Nestled comfortably in a cul-de-sac amidst West Omaha’s sprawling neighborhoods of winding streets and neatly manicured lawns, California transplants Brittney and James Gage found the house they could turn into their home. From the outside, the house resembles many of its neighboring abodes. However, the décor and style found inside is one of a kind: simple, clean, and favoring comfort and vintage aesthetic over convenience and modern gloss.
The Gages’ journey to Omaha came shortly after the Southern California natives married and began a life together. They agreed to help some college friends relocate to the Omaha area and the trip opened their eyes to the possibility of making a home somewhere else. California’s steep cost of living, high human density, and unpredictable weather events weren’t the best for raising a family.
“It was kind of funny,” James said with a chuckle. “When we were first out here, I saw a billboard for an IT position. It was in my field and with a company I was a little familiar with. A year later, I was applying for that job.”
There would be several scouting trips to Omaha to assess neighborhoods, first as a curious couple entertaining a whim, and later as serious potential residents. As dedicated foodies, the area’s plethora of top-rated and diverse dining options was a huge plus. Brittney recalls specifically coming to visit during each of the four seasons and falling in love with the change of weather and Omaha’s comparatively laid-back feel. “The slower pace is something I just love,” she said. “Plus everyone here was just so nice. I was back in Santa Barbara last weekend and I was thinking about how much I missed Omaha. We’re settled, we love it out here.”
Besides securing gainful employment and housing, one of the harder parts of pulling up anchor and relocating halfway across the country is leaving family behind. This hasn’t been an issue for the Gages, as most of their immediate family has followed them to Omaha, with more on the way. Brittney’s younger brother and parents are already located in the area, as are two of James’ siblings. His parents are currently in the process of relocating to Omaha.
The couple spent their first year in an apartment while searching for a home that felt right. “We first started looking at newer builds. Everything was wide open and we kept on looking because nothing felt right. Then this one popped up and it just felt right, it felt homey. It felt more unique than most of what we’d been seeing.” The couple wasted no time after spotting the property on the popular website Redfin: they toured the property 30 minutes later, put in an offer, and got the house. “It was just meant to be,” James added.
When the Gages first moved into their split level, it resembled many other suburban households in terms of floor plan and available space; roughly 2,400 square feet including the basement, three bedrooms, and three bathrooms. However, with Brittney’s eye for detail and love of DIY projects, the couple were able to create a one-of-a-kind home atmosphere to welcome their now 18-month-old daughter, Hazel Rose. Brittney has since created a website titled Gage Made Home, where she offers decorating advice, fun DIY activities, tips on everyday living (like which credit card is best for accumulating free airline tickets), and an interesting forum to trade ideas, anecdotes, and recommendations.
“When we first moved out here, thinking about Nebraska, I wanted it to have that farmhouse feel,” Brittney said. “But as we looked at more and more places, I was drawn to the more vintage modern feel. I love a home that feels lived in but also has intentionality in its décor. It makes us feel nostalgic. We were fighting to find a house between that cold museum feel and something comfortable.”
Comfort certainly lies at the heart of the Gages’ home vision. As you enter, a half staircase to your left takes you up into one of the living rooms. A relaxing, yet modern couch sits across from the spacious front windows for lazy neighbor watching, with a roll-up screen hanging, ready to go for movie nights. The room’s main attraction, however, is the beautiful DIY shelving the couple designed and built for the space. Overflowing with books the family loves, an old typewriter sits on one of the top shelves, lending a rustic look. Brittney was able to partner with Lowe’s through her website as a way to help keep costs down.
The two knew they’d be building a family and wanted a space they could grow into. Little Hazel’s bedroom is small and snuggly; simple, yet relaxed. They designed shelving online to fit the closet space and came up with a cool and efficient storage system: lots of places for diapers, dirty clothes, books, and other kiddie essentials. Simple wooden letters that spell “hazel rose” hang above the crib on the far wall. Just down the hall is the play room, an open and inviting space that can easily convert into a second bedroom when the time comes. The playroom hosts a time-honored childhood tradition and a favorite toy of Hazel's, the toy kitchen.
Another must-have for the Gage family was space to entertain. The family loves hosting friends and family for game nights and casual hangs, going as far as to start their own tradition with a “Friendsgiving” gathering in the late fall. Brittney’s vision, and simple, yet elegant touch have transformed their suburban home into a unique, lived-in place to grow with plenty to look at and lots of seemingly effortless style.
As an added bonus, along with the house’s spacious back yard came the old red barn the couple first envisioned when pondering a move to Nebraska. The mini barn-shed sits quietly in the corner, serving both functionality and design aesthetic. These simple touches have earned Gage and her website national attention from publications like People and Splendeur. A simple reminder of just how easily personal touch and simple style can turn any house into a home.
For more information visit gagemadehome.com.
This article originally appeared in the November/December 2024 issue of Omaha Home Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
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