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I always adore it when people meet me and the Knuckle Dragger (husband Norman), and they assume we’ve been married for years and years. I’ve always liked that about us. We get on like a pair of old shoes who have the obvious hots for each other. It turns out, though, we’ve been married only 14 years this December. No, I’m not kidding. We are veritable newlyweds compared to other people our age, which often leads to the question, “Have you been married before?” Yes, is my answer, which is often followed by the question … wait for it … “How often?” “Lots” is not a word I like to pop right out of the bag for fear of judgment from the person who is asking that seemingly simple personal question. The answer, “None of your business,” just seems to hang dead in the air. So I usually just stick with, “More than Mother Teresa, less than Liz.” That stops quasi-interviewers dead in their tracks. Do the math. I’ve been married anywhere from 0 to 8 times. If I’m grilled further, I just smile and say, “Pick a number. We’ll settle on that.” After that, I usually leave the room as fast as I can. SOME PEOPLE ARE LIKE CHOCOLATE PUDDING So now that I’ve established my impeccable credentials on

my ability to marry, I must brag about my equally good ability to divorce. Now see here, let’s first set this straight — this is NOTHING I am proud of. Really. I mean it. I didn’t grow a brain on me until I was 40. Until then, I was a hot mess. A smart, hardworking, good mother of a hot mess, but a hot mess all the same. Face it. Some people are like chocolate pudding. One minute it’s just cold milk and pudding mix in a pan, but add heat, and the next minute, Shazam! It’s pudding. Like Mama always said, some people just need time to faunch up. I, unfortunately, happened to be one of those people. So in my rather tarnished (but well-intentioned) way, I’d like to give you some sage advice on the world’s worst possible extreme life makeover — divorce. TIME-TESTED OBSERVATIONS ON DIVORCE Divorces seem to happen two times of year — September and January. January because you’ve made sure the kids had a good holiday and you didn’t want to screw it up with news of a divorce, and September, because you’ve carted the last of the kids off to school, sat on a sofa, looked at each other and someone perked up with, “I can’t stand you.” Now at this point, divorce can be divided into two basic sections — the leaver or the leave-ee. If you are the leaver, all I can say is good for you, because you’ve bought yourself some time. You have a chance in the weeks/ months/even years ahead to plan your move. You can get copies of all your financial records. You can sock away a little U-Haul money. You can go to a psychologist and discuss your feelings, plans, future hopes and dreams. You can consult with an attorney without making a fool of yourself. In the end, leaving gives you the ability to map out when you want to


go and how you want to go. This is your ballgame. All I can say is to use your time wisely. WOE TO THE ‘LEAVE-EE’ Now, that being said, also use your time wisely to be fair to the spouse who is the “leave-ee.” Face it. He or she is going to have a hard time emotionally, spiritually and financially. Do yourself and your karma wheel a favor. Man up (and I say this to women, as well as to men) and be fair. Don’t take her precious family pictures. Don’t destroy his man cave sofa. Don’t drain the bank accounts. Don’t wait for your spouse to make one little bitty stupid mistake and pounce on them like a cat eating a mouse and declare loudly in your best theatrical voice, “See? This is all your fault! I can’t take it anymore. I want a divorce.” That’s not fair, and poor little people who are left like that stay up nights staring at the ceiling thinking the split is all their fault, when really, marriage is a seesaw — it takes two to play. Be kind, wherever and whenever you can, within reason. Which leads me to the unfortunate situation where you are the leave-ee. Yes, you’re that person someone has said “I can’t stand you” to. Man. That hurts. It hurts down to your bones. And

soon hurt can turn into guilt — and then rejection — and then fear — and soon, anger. At that point, it usually gets ugly. Honey, don’t let it. DO’S AND DON’TS FOR ATTORNEY CONFERENCE ROOMS A wise attorney once told me that there are only two things people fight about in a divorce — kids and money. If you’re reading this, the kids are probably gone and doing quite well, thank you very much. So that leaves money. And everyone gets bent out of shape about the money. I can only tell you to get your heart and ego out of the deal and put your business hat on. When you go to visit your attorney: 1. TAKE A LIST OF QUESTIONS YOU WANT TO ASK. Do not go off point. Remember, you pay them by the minute. Make it short. Make it quick. Tell them what you want. Find out if you can get it. Leave. 2. DO NOT CRY. Your attorney is not a therapist. They are attorneys. But they will be very, very happy to let you cry for hours in their office. Again, they are charging by the minute. Therapists cost less, can actually help you with any

