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Builder Spotlights
Winter Edition 2018
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Inside Area builders show off craftsmanship City’s Historic Fire Station No. 1 sees makeover as brewery true to its heritage
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Custom built home overseeing Tenkiller Lake put on the market
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Contents Muskogee’s retired Fire Station No. 1 renovated and repurposed into the Muskogee Brewing Company.
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24 Former police officer Shane Frix hones knowledge, skill and connections with quality subcontractors.
Mike Williams constructs couple’s dream house.
34 Louie Slape builds most of his homes with accessibility in mind.
Robert Zachry’s experience gives client home she is proud to own.
Publisher Dale Brendel editors Ed Choate, Elizabeth Ridenour ADVERTISING Manager Stephanie Elswick ADVERTISING SALES Erin Shriver, Therese Lewis, Angela Jackson, Debbie Sherwood, Kris Hight WRITERS Mike Elswick, Cathy Spaulding, Melony Carey, Heather Ezell PHOTOGRAPHERS Mandy Lynn Lundy, Cathy Spaulding Layout & Design Josh Cagle Green Country Living is published by the Muskogee Phoenix. Contents of the magazine are by the Muskogee Phoenix. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the Muskogee Phoenix. Green Country Living, P.O. Box 1968, Muskogee OK 74402. email echoate@muskogeephoenix.com - Editorial: (918) 684-2933 email s.elswick@muskogeephoenix.com - Advertising and distribution: (918) 684-2804
on the Cover
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The Branch in Tahlequah offers twist on traditional cocktails and tasty signature drinks. 4
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Issue 45
BUILDER SPOTLIGHTS
Nearly every room was designed to offer a view of Tenkiller Lake in home for sale.
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General Manager Justin Kelly overseas all aspects of The Branch.
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INSIDE Area builders show off craftsmanship City’s Historic Fire Station No. 1 sees makeover as brewery true to its heritage
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Custom built home overseeing Tenkiller Lake put on the market
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This year’s Winter Edition of Green Country Living focuses on four of the builders responsible for many custom area houses. Photo illustration by Josh Cagle
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Brewed with
New Muskogee Brewing Company mixes craft brews with local firefighting history
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hen Muskogee Brewing Company opens for business the journey will have represented more than three years of planning, rubble removal, demolition, renovation and remodeling work at the city’s historic Fire Station No. 1. But the owners and city leaders hope the business will help serve as
an economic catalyst spurring even more revitalization and renovation in the city’s historic central business district. Muskogee city councilors approved a resolution in support of incentives for Muskogee Brewing Company in early 2016. The incentives included the conveyance of the abandoned fire station on South Second Street that had been slated for demolition.
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Converting a former City of Muskogee fire station into a brew pub has been a long process but a labor of love for partners in Muskogee Brew Company, Dr. Ann Page, Dr. Garry Page and Bill Parris. Parris is seen at the bar and taps where craft brews should be flowing in coming months.
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After removing tons of rubble, renovation efforts started on Muskogee’s former Fire Station No. 1 on South Second Street. Accents for Muskogee Brewing Company include custom designed bar and seating, beaded wood ceilings and brick walls exposed behind layers of plaster that have been chipped away.
ABOVE: Underneath the newly constructed wooden bar at Muskogee Brewing Company are accents like iron hooks for women’s purses and hatchets like those used over the years by firefighters. LEFT: In keeping with the history of the building, many decor items in both Muskogee Brewing Company and Station 1 restaurant have a firefighting theme.
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Dustin Russell, owner of Bent Nail Woodshop and a Muskogee firefighter, has been responsible for many of the custom wood and decorating touches like the door with iron cutouts in the shape of firefighting hatchets and the Muskogee Brewing Company sign.
Built in 1904, the structure was an active City of Muskogee Fire Station until 2000, said Bill Parris, a partner in the enterprise along with Dr. Garry Page, Ann Page and others. The building at 121 S. Second St. was retired as an active fire station then but remained city property and was used for storage for another 15 years. “It was about to be torn down and turned into a parking lot,” Parris said of the old fire station. City officials heard of Page’s and Parris’ seeking out a location to establish their dream of a brew pub in downtown Muskogee and began working with them on tracking down a viable location. “It takes a special building to be a brewery,” he said. “It needed a ton of work, but we could see past the work at the potential it had.” The dream of opening a brewing operation in Muskogee came out of Dr. Garry Page’s decade-long hobby as a home brewer,” said his wife and partner Ann Page. “He’s a chemist by heart and has had a
fairly elaborate micro-brewery in our garage for years,” she said. The future home for Muskogee Brewing Company will have ties to the city’s history. “It was Muskogee’s first brick fire station and could be the first brick fire station in Oklahoma,” Parris said. The fire wagons were drawn by horse and buggy while a stable out back was where the horses were kept. “We tried to keep as much integrity of the old fire station intact as we could,” Parris said. “One of our main goals was to put a lot of thought into it and make this something everyone would be proud of.” The main drawback slowing the arrival of opening day has not been renovation work, but has been in getting the necessary permits at the federal level to operate a brewing operation that serves its own brews on premises, he said. Muskogee Brewing’s sister business is Station 1, a restaurant highlighting historic Muskogee firefighting decor. It opened this past June
Cody Parris is among the staff at Station 1 and Muskogee Brewing Company. The deli side of the operation is open for breakfast and lunch with a variety of sandwiches, soups, salads and breakfast items, along with daily specials.
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Daily standards listed on the Station 1 menu board are supplemented with daily specials. The eatery next door to Muskogee Brewing Company also has rustic feel with firehouse accents.
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Bricks which are probably more than a century old have been cleaned and repurposed to provide part of the historic feel of Muskogee Brewing Company.
