Russo Home Gallery: July 2011

Nick and Jenny Russo’s home features a modern design with a few natural touches, and Jenny has made it a beautiful yet livable space for the couple to raise their three sons.

Nick Russo stands at the kitchen counter with a knife in hand, carefully dicing garlic for the night’s dinner. “I have a love affair with my wife, my kids, my job and cooking,” Nick says. Nick’s passion for cooking is no secret. In addition to being a teacher at Springfield Catholic High School, Nick has opened a handful of 417-land restaurants throughout the years, and he still owns downtown Springfield’s St. Michael’s Bar & Grill with his wife, Jenny. Although Jenny runs the kitchen at the restaurant, Nick still cooks for his family every chance he gets. “We cook every night at home,” Nick says.

The kitchen, as well as other parts of the home near Phelps Grove Park, looks much different than it did when Nick moved in more than 20 years ago. “When I came in, I took over,” says Nick’s wife, Jenny, who moved in 15 years ago.

After moving in, Jenny had some fun with one of her true passions—interior design. Influenced by her sister Kim Bruhl, who is a designer at Nebraska Furniture Mart, Jenny remodeled and redesigned the home, and she bought the dining room table and chairs and the living room couches from Bruhl. Jenny turned the space into a beautiful yet livable home for herself, Nick and the couple’s three children, 14-year-old Joseph, 10-year old Austin and 8-year-old Michael. Daughter Alexis doesn’t live in the space, but she still visits and stays in the guest room.

With the facelift came a lot of new furnishings, many that came from Nathan Taylor and J. Martin at Obelisk Home. Naturally, all of the new furnishings means much of Nick’s old furniture is long gone. “One day I came home, and Nathan and one of our food wholesalers were carrying out my family’s old china cabinet and buffet,” Nick says. “It’s not unusual that I come home and I find people I don’t even know putting up rocks, hanging new light fixtures or moving out old furniture.” But he’s not upset about the changes. “If you’re gonna have a home, you have to love it,” Jenny says. “We really do love it here.” 
 

In this room, the kids enjoy playing Xbox and hanging out. The space features a wall painted with chalkboard paint, plus a built-in desk where the kids can work on arts and crafts projects. It’s also used by Nick to help the boys with their homework. Photos by Randy Colwell	Jenny made the living room’s coffee table with a tree trunk that came from the backyard. She changed the fireplace’s white marble to gray, and she added splashes of color with the room’s accessories. Photos by Randy Colwell
Nick and Jenny Russo with sons Austin, Michael and Nathan. Photos by Randy Colwell	The boys’ rooms are on the home’s second level. One of the most fun features in Austin’s room is the vintage chair, which Jenny fo Photos by Randy Colwell
The kitchen in the Russo home is well-used, as the family cooks at home nearly every night of the week. A five-burner stove built into the island makes it a very accessible room that’s great for preparing a meal. Photos by Randy Colwell	The master bathroom features over-sized deep gray tile on the floor, plus a deep-soak tub surrounded by a glass mosaic. The room’s sinks and faucets are from Harry Cooper Supply Company. Photos by Randy Colwell
The master bedroom is where Nick often reads, grades papers and watches sports. The room features a ceiling with dropped trim, as well as a cowhide rug. Jenny purchased the side tables at CB2, then had them painted with a high-gloss finish. Photos by Randy Colwell	The Russos' master bathroom. Photos by Randy Colwell