emotions you are experiencing during this time and, if you’re lucky, they are covered by insurance. 3. DO NOT FIGHT OVER THE GARDEN HOSE. Yes, I actually got into a fight one time with one of the exes about a hose. No kidding. I lost my mind. Do not do this. As Elsa says, “Let it go.” 4. REMEMBER, ATTORNEYS ARE YOUR PAID EMPLOYEES. They are there to recommend things to you, based on their knowledge of the law and their experience. That does not make them automatically right. It means they have enough experience to garner an informed opinion and, as such, their advice should be reviewed, pondered and ruminated upon. But they are not a judge and jury. Again, they are YOUR paid employee. Do not be intimidated. If it’s important to you, it should be important to them. Stand your ground. 5. AS SUCH, ATTORNEYS CAN BE REPLACED. Remember, everyone can be replaced. REPLACEMENT PARTS Which brings me to my last couple of points. Replacement. All I can tell you is don’t date your ex. Don’t rebound into someone else’s arms. Take time off

and heal. You are your own best friend at this point, and in the months and years to come, you are going to evolve into a new and better person. After all of this, is there a new, better “replacement” love in your future? Honestly, I don’t know. All I do know is that after I hurt myself trying to find Mr. Right for so many years, it turns out, he was right there under my own nose — the whole time. When you do start to look for a new love (after a protracted grieving and healing period, I hope), don’t confine yourself to the “must drive a Porsche, have his/her own million-dollar house and own her own company” thing. Look around. There are a lot of good, salt-of-theearth people out there — great people who would be darned lucky to be loved by someone as special as you. Lesa Crowe is the owner of atomic.marketing, is enjoying husband Norman’s newfound retirement and reveling in the fact that her kids are happy at college and no longer need her. She also reminds you she is not an attorney and , as such , says to get your own legal counsel before using this article as a “Bible to Divorce.” You can write and talk to her at facebook.com /lesa .

DO NOT FIGHT OVER THE GARDEN HOSE.


Bill Dragoo with his BMW RIZ00GS adventure motorcycle and his four-wheeled adventure vehicles. [PHOTO BY STEVE SISNEY, THE OKLAHOMAN]

MIDLIFE CRISIS VEHICLE

MAKEOVER BY MELISSA HOWELL | VANTAGE EDITOR


We’ve all thought it. Some “old” guy in a red convertible whips around you and revs his engine. “Oh, brother,” you think. “There goes another midlife crisis.” And you continue to think that through your 30s, until you reach 45 or so. Then something happens — wistfulness, a subtle rush of excitement at the low rumble of a motor. And some wisp of a memory begins to emerge out of the diaper-changing and 8-to-5 days of the last 20 years. Maybe it was your first road trip. Maybe it was a car you had — or desperately wanted — when you were 16. Whatever the memory, it represents a feeling we’ve all shared: a gooey, sugar-filled slice of freedom. A set of wheels that will take you from the safety of home to something dangerous and exciting: an open road and a future of your making. Yeah. All of a sudden, you’re “that” guy or “that” gal. After decades of folding laundry, mowing lawns and paying bills, you’re free. You’re adventurous. You’re flying down Bruce Springsteen’s “Thunder Road.”

TAKING TO TWO WHEELS Bill Dragoo, 61, of Norman, knows the allure of wandering open and not-soopen roads. He owns four-wheel-drive vehicles for off-road exploring, but the vehicle that provides the most excitement is not on four wheels at all. It’s a BMW R1200GS motorcycle that he has ridden on several continents and across terrain that ranges from desert to mountainous. So-called “adventure riding” is a pastime Dragoo didn’t take up until he was in his mid-50s. “In early May 2008, I had gone out to California to represent a magazine in a competition. It was one of the first adventure riding competitions in the world,” he said. About 100 or so men started the race, Classic Recreations 1967 Shelby GT500 Mustang. [PHOTO PROVIDED]

but three days later, Dragoo came out on top. “It was scored like golf. The low score wins. At the end of three days, I had three errors, and I won the competition,” he said. “After winning that competition, BMW took notice, and I was invited to compete for the GS trophy in North Africa.” Dragoo said GS is an acronym for the German “gelande strasse,” meaning “land” and “street.” He returned to the North African competition in 2010 and placed second. Dragoo’s adventure riding has taken him to Swaziland, Mozambique and several countries in South America. He writes about his experiences for magazines. In addition to competitions, Dragoo spends much of his time teaching aspiring adventure riders how to manage and ride large, adventure-style motorcycles.