Rustic recycled wood and accents like axes like those used by generations of Muskogee firefighters enhance the decor of Muskogee Brewing Company.
serving lunch and breakfast, said Ann Page. She said the process of seeking all the required regulatory permits needed has been a learning experience, she said. Among the stipulations is that high-point alcoholic content beer brewed on the same site cannot be served in the restaurant side, Ann Page said. “The restaurant has to remain dry, but patrons can order food to go and take it over to the brewery side.” she said. While construction work and installation of brewing equipment has continued on the brew pub side of the building, the owners have been moving forward with permitting work on the brewing operation with federal and state officials. “We’ve been taking baby steps,” Parris said of the ongoing work. When the owners took over the building from the city one of the first steps was cleaning
wood on the cooler “isThe over 150 years old and
Many firefighting items used in decorating Muskogee Brewing Company and sister enterprise, Station 1, have been donated or loaned by the city’s firefighting corps — past and present.
Historic photos and newspaper clippings for the city’s firefighting history provide part of the ambiance of Station 1 and Muskogee Brewing Company.
started out as a barn in Kansas that was put together with pegs and notches. — Bill Parris
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out what was left behind. “The ceiling had fallen in on a couple of rooms, and there was a lot of cleaning up we had to do,” Parris said. Dropped ceilings were removed while weeks were spent chipping old mortar off bricks that were going to be reused. The bricks on the walls had to be power washed one brick at a time. “Because if you got off the brick, then it blew out the mortar,” Parris said. “We hauled about 14 tons of garbage out of this room alone,” he said of the side of the station where Muskogee Brewing will be opening. “We started work in 2015. It’s been a long process of cleaning up, tearing down walls, removing dropped ceilings and power washing and cleaning bricks,” he said. “We have a phenomenal wood guy. He’s built our bars and things in the dining room,” Parris said.
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All the beer coming from the taps of Muskogee Brewing Company when it opens will have been crafted on premises.
While renovation work has been going on at Muskogee Brewing Company, the firm’s staff has continued to work on fine-tuning their brews weekly.
The rustic and historic nature of Muskogee’s Fire Station No. 1 is an important part of the firefighting tradition. The rich wood tones of a beadboard ceiling was revealed when a dropped ceiling that had been added over the decades was removed during the renovation process.
Helping put custom touches on bar, backbar, stools and other decor at Muskogee Brewing Co. has been Dustin Russell and his Bent Nail Woodshop. Russell also is a Muskogee firefighter and operates his custom woodworking business on the side. “He’s surprised us with touches like the hatchets and axes,” Parris said. Those accents tie in the building’s nearly 100-year history as a working fire station with the repurposed use as a craft brewery. Rustic wood, a copper backsplash and custom made iron cutouts meld with the old brick walls and high ceilings featuring original wood 12
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rafters and concrete and brick floors. “The wood on the cooler is over 150 years old and started out as a barn in Kansas that was put together with pegs and notches,” Parris said. The wood came to Muskogee as wooden beams that were milled into boards, he said. One aspect from the old fire station missing in the brewery that Parris said he would have liked to have been able to save was a small room at the front of the building where all the old switches that controlled traffic signals were located. “From there, they could turn all the downtown lights red so when the firetrucks left they
In the 1980s when the building was still serving as an active fire station retiring firefighter Phil Thompson nailed his worn shoes on the ceiling where they remain.
had a clear shot through town,” he said. Unfortunately, the wood in that part of the structure was rotten, unsafe and could not be saved. In its place is a small stage where local entertainers can perform. “We can lift the garage doors on both ends and set tables outside,” Parris said. Once completed, the main entrance for Muskogee Brewing tap room will be on the back side of the structure where parking is located while the main entrance for Station 1 will remain on the Second Street side. Parris said in most breweries the tap room is walled off from the brewing area, although
it may be visible through glass walls. At Muskogee Brewing Co., a wrap-around bar where patrons surround the brewing operation will allow them to interact with the brewmasters. “They will be able to sit around the bar and talk to us and actually become a part of that brew session,” Parris said. “They can ask questions, smell the brewing process and look through the window into the yeast lab and see what the staff microbiologist is doing. That’s all going to be part of the attraction.” All the brews available on the 15 taps at Muskogee Brewing Company’s will be beers crafted in house. “We’ll have what we call our flagships, which are beers that are always here,” Parris said. “Then, we’ll have seasonal brews and different specials. The only thing we’ll sell here are our beers, and we’ll have them packaged so you can buy a four-pack or six-pack to take home with you.”
Much of the decor of Muskogee Brewing Company reflects the South 2nd Street building’s rich history as a city fire station. Rough wood, firefighting gear and metal cutouts like this one for a fireman’s hatchet can be found throughout the location.
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B u i l d e r S p ot l i g h t:
Mike Williams
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Builder ‘wants the job done right’ Calavans put trust in Williams to construct couple’s dream home By Cathy Spaulding Photos by Mandy Lynn Lundy
With a terraced patio, screened porches and huge, two-story windows, the view of the Calavan house is as dramatic as the view from the house.
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Dusti and Jay Calavan’s living room window offers a sweeping view of rolling hills.
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A balcony overlooks the dramatic two-story living room of Dusti and Jay Calavan’s house.
ay and Dusti Calavan’s hilltop home welcomes you with a breezy Cape Cod style. It stands, creamy white with a high-pitched roof, in Fort Gibson’s Spurlock Estates. A brick-floored front porch spans the home’s front. Home builder Mike Williams takes you downhill to the backyard. You turn and face three stories of white. Two stories of windows rise in the center. Screened porches frame each side of the house. “You come back here, and it takes a whole different dimension,” Williams says. “Big, isn’t it?”
Dusti and Jay Calavan’s roundabout driveway offers ample parking and easy access to the garage.
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The Calavans find cool breeziness and cozy warmth in their screened porch.
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A porch offers screens and a fireplace.
A dining area features a built-in storage bench.
ABOVE: Carson and Cooper Calavan have a comfy couch on their second-floor bedroom area. RIGHT: The Calavans’ goldendoodle, Draper, has lots of places to snoop.
