly change colors, boots and sweaters re-emerge from closets, and delicious comfort foods make their appearance. Need some ideas to warm your home and hearts for this season? Adorn furniture with comfy throws to make the room more inviting as a whole. Use a textured rug over wood or cement floors to tie a room together and keep toes warm. And don’t underestimate a great arrangement of fall accessories—such as pumpkin-scented candles, stylish throw pillows in warm fall hues, or one of Kathleen Connor’s custom lampshades (story on page 6)—to bring autumn into your home. Speaking of cozy, in this issue you get to peek inside not one, but two beautiful beach homes. Renee Smeal’s home was built with family and lifestyle in mind and features hints of the ocean, while Todd Lavigne and Gina Dolan’s blended household lives in a beautifully lit former Street of Dreams home—a dream come true. Warm your hearts in this issue with a story of uncommon bonds in the Minne Lusa neighborhood, or the more uncommon pedicure on chickens’ toenails in the Donscheskis’ whimsical chicken coop on page 8. And on a personal note, September is even more special because two of my favorite men have birthdays—my dad, Bob, and son Jake. As always, if you have any great story ideas, or feel your home is perfect for OmahaHome, reach out to me at sandy@omahapublications.com. Warmly,

Sandy Matson Contributing Editor

VOLUME 9 · Issue 6

SEEK WHAT SETS YOUR SOUL ON FIRE

EDITORIAL Managing Editor DAISY HUTZELL-RODMAN Senior Editor TARA SPENCER Editorial Interns JANE GLAZER · SAMANTHA WEIDEMAN Contributing Writers RYAN BORCHERS · MEGAN FABRY · DAWN KANNE KATRINA MARKEL · PATRICK M C GEE MANDY MOWERS · KARA SCHWEISS · JAMES VNUK

CREATIVE Creative Director MATT WIECZOREK Senior Graphic Designer DEREK JOY Graphic Designer II MADY BESCH Contributing Photographer DAWN KANNE

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Consignment to Creation C USTOMIZING A CAREER

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MAKER story by Megan fabry

photography by Bill Sitzmann

ath leen Connor attended Princeton University, where she obtained a degree in art history, which led to her working with renowned interior designer Anthony Baratta and architect Peter Marino. She didn’t plan on making custom lampshades.

design by Mady Besch

Kathleen Connor began by making ﬆock pieces to show off to customers and give them an idea � what she can do. Now she only creates specific custom orders.

In high school, Connor had worked at Esther’s— an Omaha consignment store owned by Trish Lonergan—where she learned about the consignment business. While planning her return to Omaha from New York, she contacted Lonergan to inquire about sharing a space. Lonergan agreed and her store, Among Other Things, went from an idea contrived in Connor’s mind to a reality. “For me, it started out that I opened this furniture consignment store, and people would look at lamps to purchase, and they would say ‘Oh, I love this lamp but it’s such a hassle to find a lampshade in Omaha that fits. I don’t want to buy it,’” Connor says. “And I thought to myself, there’s such a market here and barely anyone is making custom lampshades. That’s when I started teaching myself how to make them and it just kind of blew up from there.” With patience and determination, Connor began her journey creating custom lampshades, pillows, and draperies. Connor says it took some trial and error in the beginning, but after a year of hard work she started selling her creations. She began by making stock pieces to show to customers and give them an idea of what she can do. Now she only creates custom orders.

Connor uses her experiences working on the East Coast when crafting each item for customers. “I don’t think I would have the same style now if I hadn’t gone to the East Coast for college,” Connor says. “You see a really different look and way of living.” When putting together an item for a client, she creates it with a specific idea and home in mind. Each project varies in time and difficulty, and Connor often does several projects at once to ensure her customers receive their accessories within a reasonable time frame. “It’s really important for me to get things done on time for customers, so I tend to bring things home at the end of the day and do my sewing there,” Connor says. “I’m still trying to find a balance.” With so many projects to complete, Connor decided to put a studio in her home, which was finished in May.