HORSEPOWER VS. ADVENTURE Despite the stereotype, recent studies have shown that for most 50-somethings, the perfect midlife vehicle is less about horsepower and more about adventure. “When your kids are gone, you finally get to celebrate,” said James Pratt, 56, an Edmond-based journalist who specializes in motorcycle and automobile reporting. “For us, I bought my wife a Jeep for our 21st anniversary. We just explore and go down dirt roads. Look at ghost towns. I have about 400 GPS points across Oklahoma.”

OWNING AN ICON For some, however, reaching that one sweet pinnacle of automotive nostalgia requires ownership of a vehicle that is beyond special or utilitarian. It has to be “iconic.” Few vehicles make it to icon status. There’s the 1962 Chevy Corvette driven in the early ’60s television show “Route 66.” Or the 1968 Dodge Charger seen in the “Fast and Furious” movie series. But Jason Engel, owner of SEE AUTO, PAGE 6

The top automobile models for Baby Boomers Percentage of baby boomer buyers in 2009-10

Porsche Boxter

BMW 6 Series Mercedes SL Convertible Roadster

SOURCE: TRUCAR.COM

Land Rover LR2

Mitsubishi Eclipse

84.2%

79.8%

69.9%

67%

84.2%

$59,550

$91,379

$103,475

$41,500

$59,550

Audi A5/S5 Cabriolet

Volvo C70 Convertible

79.8%

69.9%

$91,379

$103,475

Chevrolet Aveo5

Mercedes M-Class

67%

64%

63.8%

$56,665

49,995

$12,875

Chevrolet Corvette


A 2001 photo of Kay and James Pratt with their Jeep Wrangler in Red River, N.M. [PHOTO PROVIDED BY JAMES PRATT]

Classic Recreations in Yukon, favors the 1967 Shelby GT 500 Mustang, driven in the 1974 movie “Gone in 60 Seconds.” “If you look up the popularity of muscle cars, the 1967 is one of the more sought-after. That was the only year that the car was produced,” Engel said. Engel’s business, which is licensed by Shelby to restore and sell authentic Shelby vehicles, refurbishes the 1969 Chevy Camaro and the 1965-66 Shelby 350 Mustang as well. But it’s the GT 500 that captures the imagination of most of his buyers. And it can be had for a mere $179,000 starting price. The top-ofthe-line 900-horsepower model sells for $229,000. “The guys that buy these cars are mainly entrepreneurs who have succeeded and want to give themselves something,” he said. “And I always hear the same story: ‘I’ve dreamed about one

of those cars since I was a kid.’ ” It’s a dream that is decidedly American but not uniquely so. “We have a global market. I don’t think there’s a place we haven’t sold to — Iceland, Guam, Sri Lanka, all parts of Asia. Right now, the U.S. is my big client, but it depends on oil prices. When oil is up, we see a huge influx from Russia and the Middle East and Canada,” Engel said. “I had a client … who owns a pipeline in Russia. He’s a very humble person. He loves America. For him, it’s a dream, and it’s from America. It’s an iconic vehicle.” As for 42-year-old Engle, is there a muscle car in his future? “Actually, I drive a four-door Jeep,” he said. “I’m building a Mustang right now. It’s a newer one. I took the old styling and applied it to this new car, but it will look like a Shelby.”




THANK YOU TheOklahomanextends its sincere thanks to DILLARD’S

Robby David, general manager Leigh Randall, stylist Raymond Hinojosa, stylist Mark Singer, menswear manager A NEW LOOK

A spa day with manicures, massages, haircuts and facials was next in store for the 50-something job seekers. A trip to the spa was a first for both of them. While hairstylist Rachael Blair gave Barrios a simple bob hairstyle, aesthetician Anita Lane treated Maynard to a massage and facial. For Maynard’s turn in the salon chair, Ashli Thurman trimmed up the sides of his hair while leaving a little length on top. She finished the look with a shave. Nail technicians Ashley Jirone and Cyndie

Hatchel topped off the day with manicures. The result? Barrios was a little overwhelmed with the person she saw looking back at her in the mirror. “I didn’t know what to expect. I still feel nervous. I’ve never cut my hair before,” she said. “I feel like I look better. I didn’t care before. I’m going to experiment with new things. That’s for sure,” Barrios said. And Maynard: At the end of the day, he was relaxed and happy. “I wasn’t sure what was going to happen,” he said. “The facial was my favorite part. It almost put me to sleep!”

