Families are increasingly looking toward home as a place for entertainment, and many builders are incorporating features to accommodate that lifestyle. Such was the case when Amy and Cory Wieseler decided to build a new home four years ago. They chose a one-acre lot in Indian Creek Estates in Elkhorn and worked with Malibu Homes to design the ultimate entertainment hub.
The 4,700 sq. ft. ranch includes four bedrooms, five bathrooms, and plenty of areas both indoors and out for hosting family and friends. The Wieseler’s are all avid sports fans, especially Husker football and volleyball, and their three children play on multiple sports teams as well. As a result, their home includes areas for adults and kids to watch their favorite sporting events at the same time.
Most notable is the 1,500 sq. ft. five-car garage with a large screen on one wall. Double doors open from the garage to the back of the house onto a large paved patio with a pergola and gas fire pit. “We love having friends and neighbors over to watch Husker football games in the fall,” Amy said. “The adults watch the game in the garage, go out onto the patio to eat, and then back into the garage, and the kids can have their own space in the basement with their friends.” A stone walkway connects to a second paved, covered patio off the kitchen that was designed with a built-in grill and another gas fire pit. The back yard is also plumbed and wired for a pool.
The Wieseler’s favorite part of the home is the basement, where they can spend time as a family. A media wall houses three TVs, and on the opposite side of the room two additional TVs sit above the sunken wet bar. The basement also includes a full, separate kitchen, a gaming area, half bath, and two bedrooms with walk-in closets and a Jack and Jill style bathroom. “The whole basement was done with kids in mind, right down to the kitchen where they can fix pizza,” Amy said.
The main floor of the house also lends itself well to entertaining. The entry and family room are open to the gourmet kitchen and large granite island with stone pillars. The kitchen includes a walk-through pantry that leads to the laundry room and drop zone off the garage. The main floor also includes a large office, guest suite, and the master bedroom as well as bathroom, which has heated floors. Amy designed the interior of the home using materials and neutral colors so that everything about the house was warm but relatively maintenance free.
Amy said she was also particular about the lighting in the home, choosing unique chandeliers in many of the rooms. A six zone indoor/outdoor Sonos home theater system is also included. With all of the amenities for entertaining, the Wieseler’s invite all the neighbors over. “We have a great neighborhood here,” she said.
But when the Wieseler’s aren’t entertaining, they’re enjoying the quiet, relaxed atmosphere the large lot provides. “This area is truly a tucked away secret of Omaha,” Amy added. “There’s so much space, and it’s so peaceful. We sit up just high enough that on a clear night you can see the entire downtown city skyline. There’s nothing like sitting outside and taking it all in.”
To schedule a viewing of this home, contact Jayne Smith with NP Dodge, 402-951-5008, jaynesmith@npdodge.com.