Williams built the four-bedroom home for the Calavans, who have two teenage sons, Carson and Conner, plus a rambunctious goldendoodle, Draper. He said the house is one and a half stories in front and three stories in back. Dusti Calavan said the family had been planning this dream home for 10 years. “We needed a lot like this one, so we could have a walk-out basement,” she said. “We
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A basement bar features glass tiles and wood stools.
wanted a view.” They found what they wanted close to where they had lived. “We went out walking and we thought we could just put the house right here,” Calavan said, adding that she wanted a house facing southeast to catch the sunrise. She said they chose Williams to help make their dream a reality because he was Jay Calavan’s high school shop teacher.
“We both knew him,” she said. “My husband just loved him, and we heard he was building houses. We knew people he built homes for. He’s just a reliable, trustworthy guy.” Dusti Calavan said she absolutely is pleased with Williams’ work. “He’s a perfectionist, and he wants the job done right,” she said. “We had plans, and we worked on them for several months.
ABOVE: Four wicker stools are tucked under the island in the Calavans’ bright kitchen. LEFT: The Calavan basement offers ample space to play games and watch games.
Williams said hundreds of things are important in planning and building a house, including layout, functionality and appearance. He said he figured out the angle of the lot before he started his work. “I brought four semi loads of boulders from Eufaula to retain and step up the terraces,” Williams said. “We had a lot of slope to deal with.”
Williams said the house took 13 months to build. The Calavans moved into the house last May. Calavan said she wanted a “Cape Cod, Nantucket” look. She said the she got what she wanted, along with a “modern touch.” “With a little bit of Joanna Gaines,” Calavan said, referring to the host of the HGTV interior design show “Fixer Upper.” “That’s where all the country comes
from,” she said. That Cape Cod appeal breezes through the house with its dramatic sloping roof and off-white shiplap walls that go up two stories in the living room. Williams pointed out the hardwood white oak floors. “They wanted to go with a gray stain, and the white oak doesn’t have any brown in it,” Williams said. “It stains to the gray better.”
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The Calavans’ master bathroom features a sit-down vanity and contemporary bathtub.
A pedestal sink offers a handy place to wash up.
Draper seems proud to show off the mudroom’s ample storage opportunities.
White trimmed doorways with transomed windows lead into some rooms. Others feature sliding barn doors — that country look. Two stories of windows bring sunlight into the living room and kitchen. Those windows not only catch the sun, but a swath of rolling countryside. That distant line of traffic is U.S. 62. The Calavans don’t have to worry about
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too much sun shining through. A push on a remote lowers electric window shades all the way down. A flip of a switch also ignites the living room’s gas fireplace. Williams said the fireplace is a direct vent, “so you get lots of heat.” Calavan said she wanted white cabinetry and walls.
The white continues into the kitchen, which features durable quartz countertops, marble backsplash and farmhouse sink. Williams gave the Calavans two eating areas. Four wicker benches are tucked under a quartz countertop extending beyond the island’s cabinets. A larger dining area features a built-in storage bench that stretches beneath a picture window.
Dusti and Jay Calavan’s master bedroom features a wide screened porch.
He said he made adjustments to original plans. A mudroom and walk-in pantry went where the laundry room was first located. The laundry room, complete with sink, was moved by the master suite. The master suite features his and hers walk-in closets, each with a full-profile mirror, ample cabinetry, shelving and dressing space. A pine barn door opens
mom insisted I “doMya sit-down vanity,
Jay Calavan’s closet has multiple shelves.
and she was right ... It’s very nice when you’re doing makeup. Dusti Calavan’s closet features a place to sit.
– Dusti Calavan
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into the bathroom, which has a sleek standalone bathtub and two sinks. Calavan loves the lower space between the sinks. “My mom insisted I do a sitdown vanity, and she was right,” she said. “It’s very nice when you’re doing makeup.” The bedroom features a broad, screened porch, which Williams called a “morning porch.” “You come out of your master bedroom in the morning and have your coffee,” he said. A screened porch off the living room has a wood-burning fireplace.
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Clean lines and light-colored walls accented with white trim and crown molding help provide a spacious feeling throughout the Calavan home.
The rough cedar, painted white, frames the screens. A rough cedar mantle adds a brown dash across the white chimney. The screened porch tops a basement porch, which also has a wood-burning fireplace. Stairs with a white oak bannister and white posts wind from the basement to the top floor, where the Calavan sons have their bedrooms. Each brother has his own bedroom and bath. Calavan said the basement also is the sons’ domain. “This is pretty much where the teenage boys live, down here,” she said. Ash gray shelves, cabinets and
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a storage bench frame a widescreen TV. Calavan said she loves the mirror tile in a refreshment area. “I had a picture I found in Pinterest,” she said. “He (Williams) found the mirror tile in Tulsa. Mike had to figure out how to put the shelves up through the mirrors. It worked, though.” The basement also features a guest bedroom with a full bath. Unlike the white frames found all over the rest of the house, black frames the basement windows and patio doors. “The black makes it stand out,” Calavan said. “They really pop against the light.”
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Quality craftsmanship a hallmark of Frix homes Former police officer entered home building through the back door By Mike Elswick Photos by Mandy Lynn Lundy
The exterior of the Gil McLaughlin family home in the Fort Gibson area is one of the area residences built by Shane Frix Construction. The home features about 5,000 square feet of heated and air conditioned space, a three-car attached garage and a one car detached garage.
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B u i l d e r S p ot l i g h t:
Shane Frix
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Among the architectural accents in this Shane Frix built home are an abundance of arches, curved doors and other custom touches as this scene from the home’s foyer shows.
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s a former Muskogee police officer who initially learned the construction craft from building his own family’s home about 20 years ago, Shane Frix has honed his knowledge, skills and connections with quality subcontractors. “I built my first home out of necessity to try to save as much money as possible,” he said. “We lived there 11 months when a Realtor lady I’d known my whole life called and said she had clients who really liked my house and wanted to know if I’d sell it.”
