405 Home Spring 2017

Inspired Design for Central Oklahoma

Spring 2017

Organic Living Fresh, clean, healthy

Beyond Bermuda

Eco-chic landscaping for every budget

House Cocktails!

7 simple steps to create your own

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 1

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features 54

At Home With Style

Informed by its historic neighborhood but renovated for a young family, the Heritage Hills home of Carter and Fred Fellers is a joyous union of form and function.

62

A Family Affair

Brady and Gay Hagood both craved wide open spaces, and thanks to a design from Gary Randolph, thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exactly what their family now enjoys in their beautifully built home.

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Fronds With Benefits

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14 405 HOME SPRING 2017

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departments gallery 26

28

30

COLLECTED INSPIRATION Assemble and keep track of assorted ideas for decorating on a colorful mood board.

GO GREEN Discover a shade worth envying in Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2017.

RAISE A GLASS Give your preferred cocktail or other beverage a little panache via our picks for prime glassware.

makers 36

40

46

48

SHAKSHOUKA THINGS UP Julie Nguyen’s chef-friendly ideas for helping the host enjoy a brunch at home as much as the guests.

LET THERE BE LIGHT OKC architect Rand Elliott discusses purpose, passion and his lifelong fascination with illumination.

CHEF’S CHOICE Local chef Jimmy Mays lauds the versatility and long-term benefits of cooking with cast iron.

HOUSE SPECIAL Bartending experts offer encouragement and tips for creating your own signature specialty cocktail.

living 72

36

74

80

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TRULY CLEAN Products from entrepreneurs Indie Lee and Ed Begley Jr. offer an organic alternative in cleaning your bathroom.

UNDERFOOT UNDER ADVISEMENT Wood, tile, carpet or rugs — the bottom line when it comes to flooring is that the choice is yours.

GREETING THE SEASON Spring means it’s time to redecorate with brighter colors, lighter fabrics, floral accents and breezy delights.

SHAKING OUT THE FACTS Taking a closer look at Oklahoma homeowners’ unstable relationship with earthquake insurance.

alfresco 98

CABANA PLANNER An investment in improving your outdoor living area can pay huge dividends in value and enjoyment.

in every issue 20

FROM THE EDITORS Welcome to spring!

104 LOOKING AHEAD

40 30

16 405 HOME SPRING 2017

A glimpse at what’s coming in fall 405 Home.

on the cover A sleek, beautiful bathroom kept clean without toxins using personal products handcrafted in small batches by impresario Indie Lee. Photo by Carli Wentworth

Š2017 California Closet Company, Inc. All rights reserved. Franchises independently owned and operated.

Experience a California Closets system custom designed specifically for you and the way you live.

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Exclusive Urban Living in the Heart of Nichols Hills

Editorial Director Heidi Rambo Centrella heidi.centrella@405magazine.com Editor-in-Chief Christine Eddington

christine.eddington@405magazine.com

Editorial

Editor-at-Large | Stylist Sara Gae Waters saragae.waters@405magazine.com Managing Editor Steve Gill steve.gill@405magazine.com Contributing Writers Susan Clark, Gina A. Dabney, Jill Hardy, Greg Horton, George Lang, Lin Sanchez

Art

Art Director Brian O’Daniel brian.odaniel@405magazine.com Associate Art Director Scotty O’Daniel scotty.odaniel@405magazine.com Design & Production Coordinator Tiffany McKnight tiffany.mcknight@405magazine.com Contributing Photographers David Cobb, Shannon Cornman, Carli Wentworth

Advertising

Associate Publisher Tom H. Fraley III tom.fraley@405magazine.com Executive Director of Advertising Cynthia Whitaker-hill cynthia.whitakerhill@405magazine.com

Reader Services Mailing Address 729 W. Sheridan, Suite 101 Oklahoma City, OK 73102 Phone 405.842.2266 Fax 405.604.9435 info@405magazine.com, 405magazine.com Advertising Inquiries sales@405magazine.com Job/Internship Inquiries jobs@405magazine.com Letters to the Editor Your views and opinions are welcome. Include your full name, address and daytime phone number and email to editor@405magazine.com. Letters sent to 405 Home become the magazine’s property, and it owns all rights to their use. 405 Magazine reserves the right to edit letters for length and clarity.

Subscriptions 405 Home is a special publication of 405 Magazine. It is published twice a year (spring and fall) and accompanies a subscription to 405 Magazine, which is available for $14.95 (12 issues), $24.95 (24 issues) or $34.95 (36 issues). Subscribe at 405magazine.com/subscribe or by mail, send your name, mailing address, phone number and payment to: 405 Magazine P.O. Box 16765 North Hollywood, CA 91615-6765 Questions or Address Change Visit 405magazine.com/subscribe or email subscriptions@405magazine.com.

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for More Information Call 405.202.8783 18 405 HOME SPRING 2017

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from the editors

SPRING IS IN THE AIR

20 405 HOME SPRING 2017

world threatens our Zen. The Hagoods find their peace by luxuriating in sunsets and longer evenings in the outdoor living area of their spacious, custom-built modern farmhouse in Edmond (p. 62); the Fellers family, meanwhile, did an extensive remodel on the kitchen of their historic Heritage Hills home (p. 54) to expand it and allow for larger gatherings, restoring their spirits through communing with others. Both approaches have merit, so explore both houses in this issue and be inspired.

For some of us, our home is always a work in progress. For others, it’s a completed masterpiece. For most, it is somewhere in between. No matter what stage you are in, there is always room for a little freshening up, a carefully considered tweak or two.

So while we’ve re-imagined 405 Home, within the pages of this spring issue we continue to strive, as always, to bring you inspiration, resources and hopefully a little joy, as well.

