Nedu and Yuridia Igbokwe’s new West Omaha home includes accents, fixtures, furniture, and art that originate  from all over the world—everywhere from Germany, Italy, Spain, and Sweden to California, Kansas, and here in Nebraska. It’s a wonderful reflection of a well-traveled, multilingual couple who themselves originate from different continents—Nedu is from Nigeria, and Yuridia is from Mexico. The new home’s architecture is also a blend of the couple’s different design aesthetics. 

“He has a European style. I like natural,” Yuridia said. The perfect architect for the Linden Estates home turned out to be her cousin, Santiago Flores, who’s based in Barcelona, Spain, and Culiacán, Mexico. Yuridia said Flores understood what the Igbokwes wanted. 

The couple hired Arjay Builders of Omaha as the homebuilder on the project. Angie Nixon, owner of Omega Interiors of Omaha, served as interior designer. 

“Our team really enjoyed bringing this vision to reality,” said Arjay Builders president Collin Shramek. “A functional, modern family home with distinctive elements. Luxury.”

Nixon described the Igbokwe home design with high praise:  Sleek, minimalist, contemporary European style with light and bright, nature-inspired, and high-tech selections, which transform the home into a happy, healthy modern space. She added, “It has been an honor and joy to work on this unique project with them.”

Many luxury elements are indeed in place for the Igbokwes and their three daughters, starting with the bathrooms, which have heated towel warmers, defoggers built into the mirrors, and wall-hung toilet/bidets. The primary bath has heated floors, a skylight and, a deep soaking tub grounded on a bed of river rock. Tankless water heaters supply ample hot water for the entire household to have morning showers, and the water filtered through a reverse osmosis system is gentle on skin and hair.  

Each of the home’s three floors has a laundry room, eliminating hauling full baskets up and down stairs. Bedroom carpeting has extra-thick padding. Everyone has luxury-quality mattresses and adjustable beds. There are fireplaces on multiple levels. The home also features a zoned HVAC system keeps everyone comfortable year-round. 

“If you’re going to spend the money, spend it well,” Yuridia said. “This house has kind of a hotel vibe. It’s like a resort…like a spa.”

Lighting plays a formidable role in design, Nixon said. “In addition to the large windows throughout the home, we added extensive LED lighting. The light fixtures were intentional modern organic forms to carry on the ‘letting the outside in’ theme— two oversized, nature-inspired spiral chandeliers flanking the living room fireplace, an ET2 blossom linear chandelier, and crystal Arteriors wall sconces in the dining area. A 36-inch custom lucite floral pendant by designer Pascale Girardin suspends in front of the large window. A David Trubridge coral form pendant light plays with the natural light, forming large geometric shadows in the custom full-glass stairwell.  A flush mercurial-like drop lighting was chosen for the family room, as well as calming  moon lighting in the girls’ rooms.”

The aesthetics are incredible, but the home Igbokwe created is as practical as it is beautiful. As busy parents and professionals (Yuridia is founder and CEO of consulting agency Lincua Academy; Nedu is with Banwo and Igbokwe Law Office LLC), the couple saw to every detail and planned every square inch to ensure the custom home was functional and organized with a family in mind, and that every item had a ‘home.’ Or as Yuridia put it, “Nothing is wasted. I wanted to take advantage of every space.”  

 Each daughter (ages 10, 12, and 18) helped plan her own closet to accommodate her particular wardrobe, accessories, and belongings, and also had a hand in determining bathroom layout and storage, Yuridia said. “The children need to have their own closet and their own bedroom. It makes them more responsible,” she said. 

As part of planning the layout and storage fixtures for the primary closet, Nedu and Yuridia counted and measured their clothing and accessories to ensure drawers and shelves were sufficiently allotted and perfectly fitted for their items, they said. The idea that being organized and visible maximizes one’s wardrobe rang true even as the Igbokwes were assessing their clothing and accessories; they uncovered some forgotten items—like dress shirts still in store packaging—during the process.

Fitted organizers for drawers, shelves, and closets/cabinets were similarly customized for storage throughout the house, as the Igbokwes didn’t want to have to retrofit or search for accessories later. 

“A lot of the key to this house is organization, organization, organization,” Yuridia said. “It’s practical, but pretty.”  

 In addition to a space for everything, minimal maintenance and convenience were also important goals. Cabinets and counter fixtures are wall-hung, for instance, to keep floor spaces clear and easy to clean. The home features many pocket doors and frameless doors to accentuate flow. The kitchen has a modern version of a butler’s pantry with an additional prep sink and refrigerator. The lower level not only serves as a guest suite; it also opens to the outdoor pool and patio, and its full kitchen is nicely situated for prepping food and drinks for pool guests.   

The Igbokwes enjoy entertaining, so the main level has several seating areas for company. A casual space upstairs for the couple’s daughters is fully visible from the main floor, thanks to a floor-to-ceiling glass wall. It makes a stunning first impression, Shramek said. 

“You enter the home through an incredible 10-foot-tall pivot door,” he said. “Instantly you notice glass and mirrors are main components [and you also notice] the glass barrier between the second-floor loft and the main level below.” 

Shramek said other notable details include floating wood shelves in the kitchen that span across exterior windows, and a large, round, backlit mirror in the primary bedroom.

Nedu said he especially likes the house’s smart technology, which puts everything—from climate control to zoned speakers for music ambiance, to a top-notch security system—at the family’s fingertips.  

“[Smart tech] controls the blinds, the security, everything... It will alert you that this window is open or these lights are on,” he added.

Like any construction project that launched during the pandemic, the Igbokwe home-build had its share of hiccups, Yuridia said. They’re still waiting on a few finishing touches. 

Designer Nixon is anxious to complete the master work as well. “We are excited for the artwork to arrive and to now add finishes that reflect the Igbokwe family.”

But from the beginning, the home has functioned as the Igbokwes dreamed it would. “We’re really very happy. We really enjoy this house,” Yuridia said.