“Growing up I always loved home magazines, coffee table books, and decor things. I always wished I could have that,” Connor says. “So now the fact that I can order fabric and actually make [lampshades] for people is really satisfying. I’ll forget I made something for someone and go over to their house for another project and see something I made for them a while ago— that’s a great feeling.” Connor has found her calling in the world of custom design and has no plans to stop anytime soon. “I want to keep doing it for the rest of my career,” she says.

Chicken Pedicures &Slumber Parties S PAC E S

How a Custom Chicken Coop Fosters Imagination story by Mandy Mowers photography by Bill Sitzmann design by Mady Besch

September 2019

Friends are easy for Josie to find. She is fascinated by bugs— she’ll catch them, talk to them, and sometimes she’ll feed them to the chickens.

OmahaMagazine.com

S PAC E S

t started with three chickens in a storebought, redwood playhouse. Now the Donscheski family has 20 chickens in a custom-built cedar coop that’s 20 feet by 6 feet and tall enough to stand in, with quirky windows and a brick patio.

Josie Donscheski, at age 7, visited a friend who had chickens, and then begged her dad to get some. When Barry finally agreed to bring chickens to their yard in Millard Park, he did so on the condition that they could live in her playhouse, but it wouldn’t be hers anymore—it would be theirs. He wanted her to understand that decisions like this mean sacrifice. It was an important lesson for her to learn. Josie, who turns 15 on Sept. 15, has isodicentric chromosome 15 syndrome, or idic(15). This means she has an extra 15th chromosome, which leads to challenges in comprehension and focus. The chickens were one way for her to learn consequences, which helps her focus. Josie’s mom Patti says it’s like having a teenager and a kindergartner in one. “But really, I have the same concerns as any parent,” Patti says. “I want her to have friends and be happy.” Friends are easy for Josie to find. She is fascinated by bugs—she’ll catch them, talk to them, and sometimes feed them to the chickens. The sacrifice soon became a passion. The chickens are great playmates for Josie. In 2016, Barry's father Don, and son Kaylor, helped Barry build the custom chicken coop, complete with a f lower box. Inside is a roosting bar where Josie plays school with the chickens. She often “teaches” the chickens songs or letters. About every three months, she’ll talk her parents into having one of the chickens in the house for a sleepover. Patti’s rule is that the selected chicken gets a bath before coming in. Then Barry will help Josie paint the chicken’s “toenails,” and Josie will play a movie on a tablet and tuck in the chicken.

“I try and [give] my neighbors eggs and talk to them about the coop. If anything negative is mentioned, even in jest, it is taken care of immediately.” — Barry Donscheski

S PAC E S

Barry, a landscape designer by trade, has learned patience from his energetic, loquacious daughter. The chickens have also helped. He spends at least an hour a day tending to them and the yard—six to eight hours on weekends. “First and foremost, it’s a job,” Barry says. “Your commitment is... daily. Clean up, food, water, and health needs.” The Donscheskis’ chickens are set up on an automatic watering system Barry created. When the sprinkler system kicks on, it fills a PVC tube that holds five gallons. “You’ll need to get a permit from the city to have them,” Barry says. “Your coop will have to be the appropriate size to house the number of chickens you intend on acquiring. Rule of thumb is 4 square feet per bird in the run.” He also advises that owners be conscious of your neighbors. Roosters aren’t allowed within city limits because of their noisiness, but even hens can make a lot of noise when laying. “I try and [give] my neighbors eggs and talk to them about the coop,” Barry says. “If anything negative is mentioned, even in jest, it is taken care of immediately. Flies, smell, and noise are the main concerns.” The chickens have been a nice addition to this family’s life. Barry and Patti sit and chat while Josie uses her butterf ly net to meet new friends. The chickens scatter around the yard.

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Still Shining a Century On M inne Lusa is Uncommon in its Bonds Michelle Jackson-Triplett and Rosalind Moore both have been committed to spreading the good word of Minne Lusa, and together their neighborhood association has made incredible strides in strengthening the community.

