High-tech home
that’s high on style
For more than 20 years Brian Falcone and his wife Shawn have built and designed custom homes that aren’t just luxurious, comfortable, and timeless, but that are also innovative and state-of-the art with their appliances, heating and cooling systems, and multimedia technologies. Combined with their team approach to home building and priority for customer satisfaction, they’ve led Falcone Homes to become a Best of Omaha winner for the past two years and Best of Houzz for design and customer service.
Their most recent home, located in West Bay Woods II, is a 3,360 sq. ft. story and a half with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a raised loft. It has an open, contemporary floor plan from the kitchen, dinette, and family room that encourages relaxed entertaining. The walk-in pantry includes counter space that Shawn described as a “morning kitchen,” which can house a coffee maker or toaster and not clutter kitchen countertops. The extra-large island serves as additional seating and features a waterfall edge, which is a unique treatment Shawn introduced to the Omaha market.
“I fell in love with helping people with their home creations,” Shawn said. “Designing is all about the functions of daily living and figuring out what works for them.” As soon as the Falcone’s begin working with a new client they ask them to create a style file on Houzz. Clients include pictures of cabinetry, lighting, fireplaces, and then Shawn and Brian look for the common design thread, whether it’s a particular color or material. They also offer a design package that includes the expertise of Shawn and her sister Michele Hybner with D3 Interiors, who assist from start to finish, helping select everything from paint colors to materials, light fixtures, furnishings, and art work.
As a niche builder—they complete 12-15 homes per year—Falcone’s approach to the build process is unique. They office out of their model located at 19009 Hamilton Street in Silverleaf Estates where an office manager is always available. “Clients can stop by the model home anytime to look at design features they may want to see again,” Brian said. They also have a master craftsman and on-site manager who oversees the entire build. Everything is also available online to the home owner, including design selections and change orders. “It helps keep everyone on task and avoid frustration,” he added.
Customer feedback is key for the Falcone’s. Some current trends include a larger shower in the master bath and often eliminating a tub; integrating indoor comforts into covered decks and patios such as TVs and fireplaces; and garages equipped for sports such as higher ceilings to allow golf and batting nets. “We’ve done a lot of garages that have epoxy floors, built-in storage, and LED lighting,” Brian added.
Incorporating new materials is another signature of a Falcone Home. Shawn and Brian travel the country attending builder shows where they find new design ideas and styles. All of the unique light fixtures, hardware, furniture, accessories, and artwork in the West Bay Woods home were obtained at the High Point International Furniture Market in North Carolina. “We try to push the envelope in bringing modern elements to the Midwest,” Shawn said. “But we still use a neutral color palette.”
Most of the Falcone’s clients have built homes before and are familiar with the process. Shawn said people are more informed, thanks to sites such as Houzz, Pinterest, and even the HGTV channel. “We always listen to what our clients want so we can improve each time,” Brian said. He and Shawn are especially excited about the home they are currently building for the 2015 MOBA Street of Dreams, Aug. 8-23 at Windgate Ranch off 208th & Pacific Streets in Elkhorn. “It will be a house you’ll definitely want to come out and see.”
