The stone-pillared house separates itself from the hustle of life. It sits silently away from the raucous construction on Q Street. Multiple windows face trees surrounding Zorinsky Lake. The picturesque backdrop allows a natural escape to sip a steaming mug of coffee on the deck while watching foxes, coyotes, and deer. Or one can take a relaxing walk on the trails around the lake.
After their three children left, the homeowners wanted a one-and-a-half-story residence that allowed them to bridge the gap between rustic and urban. The married duo wanted the city close to their fingertips, but desired seclusion at the same time.
“I didn’t know these houses even existed,” the wife mentioned.
Luck landed them the 6,904-square-foot home nestled in the trees with ample room to entertain friends and family in 2020. Despite this, the kitchen’s dark tones didn’t blend with the couple’s vibe. Tuscany-inspired décor, once popular, needed a modern update with a farmhouse twist three years later. Neither had an eye for design, calling in owner and expert Marilyn Schooley Hansen of The Designers, who worked on their kitchen in a previous house. Hansen considers functionality before uniqueness.
“I can make it gorgeous, but you can’t wear high heels on the sand at the beach,” Hansen quipped.
In this case, Hansen centered her concept around the island in the kitchen. She visited stone yards for months, settling on a Yosemite Falls quartzite for the warm platinum-colored countertop with slate blue and green veins. The homeowners desired abundant seating, so the island needed to stretch 14 feet, not an easy feat when considering how to integrate the slabs. Hansen utilized a “butterfly installation” to seamlessly blend it while hiding the microwave and dishwasher below in painted wrought iron-colored cabinets, highlighting the blue tones of the countertop. A hand-forged iron serpentine fixture with rock crystals splashes subtle light onto the scene. Eight copper leather bar stools slide under the island to allow for space instead of taller furniture that would block the windows.
Light gray tiles with charcoal accents in the backsplash brighten and flatter the space behind the six-foot exhaust hood in the same deep pigment as the bottom of the island. Hansen knew the homeowners like to cook, so a pot filler on the wall provides convenience. The GE gas double oven has enough room for a large prime rib and a casserole of cheesy potatoes. A ledge behind the range offers a niche for salt and pepper shakers, and a walnut-stained alder beam complements the mellowed-out shade of the wooden floors to incorporate a rustic charm. Pale gray cabinets, almost white on a sunny day, with silver handles, flatter the gold tint of the umbrella light fixture over the round dining table.
“It creates a sense of intimacy. You feel cozy. That’s the atmosphere you get from it,” Hansen said.
In addition, the owners wanted a bar area to serve drinks or to act as a buffet. A glass-paneled cabinet filled with alcohol extends across the window but doesn’t obstruct the view of the pool or block the sunlight from above.
“I had trouble picturing it at first, but I love it now,” the husband said.
On the other side of the kitchen, guests can select a bottle of wine from the cooler. Others might grab a cup of espresso from the coffee bar, emphasized by charcoal tile.
Hansen continued the tone theme in the laundry room and office, incorporating soft grays and milky tiles. The guest bathroom, though, affords some variety with bronze metallic tiles and textured vinyl wallpaper. Lantern chandeliers bring back gold touches with light reflecting off the silver sink.
“It doesn’t photograph well, but oh boy, it’s pretty,” Hansen said.
It ties the parts together like colorful puzzle pieces, just like in the great room, where vaulted windows showcase the striking scenery. An identical wooden beam runs above the gas fireplace, where two asymmetrical creamy limestones accentuate the wall with dimension, almost mirroring the patio fireplace on the deck. A black flat-screen television hangs there, taking center stage for a couple who enjoy watching football games and movies. Open glass panels, painted in the same hue as the hood in the kitchen, run the lengths the sides while LED lighting underneath illuminates items on the shelves.
The furniture reflects comfort, as the laid-back couple want visitors to relax without worrying. Hansen replaced the previous chandelier with an efficient fan and rust-colored pillows pop on smoky-hued tweed sofas from Lee Douglass Interiors. A bichon poodle utilizes the cow-hide ottoman, covered with a white furry throw, as a place to stretch her paws. The Goldendoodle lays at his master’s feet as he sits in a dark blue leather recliner watching a Dallas Cowboys game while the cocker poodle dives into the lap of her mistress, who sits in the matching chair. The homeowners plan on renovating the master bedroom soon, but for now, both want to enjoy their calm oasis.
This article originally appeared in the January/February 2025 issue of Omaha Home Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