OmahaMagazine.com

NEIGHBOR HOODS story by James Vnuk

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

ucked in neatly between Florence and Miller Park, coming into the historic Minne Lusa neighborhood for the first time is like discovering a hidden compartment in your grandmother’s vanity, secreting away gems and mementos of a world known only to her. Bungalows of every f lavor—Craftsman, Dutch Revival, Neo-Tudor—fill the kaleidoscopic avenues, while the namesake boulevard and its arboreal median meander sleepily through the center. The past and present presidents of the Miller Park Minne Lusa Neighborhood Association, Rosalind Moore and Michelle Jackson-Triplett, chat over coffee and breakfast at Harold’s in Florence. They share their history and connections to the community, as well as its legacy in Omaha history. First developed in the 20th century’s teen years, Minne Lusa was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2014. The neighborhood began life as an aspirational suburb to accommodate the city’s burgeoning middle class. Through local architect Everett Dodd, the development offered families unique designs with oldworld class, reprieve from the city center, and the hottest luxury of the day: garages. “I like to call it Urburbia,” Jackson-Triplett says, a label that connects the placidity of a suburb with the close-knit communities of urban life—and it’s that sense of community that makes Minne Lusa a true gem.

September 2019

NEIGHBOR HOODS

“ It’s got porch life,” she says, alluding to the visible, approachable lives of its inhabitants. Because of the architectural designs, the neighborhood lends itself well to socializing and keeping up with neighbors. “When I first moved here, I was looking all over town to buy a home. But I kept coming back to the house here because it had a porch…people will offer you help if you’re out working on something, or if they don’t see you out when they expect to, somebody will come by and check in.” She says she couldn’t imagine leaving the neighborhood or her neighbors. Moore agrees. “When I moved here in 1968,” she says, “we were the only black family on the block. Things weren’t always easy, but the climate got better over the years.” After Moore retired, she became the neighborhood association president—a title she recently passed on to Jackson-Triplett. For her, community is the most important thing, and the two of them hold a near-endless supply of anecdotes about theirs, ranging from bizarre to heartwarming. “My neighbor shovels my snow every morning at 3 a.m.” Moore says, “And in return, I make him dinner every Sunday.”

“My neighbor shovels my snow every morning at 3 a.m. And in return, I make him dinner every Sunday.” — Rosalind Moore

“We’ve even got someone in the neighborhood who walks their dog at 4 in the morning,” Jackson-Triplett says as the two share a laugh. The lasting impression of their gab is a community uncommon in its bonds. “We have had solid differences,” Jackson-Triplett points out, “but we get over it and move on together.” The two recall a recent house fire and how the community held a spaghetti dinner to raise money for the impacted family, as well as the funeral of an elderly neighbor where the entire community shared in mourning, regardless of differences. “It gives me great joy,” she says. Minne Lusa is thriving today, but it shares the painful history of Florence and its surrounding neighborhoods. “We had some rough years, when a lot of older neighbors died

OmahaMagazine.com

“I like to call it Urburbia,” a label that connects the placidity of a suburb with the closeknit communities of urban life. — Michelle Jackson-Triplett

or they couldn’t live by themselves, so their children would sell their houses off for cash to slumlords,” Jackson-Triplett says. “We had a long period where a lot of new people wouldn’t touch us, or people were only interested in us when something bad happened,” she adds, recalling the fatal shooting death of Officer Kerrie Orozco in 2015, now memorialized by the baseball field in Miller Park. Jackson-Triplett and Moore both have been committed to spreading the good word of Minne Lusa, and together their neighborhood association has made incredible strides in strengthening the community. “There’s always something going on,” Jackson-Triplett says. Every year, the community puts on a neighborhood barbecue in August, a golf tournament fundraiser, organized Halloween trick-or-treating for families, park events with the police, fire, and rescue departments—even the Omaha Marathon stops through. Miller Park, too, has undergone full-scale revitalization. Both women want to show people that the community is welcoming and neighbors are looking out for each other. “We’ve got volunteers with the elementary school, and there’s always a police officer at every neighborhood meeting,” JacksonTriplett says.

Right now, the association is focused on budgeting, organization, and attracting new visitors. “You want to have young ideas,” Moore muses. Jackson-Triplett agrees that it’s necessary to meet people where they’re at, swapping out mailers for Facebook invites. Perhaps the most exciting development has been the Saturday Morning Brew, where the public is invited to stop by a local home for coffee and conversation, and Jackson-Triplett has observed that it only takes one visit to Minne Lusa for many to get hooked. Her hope is that the activities continue to draw positive attention and keep the historic district’s luster glimmering. “There’s no one type of person here,” she says fondly, “we aren’t all one age, class, or race…and weird doesn’t bother us.”