Peruse our pages and tell us what you think. We look forward to hearing from you!

SARA GAE WATERS Editor-at-Large

CHRISTINE EDDINGTON Editor-in-Chief

PHOTO BY CARLI WENTWORTH

WELCOME TO 405 HOME! We’ve been obsessed with the stories in this issue for months and are so happy to finally share them with you. Our whole team has been working hard to bring you a reimagined 405 Home, and we love the results.

Cleaner. Fresher. Elevated.

Speaking of the team, while most of the talented gang of writers, stylists, photographers and designers who’ve made this issue shine are familiar to you, dear reader, one of us is new.

That would be Christine, for whom this publication feels a little bit like a class reunion. From 2001-2004, she worked for 405’s then-parent company, alongside several of the same brilliant people still here today. She’s thrilled to be back among them, and hopes our work makes you happy.

As 2017 unfolds and spring unfurls, the change of the season is upon us … and we love it. As Sara Gae puts it, “The burgeoning of the season is in itself magical.” She’s the stylist behind our gorgeous photo shoots, and a visual maestro. Her compositions are fresh, crisp and clean, communicate the season and celebrate good design, whether in the form of a tablescape, spa-worthy bathroom or verdant garden.

Home design, and all that it entails, easily reflects the current mood, and we’re diving headfirst into the mood of the domicile. The place where we live our lives with the people we love, and the haven we retreat to when our crazy-busy

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 21

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GALLERY

IDEAS, OBJECTS AND LIFE HACKS WE FIND FASCINATING, HELPFUL AND BEAUTIFUL

GLASS MENAGERIE

Highball or coupe? It’s not a trick question, but determining which vessel to use for which cocktail can be confusing. If you love a French 75, there’s a glass for that. Let us clarify cocktail containers for you – we’ve devised a handy guide on page 30.

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 25

gallery get inspired

bring the outdoors in Always look for natural inspiration. A flower in all its glory may be the most perfect place for ideas.

Collected Inspiration

BY SARA GAE WATERS PHOTO BY CARLI WENTWORTH

A mood board for maintaining ideas

punch color

Pink diamond studs from your jewelry box may offer just the right shade for a pop of color here and there throughout a room.

26 405 HOME SPRING 2017

INSPIRATION CAN TURN UP in the most unlikely places: a treasured porcelain piece brought home from abroad, a newly bloomed flower, a treasured photo or the earrings in your jewelry box. Of course, the usual paint chips and curated wallpaper samples and fabrics are just as important to stay inspired for future projects. Building your palette for a room, be it large or small, should always start with what makes you feel good – and all these details definitely give us “all the feels.”

let’s get personal

Pull things from your personal collectibles. Vintage stamps are laid out for color inspiration.

BUNNY WILLIAMS

“

“

If you love something, it will work. That’s the only real rule.

get started

Fabric swatches of blue laid atop some pink might be the first choice in building your palette.

While blue isn’t considered a neutral, it can serve as a good base color for a room.

sublime details

Tile can be a tough choice, but these dreamy hues of blue are sure to please.

Wallpaper samples from Kasa Wallpaper Studio; stamps, feather, tile, fabric, hand towel, earrings and ribbons from Sara Kate Studios

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 27

gallery hues

GO GREEN A shade worth envying

BY SARA GAE WATERS | PHOTO BY CARLI WENTWORTH

IT’S ONE OF THE REASONS to look forward to the fresh calendar: Each year, Pantone crowns a new Color of the Year. For 2017, the honor goes to “Greenery” – a bright, fresh shade that’s a little more yellow than that famous one, the 2013 color of the year “Emerald.” Greenery is aptly named, being described as evoking “the first days of spring when nature’s greens revive, restore and renew.”

Each year, this lucky hue gets spread throughout popular culture, not only in the pure color itself, but also in multiple shades and combinations. Trends in fashion and design will sport Greenery, sometimes as the lead and sometimes in a supporting role. Either way, it will be out in full force for months to come … just in time to accompany spring itself.

(From top) “Dancing Green,” “Overt Green” and “Paradise”

by Sherwin Williams.

28 405 HOME SPRING 2017

Captivating.

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gallery editors’ choice

Raise a Glass Our picks for prime glassware

BY SARA GAE WATERS AND CHRISTINE EDDINGTON PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

YOUR PREFERRED DRINK deserves a little panache, and OKC is well stocked with sparkling choices you can use in toasting your favorite libation. Whether it’s for a fine wine, a great brew or your new house cocktail (see page 48), the glassware shown here will not only give you an idea of which type you need, but offer some pretty spectacular choices, as well. You should literally raise a glass to each one!

30 405 HOME SPRING 2017

1. Abigail’s Cordial Small and stemmed, the cordial glass typically holds anywhere from 2-3 ounces for more modest proportions. 2. Abigail’s Coupe Fashioned uniquely after the drinkware used during Prohibition, the coupe glass features a wide bowl with a long stem for stunning visual cocktail presentation. 3. Fortessa Martini Sometimes referred to as a “cocktail glass,” the martini glass is ultra-swanky, sleek and classy, designed with a long stem and a V-shaped bowl. 4. Sister’s 405 Old Fashioned A short tumbler used for serving an alcoholic beverage, such as whiskey, with ice cubes.

