From House To Home

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Christmas and tradition go hand in hand. That combination also gives Ann and Larry Etienne’s Midtown Omaha home a special season to shine.

Quaint and decorated in soft, relaxing colors, the 1916 home feels fresh and inviting. Creating such a home has been a work in progress over the past 15 years. It’s also allowed both Ann, who owns Voila! Blooms and Decor in Dundee, and Larry to draw on their talents.

“A lot of my work wasn’t skilled—it was demolition,” says Larry. He took out one of the living room walls and added columns to open up the space. He also widened the staircase, renovated all of the baths, gutted the basement, and replaced all of the windows.

“Sometimes people try to modernize a house,” he says. “When the house was built back then, every room had a door to it. I just started to take out doors and open up walls. Most of what I had to do was to peel back some of the layers to re-expose parts of the house.”

Although Ann says she helped with the demolition, her talents allowed them to decorate in a way that reflected the home’s rich tradition and their desire to keep it comfortable. At Christmas, she takes it to the next level by weaving signs of the season into every room.

In the home’s entry, rich wood tones blend with creamy white trim and soft blue-green walls. Rather than cover the staircase’s handrail with a garland or a wreath, she chose an embellished initial of their last name. Carved from Styrofoam, she covered it with natural materials, added a bit of shine, and then hung it on the newel post.

“It’s so understated and pretty,” she says. “I kept it up all winter. The roses dried in it. When we had a party, I would simply add fresh roses.”

With the living room wall gone, its fireplace can be seen from the front door. A cedar spray garland is draped across the wood and marble mantel. Two mirrored gazing globes sit atop two cast-iron urns. A mirror in the middle creates the illusion of more depth.

At Christmastime, a fabric-and-ornament swag sweeps across the top of the plantation shutters. The exposed, painted trim keeps things light while a black coffee table anchors the space. Ann created a centerpiece by grouping globes, a topiary, finials, candlesticks, and apothecary jars full of ornaments.

Because the columns keep the entry and living room open, the flocked, artificial Christmas tree feels a part of both. Its subdued shimmer comes from the frosted lights, platinum and gold eucalyptus, and silver amaranthus sprays. Pheasant feathers are a tribute to the home’s history.

Both the dining room and kitchen are off the living room and entry for easy entertaining. Comfortable and elegant describe the dining room’s combination of white-washed antique chairs and a pecan wood table. Ann wanted to mix casual and elegance. She repeated it in the place settings. Ivory and gold china plates rest on platinum chargers and wood trays.

Whimsy prevails in the kitchen. Pretty petit fours fill multitiered dessert stands, and apothecary jars hold pink, white and lime green, and black candies and ornaments.

Quaint and decorated in soft, relaxing colors, the 1916 home feels fresh and inviting.

“When looking in the window from the patio, it looks like an old-time candy store or sweet shop,” says Ann. “We wanted to use bright colors and flowers in here.”

The backyard is an oasis unto itself. Among its many points of interest is a wrought-iron gazebo draped in a fresh pine and hops garland and lights. They enjoyed this all winter, as the garlands lasted into spring.

Larry did keep a few doors. The French, beveled-glass doors at the top of the stairs lead to the master suite and guest bedrooms. Each has been updated under Larry’s direction.

“We can truly say this house is our home,” says Ann. “He built the pillars and knocked out the walls. I loved fixing it up and decorating it.”

“There are a lot bigger and fancier homes around, but there aren’t many that are as comfortable and homey as this one,” says Larry.