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Renee Smeal enjoys the urban lifestyle of her downtown condominium within walking distance of shops, attractions, and restaurants, but her “modern beachy” lake house is her hub for hospitality and entertainment. Designed and built with three generations of family visitors in mind, it made its large-group debut over the 2018 Christmas holiday. It has proven to be a welcoming home away from home for this year’s summer guests, and Smeal has a great next-door neighbor, too: her sister. A different house was originally on the lot in Willow Point, which surrounds a lake adjacent to the Platte River in Ashland. That home was nearly 50 years old and too small for her needs. It was also below the current f lood plain, and Smeal could see it needed other major upgrades. But she could also see the property’s potential. “I thought this would be perfect for families—our children and our grandchildren and extended family—and I wouldn’t be isolated,” Smeal says. “I’d have my buddy right next door.” While visiting her sister’s neighboring lake home, Smeal was cutting f lowers and “watching the waves lap up on the beach with the water glistening from the sun” when she was “struck by the idea that this would be a wonderful gift for my family.” The owner of the property had passed away. Realizing the property might go up for sale, Smeal contacted the executor of the property and an agreement was struck before they hung up the phone. “I couldn’t believe it!” she says. “I was thrilled.”

OmahaMagazine.com

F E AT U R E story by Kara Schweiss

photography by Bill Sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

From left: Sisters Ellen Gross-Rhode and Renee Smeal, with Reneeâ€™s family.

b u H e d i s Lake w P o in t lo il W t a e u r T e m o C h & W is

September 2019

F E AT U R E

The house was demolished and the necessary changes were made to the lot as plans for a new house commenced. Smeal deliberately chose a builder with lakeside construction experience, G. Lee Homes. “They were very creative when I talked about what I was looking for in a house. I didn’t want a house that looked like it sat in the city. I wanted a house that looked like it belonged on a beach and I wanted it to be unique,” she says. “I couldn’t wait to design my own place. I wanted a home that fit the shape of [the] property and [I] also wanted to create a compound of sorts.”

roof. She also had to consider restrictions imposed by local building code, such as deck railing that would obscure views.

...Smeal discovered imported backsplash tile with an aged look not only evocative of similar styles she loved in Italy but also the exact shade of the ocean as she remembers it...

Smeal says some of the design elements she found appealing were impractical for a lakefront location or Nebraska weather, such as a f lat

“But the alternatives the builder offered were excellent,” she says. A simple roof design eliminated the need for an overhang and complemented the contemporary exterior with clean lines. A retaining wall made it possible to keep an east-facing walkout area overlooking the lake both elevated and in compliance with code. “I have this dramatic boulder retaining wall. It’s stunning, and it’s organic,” Smeal says.

An early concept called for an activity area on the south side of the house but at the builder’s recommendation, Smeal moved it to the north side to create a patio she and her sister could share for combined family events.

“The first thing was ease of upkeep; I didn’t want to spend all of my time taking care of things. Everything had to be easy to care for, easy to maintain.”

F E AT U R E

“This works perfectly because on the north side we have shade and we have the sun on the east side,” she says. The home boasts many practical elements, such as an enclosed outdoor shower, cork f looring, open f low with wide hallways, and an expansive quartz kitchen island that serves as a gathering spot. Even the landscaping, in its final touches this summer by Green Inc., is low-maintenance. Above all, Smeal wanted to be a host— not a housekeeper. “The first thing was ease of upkeep; I didn’t want to spend all of my time taking care of things. Everything had to be easy to care for, easy to maintain,” she explains. “I am retired and I have another place to take care of. I didn’t want to work so much that I’m not having any fun.” The house is as beautiful as it is functional. “I started with a black-and-white theme with beachy blue and aqua as accent colors; (design consultant Angie Hall) encouraged me to incorporate some gray so it wouldn’t be so harsh, for transition,” Smeal says. The cork f looring is a perfect accent. “It’s soft, warm, beautiful, and easy to take care of. I love it.”