TOP: Michael Maynard gets a haircut and a manicure treatment at Cottonwood Salon Spa. BELOW: Shelia Barrios has

her hair washed to rinse out the new color and has makeup applied at Cottonwood Salon Spa.

[PHOTOS BY CHRIS LANDSBERGER

| THE OKLAHOMAN ]

TO WATCH A VIDEO OF MAYNARD’S AND BARRIOS’ TRANSFORMATION, VISIT

www.NewsOK/Vantage.

C O T T O N W O O D S A L O N S PA

Reanna Barker, senior artistic director Rachael Blair, creative designer Ashli Thurman, stylist and team mentor Anita Lane, master esthetician Ashley Jirone, master nail specialist Cyndie Hatchel, master nail specialist Christina DeHass, general manager S A LVAT I O N A R M Y

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THE ‘EXCESS STRESS’ EXTREME MENTAL MAKEOVER BY MELISSA HOWELL | STAFF WRITER

Your email is overflowing, and the phone is ringing off the hook. You’ve got 10 errands to run, and the car is due for an oil change. Guests are coming for dinner, and you haven’t even shopped yet. It’s the perfect time to relax. “The sandwich generation has high levels of stress caregiving for younger and older family members,” said Kymberly Williams-Evans, a fitness professional who specializes in helping boomer women. “Many are still working, and the demands on their time are high. Women — and men — rarely find time for themselves, and the concept of relaxing sounds like one more thing we don’t have time for.” We should make time to relax. It’s part of an active healthy lifestyle, said Williams-Evans, who blogs with her sister at FunandFit.org. “Increased stress leads to decreased productivity and increased weight gain. Taking time to relax will help you maintain a healthy weight and increase your productivity,” she said. RELAXATION IS A LEARNED SKILL Midlife is known for many things. Stress isn’t necessarily one of them. Yet, in study after study, baby boomers say they experience intense stress over sandwich issues — caring for older parents and adult children — and worrying about

retirement stability. All that worrying has made true relaxation of the mind and body harder to attain, says Marnie Kennedy, an Oklahoma City-based certified yoga and meditation teacher. “Real deep relaxation might be so unfamiliar it can be a little scary,” Kennedy said. “People don’t tell me that, but I can see it. Some people confuse selfcare with being unproductive or selfish. The younger generation has the new term ‘FMO’ or ‘fear of missing out.’ Rest and relaxaton allows the body to heal and restore itself.” To decrease stress and tension, Kennedy says we have to reconnect with our bodies. “Most everyone is disconnected from his or her body,” she said. “When we are more aware of our body we recognize stress and tension more readily.” But when we begin to reconnect with our bodies, it often becomes a negative experience — you’re too flabby, your joints hurt, or stress has left you feeling lousy. To achieve positive body awareness, Kennedy says it’s vital to develop an attitude of self-care and kindness toward ourselves. “Kindness is a huge piece of the process,” she said. “Through research, they’ve found that kindness is what creates positive change in our life. It’s not being hard on ourselves. That’s counterproductive. We’re not going to create change with negative self-talk. We have this capacity for mindfulness in us. It’s already there. We don’t have to go find it.” MINDFULNESS OFFERS ADDED BENEFITS Mindfulness meditation gives us the skills to work with our thoughts in a positive way and minimize everyday tension and stress. We are able to appreciate ordinary moments in the day that can be nourishing to us. In doing so, it also improves health in unexpected ways, Kennedy said. “I see a woman … who is probably in her mid- to late-60s. She has arthritis. Her hip was in so much pain when I began working with her. She said, ‘Oh, I can’t do that.’ And now she’s doing amazing things that she never thought she would do again,” Kennedy said. “It’s not that we’re necessarily always cured, but there is a healing that happens in our body. It’s about learning to accept our life just as it