A spacious upstairs room is being used as a game room/family room with built-in seating and plenty of space for leisurely entertaining.
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The living room of the Gil McLaughlin home features a soaring ceiling, faux wooden beams, textured walls and contemporary furnishings.
Frix called his wife to see if she was willing to sell. The couple set a price and had a contract on it the next day, he said. “I started on another one and had it about 50 percent complete and a lady named Eileen Ross who was a Realtor I knew called me and said, ‘we just walked through your house and they want to make an offer, how much is it?’” Frix said. He replied it was being built as his family’s personal home, but two days later he had a sales contract on it. “I decided then that, hey, I could do this as a living,” he said. “That’s how I got started.” While Frix backed into the home construction business by finding demand for the design and work he did, those early years provided challenges. These days, he operates Shane Frix Construction, holds a Realtor’s license and is associated with RE/MAX of Muskogee. “Definitely, those first few years there was a learning curve,” he said. By trial and error he went through a lot of subcontractors he would not use again. “You’ve got to be cautious,” Frix said. “But once I latched onto guys that are really good and their work ethic, their quality of work and their integrity is the
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The McLaughlin home features four spacious bedrooms, including a couple for growing children.
The master bathroom features a garden tub and walk-in shower with high ceilings and plenty of space.
same whether you’re there or not. They do it because that’s the right the way to do it. It’s not always the cheapest quote, but they do good work.” Among the biggest differences the home builder has seen in the industry over the past couple of decades are the liberal use of granite in kitchens and baths and trends toward higher ceilings. Arched doorways and windows have also become more popular, he said. “People love the arches from a design standpoint,” Frix said. “And, of course, the cost of everything involved in home building has gone way up.” As he walked through one of the homes he built a few years ago, the Fort Gibson area residence of Gil McLaughlin, he pointed out details included in the final design that he and the homeowner settled on. The home has about 5,000 square feet of heated and air conditioned space with a three-car attached garage and a separate detached garage. The home features four bedrooms and a bonus room upstairs that can be used as a game room or extra family
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Custom-built cabinets, thick granite and professional grade appliances help make the kitchen area an inviting space to work.
room. High ceilings and an open floor plan in living, dining and kitchen area provide an airy, spacious feeling upon entering the front door. Faux wood beams accent the soaring living room ceiling with a large fireplace serving as another visual element. One of the focal points is the McLaughlin’s kitchen with high ceilings and stainless
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professional grade Kitchen Aide appliances and a large walk-in pantry. “This one has granite countertops all the way through,” Frix said. The kitchen island features a large granite top work space. “One of the things I always prefer to do is custom on-site built cabinetry,” Frix said. “That’s something the guys I’ve used for years like to do them that way as opposed
to shop-built cabinets.” The spacious master suite has a master bath featuring a garden tub, twin sinks, a television and walk-in shower. A bonus for the master suite’s walk-in closet are pulldown rods that basically double the utility of the closets with high 9-feet ceilings. A spacious covered outdoor living area complete with flat-screen television, an outdoor kitchen area, ample seating and a
A guest bathroom features a unique pedestal sink located just off the stairs leading to a second story game room.
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The master suite is one of four bedrooms in the home built by Shane Frix Construction.
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The kitchen is seen looking from the living room through a pair of arched openings. The kitchen features custom cabinetry, professional grade appliances and a large, granite island.
fireplace add an entire extra dimension to the livable space of the residence. Frix said the outdoor space measures about 30-feet-by-30-feet with a soaring ceiling and real wood beams with a view of nearby woods. An upstairs game room area has a bathroom with a bar-type area for entertaining. Frix said he has built homes from Wagoner County, in Muskogee and Fort Gibson and other areas. He has several speculative homes that are near completion in the Wiley Ridge development that should be coming on the market in coming months. Among the basics of his success in home building over the years has been in finding subcontractors he can work with who take pride in their craft and then fostering working relationships that span years. “The subs I use, I stick with them. I don’t jump around,” Frix said. “I have loyalty to those guys who have been good for me and take pride in their work.”
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B u i l d e r S p ot l i g h t:
Louie Slape
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Accessibility the focus of Slape’s homes Couple joins with builder in designing ‘forever home’ By Cathy Spaulding Photos by Mandy Lynn Lundy
Louie Slape designed this easily accessible Craftsmanstyle porch for Richard and Dona Davis. The porch has classic Craftsman elements such as low-pitched roofs and tapered columns.
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The living-dining area in Richard and Dona Davis’ home can quickly be cleared to accommodate holiday feasts of 40 or more.
Richard Davis requested this porthole-style window in the kitchen.
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omething seems unique the moment you step on the broad front porch of Richard and Dona Davis’ Craftsmanstyle home. The porch has that Craftsman look with a low-pitched gable roof, tapered columns atop brick supports, and enough space for a herd of grandchildren. Don’t be fooled by the old-timey appearance, however. Builder Louie Slape of Slape Custom Homes built the three bedroom, 2,251-square-foot house in 2016. He included outdoor and indoor features to make the house up-to-date and accessible.
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Dona and Richard Davis share the warmth by the built-in fireplace of their “forever home.�
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A sliding barn door opens onto the Davis’ spacious pantry.
Louie Slape built the see-through cabinets for the Davis’ living room.
Molding accents the floor and ceiling of the Davis’ master bedroom.