OmahaMagazine.com

F E AT U R E

BUILD WITH THE BEST. During a happenstance visit to a tile store, Smeal discovered imported backsplash tile with an aged look not only evocative of similar styles she loved in Italy but also the exact shade of the ocean as she remembers it from a trip there. “I get a lot of compliments on it.” She chose metal shelves instead of cabinets for her kitchen, an “industrial look ” that pays homage to her family’s business, Smeal Fire Apparatus Co.—a fire truck manufacturer in Snyder, Nebraska—and her father’s welding shop. 9719 Giles Road | LaVista, NE 68128 | 402.884.4854 | thehomecompanyomaha.com

Smeal says windows were strategically placed to showcase the outdoors through all four seasons. “It’s an open plan and the view is beautiful everywhere,” she says. “It’s a happy place.” And Smeal says she’s happy with how everything turned out. But the very process of bringing the house to fruition also brought much happiness. “I had my files and tore out pages of magazines,” she says. “The designing component was fun for me because I love that type of thing.”

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Being surrounded by family and nature, Smeal says, is everything she dreamed it would be. “How many times do you get to say, ‘I got exactly what I wanted’?” she says. “I love being out here.”

“How many times do you get to say, ‘I got exactly what I wanted’? I love being out here.”

OmahaMagazine.com

A RCHITEC T UR E story by Ryan Borchers

photography by Bill sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

T H E G LO RY DAY S Blackstone Hotel Joins the Revival maha has a bit of Chicago flair and New York taste in one midtown location. That location is built of steel, covered in brick, and features terra cotta details. The Blackstone Hotel was the design of Francis W. Fitzpatrick, assistant to Henry Ives Cobb when he designed Chicago Federal Building. Fitzpatrick came to Omaha in 1917 to work for the Bankers Realty Investment Co. as head of the architectural department. He designed the Blackstone Hotel, the Hotel Yancey in Grand Island, and several other projects before moving in 1919 to Evanston, Illinois. The Hotel Yancey and the Blackstone Hotel were both created in the Renaissance Revival Style. Early 20th-century architecture often relied on “revival” styles, many of which can be seen in the Blackstone area, from the Jacobethan Revival at 3708 Farnam St. to the Georgian Revival home at 507 38th St. and more.

The investment company intended the hotel to be a family hotel, which was rented by the year rather than the day and included hotel services. Thus many of the rentable units contained multiple rooms for living as well as sleeping. The early 20th century was a booming time in Omaha, and construction of the Blackstone Hotel coincided with construction taking place in still-popular areas such as Gold Coast, eventually expanding to Dundee and Benson. It has been speculated that the amount of apartment and housing construction happening during this time frame means that the hotel did not receive the business hoped for by the investment company. Bankers Realty sold the hotel to Charles Schimmel in 1920.

E-shaped in structure, the hotel’s formal design invokes a sense of stability and security.

Renaissance Revival, however, tended to be a catchall phrase. Because there was a Renaissance in Italy, in France, and many other places in Europe, the Renaissance Revival takes elements from many styles. The Blackstone featured popular revival characteristics such as a grand staircase—marble in this case—crown moldings, and several archways, including heavy beamed archways prominent throughout the eighthf loor ballroom. E-shaped in structure, the hotel’s formal design invokes a sense of stability and security.

Schimmel converted it into a luxury hotel, featuring its own stable of Pierce Arrow limousines and an in-house publication called The Blackstonian. Celebrities and dignitaries visited, including Jack Benny, Ronald Reagan, and Eleanor Roosevelt. John F. and Jackie Kennedy celebrated their fifth wedding anniversary there in 1958, and nine years later Richard Nixon told reporters he planned to run for president in 1968 at the hotel. The Blackstone is credited with inventing the Rueben sandwich and Butter Brickle ice cream.