is, and there’s a sense of grace that comes with it. But that’s easier said than done, because the habitual reactivity of our mind keeps us tensing and pushing away things we don’t like to feel. “If we wake up with sunny skies, great. But if we wake up with Oklahoma storms and the wind sweeps us off our feet, we have a mindfulness tool kit that helps us move through our day with more ease. So often we can make things worse,” she said. ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING Obsessive thinking and pushing away unwanted feelings leads to stress and mounting tension, Kennedy said. “It’s said that 80 to 90 percent of our thoughts are repetitive. Being lost in our thoughts is exhausting after a while. So we just try to slow things down a little bit,” Kennedy said. “Stress is inevitable in our life. Mindfulness training helps us shift how we relate to our experience, and bringing kindness to our experience is key,” she said. “As a result, stress and symptoms are reduced. You develop better coping skills,

a better quality of life and greater sense of ease, connection and self-acceptance.” TRENDS IN RELAXATION The adult coloring book craze is one recent trend in relaxation. Another new one is called “forest bathing” and was developed in Japan in the 1980s as a Zen way to let nature de-stress urbanites. Taking a timeout to slowly move through a forest environment and appreciate nature offers measurable health benefits, including eased symptoms of depression and anxiety, improved cognitive function and lowered blood pressure, said Amos Clifford, founder of the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs. Then there’s always the good old-fashioned nap. “The culture is starting to see the benefits of taking a nap,” Williams-Evans said. “Naps used to be thought of as a weakness, but now we see what good a nap can do for the mind and body.” — Melissa Erickson, More Content Now, contributed to this story.


BOOMER MAN

2.0

Stylists Janis Bevers and John Potter share their insights on giving 50-plus men a 21st-century upgrade BY MELISSA HOWELL EDITOR’S NOTE: On a recent hot, summer afternoon, Vantage columnist Lesa Crowe and Oklahoma City interior designer and stylist Janis Bevers joined me for lunch at Cafe 501 in Classen Curve. I had asked them to join me so I could pick their brains about content for Vantage. I knew I wanted to talk to Janis about her current projects in hopes that an ultimate home makeover story would emerge. As for Lesa, well, it’s always entertaining to hear what she comes up with. I hit them with the idea of ultimate baby boomer makeovers. Both agreed it was a fine topic. But in the course of our discussion, the conversation kept returning to the men in their lives and how most boomer men had some unnatural attachment to 1985 when it came to their wardrobes. There was no fighting it. It was clear a boomer man makeover was going to be a part of this issue. And the victim? Lesa offered up my colleague Jerry Wagner who, among other things, oversees advertising for The Oklahoman’s special sections. Jerry is a guy who works plenty of overtime and still manages to work out, be a good husband and keep up with his twin sons’ basketball careers in college. Surprisingly, Jerry said yes. Next we called John Potter at Mr. Ooley’s men’s clothing store in Penn Square Mall to see if store owner David Ooley would mind letting Janis and Lesa loose in the store to create Jerry’s new look. Mr. Ooley’s generously agreed, and Jerry 2.0 was born.

Jerry Wagner gets help from John Potter at Mr. Ooley’s.

BEFORE

AFTER

A

h, the boomer man uniform: pleated khakis, Oxford shirt, scuffed-up shoes and optional muted tie. It has survived unchanged for decades. But Oklahoma City stylist Janis Bevers is on a quest to drag the sartorial sensibilities of over-50 men into the 21st century. Caution: This is no minor exercise in accessorizing, guys. This is a complete closet overhaul. But once you see yourself, Bevers promises it will be worth it. To illustrate such a transformation, Jerry Wagner, an advertising professional at The Oklahoman, agreed to let Bevers give him a style makeover at Mr. Ooley’s men’s store in Penn Square Mall. Vantage columnist Lesa Crowe tagged along.

CASUAL WITH STYLE Business casual has become a staple in the corporate environment. With the help of fellow stylist John Potter, from Mr. Ooley’s, Bevers put together a look for Wagner that is sophisticated, updated and relaxed.

Jerry Wagner’s “before” look.

Wagner in a navy unconstructed blazer, sport shirt, dark indigo jean and suede Gucci loafers.