It is also normally used to serve certain cocktails such as the Old Fashioned, from which it receives its name. 5. Baccarat Flute A stem glass with a tall, narrow bowl, generally for drinking champagne and sparkling wines, flutes are also used for certain beers, especially fruit beers. (Glasses 1-4 from Culinary Kitchen; 5 from BC Clark)

6. Juliska White White wine glasses’ bowls will be more U-shaped and upright than those of reds, allowing the aromas to be released while also maintaining a cooler temperature. 7. Juliska Red The bowls of red wine glasses will be fuller and rounder with a larger opening, so drinkers can dip their noses into the glass to detect aroma, and to ensure that the wine comes into contact with more air. 8. Waterford Rocks Commonly referred to as a “lowball” or “Old Fashioned glass,” the rocks glass is short, stout and a staple at any home or commercial bar. 9. Waterford Pilsner Tall, slim and tapered in a way that often resembles a trumpet, the pilsner glass captures the sparkling colors, clarity and carbonation of those paler beers, while retaining the head and enhancing volatiles. 10. Moser Shot A small glass designed to hold or measure spirits or liquor. (Glasses this page from BC Clark) SPRING 2017 405 HOME 31

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t’s easy to see why tile and stone are such popular building materials – in addition to being both durable and beautiful, they’re incredibly versatile. Kitchen counters, flooring for entryways, fireplace surrounds, bathrooms, and even outdoor improvements such as porches or walkways all benefit from these classic materials, which are available in an enormously wide spectrum of colors, patterns and textures. Because of that versatility, choosing the right kind of stone or tile to incorporate into your décor will take some time and effort … but choosing how to add them to your home is easy: just visit Artisan Tile Studio.

Their Nichols Hills showroom is an excellent source of inspiration thanks to the constantly updated selection of materials on display, and if you already have something specifically in mind, owner Sydnye Steen will do her best to help you find it.

She’s a pro at providing one-on-one personal customer service, and brings her 18 years 32 405 HOME SPRING 2017

of experience and attention to detail that is second to none to every project. Plus, Artisan has gone the extra mile to provide a comfortable and casual atmosphere that Sydnye says is “like shopping for tile and countertops in your living room.” Their goal is to make visitors who drop in be as comfortable as if they were in their own homes, while providing a wealth of possibilities to renovate and improve those homes.

From a single backsplash to a complete remodel or new construction, Sydnye and crew are happy to work with architects, builders, designers and homeowners in their studio or on location. Whatever the project’s scale, Artisan can provide luxury tile as well as high-quality natural stone and quartz fabrication and installation for all types of interior and exterior projects. Service, selection and expertise combine to make this upscale boutique tile and natural stone provider an excellent choice for bringing out your home’s best.

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MAKERS

MEET THE PEOPLE WHO MAKE LIFE A LITTLE LOVELIER.

HAPPY HOSTING

Having guests for brunch can be exhausting or relaxing — it’s all in the planning. Fragrant, flavorful onepan dishes and drinks by the pitcher ensure that, as host, you’ll enjoy your day as much as your guests do. Chef Julie Nguyen will walk you through it, starting on page 36.

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 35

makers menu

Shakshouka Things Up Brunch at home with friends

BY GREG HORTON PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

BRUNCH AT HOME is supposed to be a social time — a time to talk to friends, drink mimosas around the table and enjoy the weekend. Too often, though, the guests eat and chat while the host ends up trapped at the stove. Julie Nguyen is a personal chef who specializes in creating in-home experiences, including brunch for small and large groups. She talked to us about spring brunch menus and how to organize menu preparation so that everyone can enjoy the meal.

“What’s the point of having friends over if you’re mostly stuck in the kitchen?” Nguyen asks. “There’s no reason for you to be a short-order cook or make something over-complicated when inviting friends over for brunch.”

Nguyen prefers to create meals that can be served family-style, and that can be about 80 percent done ahead of time. That allows the host(s) to sit with the guests and enjoy the experience, even the experience of cooking. Eggs 36 405 HOME SPRING 2017

to order are generally the worst way to approach a group brunch; they are more difficult to get right than people expect, and unless the host is an expert short-order cook, the eggs will all come out at different times, meaning guests will be forced to eat first or wait as their eggs get cold.

Still, eggs are a delicious part of brunch — some would even argue that it’s not really brunch without them – so Nguyen selects dishes that incor-

“I enjoy cooking foods from different cultures and introducing friends to new flavors ... ” JULIE NGU Y EN

porate eggs in a smart, convenient way. She’s also not afraid to branch out beyond traditional American brunch cuisine.

“I enjoy cooking foods from different cultures and introducing friends to new flavors and spices and cooking techniques,” she says.

While on a trip to Lebanon and Turkey a few years ago, Nguyen discovered some flavors and ideas she wanted to bring home and tweak for her clients; dishes that are surprisingly easy to prepare and explode with flavor. Simple doesn’t have to mean bland or heavy, either.

Shakshouka is a wonderful way to serve eggs without having to worry about cooking them to order. The dish, likely of North African origin and popular in the Middle East, is the

perfect choice to allow home cooks and chefs to personalize it based on their flavor preferences.

Essentially, eggs are simmered — for 10-15 minutes depending on desired doneness — in a hearty tomato sauce that can be tailored according to spice and heat preferences. Nguyen’s base recipe contains jalapeno and cayenne, but those can be left out, and the dish is also ideal for any vegetarians who come to brunch.

Spring is a good time to try new things, according to Nguyen, and she believes that people are getting more adventurous overall in their desire to try new flavors and dishes. Ethnic food can be challenging for novices, though, so her menus can be easily executed, even for cooks who are attempting them for the first time.

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 37

makers menu

“Brunch menus are pretty basic,” Nguyen says. “A good rule of thumb is one savory egg dish, a starch such as oven-roasted potatoes, a breakfast meat, something sweet, coffee and mimosas. Bacon is easiest for the meat, because you can simply put it in the oven and not worry about it.”

