Budget and lot size aside, homeowners have numerous options when renovating a house, even structural remodeling such as building an addition or reconfiguring interior layout. For condominium owners, however, there are firm limitations with consideration to the bones of the greater building like load-bearing walls, concrete, support columns, and proximity to common spaces.
So, with the help of a skilled designer, Jennifer Stone Hansen and Craig Hansen found innovative solutions to update the look of their condo plus improve functionality to create their ideal home.
Riverfront Place’s expansive views of downtown Omaha, the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge and the Missouri River—plus generous balcony space—sold the couple on the fifth-floor unit. Ample parking for residents and visitors, Hansen said, was a huge bonus. “We have parking lots out back and on the side and in the front, where other places you’d have to park on the street.”
But there were some definite drawbacks that begged for renovation, Jennifer said.
“We moved in 2020. The building, I believe, was built in ‘05 or ‘06, so by then everything was kind of dated in the whole building; we are not the only people to have done remodels in the last few years,” she explained. “It was dark wood, dark countertops. Everything was brown or tan or almost a peachy tan.”
The bland coloration was merely cosmetic, but there were functional problems, too. A wet bar was awkwardly located, for instance. The kitchen island was oddly small, more of an obstacle than a working space, and there was no real pantry. The track lighting throughout the unit was obtrusive. Storage spaces were inefficient. The utility closet was difficult to access.
“Literally five feet from where the kitchen sink was, there was another little sink for the wet bar,” Jennifer said, adding that the main bathroom was also problematic. “Another thing that drove us nuts is because the pedestal stuck out too far, the door opened into the hallway, and so you had to either leave the bathroom door closed all the time, where then it’s all humid, or the door was out into the hallway.”
Courtney Otte, ASID, the principal interior designer for The Modern Hive, felt a complete transformation could turn the condo into a “modern and glam retreat.”
“We were tasked with remodeling the kitchen, dining room, powder bath, hallway, and entry,” Otte said. “Our goal for this condo remodel was to create a beautiful but functional space. We wanted to give this condo an up-to-date and refreshed feel that would provide a beautiful space for our client to take in their stunning view… and also improve the layout and flow of the unit. The client also desired to create as much storage as possible for their small condo; the lack of storage and especially lack of a pantry in this small space needed to be addressed for our client to truly feel settled into their new home.”
Otte said creative thinking made daunting must-haves a reality.
“A unique challenge we faced was working with some existing elements in the space, such as the plumbing locations. Due to the structure of the home being in a high-rise condo, it would have been very costly to cut concrete and move the sink plumbing line. Therefore, we worked off of where the plumbing line already came out of the wall for our sink location,” she said. “We also had to incorporate support columns throughout the home into our design. Notably, there is a support column to the left of the kitchen sink. Our solution was to encompass cabinets around the column, giving the cabinets a natural point to die into. We were also able to give the sink area more of a unique definition since it became its own element beyond the column.”
The reconfiguration made it possible to add a full-size island to the kitchen, complete with storage, Jennifer said. “Never in a million years would I have thought that.”
There were some relatively easy wins, too.
“We were thrilled to find a location for a hidden pantry behind the sink wall. Previously, this space was a wet bar open to the living room. We utilized a unique design to encompass a wine fridge, one of the clients’ wish-list items, and installed a hidden door leading to the pantry on the left of the wine fridge,” said Otte. “The paneling details of the pantry entrance fool the eye, and delights with a hidden surprise.”
Stone Hansen said she had always wanted an all-white kitchen. She liked the look so much that it was extended throughout the walls of the home, with wood features and accent color adding some warmth. The white walls perfectly highlight beloved furnishings like a living-edge custom dining table, artworks by local photographer Buck Christiansen, and other bold accents and fixtures.
“My favorite features in the home are all the bold pops of color and textures contrasted against a white backdrop,” Otte said. “We used various patterns; tones of blue and green found in wallpapers and finishes; golds, hot pink, and geometric walnut textures found above the fireplace, the entry door and on the kitchen island.”
The end result?
“It feels like ‘our’ place,” Craig said. “Because of the decisions we made, it feels like ‘us.’”
For more inspiration, visit themodern-hive.com.
This article originally appeared in the October 2024 issue of Omaha Home Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