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Although New Yorkers may dispute the origins of the Rueben sandwich, there is no denying the restaurants at the Blackstone were top-quality ones. With high ceilings, mirrored columns, plush dining chairs, and corned-beef sandwiches, the Orleans room made Holiday Magazine’s dining awards list for 16 years. Although that magazine sold in 1989 to Reader’s Digest, Holiday Magazine (later Travel Holiday) at its height boasted 1 million subscribers and the award is today known as the The Distinguished Restaurants of North America Award of Excellence. The Blackstone was sold by the Schimmel family to Radisson in 1968. Radisson tried to renovate the building, but was unsuccessful, and the hotel closed in 1976. It became an Omaha Landmark in 1983, was turned into an office building in 1984, and officially became listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Today the hotel is returning to its former glory. The building is being run by the Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants brand—the first of its brand in Omaha—and is being renovated by the combined forces of Clarity Development and GreenSlate Development. The plan is for the hotel to open by April 2020. Tom McLeay, the president of Clarity Development, said the goal is to build nothing short of “Omaha’s hotel.” Doing justice to the history of the building, McLeay says, is a major priority.

“If we don’t do this right…and respect the history of what it is, we’ve blown it. We have not done our job.” The development team is recreating as accurately as possible the Cottonwood Room, down to a faux cottonwood tree similar to the one in the original room. The Grand Ballroom on the top floor is being restored, and the lobby will feature the original, mosaic-tile floor from the Orleans Room as well as the original marble staircase. Some of the modern amenities will include a resort-style pool, about 11,000 square feet of meeting space, a restaurant with “a little bit more of a French f lair”—in another homage to the Orleans Room—and a new steakhouse. The hotel will have 205 guest rooms.

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“Our hope is that it’s going to feel like it is the hotel from the ’30s, but it’s met modern times,” McLeay says. “The bones of the history are still here, but we are going to bring it into today.” Of course, a hotel depends on outof-towners for its success. McLeay says the energy the Omaha community will bring to the hotel is one thing that will make it a destination for travelers. The restaurants and bars of the revived Blackstone District will attract guests, and the hotel will add to that bustle, offering a steakhouse and lobby bar, as well as people going to meetings and attending wedding rehearsal dinners and other events. “There’s this excitement about the place,” McLeay says. “That’s what people respond to.”

217 N. Jefferson St. Papillion, NE 402.331.9136 • papillionflowerpatch.com September 2019

From left: Brooke, Jack, and Gina Dolan; and Todd Lavigne.

OmahaMagazine.com

AT HOM E story by Katrina Markel

photography by Bill sitzmann

design by Mady Besch

A House Worthy But Fit for Family of Movies WHEN TODD LAVIGNE AND GINA

Dolan got engaged, they needed a home for their blended family that would suit the active lifestyles of two career-driven adults, two precocious teenagers, and three beloved dogs—not to mention a place that would meet Lavigne’s aesthetic standards. Lavigne, president of the American Fence Co., was preparing to build a unique home of his own design near the Elkhorn River. “Literally it was like a pirate ship. A kid’s pirate ship,” he says. “It had a plank that you walked out on...but it was going to take forever. We were so far behind we hadn’t even finished the mound.” They were both getting a little impatient when Dolan, a sales executive with the international consulting firm Gartner, began quietly looking at houses that were already built and on the market. She convinced Todd to visit an open house hosted by a friend who sold real estate, but that house was simply too conventional for his taste. “The house I designed had canted walls; it had almost no drywall. It was mixed metals, wood, tiles,” Lavigne says. “She could tell that I was, for lack of a better term, put off.”

September 2019

DOLAN DISCUSSED LAVIGNE’S

taste with the agent who mentioned a house that was one-of-a-kind and had some of his preferred design elements. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for sale, but she thought they should see it anyway. The house, which is in the Lanoha lakeside development of Bluewater in Valley, Nebraska, stands out in a neighborhood full of beautiful homes. Its contemporary design is evocative of coastal California and somewhat unexpected in the middle of Nebraska. A glassed-in gallery on the second f loor—which is now filled with Lavigne’s chainsaw sculptures—is visible from the street. The exterior features include stucco, commercial-grade metal siding, huge windows, and a f lat roof. “Gina was immediately in love with it,” Lavigne says. “It’s like the house you dream of or see in movies,” says Dolan’s 18-yearold daughter, Brooke. Lavigne’s interest was piqued, but he wasn’t fully on board. “I was really married to this design, my original home, but this was pretty cool,” he says. The house was originally featured in the 2016 Street of Dreams with other Bluewater properties, and Dolan and Lavigne both give credit to the interior design for attracting them to the house.