Rather than go with the standard mimosa, Nguyen likes to experiment with different juices. Spring makes her think of pomegranate and passion fruit. She simply fills a flute one-quarter full with fruit nectar and finishes it with sparkling wine. Cava is a fantastic choice, because it’s as dry as Champagne at a fraction of the price. Bear in mind, also, that the sparkling wine should be neither too high nor low in quality; the former is a waste of good wine, while the latter spoils the drink and cannot be enjoyed on its own.

Nguyen likes to use Prosecco because it tends to be more flavorful than Cava.

38 405 HOME SPRING 2017

For the sweet component, she recommends casserole-style dishes.

They can be baked the night before and reheated at the appropriate time.

According to Nguyen, there is no loss in flavor or quality when reheating dessert casseroles. She chose a Baklava-inspired French toast casserole for her menu. (It should be noted that Baklava typically contains nuts, so be aware of food allergies before choosing/serving.)

“The menu will serve six to 10 people,” Nguyen says. “I really think six to eight is an ideal number, though. Once you reach 10 people and above, the amount of prep and cooking expands dramatically.”

So lay in some groceries, invite a few — but not too many — friends, head into the kitchen and enjoy!

Check out Julie’s recipes online at 405magazine.com/405-Home

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makers architecture

LET THERE BE LIGHT Architect Rand Elliottâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lifelong pursuit

BY SUSAN CLARK | PHOTOS COURTESY ELLIOTT + ASSOCIATES ARCHITECTS

40 405 HOME SPRING 2017

CHK Central Boathouse The river side building prow is marked by gold LED lights emphasizing form inspired by a rowing shell. The concrete platform is within 10’ of the river’s edge.

SCOTT MCDONALD, GRAY CITY STUDIOS

A YOUNG RAND ELLIOTT hacksawed off half the back fender of his candy apple red bicycle, a gift from his father, just to make it different.

Building model cars led to his decision at age 8 to become an architect.

He believes he inherited his creative gene from his Aunt Hazel, who designed and sold hats in Paris in the 1930s. Inspired by an English teacher, he dabbled in poetry as a teen and chose photography as an elective during his years at Oklahoma State University’s School of Architecture.

He graduated in 1973 as one of only 13 graduates … out of the original class of 200.

Those early creative pursuits continue to serve Elliott, whose architectural firm Elliott + Associates Architects celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2016. Its history is especially distinguished, insofar as over those four decades the firm has amassed a total of 341 awards.

“The most proud I can be is that 10 of them are national American Institute of Architects Honor awards,” Elliott says. Locally, those include World Neighbors Headquarters, K. J. McNitt Construction Inc., the Vesper Building, Will Rogers World Airport Snow Barn and ImageNet Consulting.

“That’s the toughest test you have,” he says of national peers deciding which projects best represent architecture in America. “We are the ninth most recognized firm in the history of AIA since 1949, and we’re in Oklahoma City.”

Elliott’s design artistry, combined with the work of a team he calls “20 bodies in one brain,” have transformed many areas in the metro’s landscape.

The firm’s local portfolio includes Classen Curve, the Chesapeake buildings and garages, POPS in Arcadia, Plico at the Flatiron, Red PrimeSteak, SandRidge, Kirkpatrick Oil in Hennessey and numerous community offerings and renovations including the Boathouse District, Science Museum Oklahoma, Lyric Theatre at the Plaza and the Adkins Gallery at the Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art.

“Each one of these projects is really a moment in time, and these people end up being friends,” Elliott says. “I’ve got half a dozen clients I’ve had for 30 years. It’s special.”

Married for 38 years to Jeanette, an executive vice president/creative director at Ackerman McQueen, he likes nothing better than to immerse himself in a sketchbook while she plays the piano.

“We are like two peas in a pod and complete each other’s sentences,” he says.

In Elliott’s design process, his sketchbook is the “first and most important step of the adventure.”

“It starts with ideas. It’s a chronicle of a thought process that can’t be criticized; I call them my ugly drawings,” he says. The book is half images and half words — he likes to describe a project in words before the design unfolds.

HE HAS CHASED THE SUBJECT OF LIGHT HIS ENTIRE LIFE.

“‘Where does the light come from?’ is the first question I ever ask,” he says.

“What can I do to this piece of architecture, how can I let the light in to make it a very inspiring place, how can I let the light aid the surface and create form and shadow that’s very pleasing?

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 41

makers architecture

“I’ve struggled my whole life to discover what the light is all about ... ”

ELLIOTT’S CLIENTS TEND TO BE TYPE A PERSONALITIES.

“They are eccentric people, driven people, successful business people; they are artists, they are tough guys sometimes, tough women; and at the same time they are intelligent, sophisticated, they know what they want,” he says. “They tell me what they want and then let me do this. It’s that trust that is my idea of success.”

Clients include Tom Russell of ImageNet, who has used Elliott’s firm to help grow his business with buildings in Oklahoma City, Houston, Washington D.C. and Dallas. Kelly McNitt asked Elliott to create a construction site with virtually no budget — resulting in one of the architect’s most unique projects, 42 405 HOME SPRING 2017

Classen Curve Courtyard and tower view

the K.J. McNitt Construction Company, built largely with raw materials such as oil field pipes and illustrative cement.

“The projects I get excited about are the ones that seemingly have no potential,” he says. “If you offered me a warehouse or office building, I’d pick the warehouse, because its opportunities are not defined.”

He worked with the late Aubrey McClendon, a close friend, on 180 projects.

“My history with Chesapeake I uphold with great regard — and I met Aubrey before Chesapeake was even a company,” Elliott says. “I’ve spent 27 years with one of the finest people I’ve ever met in my whole life.”

