Sunset Hills Mid Mod Add
In-Person Only
1323 S. 98th St., Omaha, NE 68124
Laura Houston | Tributary Design Construction
President
Visit WebsiteTributary Design and Construction is a residential general contracting company that started about 6 years ago as the next chapter in the life of former architect, Laura Houston. As the name suggests, Tributary brings all the disciples together to complete a project with specialist subcontractors completing each aspect of construction. The level of customization is heightened due to the in-house design that is overseen to the end of a remodel or new home. Tributary hopes to maintain Omaha’s neighborhoods by improving existing homes and better infill. Ultimately, improving use and beauty in a smart and cost-effective manner is the goal.
PRO Partners
Project Details
The Challenge
The house seemed to shrink as the children grew up. This modestly sized home, built in 1955 in the middle of Omaha, had only one previous owner. The updates could be counted on one hand. The current owners had to change cooking strategies to use the small galley kitchen with only 36″ of usable counter space, 5 total drawers and a 24″ oven. Family birthday parties were celebrated somewhere else to accommodate large groups since the only entertainment space was limited. Functionally, there were large bedroom windows that didn’t slide open anymore, and all the exterior doors leaked a lot of cold winds with a buzz. The house also had two masonry fireplaces that had not been maintained or used and dictated the furniture placement due to their fixed nature. The exterior board and batten siding was a classic look but too many areas of peeling paint and placing new windows make repainting more difficult.
The Vision
This mid-century modern house had features that the architect owners recognized as gems, to be celebrated and preserved. White oak floors throughout, the casual neighborhood with a community pool down the street next to the elementary school and the large lot. But most cherished was the gable end window wall that flooded the living space with light. With a strategic overhang, these south facing windows maintains the view while keeping the direct sun out in the summer and conversely allowing the winter warmth of the sunlight in during the winter months. But really the windows are just a cool termination of the cathedral ceiling and long solid wood beams that extend across the living space.
The Solution
A 375-sf addition to the rear of the house created a new location for the stairs to the basement that were formerly in the center of the living space, cutting it into smaller, less flexible spaces. The bespoke kitchen with a T-shaped island and expansive windows is also in the addition. The former vaulted ceiling space, that was now freed up, became one large open living/dining space. The front door was moved to open into a former small den and both fireplaces were demolished. The rubble of bricks and concrete blocks from the fireplaces is used on site as the filler in the gabion retaining walls instead of being hauled off to the landfill. The exterior upgrades of new aluminum clad windows and siding gave an opportunity to upgrade the wall insulation from the exterior.
The Results
The openness of the kitchen/dining/living space is great for daily living and larger parties. It also makes the gable end window wall, cathedral ceiling and beam a major visual feature that was shielded by interior walls and short viewpoints. The new entrance hall collects all of the shoes, bags, and coats and sets the stage for the rest of the house with views, art and style. New, more efficient windows throughout the house continue to provide views of exterior and abundant daylight. And the design of the addition with an extra-large stair opening and oversized window well make the basement home office a pleasant place to work daily. The overall result is still rooted in the home’s mid-century vibes and as the landscaping is still in progress, the connection to the exterior is a delight.
Before
After
