From House To Home

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Perched on the 10th floor of Riverfront Place, Jerry and Patti Gress enjoy the glitz of city lights, the energy of the Mighty Missouri River as it rushes between Council Bluffs and Omaha, priceless views of the changing natural and urban landscapes, and front row seats for spectacular sunsets.

It’s a significant contrast to their previous home in midtown Omaha, but the changes suit the Gresses well.

Recently retired, they were looking for something smaller, a way to display the art they have acquired via world travel, and space to entertain.

“They were really fun to work with,” says Dana Carlton-Flint, ASID, owner of Design with You in Mind, LLC. “They are very well traveled. Because their knowledge is so varied and they have seen so much, they are open to so many things.”

The need to have a unique design, according to Patti, grew from her desire to have their surroundings be reflective of herself and Jerry.

This presented a challenge for Carlton-Flint. Foundational materials had to be selected from pre-determined options offered by the development company. While this helped to keep costs in line as they built, it challenged Patti’s desire for uniqueness.

The solution was to use as many of the pre-determined materials as possible but add twists. They also asked a lot of questions about what was possible.

When lighting options didn’t fit their desired look, Carlton-Flint says they found out they could buy products elsewhere, like the wall sconces in the master and guest bedrooms. They simply needed to let the builders know where to run the wires. They also asked to transform a hall closet into an art niche.

“A lot of the design work was to lay the groundwork for displaying unique items collected during their travels,” says Carlton-Flint.

The Gresses also elected to use the pre-selected materials in a fresh new way as seen in the guest bath’s flooring. Instead of selecting either white marble or black granite, they chose to use both in an alternating diamond pattern. The resulting look of linear flooring and circular-cut handmade red paper “adds so much excitement to the space,” says Carlton-Flint.

The nearly continuous metal clad windows throughout the home allow the Gresses to enjoy a variety of views. Furniture arrangements in each room were created to maximize their viewing pleasure.

The large master suite includes a bath in rich dark woods and creamy taupe and caramels, a sleeping area with rich taupe and burnished gold bedding and a sitting room. A dual-sided, granite-front fireplace separates the sleeping area from the sitting room, with its swivel recliners that offer a full 360-degrees of amazing views.

Swivel red leather chairs are also found in the family room. “When I first come into the house or get up in the morning, this is the place I head,” says Jerry. “The red leather chairs in the corner let me look out at the river or the city or out west.”

A large brown leather sectional is set on point to optimize space and seating. The family room’s large flat-screen TV is discreetly placed behind an art screen and is flanked by two large sculpted vessels. A custom storage unit anchors the arrangement.

“I didn’t want it to be the focal point,” says Patti. “When it’s not on, it looks like a picture. That way…the focus is on the people and the surroundings.”

The kitchen is open to both the family and dining rooms. Patti says she prefers preparing appetizers to full meals, but the kitchen’s Persian Brown granite countertops and glass tile backsplash are ready for whatever their entertaining needs dictate.

Each room features a variety of art pieces. Some are very small, while others, like the two figures holding sconces in the dining room, are quite large.

“People tend to think of art as a flat surface rather than a functional form. In this case the sculpture makes the lighting art,” says Carlton-Flint. “The world is the Gresses’ art gallery. Not only do they have the experience of their travel, but they bring a piece of that culture back with them.”

Patti admits she is extremely sentimental and displaying the art was important. She and Jerry, however, worked diligently with Carlton-Flint to make sure the home didn’t feel like a museum.

“I am so relaxed here and so pleased to show people where I live and the exciting new things going on in downtown,” says Jerry. “You can have the best place in the world, but if you don’t share it with friends and enjoy it, it’s a waste of space.”