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Spring Home and Garden
Contents
- Design by Norwalk Fine Furniture.
From our advertisers: • First Liberty Bank hopes to make the home-buying process as smooth as possible. Page 6 • Dave’s Pro-Clean Exteriors brings the curb appeal home. Page 7 • Habitat for Humanity volunteers make a difference for families in need of homes. Page 9 • State Farm Insurance Agent Gary Baccus says not all homeowners policies are the same. Page 11 • Kirkpatrick Bank welcomes Constance Ladd to its lending team. Page 12 • Norwalk Fine Furniture’s highly talented and experienced Oklahoma City design team is ready to bring your vision to life. Page 15
ON THE COVER: Jo Meacham, above, and Neila Crank-Clements are excited to celebrate 20 years in the interior construction business with their Urban Kitchens. Neila recently joined the company as a partner and with her over 10 years in home building, she brings a new dimension to the company. At right: Urban Kitchens combined two rooms for a new master bedroom in Heritage Hills. Nichols Hills & NW OKC Community Magazine 3
Located in Summerfield neighborhood, this 1979 kitchen was opened up to the living room and now reveals a light, bright, inviting space!
Urban Kitchens celebrates 20 years
A new master bathroom with walnut vanities, carrara marble countertops and a free standing tub.
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Due to the popularity of kitchen renovations and at the urging of Marva Ellard, a long time preservation friend, Jo Meacham moved from Norman in 1999 and began her kitchen career. Since then Urban Kitchens has been designing and building quality kitchens. Originally named Vintage Kitchens, the company was rebranded in 2009 with a new name more suitable to the broad range of projects provided. Today Urban Kitchens projects includes kitchens, bathrooms and full house remodels. With a masters in architecture from the University of Oklahoma, Jo worked as a historic preservation planner for 18 years. “Historic preservation provides a great background for kitchen design. We are diligent in designing kitchens and bathrooms that flow with the existing architecture of the home. Sometimes that is translated as historic and other times a “modern interpretation.�
Two gorgeous Lincoln Terrace bathrooms renovated for a family of preservationists in the heart of OKC.
“Over the years we have turned old barns into flooring, designed and built several cabanas and even built a tree house in Nichols Hills.” – Jo Meacham However, each project is a collaboration between the owner and the designer. Jo Meacham and Neila Crank-Clements are excited to celebrate 20 years in the interior construction business. Neila recently joined Urban Kitchens as a partner and with her over 10 years in home building, she brings a new dimension to the company. “With the wide range of highly qualified subcontractors and the experience Neila brings, Urban Kitchens is prepared for any type of residential project,” said Jo Meacham. “Over the years we have turned old barns into flooring, designed and built several cabanas and even built a tree house in Nichols Hills.” “After 20 years you are always looking for something different and interesting to design and build.” For more info, contact Urban Kitchens at 702-7747 or visit urbankitchensok.com
Retaining the original walnut paneling in the dining room, new walnut cabinets were installed in the kitchen of this Heritage Hills home.
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First Liberty Bank
Your source for home loan solutions There are many things to consider throughout the mortgage process, and at First Liberty Bank we are here to help make it as smooth as possible. Before starting the process of home shopping, we encourage you to get pre-approved for a mortgage loan. To begin the pre-approval process, you will provide your loan officer with information and documentation regarding your income, assets, and liabilities. Based on this
information, your loan officer will determine a maximum mortgage loan amount based on the type of loan you qualify for and provide you with a pre-approval letter. This letter is a tool that tells the seller that you are serious about purchasing a house and have the capability to do so. After you have found your home, the application and underwriting process begins. At this
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time, it is important you don’t take any action which would negatively affect your loan status like opening additional credit or changing jobs. Getting a mortgage may seem like a daunting task, but our experienced mortgage loan officers will help guide you through each step of the mortgage process. Call us at 608-4500 or visit our website at firstlibertymortgage.com.
Dave’s Pro-Clean brings the curb appeal Dave’s Pro-Clean Exteriors has been power washing in the OKC area for nearly eight years. Our equipment is state-of-theart. We power wash and soft wash all types of concrete, brick, stucco, Dryvit, vinyl, wood and roofing. After years of construction and building a number of homes in Florida, Dave made a great decision to move to Oklahoma where he was half owner of Sealwize of Oklahoma with his son. “Making and giving folks the curb appeal they want brings satisfaction in my life,” Dave says. “It’s all about making people happy!” Text or call 234-1204 for an estimate.
Dave with his power washing machine.
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6 options for funding your next home improvement project Before starting a home improvement project, either on one's own or with the assistance of a professional contractor, homeowners must first consider the costs involved. According to the home improvement resource HomeAdvisor, more than one-third of homeowners do not understand what hiring a professional will cost, and then cannot successfully budget and secure financing once they have set their sights on a renovation project. HomeAdvisor says that some of the more popular projects, such as remodeling a kitchen or bathroom or building a deck, can cost, on average, $19,920, $9,274 and $6,919, respectively. Homeowners may find that the more expensive renovations require them to secure some type of financing. Those who have never before sought such financing may want to consider these options. 1. Cash-out refinancing: With cash-out refinancing, a person will begin the mortgage process anew with the intention of paying off the
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current mortgage balance, and then taking out additional funds for other purposes. Cash-out refinancing is a way to tap into a home's existing equity for use on improvements or other expenses, such as college tuition. 2. Home equity line of credit: The financial experts at Bankrate indicate that a HELOC works like a credit card, with the house as collateral. There is a credit limit, and borrowers can spend up to that limit. The interest rate may or may not be fixed. However, the interest may be taxdeductible if the financing is used to improve, buy or build a home. 3. Home equity loan: Individuals also can borrow against equity in their homes with a fixed interest rate through a home equity loan. Most lenders will calculate 80 percent of the home value and subtract a homeowner's mortgage balance to figure out how much can be borrowed, according to the financial advisory site The Simple Dollar. 4. Personal loan: Homeowners can shop
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around at various financial institutions for competitive personal loans to be used for home improvement purposes. Funds may be approved within one business day, which can be ideal for those who want to begin their improvements soon. 5. Personal line of credit: A personal line of credit allows borrowers to borrow only the money needed at the time, and offers a variable interest rate that is generally lower than fixed loan rates. Again, like a credit card, PLOC gives a person a maximum borrowing amount and is ideal for ongoing purchases. 6. Credit cards: In a pinch, credit cards can be used to finance improvements, but they do come with the cost of very high interest rates if the balance is not paid in full by the time the bill comes due. However, for funding smaller projects and maximizing rewards points through home improvement retailers or specific credit card company promotions, credit cards can be a way to earn various perks in addition to the benefit of improving a home. Homeowners looking to finance their next improvements should speak to a financial advisor and shop around for the best types of funding for them.
Habitat for Humanity Please help us build 50 brighter futures in 2019 At Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity, we build homes, but we’re also building futures filled with hope for hundreds of our fellow Oklahomans. We build because we believe that everyone, everywhere should have a safe, attractive -- and above all affordable -- place to call home. This year our ambitious goal is to build 50 Homes to Own, and you can help! When you become a donor or sponsor of Central Oklahoma Habitat, you are helping change lives, while strengthening your community as a whole. Whether it’s an in-kind donation of a roof, flooring and appliances or funding an entire house, every gift and sponsorship we receive this year – no matter how large or small -- will help a family in need of decent, affordable housing to realize their dream and start building
long-term financial security. And the gift of a stable home doesn’t stop there. These hard-working families will then have more to spend on food, medicine, child care, education and other essentials. We invite you to learn how you or your company or organization can join Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity in helping families build strength, stability and independence through housing. Please contact our team for more information and remember -- thanks to you -- Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity is positively impacting our state – one house and one family at a time. Blessings, Ann Felton Gilliland CEO & Chairman, Central Oklahoma Habitat for Humanity
Above: Kimray team members gathered to paint the interior of the Habitat home being built for former colleague Stephen Sandini and his family. At left: Central Oklahoma Habitat CEO & Chairman Ann Felton Gilliland visited a staged open house in the all-Habitat Stephen Florentz Legacy Estates addition in northwest Oklahoma City.
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Outdoor improvements can boost home value Whether home improvement projects are design to improve the interior or exterior of a house, focusing on renovations that make the most financial sense can benefit homeowners in the long run. The right renovations can be assets if and when homeowners decide to sell their homes.
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So how does one get started? First and foremost, speak to a local real estate agent who is knowledgeable about trends in the community. While a swimming pool may be something coveted in one area, it may impede sales in another. It also helps to study generalized trends and data from various home improvement industry analysts to guide upcoming projects. The following outdoor projects are just a few renovations that tend to add value.
• Fire pit: A fire pit is a great place to gather most months of the year. Bob Vila and CBS news report that a fire pit realizes a 78 percent return on investment, or ROI. • Outdoor kitchen: Many buyers are looking to utilize their yards as an extension of interior living areas. Cooking, dining and even watching TV outdoors is increasingly popular. Outdoor living areas can be custom designed and built. In addition, prefabricated modular units that require a much smaller commitment of time and money are available. • Patio: Homeowners who do not already have a patio will find that adding one can increase a home's value. Patios help a home look neat, add useable space and may help a home to sell quickly. The experts at Space Wise, a division of Extra Space Storage, say that
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refinishing, repairing and building a new patio offers strong ROI. • Deck: Deck can be as valuable as patios. A deck is another outdoor space that can be used for entertaining, dining and more. Remodeling magazine's 2018 "Cost vs. Value" report indicates that an $11,000 deck can add about $9,000 in resale value to the home, recouping around 82 percent of the project's costs. • Door update: Improve curb appeal with a new, high-end front door and garage doors. If that's too expensive, a good cleaning and new coat of paint can make an old door look brand new. These easy fixes can improve a home's look instantly. • New landscaping: The National Association of Realtors says an outdoor makeover that includes well-thought out landscaping can net 105 percent ROI. Installing a walkway, adding stone planters, mulching, and planting shrubs are ideas to consider. Many different outdoor projects can add value to a home.
Ask Gary Baccus Are all homeowners policies the same? My agency has been estabNo, it is not surprising to find lished for 44 years giving me quotes on homeowners insurexpertise in the insurance indusance that vary by hundreds of dollars. Most companies offer try. We have six licensed associseveral different types of homeates who are friendly and helpful in answering any questions you owners policies, and the lower might have about insurance. the premium usually means less Our State Farm Agency offers coverage. I know price is imporGary Baccus State Farm Insurance tant, but more important is makinsurance for auto, homes, conis located at 16145 N. May Ave. ing sure your homeowners policy dos, renters, business, boats, fleets, life and annuities, health and disability, and mutual funds. provides the coverage that you need. State Farm is #1 in home insurance for a reason. We sell one We offer banking services such as car loans or refinancing, CD homeowners policy, which is the most comprehensive on the products, credit cards and checking and savings accounts. Our current State Farm policy holders in this area have market and competively priced. It is designed to put you back recently had a rate decrease in their home and auto insurance. where you were, if not better, before your loss. Our goal is to How many people have heard that good news from their insurprotect what you have, not just sell you a policy. ance company lately? The easiest way to make sure you are getting the coverages Our office prides itself on customer service. I will take care you need to protect your home is to schedule an appointment with me to review your current policy. Many of your neighbors of you and make sure you are getting all the discounts State are satisfied State Farm customers. State Farm insures one out of Farm has to offer. If you want the protection and peace of mind every four homes. you deserve give me a call today!
