"The pandemic was hard, but 2021 was also the year I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer,” Summer Slechta said. She talks about her diagnosis, which was discovered while she was seeking fertility treatments, the way she talks about everything from that period—as something she’s already overcome. “Soon after, I was experiencing what was diagnosed as hemiplegic migraines, but one day I woke up completely paralyzed on one side.”
Two years later, the remnants of what turned out to have been a stroke haven’t slowed Summer down.
“I’m still experiencing residual numbness from my knee down, but for what this could have been?” Summer said. She breezes by her heroic overcoming of the health crisis and speaks instead to the healing effects of creating a dream home in Valley, Nebraska.
“My home is where I can just exhale and unwind at the end of a hard day,” Summer said. “I love my career in medical sales, but my home is my sanctuary.”
A sanctuary she built brick-by-brick.
Summer and her husband, Jeremy, purchased a tree-lined lot in Valley, Nebraska, in 2021, but construction of the home took longer than expected. Between her health battle, COVID setbacks, the wild swings in material prices, and the building supply chain collapse, the Slechtas were unable to move into their home until February 2024.
The east-facing windows in the main living space offer a nearly unobstructed view of the lake, with natural light and neutral tones throughout to subtly draw the eye to the home’s most striking feature.
“You can see the entire lake from where our home sits.” Summer said. “It’s so calming and peaceful to wake up to. I grew up in the country, and loved the lakes in Western Nebraska. I knew I wanted to live on the water, and wanted to bring some of my country-girl roots to the living room design, but to be very intentional to stay very modern and elegant.”
Summer included rustic elements in the otherwise contemporary living room build, including a reclaimed stone mantle she sourced from a defunct barn, and bold, unique light fixtures to offer a sophisticated contrast to the muted tones of the room.
The built-in shelving is painted in a subtle shade of repose gray, creating a warm space that Summer mindfully utilizes to display an assortment of objects and images that are meaningful to the family.
Summer took her time to ensure that the space they had was utilized in the most beautiful and efficient way possible. The neutral tones throughout the interior rely heavily on natural materials to evoke warmth against the sleeker elements in the home.
While she was decisive about the energy and aesthetic she wanted for her home’s design, Summer quickly credits Larry Peterson Construction and Mandy Lassek of Interiors by Joan for making the dream a reality.
Lassek’s 20 years of experience were put to the test on this project, as no amount of know-how can overcome the instability the construction industry was experiencing at the time.
“We had a freight line go bankrupt, it was the wild west, and Summer’s attitude is really what made this project possible,” Lassek recalled.
That attitude is why Lassek glowed about her client, stating, “Summer and Jeremy are just wonderful people. The way they kept their positivity, regardless of what they were facing at that time—that’s what makes this home beautiful.”
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of Omaha Home Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