AT HOM E

“It’s like the house you dream of or see in movies.” - Brooke Dolan

September 2019

AT HOM E

September 2019

AT HOM E

“WHAT YOU SEE IN THIS

house is primarily a function of Lindsey Anderson of Anderson Interiors,” Dolan says. “There was an architect obviously involved and the builder, but Lindsey...this was her design.” Lavigne likes a lot of different textures and was incorporating that into the house he was designing. “Lindsey had done all that before we got here,” he says. The interiors include wood paneling, textiles on walls, polished porcelain f loor tiles, and a gas fireplace that separates the formal living room from the kitchen. Lavigne is a big fan of the f loor-to-ceiling windows that can be found throughout the house. He says windows like that are often not found in residential design because it makes the building more difficult to engineer. “Windows are huge for me… There’s a room upstairs and two sides of it [are] all glass,” Lavigne says. “I don’t go to [the office] generally until noon and that’s a great place for me to work. I love all that light…I’m a huge sun person.”

With an abundance of natural light and access to recreation, the home feels like a vacation retreat...

AT HOM E

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word that the previous owner might sell, Dolan says the contemporary design elements helped convince Lavigne to make an offer. Though the real draw may have been the outdoor amenities, as his hobbies include motocross, chainsaw carving, and fishing. He also needed a space that worked for his Labrador retrievers. “If I would have taken him to where I lived in the suburbs that would have just been the death of him,” she says. Lavigne agrees. “I spent 20 years fishing on the Elkhorn River and tubing and things like that...so I’m thinking OK, this lake thing might be pretty cool.”

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He also said he thought it was unnecessary for a lakeside property to have a pool, but now says “if someone took it away, I’d build another one.” With an abundance of natural light and access to recreation, the home feel like a vacation retreat, which is important for two people with demanding careers and schedules. “If you don’t have that opportunity to disconnect it will eat you up,” Lavigne says. The couple has access to the pool and hot tub through the master bedroom. “This is almost like a sanctuary,” Dolan says, adding that after a stressful day they can walk

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out and f loat in the pool in the summer or hop in the hot tub when it’s cold. “When I saw this room, I think this was probably the biggest sell for me—again, the use of the fabrics and woods and the windows,” Lavigne says. He designed a pool garage that opens up to the back of the house and contains storage space for pool equipment and a bathroom. It’s ideal for hosting parties. The family points out that the house is designed in such a way that the outdoor space feels like an extension of the living room.

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“I really enjoy this,” says Dolan, gesturing toward the lake. “I love water and the lake and I love watching the dogs [and] being able to hop on the jet ski with your kid. He’s learning how to do better jumps when he’s wakeboarding.” Dolan’s son, Jack, 14, is a freshman at Skutt Catholic High School. Brooke just graduated from Elkhorn South and is attending University of Nebraska at Lincoln. “This guy goes from being single, never had kids, 50 years old, all of a sudden—whoosh—here we are.” Dolan says with a laugh. “It’s a team effort,” says Brooke. “We could have lived in our house or in his house, but then it would be our house or his house...but now it’s our home.”

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September 2019

Navigating

the River 2019 Fishing, Hunting, & Foraging After the Flood

OmahaMagazine.com

H A RV E S T story by Patrick McGee

photography PROVIDED

design by Mady Besch

issouri River flooding is a disaster for affected property owners.

If there is a silver lining, it is that f looding is mostly beneficial to riverine species, including fish and waterfowl. However, rising waters make the river and surrounding woodlands inaccessible to recreation due to closed roads and boat ramps. For those who find access, the river is particularly swift and dangerous. Locating safe spots to fish on the riverbank or forage in the nearby woods may be tough. Many roads and ramps are washed out and in many places the main river channel is inaccessible. North of Omaha—in the Tekamah and Decatur areas—is the best bet for shore fishing, as the river is mostly contained in its banks, says Kirk Stevenson, the Missouri River Program Manager. Nevertheless, exercise caution around the river. During f looding, the river channel is particularly deep and fast, he says. “Be safe out there.” Waterfowl hunting areas associated with the river should be more productive this fall due to residual ponds and sheet water sites in fields, says Stevenson. These pools are attractive to migratory waterfowl. (There are reports that snow geese hunting near Hamburg is phenomenal.) Residual pools attract migratory waterfowl, and due to f looding, the Missouri River basin has plenty of pools. Many of these sheet water areas will be private property, so don’t access them without permission.