That porch, for example. Unlike the Craftsman homes of the early 20th century, the Davis porch has no steps. A concrete walkway leads from the car door to the front door, making the porch easily accessible. Inside, a broad hallway leads into a wide open kitchen and living room space. Dona Davis said she designed the house to be their “forever home.” “We’re both in our 60s, and in 20 years, we want to be able to live here until we die,” she
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said. “We designed it to be wheelchair accessible throughout.” Such accessibility is made possible with all-concrete floors, wide bathroom and bedroom doors, cabinets with low, wide, shallow drawers. “We wanted it to be accessible to where, if you’re in a wheelchair, you can reach everything,” said Davis, a nurse practitioner who works with nursing home patients. Louie Slape said most of the houses he
Convenient corner drawers slide out diagonally.
designs have handicap accessibility. “People are thinking about the future,” Slape said. “Most of my homeowners are what I’d call mature. We have different ones that may have a parent that’s going to be living with them. We take that into account, so you can maneuver through your house, that you can get access through your doorway with a wheelchair or a walker. You don’t want any steps or trip hazards or anything like that.” Dona Davis said she grew up among
Family photos fill shelves in the home of Richard and Dona Davis.
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Craftsman-style homes. “My aunts and uncles had them,” she said. “If you look through town, there are a lot of them. If you go west along Broadway, there are lots of them.” She said she especially loves the broad porches, where she likes to sit, drink coffee and read the paper. The kitchen features a round window, which Davis said her husband wanted. She said they designed the kitchen to be like a house they used to have. “Along the same lines, pretty much the same appliances,” she said. “We like the drawers, the dishwasher.” Quartz kitchen counter tops come in two colors — off-white on the island, darker gray along the wall. Slape said quartz is durable and low-maintenance. Slape built in other features to ensure accessibility, for example, a corner drawer slides out diagonally. The kitchen features a built-in induction electric cooktop, which is said to cook faster with less heat. An adjustable water faucet
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ABOVE: The Davis’ kitchen features quartz countertops and highquality built-in Viking ovens. LEFT: The Davis’ master bath features a deep two-person tub.
A drawer opens to support a built-in ironing board.
above the cooktop lets the Davis’s fill their pots without having to carry them from the sink. Dona Davis said she likes the double oven set-up because she’s short. The top oven doors open out, like French doors. The bottom oven door opens down. Slape said he installed Viking ovens and stoves because they are upper-level, commercial grade appliances. “They have all special appliances,” Slape said. “They both love to cook, so everything comes for their wishes.” Richard Davis said he and his wife cook “just about anything.” “My wife mainly likes to cook vegetables and I mainly like meat,” he said. “Chicken Tetrazzini is my specialty.” Davis said he and his wife host around 42 people at Christmas or Thanksgiving feasts, so they designed the open space accordingly.
Off the kitchen, a walk-in pantry features shelves and counters. The pantry and laundry room feature sliding barn doors. One laundry room drawer opens into an ironing board. Slape built cabinets throughout the house, including a display hutch in the dining area. Display cabinets surround a gas fireplace. “They have the Shaker-style cabinets that go with this type of house,” Slape said. “We’ve built cabinets for 37 years.” The master bathroom and walk-in closets also feature custom cabinetry. A safe room, with a tornado shelter, is across from the walk-in closet. Dona Davis said she keeps valuable photos in the safe room. The closet and safe room area also have sliding pocket doors. The bathroom’s shower stall, big as a walk-in closet, features two showers and a black river stone floor. A deep two-person
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ABOVE: Richard and Dona Davis filled the built-in shelves with collectibles and books. LEFT: Louie Slape built a wall full of cabinets, drawers and shelves for the Davis’ computer room.
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The master bath shower features a black river stone floor.
All-concrete floors ensure accessibility in the Davis home.
A safe room protects the Davis family from storms.
tub features whirlpool jets. Sliding French doors, with windows from top to bottom, open onto a front computer room. A built-in desk, shelves and cabinets line a wall. Designing the house was a team effort. Dona Davis said she and her husband got on the social media idea site Pinterest “and found what we both liked. And we compromised and designed this one.” Slape said he works closely with clients such as the Davises. “The first time, we sit down and get
their ideas and get a basic layout of what they want,” Slape said. “Then, we will work from there, draw the plans, keep working back and forth with the homeowner on the plans until they get everything like they want. We work with the budget they have. It all goes toward making it come out like they want it to.” He said his job is “to lead them through the process to get them where the need to be.” “From day one, they pick everything that goes through the house,” he said.
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Live Fort G i b s o n To d a y !
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Zachry’s experience comes through for proud client Pam Villines’ new Muskogee custom-built home provides open, airy feeling By Mike Elswick Photos by Mandy Lynn Lundy
The northeast Muskogee home of business woman Pam Villines features a number of custom features.
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B u i l d e r S p ot l i g h t:
Robert Zachry Green Country Living
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High ceilings, arched doorways and lots of natural light help provide an open, airy feeling. One of homeowner Pam Villines favorite pieces of furniture is the baby grand piano which commands its own space in the room to the right.
P
am Villines says having her Muskogee home built to her needs has been both a rewarding and learning experience. Working with home builder Robert Zachry was a good fit, she said. His years of experience in the construction field with her desires for custom details came together in a home she is proud of. Zachry said he has been involved in the home building business some way all of his life. He ventured out on his own about 13 years ago and has left his eye for detail and craftsmanship throughout the eastern Oklahoma region.
The rich woodwork of the custom kitchen cabinets offer a contrast against the light tan walls.
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Live plants and large windows overlooking the backyard patio add an extra dimension to the main living room.
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The design of kitchen cabinets in Pam Villines’ home came from a photo she had seen on the website Pinterest.
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The foyer opens onto the living and dining areas along with a view of the room where Pam Villines’ baby grand piano sits to the right.
A sunken garden tub takes center stage in the master suite’s bathroom.
Even the hallways feature high 9-foot-high ceilings.
