A tornado ripped through Nebraska in April 2024, destroying many homes. One of the affected homeowners approached Courtney Otte of Omaha’s The Modern Hive Interior Design Studio to remake their 3,800-square foot home.
The clients – overwhelmed with the aftermath of the tornado, including the hassle of insurance claims and temporary housing – gave minimal aesthetic information to Otte, preferring to rely on her team to “let us dream up a new home for them to come back to.”
She added, “When the clients came to us, we already had another tornado client in the same neighborhood so we were working on both homes at the same time. I ended up hiring another designer to accommodate the workload. I think that’s one thing to note about Nebraska, our state slogan is ‘Nebraska Nice’ and everyone really did step up to help the tornado victims get back into their homes without delay.”
The furnishings she chose included Bernhardt upholstered beds, Hudson Valley light fixtures, Kravet fabrics for draperies, Uttermost lamps and accent tables, a Four Hands banquette seating, Caracole upholstered chairs casegoods, Century dining table and sectional, Sunpan chairs, and Fairfield sofas, chairs and coffee tables.
“The biggest challenge for us was working on a quick turn around without compromising the integrity of the design and working around the delicate situation with all the emotions that goes with losing your home to a tornado,” she said.
The client was with his son in the basement when the tornado hit, “so we didn’t take our job lightly and understood the impact it would have on these clients,” she said. “It truly was a special project that is near and dear to us.”
