Our Curb Appeal contest winner is a home wrapped in windows for a variety of views.
Mitch and Kim Ernst love the way their home complements the landscape. It isn’t the only Mid Century Modern home on the block in the Old Rockbrook neighborhood of Omaha, Nebraska, but they’ve received compliments on the house for years.
“There are six other flat-roofed, mid-century style homes on just our street alone,” Mitch says. “None by famous architects, but by individuals who loved the style and built themselves a home 70 years ago.”
Behind the Door of the Curb Appeal Contest Winner
Built by Jim Colby in 1953, the home was bought by Mitch’s parents in 1962 and passed down to them. Mitch and Kim updated the kitchen and bathrooms. “We did the demo, we did the prying (and the crying), the flooring, the painting and papering ourselves,” Mitch says. “Since there were no MCM cabinets, flooring, etc., in the house, we found the next best thing with Ikea Brukholt cabinets.” During the remodel, they discovered a 3-inch poured concrete subfloor in the main bath and 2 1/4-inch original wood floors in the bedroom but nowhere else.
From the Curb: Becoming the Curb Appeal Contest Winner
The exterior needed a fresh coat of paint. “To my wife’s credit, she scraped, sanded, filled and painted the entire exterior all by herself,” Mitch says. “We chose colors we thought were more organic to our setting and to harken back to the mid-century flavor and taste.” The body of the house is Behr Spanish Galleon #760D-6, with trim in Behr Lion #760D-4. The eye-catching front door is Behr Flame 210B-7. Mitch and Kim added a classic mid-century boomerang shape to the yard with tan brick as a border for the aspen trees. “We feel that our house complements our lot and the landscape complements the house in an organic, natural sort of way,” Mitch says.
Iconic Views
Windows are essential in an MCM house—and this one has plenty: 42 of them in the 1,600-square-foot home. “There are 16 windows in the three bedrooms alone,” Mitch says, “but it’s the living room with its four 6-foot x 6-foot picture windows that really captures your eye from both inside and out.” The living room windows are Mitch and Kim’s favorite part. “We kept the basic footprint of the floor plan but removed a wall between the kitchen and dining area for a more open feel,” Mitch says. They hired plumbers and electricians for the technical work. “Finding the right people who knew how to work in an old house made all the difference,” he says.
Siding vs. Cladding
The difference between two often-confused construction materials.
Cladding: An extra layer on the outside of a building that helps to protect the wall underneath and provide a degree of thermal insulation and weather resistance.
Siding: The main difference between cladding and siding is that siding boards are applied directly to a wall and can be installed over the insulation and plywood. Cladding can provide extra protection in the form of drainage and a water-resistant barrier.
Looking for more MCM in Nebraska? Read on for A 1962 MCM Dream Home in Omaha.
Or if you’re inspired to keep up on your own MCM home’s curb appeal, don’t miss Pro Tips for MCM Curb Appeal.
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