“We’ve built from Stigler and Henryetta to McAlester and Poteau, and of course in Muskogee,” Zachry said. “We travel all over the area and have been keeping really busy.” In recent years Zachry and his crews have been averaging about 25 homes a year. “The way this year is starting out we expect to do even more than that in 2018,” he said. Villines said she spent about two years working on finding
floor plans she wanted to use as a starting point. She has been in her northeast Muskogee area home a little more than a year and said getting there was a labor of love. “With house plans, they can pull them up on the computer so you have a good feel for what things are going to look like when it’s done,” Villines said. While she started out with a floor plan she and Zachry settled on, there were a lot of custom features Villines wanted to see. Those included extra high
ceilings to add a feeling of spaciousness. Custom wood work and cabinets in the kitchen and throughout the home were among her requests. “For the cabinets I settled on, I gave him a photo I found on Pinterest and ended up with cabinets I love,” Villines said. Using that website and a lot of others for ideas helped her narrow down the options of what she wanted to see in the finished home. She also attended a number of home and garden shows in the region to gather ideas for
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The dining room is situated under a custom chandelier in front of windows that provide a view of the backyard.
both the home’s interior and exterior. “It’s hard to pick out the details, and there are a lot of details that go into it,” she said. From the kind of crown molding, to wall textures and style of granite used in the kitchen and bathrooms, Villines said she has a lot of decisions to make before and during the construction process. “For the wall colors, so many homes these days are going with shades of gray
For the wall colors, so many “homes these days are going with shades of gray but I didn’t really like that. – Pam Villines
”
but I didn’t really like that,” she said. Among the “must haves” in working with the builder were light paint colors and plenty of windows to help provide an open, airy feeling, Villines said. “I just don’t like dark walls. I like light,” she said. The living room features a vaulted ceiling with a wall of windows overlooking the landscaped backyard, compete with a koi
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Muskogee businesswoman Pam Villines said the master suite and kitchen are her two favorite areas of her new home.
A walk-through bathroom serves two guest bedrooms.
One of the more recent landscaping additions to the fenced backyard is a large koi pond complete with a waterfall.
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ABOVE: A large laundry room provides plenty of space for sorting and folding laundry. LEFT: The Robert Zachry built home features ample storage throughout, including the bathrooms.
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The original plans for the master suite called for a door leading out to the covered patio. Instead, owner Pam Villines opted to have a fireplace built in that space.
pond and hot tub. A limestone fireplace provides a focal point in the living room where a mixture of furnishings she already had combine with pieces selected just for the new home. Among Villines’ favorite rooms are the master bathroom and kitchen. Dark-stained wood furniture is accented with a fireplace in the master suite where gas logs can easily be lit. The original floor plan had
a door leading from the master bedroom outside to the back patio, but Villines preferred the addition of the fireplace. The master bath features a garden tub, walk-in shower, granite and a large walk-in closet. “One of the things I wanted throughout was plenty of cabinet space and storage,� she said. Even the utility room comes through with plenty of storage, Villines said.
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Beyond the Listing
FEATURES »» ADDRESS: 451861 E. 957 Road, Vian, OK. »» ASKING PRICE: $550,000. »» SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,300 square feet heated. »» BEDROOMS: Four. »» BATHROOMS: Three and one-half. »» APPLIANCES: Frigidaire professional grade stainless steel with oversized 6-footwide side-by-side refrigerator/ freezer. »» FLOORS: Hardwood in main living areas; carpet in bedrooms; and tile in bathrooms. »» OTHER FEATURES: Tenkiller Lake view. »» INFORMATION: Neal Rogers, builder/seller (918) 776-4700.
The Tenkiller Lake home of Tyra and Neal Rogers features a view of the Snake Creek and Cato Creek Coves area.
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Beyond the Listing
Designed with the
Lake
in mind Couple looks to sell their custom built home overlooking Tenkiller Lake
By Mike Elswick • Photos by Mandy Lynn Lundy Green Country Living
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Beyond the Listing
A
ttention to nearly every detail is one of the hallmarks of the home of Tyra and Neal Rogers’ home overlooking Tenkiller Lake. From a near perfect view of the Snake Creek and Cato Creek Coves area of the lake to handcrafted wood and trim work throughout, the residence is filled with custom touches. “We went with upgrades most people don’t have like a 6-foot-wide icebox and professional grade appliances,” Neal Rogers said. “Then, there’s the fireplace with a remote control with a thermostat on it that works really incredibly well in heating most of the home. “It’s designed with a lake view from nearly every room in the home,” he said.
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A wall of energy-efficient windows offers a view of Tenkiller Lake below and the home’s spacious patio.
Beyond the Listing
Custom woodwork done by Tenkiller Lake craftsmen provide a number of unique accents to the home of Neal and Tyra Rogers. Vaulted wood ceilings with plenty of builtins for storage and a handcrafted mantel are among the highlights of the living room.
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Beyond the Listing The master bedroom features one of the hallmarks of the Rogers’ home — a panoramic lake view found in nearly every room.
ABOVE: One of three bedrooms in the residence is only used occasionally when one of the couple’s daughters returns home or a guest shows up. RIGHT: Ample storage place and large closets with built-in shelves and drawers mean there is little need for dressers in bedrooms.
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Beyond the Listing
The Rogers’ home dining room features one of the Savoy House chandeliers.
Even the fitness room has a grand view of Tenkiller Lake. Double sinks, granite, a walk-in shower and spaciousness highlight the master bathroom.
Attention to every detail in the kitchen, from handcrafted cabinets to hammered copper sinks set in thick granite, make it a focal point of the Tenkiller Lake home.
The stainless steel refrigerator-freezer with side-by-side doors and other professional grade stainless kitchen appliances offer a contrast to the rich, dark-stained cabinets and accents in the kitchen and throughout the custom built home. The hammered copper kitchen sink adds an accent to the kitchen while Savoy House chandeliers and light fixtures are installed throughout the home. “The kitchen island is a work of art itself
“
The kitchen island is a work of art itself with 23 layers of stain and paint on the wood. – Neal Rogers
”
with 23 layers of stain and paint on the wood,” Rogers said. “My cabinet guy asked if he could have some creative liberties with
the island and what he came up with is probably the most impressive piece of furniture I’ve seen. It probably has hundreds of pieces of trim.” Custom wooden cabinets are in the kitchen and throughout the home. The kitchen island top, bath and kitchen countertops and granite around the fireplace are all 3-millimeters thick, Rogers said. Off the kitchen is a walk-in pantry. “We designed it ourselves,” he said.