Right: Wagner in a charcoal gray suit paired with


NOTABLE STYLE TRENDS JOHN POTTER AT MR. OOLEY’S SHARED TRENDS AND ADVICE FOR 50-PLUS MEN. SHORTER LINES “We are certainly seeing different coat lengths in particular. If you look at your standard sport coat or suit coat, we are certainly seeing things get a little shorter. We’re seeing everything get a little higher. So the button stance accents the waist a little bit more, creating a slimming effect. The gorge line on the jacket is also being raised higher. Armholes are higher. Coat hems are higher. And what that does is create an optical illusion that makes the individual seen trimmer, but it’s also a younger look. Second, we are obviously seeing a shorter pant. It’s the same effect, but it creates the same visual effect for the hip going down to the ankle. With a shorter pant, it creates a streamlined focal point for the lower portion of the body.”

ACCESSORIZING WITH COLOR “As far as just different fashion accessories, your earth tones or suedes make just a rich combination for the fall season.” Wagner in a charcoal gray suit paired with an orange and navy floral tie and white, linen pocket square.

As a base, Bevers and Potter selected for Wagner an Ermenegildo Zegna unconstructed blazer in navy silk. She paired it with a Robert Talbott yellow and navy plaid sport shirt, Ermenegildo Zegna 5-pocket dark indigo jean, Gucci “queen” cinnamon suede bit loafers and a Robert Talbot blue and yellow paisley silk pocket square. “Business casual is such a big new deal now,” she said. “I thought it would be good for Jerry to be in updated jeans, an unconstructed jacket and ... really fun to pop some color in the shirt that coordinates with the suede Gucci loafers. I think it looks really great on him. It’s very sophisticated, but it’s very classic business casual.” The added benefit of the ensemble is that the pieces can transition from very casual to formal. “What’s really nice about the pieces that we’ve put together is that … it’s really a nice business casual (look), but as soon as he is off the clock and wants to go and hang out with a few friends, he already has a piece that does that night scene,” Potter said. “Each piece is its own entity. ... A casual navy blazer can really pivot within one’s closet to be dressed really down, or with a pair of dress slacks can be a little bit more formal. Same thing with the sport shirt. If he wants to dress a bit more business formal with a pair of dress slacks and a traditional navy blazer, he can do that. “And then also the loafers. All the way down to the jeans — a lot of gentlemen will wear a loafer in this style with a pair of shorts for something more ultra-casual and then dress it up,”

he said. Wagner agreed. “For me, this is an extreme makeover. As soon as I put it on, I felt very comfortable and feel pretty good in it. So it’s a nice change,” he said.

A FORMAL UPDATE Next, Bevers and Potter set out to kick it up a notch with an Ermenegildo Zegna Trofeo charcoal gray, Herringbone, pinstripe suit paired with an Armani Collezioni light-blue dress shirt and Robert Talbott orange and navy floral tie; white, linen pocket square; and Magnanni two-tone cognac lace-up dress shoe. “This is really elegant for a corporate day or going out to a business dinner,” Bevers said. “The tie is an outstanding accessory. I love the pop (of) orange and bright blue. And there’s also a little bit of gold and gold tones in his dress shoes as well.” To offset a boldly colored tie, a plain, white pocket square will brighten the look, Potter said. “Whenever we go with a basic, white pocket square, it really allows the colors to work head to toe,” he said. “Because we have the basic brown tones in the footwear and going into the neckwear, the basic white pocket square is a really nice, classic accessory.” And for cold, blustery days, Bevers put Wagner in a Luciano Barbera black-and-white check, wool topcoat and Brioni cashmere scarf.

TO WATCH A VIDEO OF JERRY’S MAKEOVER, VISIT www.NewsOK/Vantage

GETTING A MORE SLENDER LOOK “I find that less is more. Your basic white shirt, your basic blue shirt, goes along way. But when you want to start getting more adventurous as far as pattern, simple checks, houndstooth, stripes, even into the neckwear, keep the pattern simple and not only will you have a closet that works for you, you’re going to get a portion of your closet that can do both the business world and also your fun world as well.”

THE ONE MUST-HAVE PIECE “I would say a very classic and structured sport coat is that one piece. No matter whether you’re at the office or going out with friends, a casual, conservative, unstructured sport coat can be thrown on with just about every pair of pants, whether it is a jean, a khaki, slack, you name it. And it’s that go-to. A lot of guys will keep one in their office. Maybe they’re wearing a T-shirt and a pair of khakis. At the last minute, if they get called into a meeting, they can put on that sport coat ... and it will automatically be a little more acceptable.”