It is difficult to predict what next year will bring for foragers. Effects on mushroom hunting next spring are anyone’s guess. There won’t be much woodland hunting available along the river anywhere, as not much vegetation will be left when the water recedes. This year hunters may have better luck elsewhere, away from the river valley. This fall, foraging the f loodplain is equally problematic for the same reasons. It is difficult to predict what next year will bring for foragers. Effects on mushroom hunting next spring are anyone’s guess. Although the river has been mostly inaccessible to fishing this last summer, fisheries will show greater

numbers in coming years. Due to the expanded f loodwaters, there is an increased fish population, Stevenson says. Game fish will mature more quickly. Also expect an increase of mature sturgeon and paddlefish and greater spawning numbers in years to come. It’s not easy to determine how long a f lood (and its effects) will last. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers publishes a three-week Regulation Forecast of water released from the Gavin’s Point Dam, which is responsible for Missouri river levels. The Corps also puts out a Missouri River Basin Water Management Bulletin which accounts for tributaries and reservoir levels. The forecast and bulletins are accessible to the general public and can help plan river-related activities around expected discharge. These resources will be helpful this fall and next spring. Nobody can say for sure when the f looding will end. One thing is certain: it’s going to be months before the river goes back down to normal f lows, Stevenson says. Take advantage of the unique conditions created by the f lood now, and hope for no f looding next year. Visit nwd-mr.usace.army.mil/rcc/ for reports on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Missouri River Basin water managaement mainstem, Tributary Reservoir Bulletin, and regulation forecast for Gavin’s Point Dam.

BEFORE

Designed for A Lifetime A Down-to-Earth Lifestyle

AFTER

OmahaMagazine.com

T R A NSF OR M AT IONS story & photography by Dawn Kanne

design by Mady Besch

BEFORE

AFTER

The plan was to create a space that serves them well as a small family, yet is able to accommodate large gatherings of friends and family...

herri and Brian Wheeler are an active, hardworking couple and parents to a busy teenage son, so they wanted their new home to ref lect this. They needed it to include plenty of storage areas for not only food, but sports equipment.

The Wheelers chose the North Shore neighborhood in Papillion to be their home base, where they found a house fit for their family. It just needed some small touches to make it theirs. They love to entertain, so creating a modern, elegant home that was also comfortable was important to them. From the beginning, this project was designed and built for the long haul. The plan was to create a space that serves them well as a small family, yet is able to accommodate large gatherings of friends and family—something that would age well into their retirement years.

Meet the Interior Designer / DAWN KANNE

A L L I E D M E M B E R A S I D, DAW N ’ S D E S I G N S O W N E R

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“I love being a part of my clients’ lives and being able to create homes and even businesses that ref lect who they are, are elevated by my vision, experience and expertise. I love what I do!”

T R A NSF OR M AT IONS

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In addition to the pantry and storage they already have, the amount of cabinets and space to the right of the large refrigerator was expanded. This gives them more serving space as well. The addition of three small upper windows (along the range wall) in the dining area allows them to take advantage of the natural morning light. The main living area is primarily an open f loor plan with a large island and plenty of seating. They wanted a less-is-more feeling—not a lot of clutter or things left out in the open—with lots of countertop space, warmth, and comfort, from the inside out. Earthy natural tones such as browns and taupe are used everywhere, with pops of blue inspired by the framed peacock art on either side of the fireplace. A mix of pillows are spread throughout, from bold ones with blues, greens, and golds to more neutral pillows in browns and taupe. The darker, stained birch cabinets and hickory floors add interest and warmth, and lend a nice backdrop and foundation throughout. A subtle theme of circles and squares are part of the design element as well—round knobs,

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