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Beyond the Listing
Recessed lighting along with a lighted ceiling fan and large windows overlooking Tenkiller Lake along with a high ceiling provide a spacious feeling to one of three bedrooms in the home.
“Everything we do is oversized. We have the windows custom built and like higher, vaulted ceilings.” Large, custom closet systems in each bedroom have ample drawers and shoe racks, while built-in storage is plentiful throughout the home, he said. Rogers is a native of the Vian area and
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A guest bathroom features granite, custom cabinetry and other accents.
graduated from high school there. He said he got his start in construction and home building when he was 14. He also practiced as a real estate attorney for 25 years. “I’ve just always built houses,” he said. “I love to build houses and usually build two at a time.” The couple is listing their home to move
closer to Oklahoma City where their children live. “We love the neighborhood. It’s very peaceful and spacious,” he said. The oldest home in the development was built in 2007, and the neighborhood has restrictive covenants to help property owners ensure their investment is protected.
Beyond the Listing Tucked away in its own private space is an office complete with desk, computer and storage.
“The neighborhood has great asphalt roads and underground utilities,� Rogers said. The home’s back patio measures 25 feet by 17 feet with a vaulted ceiling. It faces northwest, providing lake and sunset views. On the patio is a $2,000 Restoration Hardware fire pit that lights itself with the flip of a switch and has space all around it for seating and to eat. The yard is fully landscaped, has a sprinkler system installed and has a 500-gallon buried propane tank. The circular drive in front
provides plenty of off-street parking while the exterior is illuminated at night with soffit lights all around, Rogers said. Other details not noticeable while taking a tour of the home but which help make it more livable, include a surround sound system with both living room and exterior speakers, a highefficiency tankless water heater and two high-efficiency heating and air conditioning units. The garage is oversized and fully insulated with a huge storage area above the garage with shelves, Rogers said.
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Food & Drink
The Branch:
Upscale yet casual Make the most of life while you may, Life is short and wears away! — William Oldys
Perfect Manhattan is The Branch’s twist on the traditional Manhattan. Many of the transformed classics have just enough change to make them unique.
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Food & Drink
T
he Branch in TahlePutting a new spin on a few traquah has gone from ditional cocktails, their mixologists a late night, karaoke, have created some interesting and beer and burger bar to tasty signature drinks. For those an upscale yet casual spot to who enjoy a mixed drink or gather for food, friends and libation, their collection of beverages. After having been potent potables is impressive bought and remodeled by the and extensive. Classics like Berry family, it has underthe Moscow Mule, French gone a much-needed change. 75, Bay Breeze and a Sweet Like much of the Manhattan have been downtown area in Tahle- Wonderful Wine transformed into the quah, it caters to the uniKentucky Mule, Branch Heather Ezell versity crowd, locals and 75, Branch Breeze and a out-of-town visitors alike. Along with Perfect Manhattan respectively, with food, they offer a full bar, including just enough change to make them spirits, wine, and a variety of beer. unique.
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Food & Drink
The use of top shelf ingredients makes the difference: just as in cooking, using butter over margarine, yields a richer finish, so, too it is with cocktails. For example, in their Revolver, the inclusion of espresso-flavored rum in addition to specialty orange and chocolate bitters on top of the bourbon makes this drink a real showpiece. In their Perfect Manhattan, what sets it apart from a standard Sweet Manhattan is the addition of rye whiskey coupled with better vermouth and bitters. The Branch 75 happens to be a variation of one of my favorite
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Food & Drink The Branch in Tahlequah offers patrons many beverages including, from left, Branch 75, Perfect Manhattan, Revolver, Branch Breeze, Kentucky Mule.
champagne cocktails, the French 75. The difference? The use of Plymouth gin, half a lemon freshly squeezed and a pinch of sugar. (I prefer more sugar, and they are happy to oblige.) A surprising little jewel in their repertoire is the adult root beer float, made with Rumchata, root beer schnapps and ice cream. This mixture is so delectable, it will have you yearning to drink dessert and then wish for more. If strong concoctions aren’t your bag, there is quite the list of wines by the glass or bottle on hand. Of course, it would not be
complete without brew. Bottled, tap, and now, flights of local craft beer available. Making a change to an iconic institution comes with inherent risks; having undergone a muchneeded and well-done renovation, both the physical structure and the spirit have morphed from a college dive hangout to a lovely experience. If you’re up for an adult beverage and some ambiance, make your way to The Branch and enjoy them both. Cheers ~
Perfect Manhattan
1 1/2 oz Bullit Rye whiskey
1 1/2 oz Antica Formula sweet vermouth 2 dashes Peychauds bitters 2 Maraschino cherries
Drop cherries in bottom of a martini glass. Pour liquids into shaker, add ice. Shake vigorously and strain into glass.
Revolver
1 1/2 oz Bullit bourbon 1 oz. Ground Espresso Shot rum 2 dashes Bitter Truth orange bitters 2 dashes Bitter Truth chocolate bitters
Pour into shaker, shake and strain into a coupe glass.
Branch 75
1 1/2 oz. Plymouth Gin 1/2 Fresh squeezed lemon Pinch of sugar (more if you like) Champagne/sparkling wine
Shake first 3 ingredients with ice. Strain into champagne flute and top with sparkling wine or champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.
Branch Breeze
1 1/2 oz Deep Eddy lemon vodka Equal parts pineapple juice, cranberry juice and Sprite.
Mix well, Strain all over tall glass filled with ice. Garnish with orange and lemon wheel.
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Food & Drink
The Branch Breeze is The Branch’s take on the Bay Breeze made with Deep Eddy lemon vodka and equal parts pineapple juice, cranberry juice and Sprite.