K J McNitt Exterior view looking south showing “freestanding” west wall panels

ROBERT SHIMER © HEDRICH BLESSING PHOTOGRAPHERS

“I’ve struggled my whole life to discover what the light is all about,” he says. “I didn’t understand it when I left college and it’s taken me all this time.

Some days I feel like I’m so close to being able to describe the importance of that to humanity, to ourselves as people, to the creation of architecture.

It’s sort of an obsession.”

His design process follows with more questions.

“What kind of materials are appropriate? What is my client expecting out of this process? Is it a vanity project? Is it to make money, to live in, to inspire co-workers? What is the purpose of this building? Where is it?”

He maps out a “scroll” of his sketchbook that might reach 60 feet long, panels of perspective filled with hundreds of elements and considerations for his clients — Elliott’s way of enlightening discussions before development on a computer.

SCOTT MCDONALD, HEDRICH BLESSING PHOTOGRAPHERS

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makers architecture

Chesapeake Skyline Restaurant The south dining room cantilever lets you float above the ground. The lattice provides sun shading and a 300-degree view of the horizon connects you to the city. The aluminum seating and translucent 3form tabletops capture the light in the space.

SHADOWS AND SATURDAY SCULPTURES

The Elliotts live in a 1920s Heritage Hills home he’s been photographing for 15 years, with the results coming out in a book called Shadows at 425.

For the last three months, each Saturday or Sunday morning, Elliott creates a different sculpture out of a collection of leftover cardboard boxes.

“It’s wonderful,” Elliott says. “You don’t think about it. You just start putting it together, live with it for a week, tear it apart and reconstruct it. The inspiring moment is when that feeds your other creative juices to imagine something else.”

Recently, Elliott and his team joined OSU’s long-range planning group and designed the crescent-shaped OSU 44 405 HOME SPRING 2017

Spears School of Business, a $65 million project due for completion early next year. At the University of Central Oklahoma, Elliott is designing the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) building.

To Elliott, architecture is “the difference in going into a building and feeling something palpable or just being in a room,” he said. “Architecture infuses that building with that spirit.”

Elliott does not view what he does as work. “I explore,” he says. “Architecture is a lifelong thing. There is no end.

“This is a passion. In my opinion, it’s urgent. I don’t have time to put it off. I want to do all these things. I have these thoughts and I have all these teams, colleagues and friends who can help execute this. Let’s get it done.”

DAVID COLE DOBSON DAV I D CO L E D O BS O N .CO M

843.8448 1000 W WILSHIRE BLVD #428 OKLAHOMA CITY

makers tools

“It’s incredibly versatile …

You can use it on the stove top, in the oven, on the grill and even on a campfire.”

JIMM Y M AYS

CHEF’S CHOICE

Jimmy Mays and his cast iron companion

BY GREG HORTON PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

46 405 HOME SPRING 2017

JIMMY MAYS, co-founder and managing partner of Café 7, still uses a cast iron skillet given to him by his great grandmother. The centrality of the pan in Mays’s kitchen is not just about nostalgia, though; he recommends a 12-inch cast iron skillet as one of the most useful tools in a home kitchen.

“It’s incredibly versatile, in addition to its durability,” Mays says. “You can use it on the stove top, in the oven, on the grill and even on a campfire.”

In fact, the only two downsides to cast iron Mays names are its weight — which makes it impractical for boiling pasta — and that if any part of it is hot, the whole thing is hot.

Plastic sheaths on skillets have conditioned us to grab handles without a thought; that kind of conditioning can be quickly undone when using cast iron.

While I was talking to Mays, he was smoking salmon in his oven with a cast iron skillet. He really does use it for nearly everything, and the more frequently a cook uses cast iron, the fewer pots and pans are required … which is an important benefit for home cooks with limited storage or a minimalist aesthetic.

The price point is excellent, too. Mays recommends Lodge for cast iron novices. It is a popular brand, so they are widely available, and the average price is about $25. Given that one skillet does the work of a half dozen other pans, that’s a remarkable savings.

The Lodge skillet comes pre-seasoned, as well, and seasoning is the magic of cast iron. You might have heard that you’re never supposed to use soap and water on cast iron, which is only kind of true: It’s not ideal, but Mays said it doesn’t really hurt the metal as long as you season it after-

ward. Just coat all sides with a flavorless oil — like canola — and place in a 350-degree oven for about an hour: seasoned.

The oil penetrates the porous metal and protects it from oxidation and water damage. (It’s technically possible to warp cast iron, but most home cooks are not working with temperatures hot enough to damage it.) Mays also pointed out that all Lodge products come with care instructions on the wrapper, and they have an excellent website with tons of information and recipes.

One of the other primary benefits to cast iron is even heat conductivity. If you have had the experience of a “hot spot” on a skillet — and the scorching or sticking that results — you will understand how convenient it is to have every part of the pan’s surface the same temperature.

“Once the cast iron is heated to temp, the whole cooking surface is the same temperature and it maintains heat for a long time,” Mays says. “And once a cast iron skillet is seasoned, it’s a stick-free surface, which means no chemical films to make a pan non-stick.”

Main courses like paella will feed four to six people if prepared in a 12-inch skillet, as will desserts and cornbread baked in the oven. The ease of moving the skillet from stovetop to oven to finish off steaks and chops is another main selling point for Mays. To get us started, he has provided three recipes to illustrate the skillet’s versatility: “country” paella, which he makes with catfish and chicken; spinach artichoke dip; and clafoutis, a wonderful baked French dessert that is the love child of pie, cobbler and dump cake. You can find them on our website at 405magazine.com/405-Home.

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 47

makers signature drinks

THE CARDINAL RULES OF COCKTAILING Sweetness balances a sour drink.

Bitters will balance a drink that is too sweet.

Salt negates bitters.

For rum, think mint, as in a mojito, or citrus and berry fruits.

Tequila is great with spicy flavors like pepper tinctures, smoky flavors and, of course, citrus.

Rye and Bourbon go great with many fruits and nearly any bitters.

HOUSE SPECIAL

Create your own cocktail in seven simple steps

BY GREG HORTON | PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

IF YOU DON’T HAVE YOUR VERY OWN house cocktail, what’s stopping you?

As with any kind of personalization, whether it’s home décor or clothing, building a signature drink begins with individual preferences. We talked to two of the metro’s best bartenders and asked for some tips on how best to design cocktails for our own homes.

Chris Barrett oversees one of Oklahoma City’s most extensive liquor selections from behind the bar at Ludivine. He said that when a customer asks for a custom 48 405 HOME SPRING 2017

cocktail at Ludivine, the bartenders ask first what the base spirit is, and then work step by step through a process.

Kristin Weddendorf of Scratch in Norman agreed with Barrett that the cocktail has to start with a person’s own taste preference when it comes to spirits. Hate tequila? No problem; avoid it. Love gin? Start there. After you pick — and you can blend spirits, too — the steps are pretty straightforward, but require a little time and experimentation to work through.

If you want to make a batch for friends or guests, start small and make sure everything works together, and then batch the drink.

Starting small will save you from wasting booze.

A note on bitters: start with a dash. Barrett cautions that they are very potent, and bartenders rarely use more than a couple of dashes.

Weddendorf said to make sure you have Angostura, Peychaud’s and maybe orange bitters around. Use your nose to sort out the appropriate use and preference.

Glassware: Use a stem if you don’t want the drink getting warmed by your hands. This is super important with martinis and Manhattans. If the drink is on the rocks and doesn’t contain soda or a lot of juice, use a rocks glass, or a Collins glass if it is lengthened with soda or juice.

Chris Barrett SPRING 2017 405 HOME 49

makers signature drinks

LIQUORS, LIQUEURS AND VERMOUTHS A Pairings Primer

VODKA Chartreuse, either green or yellow, goes great with vodka, as do orange liqueurs like Aperol or Campari. Vodka is a neutral spirit, so it’s a blank palette, and Weddendorf would like to see more bartenders experiment with it.

GIN Vermouth, either sweet or dry, for classic martinis. Bitter liqueurs work well with it, too, such as Aperol or Amaro.

RUM This one is pretty easy, and we don’t mean fruit-flavored rum. Orange liqueurs, nut liqueurs and coffee liqueurs go really well with rum, and you will need to adjust proportions based on how spicy the rum is.

RYE/BOURBON Barrett recommends being a grownup and drinking it neat or with one large ice cube, but if you must mix, bitters are great, as are fruit liqueurs.

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7 STEPS

TO C R E AT I N G A H O U S E C O C K TA I L Step 1. “Do you want light and refreshing or bitter and boozy?” Barrett asks. This step determines much of what happens after. The former option usually means citrus, and the latter is typically a drink with bitters.

Step 2. The important factor from here forward is the idea of balance.

“The key to a well-made cocktail is balance,” Barrett says. He means to keep the basic tastes in harmony: sweet, sour, bitter and, to some extent, salty and savory (umami). This is a trial-and-error process, so start with a little and work up to a lot or you’ll just be wasting booze.

Step 3. Do you want more than one spirit? Except for Long Island Iced Tea (PSA: You’re not 21 anymore), tequila and gin are not really friends, nor should they be. Some booze does pair well, though. “I find that rye whiskey and cognac cozy up well,” Barrett says.

“Also, tequila with a touch of mezcal can give you smoke without too much smoke, and combining two different gins broadens the flavor palate in interesting ways.”

Some of this part is helped by simply asking people who know more about it. Talk to your favorite bartender, read a good book on cocktails or check out an informative site such as Imbibe or The 9-Bottle Bar. Again, it’s a trial-and-error game based on your own tastes, so enjoy the process.

Step 4. Weddendorf offered a few tips in terms of how to proceed once you have picked your spirits. This is where liqueurs and vermouths come into play, and she suggested tasting different ones at your favorite bar … but don’t wear out the bartender with taste requests, and remember to tip well if she is helping to educate you.

Step 5. The non-boozy ingredients are largely based on what you like.

Again, Weddendorf has some basic tips, which we’ve outlined in our sidebars, but first, a really important rule: Don’t fruit the gin! Fruit anything else you want, but don’t destroy the subtle botanical flavors of gin by tossing a lime wedge in the glass.

Step 6. Shake or stir. This is the easiest part. Shake if the drink contains citrus, egg whites or cream. Stir everything else. Strain all cocktails.

All of them. Double-strain any cocktail with muddled fruit, mint or herbs. (You don’t want a mouthful of green flecks, do you?)

Step 7. The garnish. Barrett said some are aesthetic and some are functional. Mint can amp up the aromatics, as it does in a julep. Basil and rosemary do the same, but all three add noticeable flavors to the drink.

Be sure the tastes work well together before you toss a small bush into your cocktail. You have a couple of choices in terms of how you handle fruit wedges or peels, too: If you like a drink more bitter, squeeze the oils from the peel into the drink. (Bartenders call it “expressing” the peel.)

If you prefer less bitterness, don’t express it, but you may rim the glass with it to add a touch. Don’t squeeze the fruit unless you have factored in its effect on balance. Barrett said he recommends The Flavor Bible for a great primer on flavors.

Bonus! Step 8: Give your finished creation an awesome name, and enjoy the fruits of your mixological labors.

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is filled with ideas for buying, constructing, renovating, repurposing or redecorating the indoor and outdoor spaces that define our lives, and the resources to bring those ideas to fruition.

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CHATEAU DESIGNS

T

he same style and vision that brought such success to OKC emporium Red Chateau for more than a decade, now with a more personal focus on decorating your home with outstanding pieces and accents – proprietor Rose Clark’s expertise and eye make Chateau Design a must-visit for interior design services.

Red Chateau was an outstanding source for home décor that brought customers to Casady Square from across the metro and from coast to coast. Rose recently relocated to a smaller space and changed the name to reflect her focus on providing design services, but her high standards for quality and eye for unique pieces remain just as much a draw for homeowners, and she still has quite a bit of merchandise in the new boutique.

“It’s a combination design center and showroom,” she explains. “Whether it’s items you need for your home or for gifts, there are special things here you won’t find in other stores.” It’s a fairly distinctive atmosphere, as well, one that

encourages customers to come in search of a painting, a beautiful lamp or inspiration.

“Most people say that it doesn’t look like how someone would imagine an Oklahoma City store; [that] it has more the feel of a New York boutique,” Rose smiles.

And the store itself is only the beginning, as Rose’s vision is available to bring home for any client. “I provide a full design service, whether it comes to just helping with remodeling, updating or a complete new house build.”

Exceptional accessories, accents, furnishings and more – distinctive appeal for your entire home – is waiting at Chateau Designs.

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54 405 HOME SPRING 2017

At Home with

Charm TIMELESS DESIGN IN HERITAGE HILLS

BY GINA A. DABNEY | PHOTOS COURTESY FELLERS FAMILY

Charleston, South Carolina, is where Carter and Fred Fellers III met, fell in love and married. So when the pair moved to her stomping grounds of Oklahoma City, they searched for a home in an area with charm as similar as possible to Charleston, Fred’s hometown. The hunt began for a historic home with a porch, mature trees and a settled, close-knit neighborhood. This family ultimately found its perfect nest in Heritage Hills, one of Oklahoma City’s oldest neighborhoods. Happily, they felt right at home, right away.

A repurposed chandelier, from Horchow, lends a nice glow to this sitting area in the master bedroom. Fellers added gold leaf to give it a personalized touch. The chairs, from Mockingbird Manor, were reupholstered for a fresh look. Poufs are from Urban Outfitters. The lamp, which Fellers has had for years, is by Boston ceramic artist Jill Rosenwald. “She is super talented,” smiles Fellers.

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 55

The kitchen was gutted and reconfigured to become a modern cook’s environment. “It had not been updated since the 1960s,” explains Fellers. Subway tiles and brass hardware mimic those items from the original bathroom — which Fellers acknowledged may seem trendy, but those features were original to the house in 1915. This sleek space with sunlight streaming in makes a happy atmosphere. “I do enjoy cooking in this kitchen,” Fellers says.

H

eritage Hills is the first Historic Preservation District in our state. Its first home was built by Henry Overholser in 1903, when the city was only ten years old — a mansion built on a grassy knoll, and in view of the State Capitol. Soon other state leaders (including such notable names as Colcord, Hightower and Hale) built their homes there. Now, Heritage Hills is just blocks from cultural destinations including the Oklahoma City Museum of Art, the downtown business and convention area and entertainment districts such as Bricktown.

In 2013, the couple purchased their 1915 Heritage Hills home – and although it needed renovation, they adored it. One particular feature they immediately loved was that it did not have small, closed-off rooms like some homes of that period. “The house in general has light,” says Carter. “The house is symmetrical, so the natural light pours in.”

As an interior designer at Carter S. Fellers Designs, she wanted to keep the home’s warmth and tradition, but update it to be fresh and young for their family with two young children. Timeless design was the mantra for the yearlong renovation. Fellers, who has always enjoyed cooking, is pleased with her 56 405 HOME SPRING 2017

Fellers adores the green chairs, which she bought after college and has used in every house since that time. The chairs were reupholstered in a light fabric for this space. “You should always invest in the best you can afford,” advises Fellers, “especially upholstered pieces. I have [upholstered] furniture from my grandmother that I still use.” She enjoys refreshing the pieces from time to time with updated fabrics. The center organic artwork, from Sara Kate Studios, is flanked by Fellers’ children’s artwork on either side. “I love framing their artwork,” says Fellers. “The powder room is covered with their artwork.”

This glass chandelier, which looks vintage, is a new piece from Visual Comfort & Company. “I love the look of the feathers, and the softness it brings to the room,” Fellers says.

When not used for entertaining, the room is transformed into a livable space full of books, orchids and collectibles, such as the John Derian plate from Bebe’s on the buffet.

The couple likes to entertain. “I wanted to have a dressy dining room,” says Fellers. Here, she mixed traditional elements with updated pieces, which she tags as “timeless entertaining.” The buffet is a beloved heirloom, one of many treasured items throughout the home, and the china cabinet is from her mother’s store — Bebe’s, in Nichols Hills Plaza.

new kitchen, and recalls how drastically the room changed: The kitchen was gutted in order to make room for the fully integrated refrigerator and pantry, and a second staircase to the upper floor and a butler’s area were eliminated. Now the kitchen has a roomy island that is a natural gathering place for people to eat, drink and chat, as well as a place for the kids to watch and participate in mom’s meal preparation. “They hop up there and help,” Fellers chuckles. “As much as they can help.”

The main living area is a popular place for the family to be together SPRING 2017 405 HOME 57

This antique console (above), dating to the 1800s, was purchased by Carter’s maternal grandmother from Oklahoma City interior designer Carson See. “Many people ask about this piece,” says Fellers. “It is truly massive.” The rug, from Iran, is an heirloom. The photo collection is of Fellers and her sister throughout their youth, taken by a Nashville photographer. Fellers rewired and hand-painted the chandelier, which is from her family’s farmhouse in France.

