When Charlie and Joanie Salter moved to Omaha nine years ago, they were looking for a house with a floorplan and enough room for entertaining, both indoors and out. They found it in a home located in West Omaha’s Barrington Bark just north of 156th & Dodge Streets. After remodeling much of the 7,400 sq. ft. house, they finally had their French country style home, filled with ample space where family and friends could enjoy all the amenities and features the house offers.
Charlie worked with a builder to design the remodel. To achieve the European style, they included features such as large Michigan fur wood beams in the ceiling of the hearth room off the kitchen, stone and hardwood floors, and iron railings to match those around the expansive outdoor patio. Having built several homes before, the Salter’s knew what materials they wanted to use and the functionality of each area of the house. “When I saw it I knew immediately it had the structure and room we could transform,” Charlie said.
Having “substance” as he called it was an important element Charlie wanted to portray throughout the home. Using larger baseboards, increasing the height of doorways, and arching the tops of doorways and windows all helped create that feel. “It’s not something people notice, but it gives a grand, old world appearance,” he said. Countless upgrades also add to the quality of the home, such as two Subzero refrigerators that service the kitchen, extensive custom built-in cabinetry and storage, and smart home features to control lighting, music, and window coverings throughout the house.
The lower level was the second remodeling phase and where Charlie was able to create the ultimate man cave. A billiards room, home theater with drop-down screen and speakers, and a card room with a built-in bar and full kitchen offer multiple spaces and activities for guests in an English pub style environment. But the hidden gem is the secret 1000 bottle, climate controlled wine cellar concealed behind a bookcase that uses an electronic keypad to enter. “We lived near Napa Valley and love wine, so we loved this about the house,” Joanie said.
Her other favorite area is the hearth room and kitchen where she enjoys cooking. The oversized center island has built-in cabinets all the way around it, and Joanie added an additional pantry with slide-out shelves in the office/work space off the kitchen. “It’s set up perfectly for cooking or catering, and I just love the warm feel of those main rooms,” she said. “There are so many zones where people can be, the house just lends itself to entertaining.”
Besides the basement, Charlie’s favorite feature is the massive stone fireplace that anchors the patio. A built-in grill and serving space with stainless steel drawers for chilling sit on either side. One end of the patio features an in-ground oversize hot tub with skimmer that’s nestled behind a stone wall, and at the other end an extra lot offers a deep side yard surrounded by lush landscaping. “It’s ideal for a pool or tennis court since the privacy is already in place,” Charlie said.
The Salter’s have enjoyed every aspect of their home and are now ready to retire and downsize. They said the home would be ideal for anyone who loves to entertain. “We’ve had lots of parties here, and it’s a very good entertaining house,” Joanie said. “Even though it’s big, you don’t get lost in it, the rooms just flow. Every aspect of the house makes it completely move-in ready.”
