May 1, 2023

Our Home & Interior Design Finishes Featured in the Sioux City Journal

The O'Connell home at 174 Saddlebrook Court in Dakota Dunes, South Dakota featured in the local newspaper with local women-owned business Staging Siouxland.

Designing a Man Cave, but Making It Pretty

How did we get here? In January 2022, my husband Shane and I commenced a year-long project to turn a large bonus space in the basement into a bar & lounge. So much thought went into not only the design of the space but also the most optimal use of the space considering all the functions we dreamed the bar & lounge would have. The biggest requirement? It needs to be natural in colors, dramatic, and beautiful while remaining masculine.

Bar featuring custom matte black scratch-resistant cabinetry, brass pulls, herringbone features throughout, and premium granite countertops asking for a pour of bourbon on ice.

The lounge side of the bonus room is a party-by-night but serves as a home workout area by day. Unnoticeably hidden away in the back left of the room you'll find the treadmill, yoga mats, and free weights.

Decorating the Bar & Lounge "Man Cave" for Potential Buyers

Mid-project completion, we got the news that our family would be relocating to Arkansas due to the merger of two corporate headquarters of my husband's employer. Now, instead of filling the space with interior design products and elements we dreamt we'd have, we opted for a more affordable and logical option: staging.

With the help of a local business owner, Kathie Pfaffle, a professional home stager, we got the opportunity to turn our dream bar & lounge into a fully functional, livable space. More importantly, we got the opportunity to give potential buyers of the home a chance to visualize one of the many ways this "bonus space" could be used.

Our Home Made Headlines with the Local Newspaper

Thanks to Kathie Pfaffle, owner and professional stager of Staging Siouxland, our home has been featured in the local newspaper, the Sioux City Journal. We are honored she immediately considered our home's bar & lounge in the SCJ article considering the many projects and homes she designs each year. It's been a true honor!

Full Article Here

Styling a Room to Match the Rest of the Home

Our 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom home boasts 3,864 sq ft featuring finishing upgrades and custom design features. The neutral design and white paint make this home a designer's dream because of its ability to flex to any desired design style. I personally love a mix of bohemian, Scandinavian, and mid-century styles making it a tad bit eclectic, but the home would be a perfect backdrop to a contemporary style sure to please the masses. My favorite features of the home are the spa-like master bathroom, overall layout, and upstairs marble fireplace. Check it out here: