Swanson Tower is a time capsule of sorts in the middle of our fair city. The building itself is an unassuming, highly secured fortress. Upon approved entry, guests are greeted by a charming doorman and an elevated midcentury style. One of the tower’s condominiums—a two-unit conversion to one spacious unit years ago—serves as a multi-generational home to the Kennedy family. The condo's recent renovation embraces past design elements with artwork, lighting, and furniture incorporated to honor family and display memories. Homeowner Maureen Kennedy and designer Mandy Lassek with Lassek + Dunn Design collaborated to create an heirloom-centered, traditional style with a flourish of glamour.
“Crystal chandeliers are my thing. I just love them,” Kennedy confessed, with several chandeliers used in the home once belonging to her mother-in-law. “Donna was a beloved mother, adored by her children and grandchildren. It is so important to me, and my husband, Jim, to honor her in this space.”
Bret Linden, president of Distinct Homes, served as general contractor on the renovation. Linden connected Kennedy with Lassek, confident the pair would work well together.
“Mandy listened to me, and we have similar tastes and thoughts on designs,” Kennedy said, praising Lassek's client-centric approach.
“The construction phase can be intense, and it can be easy to lose sight of the final design goal,” Lassek said. “I strive to keep it all on track so when the project is completed, we walk away with a space that makes the clients love their home.”
Family is important to the Kennedys, who love to host gatherings. Guests naturally gravitate to the sunroom, where a bar awaits with access to the garden terrace.
“I’ve always loved the sunroom because of the access to the outdoor space. When Jim’s mom was alive, this was her favorite space, too. It is a great space to entertain,” Kennedy said. “The bar is a focal point in the sunroom. I saw a photograph of a turquoise bar in House Beautiful, and it spoke to me.”
Lassek suggested painting the bar in Sherwin Williams "Really Teal" with a high-gloss finish on the cabinets. The bar features a brass sink basin and the original fixture—a brass faucet in the shape of a swan’s head.
“I couldn't stop dreaming about the faucet and had to find a way to restore it,” she said.
Lassek and Linden leveraged their network of craft professionals to restore numerous fixtures in the home.
“Restoring heirloom pieces is so important to do correctly. It is the most challenging and rewarding part of this project,” Lassek noted.
The sunroom opens to a sprawling terrace and garden space. The Kennedys enjoy the deck, gazebo, and the ample room for their grandchildren to run and play.
“My son-in-law, John Ostronic, owns a landscape design company and is helping us update the space,” Kennedy added.
A powder room off the main entrance features an ornate vintage dresser repurposed as a vanity and a dramatic Japanese floral wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries.
“Vinyl wallpaper is extremely wipeable, which makes it a great choice for bathrooms,” Lassek explained.
The expanded kitchen features perimeter cabinets by Sorrento in a soft-white Willow color, a slate-blue basketweave tile backsplash, and a large island painted in Sherwin Williams "Smoky Azurite." A crystal chandelier pendant light sparkles—a nod to the traditional and glamorous flair throughout the rest of the home. A nearby breakfast nook features a curved, upholstered linen sofa and vintage-inspired cane back dining chairs.
When the family gathers for dinner in the formal dining room, they are surrounded by sentimental reminders of their late beloved matriarch, Donna. An oil painting of New York City’s Wiggins Memorial Library is illuminated by a shimmering antique crystal chandelier. Both the painting and light fixture underwent intense and lengthy restoration efforts and can now be enjoyed by the newest generation of the Kennedy family. The room’s Phillip Jeffries designer wallpaper resembles an upholstered tweed, studded with raised rivets. Various vintage pieces are used in the room as a sideboard and additional lighting.
The living room is a more quiet space, where Maureen and Jim enjoy the classic and comfortable blend of CR Lane sofas and chairs with vintage side and occasional tables. Michelle Driscoll Comer, owner of furniture restoration shop Mi Mi's in Midtown, has brought new life to many items in the living room. Kennedy’s go-to place for vintage rug shopping is Alex Cooper Gallery of Rugs in Baltimore, Maryland. The artwork in the room includes a captivating blue painting they purchased together during a trip to London and photography by their nephew, Jesse Rowbotham.
The couple’s primary bedroom is elevated with picture-frame millwork—custom created by the talented carpenter, Bobby Bare with Distinct Homes. During the renovation, hardwood floors were installed, along with two walk-in closets. Original hardware for closet doors was preserved. An ensuite bathroom was also renovated to include built-in cabinets, an additional vanity, and a large soaking tub. A guest bedroom and bathroom were created to host family for extended stays.
“Jim and I think about Donna all the time. She was a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother,” Kennedy said. “And I think she would be happy with the space we created here to keep the family together and the way we honor her style and design.”
This article originally appeared in the July/August 2023 issue of Omaha Home magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