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CONSTANCE LADD
Kirkpatrick Bank welcomes Ladd Executive Vice President, David Sutter, announced the addition of Constance Ladd as vice president/mortgage loan originator for Kirkpatrick Bank. Ladd comes to the bank with over 35 years’ experience in residential mortgage lending. In making the announcement, Sutter commented, “Constance has worked with all types of mortgage products, including FHA, VA, and conventional. Her experience includes various aspects of mortgage lending, including loan origination and processing, underwriting, compliance, FHLP guidelines and systems. Her expertise and enthusiasm for taking care of customers is a great addition to our team.” Ladd has been actively involved in the Edmond Board of Realtors since 1997. She is also active in the Oklahoma Association of Realtors (2015-current) and Oklahoma City Metropolitan Association of Realtors (2012). Ladd is a member of the Central Oklahoma Homebuilders and the Lynn Institute for Health Living NE. She enjoys community volunteering for Habitat for Humanity and the Salvation Army Christmas Angel Trees. She has been an active member of Our Lord’s Community Church, where her husband also serves as one of the preaching Elders, for 27 years. Ladd is also a certified first time home buyers instructor. “I love giving classes for first time buyers to give them the information and tools they need to understand the process, know the pitfalls and be confident that they are ready for this exciting new step,” she said. “Constance is passionate about her work, her customers and her community, which makes her a perfect fit for our team,” Sutter noted. 12 Nichols Hills & NW OKC Community Magazine
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How to know if you are choosing a reliable contractor When undergoing a answering service home renovation project, OR one of the direct such as replacing your managers in the home’s air conditioning and company? Don’t heating system, there are hesitate to demand hundreds of contractors to that level of personal choose from. communication, even How do you know that from a bigger comyou are choosing a reliable pany. contractor? The list can go on First and foremost – and on, but one make sure the contractor is thing is certain: licensed to perform their When you choose job in the state of Drabek & Hill to be Oklahoma. You may also your HVAC and want to make sure that the Plumbing contractor, The staff at Drabek & Hill are ready to be your HVAC and plumbing contractor. licensed contractor does you choose reliabiliown or actively work in the company and does tractor resolved them and view the contracty. Drabek & Hill is fully licensed through tor’s overall rating. not simply oversee from afar. both Claude and Jonathan Drabek. With a Thirdly – Ask if the contractor will offer Secondly - Check with the Better Business BBB A+ rating and honored as recipient of service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 Bureau. The BBB is a wonderful resource with the 2018 BBB Torch Award of Ethics, plus days a year. Even better, find out who exactly abundant positive reviews and phones an ample supply of information about most will answer the phone if you call at 3:00am on answered around the clock by direct managecontractors. You can not only read reviews from the contractor’s previous customers, but Sunday morning. ment, we are ALWAYS here for you. Will this be voicemail, an out-of-touch also read complaints, see how and if the con– Megan Drabek
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Bringing your visions to life Cindy Curley, owner Cindy graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Business. After years of decorating houses for friends, family and herself, she became an interior designer at Norwalk Furniture in 1998. In 2005, Ryan and Cindy made the decision to purchase Norwalk Furniture. It only seemed like the natural thing to do and ended up being a perfect fit. Cindy’s goal is “to give clients a unique, fashion forward sense of style.” It’s a good balance between using a business logic and artistic talent.
Custom designed furniture has never been more simple. Our highly talented and experienced Oklahoma City design team is ready to bring your vision to life. With endless custom options, all of our furniture is one of a kind and made of the finest quality in the USA. Norwalk Furniture is locally owned and operated by Cindy Curley and Ryan Johnson. Stop into our Northpark Mall showroom and see what we can design for you!
Ryan Johnson, owner Ryan holds a degree in the design fields from Oklahoma State University. He has been practicing residential and commercial design for over 10 years. After joining the Norwalk design team in 2001, he went on to purchase the store with Cindy Curley in 2005. He believes in giving clients a classic and timeless design, with a modern twist.
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