Gary and Janie McCurdy in the renovated kitchen at their home. [PHOTO BY NATE BILLINGS, THE OKLAHOMAN]

and

COOKING UP

FUNCTION

BY MELISSA HOWELL |VANTAGE EDITOR Thirty-six years into their marriage, with their two children grown and on their own, Janie and Gary McCurdy decided to do something radical. Really radical. They sold every stick of furniture they had, along with their large, traditional home in Yukon, and moved with only a card table to a downtown condominium in City’s Deep Deuce. “When we lived in Yukon, I think Gary spent every Sunday totally doing yard work,” Janie McCurdy said. “And then it was like one day he said, ‘I’m done. I don’t want to do this anymore.’ We just got to thinking that we wanted some-

thing different.” A far cry from their cozy Yukon home, the McCurdys and designer Janis Bevers created an environment that features a sleek urban look highlighted with soft grays and simple lines. Well-appointed pieces of art create interest and warm the cool color palette. It was exactly what they were looking for with one exception — the kitchen. “It just didn’t fit in,” Janie said. “It was blond laminate, and the (awkwardly placed ovens) totally broke up the cabinet space.” The way the McCurdys used the kitchen wasn’t the same either. As a

working couple — Gary is a district court judge in Canadian County, and Janie is a vice president with American Fidelity Assurance Co. — they had fewer structured meals. Sometimes they would just snack for dinner or grab a bite at one of Deep Deuce’s many restaurants. So they again went to designer Bevers to create a kitchen that fit their new lifestyle and would be functional as they got older. They sought locally based kitchen design group Classic Kitchens to redesign functionality, while Bevers oversaw the style transformation. The ovens, originally placed next to

the kitchen sink, were moved to open up a panoramic window with a view of Interstate 235 and the University Research Park. Next, the designers went to work on making things more accessible by replacing under-the-counter cabinets with drawers for storing tableware, cookware and appliances. Bevers worked with the McCurdys to make the kitchen a seamless part of the home. She replaced the countertop with light gray granite featuring slate-colored flecks and striations. Next, she replaced the blond finish with a darker finish and


The McCurdy’s new kitchen features sleek, new modifications. [PHOTOS BY NATE BILLINGS]

stainless steel to bring in the finish on the appliances. Continuing with the stainless look, Bevers replaced the plastic outlet covers with brushed metal and covered the painted plasterboard on the front of the island with a metal laminate to minimize scuffing. “It’s a small area compared to what we had in Yukon, but that really opened up the counter space,” Janie said. “And the drawers — I love the drawers instead of cabinets. They’re extremely nice. It’s just more accessible.”

ACCESSIBILITY FOR AGING While stylish, changes to the McCurdys’ kitchen also will serve them as they age, especially the drawers they installed, which are becoming increasingly important for 50-plus homeowners, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Boomers also are rethinking the placement of appliances, sinks and storage to create an accessible environment for bending, reaching and working.

Some suggestions from NAHB include: Separate the double-oven and place the units in different locations to eliminate the awkward lower oven. Divide the dishwasher into two drawers to avoid unnecessary bending and reaching. Consider installing other appliances that are now available in drawer format such as refrigerators, warming drawers and ice makers. Install a prep sink to create a separate work zone. Don’t forget about faucets — install a faucet with an articulated arm and pot holder for heavy pans of water. Install a fold-up extension to accommodate sitting while preparing food. Relocate the over-the-stove microwave for easier reach.

In the end, for boomers who are downsizing or looking to update their kitchens, Bevers says the key is organization and letting go of all those appliances and gadgets that have been taking up valuable space over the years. “My advice would be to learn to live with less and really think about how they use the kitchen,” she said. “Do they entertain a lot? Or, do they only entertain during the holidays? How do they want their kitchen to function now that they’re empty nesters? Maybe they want to allocate a larger space for wine instead of having a gigantic pantry. “There are so many new details that can be incorporated into a kitchen — storing utensils and hiding appliances that can just pop out from underneath the cabinet if they’re used just periodically,” she said. “But I think it gets back to being extra organized and being a bit of a minimalist. You don’t need a different set of china for every holiday, because there’s no room for it.”



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