Kentucky Mule
1 1/2 oz Basil Hayden whiskey 1/2 Fresh squeezed lime Crabbie’s ginger beer
Pour the first 2 ingredients into copper mug, fill with ice and top with ginger beer. Garnish with lime wheel.
Adult Root Beer Float
1 1/2 oz RumChata 1 1/2 oz Root Beer Schnapps 1 scoop of vanilla ice cream Chocolate syrup
Swirl chocolate syrup into glass, add ice cream and pour RumChata and Root Beer Schnapps over the top.
Chocolate Martini
1 oz each light and dark Godiva 1 oz vanilla vodka Raspberry syrup
Pour vodka and both Godivas into a shaker filled with ice, give a good shake. Rim the top of a martini glass with raspberry syrup, strain into glass and add a cherry garnish.
Food & Drink
General Manager Justin Kelly tops off Branch 75 cocktail which is a twist on the traditional French 75.
The Revolver includes espresso-flavored rum.
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Winter
YOUR GUIDE TO
HOME SERVICES
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On The Menu Guide To Area Restaurants
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On The Menu
Scene and Be Seen The Curve Gallery Opening Visitors admire the artwork at the opening of The Curve Gallery, owned by Ann Boos Davis. The gallery opened Jan. 18. Davis said she sees the opening of the gallery as a juncture of personal events in her life and what is happening with the transformation and revitalization efforts of downtown Muskogee. The gallery will be hosting guest artist exhibitions on a rotating basis. Photos by Cathy Spaulding
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Scene and Be Seen Barney Home Christmas Sean Barney and Kevin Igert opened their home to guests to celebrate Christmas. Photos by Mandy Lynn Lundy
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Scene and Be Seen Port Christmas Party The Muskogee City-County Port Authority held its annual holiday reception at Three Forks Harbor. Photos by Mandy Lynn Lundy
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Scene and Be Seen MICHELLE FORD BIRTHDAY PARTY Michelle Ford celebrated her 46th birthday at the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame. Ford said the turnout was great and everyone had fun. Janie Cook made the cake and desserts, A Flower Can in Fort Gibson took care of arrangements, and Rib Crib did catering. Alaska and Madi and Swon Brothers provided musical entertainment. Photos by Mandy Lynn Lundy
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Shopping on Main Shop local! Come visit Downtown Muskogee on the first Thursday of every month from 5-8 p.m. for Sip and Shop! Local merchants with a unique variety of goods and services are open late to accommodate evening shoppers.
Sip & Shop First Thursday of every month. 5 p.m. – 8 p.m. February 1 st ., March 1 st . April 5 th .
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Spring Art Crawl Artists, Shops, Food and Fun! Saturday, April 14 from 1 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Shopping on Main
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Food & Drink
General Manager Justin Kelley oversees all aspects of The Branch from the bar to smoking prime rib on Saturday nights.
General Manager Kelley shares in the vision of restaurant The Cook’s Pantry Melony Carey
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T
he Branch is open Tuesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday’s special is $2 tacos and $3 margaritas. Friday’s special is surf and turf; Saturday features smoked prime rib. Live music is performed every weekend, and NSU’s jazz band is featured on Thursdays during session. Private parties are available for booking, (918) 456-1500. The Branch restaurant and bar exudes
an atmosphere unique to Tahlequah. Overlooking the small Town Branch tributary of the Illinois River, this well-known establishment sits within clear view of historic Seminary Hall at Northeastern State University. Originally, the location of the town’s livery stable, four decades ago Taco Hut, Tahlequah’s first Mexican restaurant, opened there. Now, just as the university campus has experienced a renaissance, so has the legendary restaurant spot.
Food & Drink
ABOVE: A classic charcuterie board and sophisticated calamari pair nicely with fireside drinks. BELOW: A sweet ending to a delicious meal includes elegant bread pudding or delicious dessert cocktails.
Brian and Chris Berry purchased the property last known as the Town Branch Pub and Eatery in 2010 with a vision for renovating not only the building, but the image of the restaurant. “I have great memories of going to the Taco Hut as a teenager,” Brian Berry said. “I wanted to make the property what it could be, nestled as it is between historic downtown and the university.” Today, The Branch is the local purveyor of fine cocktails made with top shelf products, the largest variety of wines and beers in the area, and offers equally sophisticated appetizers, entrees and desserts. Together they create a fine dining atmosphere worthy of the scenic location. Justin Kelley, general manager of The Branch, shares in the vision. He oversees every aspect of the establishment, from the bar to creating impressive specialties, such as Saturday night’s prime rib, which he smokes right on the property. True to the restaurant’s beginnings, fare includes Maria’s secret recipe pico de gallo, salsa, and Branch Trap Sauce made fresh daily. A chef ’s special is also on the menu every day. Combining the upscale and historic with the youthful vibe of a college town, The Branch offers something for everyone. Here they share their recipe for classic bread pudding with bourbon sauce.
The Branch Bread Pudding
22 slices of bread 9 eggs 6 cups milk, scalded 2 cups sugar 2 teaspoons butter flavoring 2 teaspoons vanilla
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Reduce to 350 degrees when you put the bread pudding into the oven. Cut bread into cubes and place in backing dish. Beat egg and sugar until dissolved. Add milk and flavoring. Pour over cubed bread. Punch down with fork until moistened. Sprinkle with nutmeg. Bake 35-40 minutes..
At a glance The Branch is open Tuesday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 2 a.m. Tuesday’s special is $2 tacos and $3 margaritas. Friday’s special is surf and turf; Saturday features smoked
prime rib. Live music is performed every weekend, and NSU’s jazz band is featured on Thursdays during session. Private parties are available for booking, (918) 456-1500.
Sauce:
1/2 cup butter 1 cup sugar 1/8 cup bourbon 1 egg. Beaten
Melt butter in double boiler. Add sugar and stir until sugar dissolves. Stir in beaten egg slowly. Add bourbon. Keep warm.
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