Tucked away in the growing neighborhood of Sanctuary Ridge in Elkhorn, Nebraska, is a modern mountain retreat designed and built by brothers Richie and Jay Pohlad, owners of Pohlad Custom Homes, Inc. Among its many amenities and features are a natural stone interior and exterior mixed with wood brackets and large, picturesque windows that welcome ample sunlight even on the dreariest days.
But even with all its rustic charm, what truly makes this property, which was among featured homes on the fall 2024 Metro Omaha Builders Association Street of Dreams tour, is the seamless marriage that’s been creating beautiful homes in greater Omaha for more than two decades.
Kris Patton, owner of Interiors Joan and Associates, has worked in concert with the Pohlads for more than 20 years on a host of homes—a relationship built on trust and comfort that creates useful beauty and customization that spans time and trends. Because of their familiarity and strong working relationship, Patton said her process for choosing finishes, colors, textures, and other design elements is on point with limited discussion and tremendous confidence.
“Before every project with Richie and Jay, I start with a vision after meeting with them,” said Patton, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), a third generation designer and the granddaughter of Interiors Joan founder Joan Sorensen. “We’ve worked together with Richie and Jay on so many properties that we know each other’s tastes very well. It’s easy and natural.”
Patton explaned that with this house, she started with the words “modern mountain,” and during their discussion, she and her team mapped out all the appropriate finishes, colors, and textures that complemented the design. “Part of what makes the Street of Dreams special and exciting is watching our team of talented designers collaborate to put finishing touches on the home,” she said. “We have such an amazing team. It is so fun watching them in their element.”
While the home’s exterior is stately, the interior is vast in an open-concept layout. A new build, the home boasts a stately staircase and two-story great room. The adjoining kitchen has floor-to-ceiling soft-close cabinetry with high-grade commercial appliances, a 9-foot center island and large walk-in pantry.
The ensuite features heated tile floors, rain head shower, and custom-designed walk-in closet with laundry area. On the second floor, there is a loft/lounge area, three bedrooms with two bathrooms and a spacious laundry room. The lower level is perfect for entertaining with a tiled wet bar highlighted by an expansive picture window surrounding a large family room, bedroom, bath, and exercise/hobby room.
Other features that make this property special include:
• Wood flooring throughout the main living floor
• Ceramic tile floors and quality countertops in all five bathrooms
• High-efficiency Lennox furnaces
• Custom-paneled walls with heated tiled floors and a fully tiled walk-in shower and free-standing bathtub adjoining the primary bedroom
• Main floor executive office with custom barn doors
• Unique staircase with wrought iron balusters and custom-wood newel posts
• Covered front porch with flagstone and maintenance-free covered composite deck
• Heated and insulated 4-car garage with carriage style doors and electrical car charging port
• Professionally designed landscaping with sodded yard, sprinkler system and lighting
• Pella windows, Heritage shingles, cement siding, and cedar timber accents
“We used so many natural materials to make this house unique and special,” said Patton, who is National Council for Interior Design Qualification certified, has been involved in ASID Designer Showhouse and Omaha Street of Dreams, and has won an ASID national design award for her work. “Adding texture to walls, floors, counters, etc., gives it a very warm, welcoming feel. Color and texture have interested me from a very young age, and I have always enjoyed working with people and tackling challenges.”
Although this house wasn’t built or designed for a specific client as Pohlad Custom Homes, Inc. has done many times in the last 30 years, Richie Pohlad said he and his brother had a specific “kind of buyer” in mind with this home while still striving to appeal to a variety of people. The Pohlads designed and built this house with the intention that the curb appeal would be strong enough to invite people in to see the amazing interiors—exposed beams, floor-to-ceiling stone fireplace, beautiful floors, and high-end finishes.
“Our pre-construction vision for this house was a reflection of or complement to the amazing landscaping and design of the neighborhood by Lanoha Developers,” said Richie Pohlad, who is a framing carpenter by trade which works seamlessly with his brother’s expertise in finish carpentry. “We knew what we wanted to build, and once we were done, we were honored to be part of this year’s Street of Dreams. We knew once people saw the inside of the house, someone would fall in love with it and want it for their future home.”
Pohlad said maintaining these close working relationships with previous clients is a lifeblood of their business and a true measure of pride for their work and reputation. “Many of our homes are commissioned by people we’ve designed and built for before, and it feels good to know they appreciate and love the work we’ve done for them, whether it is a new house or a second home,” he said. “We provide a very ‘hands-on’ experience with our clients and bring innovation, foresight, integrity, and professionalism to every home or project we do.”
