When Tom McAlister was in the market for a new home in 2005, the criteria were relatively simple. He wanted a house near where his young daughters lived with their mother, to make visits and activities convenient. He also hoped to find a property with a familiar main-floor layout, so the girls would feel at home. Plus, if he could remain in his west Omaha neighborhood, his parents’ house would be mere blocks away.
“When I was looking, there were very few homes for sale that had the set-up that I wanted,” he said. “And location was very important to me.”
A circa-1955 three-bedroom ranch met McAlister’s primary objectives; although it needed some cosmetic updates and had some design quirks, McAlister decided he could live with an imperfect house in the perfect neighborhood.
Nearly two decades passed. His daughters grew up. And he met Laurie Hamilton, who will soon be his wife.
“What inspired the remodel is that we got engaged during COVID, and so when housing prices kind of went crazy, we made the decision that it was a perfect time; we either needed to sell both houses or one house,” McAlister said. “It made perfect sense that we would combine—her house, size-wise, just wouldn’t work.”
McAlister’s house wasn’t exactly ideal, either, but once again, it came down to location. He wanted to be able to easily check on his elderly mother, who still lived in the neighborhood, and his brother with disabilities who lived with her. So, McAlister and Hamilton agreed to invest in a full-scale renovation. They envisioned an open-concept layout, bringing in more light, and improving functionality. They also wanted to add a guest room and bathroom, as well as a spacious master suite. Even in areas that would remain structurally intact, McAlister and Hamilton still wanted to update details like windows, paint colors, flooring, trim, and fixtures.
McAlister enlisted the talents of two friends in the architecture sector to create the initial plan: Al Povondra of Carlson West Povondra Architects, and John Cameron, retired from HDR.
“Then I handed it off to Kent Therkelsen at KRT Construction,” McAlister said. “He never told me ‘no’ on anything.”
Therkelsen agreed. “I work hard to make the answer ‘yes.’”
Therkelsen did, however, provide realistic estimates on scope and expense to help McAlister and Hamilton make solid decisions. Sometimes they reconsidered, sometimes “it was ‘We’re just going to pay the money. I want to do it that way,'” McAlister said.
Although much of the main level was transformed, there were elements the couple wished to retain, like beautiful hardwood floors that were eventually restored and extended. McAlister liked the convenient basement stairs near the entrance from the garage, so they were incorporated into the layout and updated. A great room worked pretty well without structural modifications; so did the bedrooms set aside for McAlister’s now-grown daughters.
The approximately 18-month project included major work such as a new addition for the master suite, the reconfiguration of most main-floor interior spaces, plumbing and electrical rerouting, and even raising a large expanse of the ceiling. McAlister and Hamilton chose to hunker down in the house, shifting furniture and belongings and taking up quarters in the basement for a time. They can look back and laugh a little, Hamilton said. “We made it through. We didn’t kill each other.”
The end results were worth the inconvenience. Not only did they check off their wish-list items, the home now reflects both McAlister’s and Hamilton’s taste, which leans toward contemporary. The home boasts fine materials and finishes like Blue Dunes granite kitchen countertops and new windows with between-the-glass blinds. Practical but luxurious elements include skylights, soundproofing, heated bathroom floors, a second washer and dryer set on the main floor, and a huge walk-in master closet.
“I can actually work in the kitchen. I have lots of counter space,” Hamilton said. “The bedroom, bathroom, the closet—I love them.”
Details were meticulous, McAlister said, even accommodating the pair’s considerable height difference with thoughtful touches like two shower heads and careful master closet allocation. Trusting the guidance of professionals in all phases from renderings through selecting finishes was key.
“This was my first attempt at remodeling a house,” McAlister said, adding that the idea of having to choose every small thing was intimidating at first. “But we did get better at it.”
Therkelsen said the home was typical of its era, which posed some challenges. “1955 ranch, so low ceilings, lots of rooms,” he said. “The bathrooms were very small, the closets were very small.” A linear kitchen footprint and load-bearing walls surrounding a staircase were also problematic.
The KRT team found clever solutions that improved the home’s function and flow, Therkelsen said. The guest bathroom, for instance, has a second entrance from the main living area to double as a powder room. Hamilton and McAlister like to entertain, so an open floor plan creates a kitchen/hearth room/dinette that easily accommodates a large gathering. There’s always a way, Therkelsen said. “And I love the idea of figuring out the way.”
A few final touches lie ahead. The former great room space needs paint and trim updates, McAlister said, and possibly hardwood floors. The wine aficionado is also dreaming of a custom wine cellar for his impressive collection. But for now, the couple is simply enjoying their beautiful, functional dream home—in the perfect neighborhood.
This article originally appeared in the March/April 2025 issue of Omaha Home Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.