At the staircase landing is a grand gold-leafed mirror (left), bought in Charleston. Fellers’ mother, Karen Samis, helped her daughter apply the gold leaf.

Surrounding the mirror is a collection of plates by designer John Derian, whose products are available at Bebe’s in Nichols Hills Plaza. “He [Derian] has become a close family friend,” says Fellers. Grass cloth warms the walls that previously were plaster. The chest is another beloved heirloom from her maternal grandmother’s collection. “She had really great, great taste,” Fellers says. “My design aesthetic comes from growing up in her house and my mom’s house.”

The wood in the main living room (right) previously had a darker stain; in Fellers’ view, that left the large room feeling dark and cavernous. To combat that feeling, the woodwork was painted light and the walls a light purple, her favorite color. The custom-built entertainment center is a source of pride for Fellers, as the crafted millwork blends in masterfully with the home.

The marble coffee table is from Bebe’s, and the ornate gold mirror over the fireplace was left to the family by the home’s previous owners. Fellers commented that it stayed where it was. The two couches were designed by Fellers and custom-built to her specifications. The inspiration for the room was the colorful lily pads on the chair. “It feels really cheerful in here,” Fellers says.

58 405 HOME SPRING 2017

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60 405 HOME SPRING 2017

This Ralph Lauren wallpaper (above), which is even on the ceiling, glows when the lights go out. Fellers loves that this celestial wallpaper is fun yet sophisticated. “It is not a juvenile wallpaper,” she says.

(Opposite) Classic details like this grouping of blue and white ginger jars, bowls and white orchids punctuate the interior landscape of the Fellers home.

and interact. This is where design and day-to-day living can bump heads. However, Fellers’ expertise has helped her develop a point of view that works for real life. She emphasizes in all her designs that a home can be beautiful while still being livable.

A prime example is the Fellers’ living room. It is gorgeous and comfortable while continuing to be a preferred place for her family. “I wanted to make this room young and fun,” she smiles, “because we are a family with two young kids.” Form and function live in harmony here.

The bed, which is from The Land of Nod, is custom painted. Fellers’ highest compliments were for her painter, Michael McMillan.

“The man is the best. He had a lot to do in this house,” she says. “He is a very patient man.” The wall above the bed is decorated with sentimental pieces including a shadow box of their son’s favorite shirt, some of his childhood artwork and artwork given to Fellers by her mother-in-law and art by artist King Baby.

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 61

A FAMILY AFFAIR THE HAGOODS’ MODERN FARMHOUSE

BY GINA A. DABNEY | PHOTOS COURTESY FLOW PHOTOGRAPHY

Brady and Gay Hagood both grew up in western Oklahoma; he was raised on a dairy farm and she was brought up on a working farm. So as adults, their dream was to build a home with open space, inside and out. They searched for about five years for the ideal area, before finding it on 47 acres near Edmond Road and Rockwell Avenue.

62 405 HOME SPRING 2017

The kitchen, dining and living area occupy one room, with a cathedral ceiling that soars to a peak of 25 feet. The area features a floating fireplace made by a company in Quebec. “They do all custom work,” says Trisha. An aluminum light fixture designed by the owner of Artform in Oklahoma City appears to float over the kitchen island with the aid of filament-thin cables.

“It is the entire length of the island; about 20 feet long,” says Ashley.

The brushed aluminum coffee table is from Suburban Contemporary Furnishings in Oklahoma City. “Most of the furniture we tried to buy local,” says Trisha. The floors here, as they are throughout the home, are concrete and coated with polyurethane. “They are easy to care for,” Ashley says. In the right-hand corner stands a 12-foot cactus from Calvert’s Plant Interiors in Oklahoma City, which the family has named Earl.

The dining table, with its 3/4inch glass top and serpentine base, and chairs are from Nebraska Furniture. The custom LED light fixture above, from Hunzicker Lighting, is “Cityscape” by Hubbardton Forge.

Open wood trusses and transom windows bring cheery sunlight to the 1,200-square-foot space, and multi-panel sliding glass doors create a flow to the outdoors.

The custom cabinets, by Monticello, have a thermafoil finish. “There is zero hardware, just clean lines,” says Ashley.

Continuing the trend of the sleek kitchen are the fully integrated refrigerator and pantry, along with the waterfall edge on the island’s countertop. The room also boasts a coffee lover’s dream: a built-in Miele coffee machine.

T

he Hagoods, who have been married for 25 years, have busy and intertwined lives: He is a doctor, and she is the office manager of his clinic, which includes three doctors — each with their own practices.

“When I first started this,” she remembers, “someone asked me if, as office manager, I was going to ‘run the office,’ and I said, ‘No, my job is to make sure the office runs well.’”

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 63

The Hagoods had a few things in mind when they contacted master builder Gary Randolph to design and build their 4,723-square-foot home.

They wanted a modern farmhouse with an open porch and family area.

Randolph designed a large family space that incorporated the kitchen, living and dining zones. “It is a 1,200-square-foot area,” Randolph says.

Another design request was separate dressing areas in the master bathroom. Since Brady is a doctor, his schedule is demanding and variable. “He can get ready and not disturb Gay,” explains Brady’s sister Trisha Randolph. Trisha, Gary’s wife, designed interiors for the home while the Randolphs’ daughter, Ashley Randolph McAllister, is a master builder apprentice who worked hand-in-hand with her father and the contractors on the project.

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Within the massive living space is a cozy reading nook with white upholstered chairs that swivel, giving views of either the suspended fireplace, or the covered patio and pool.

The reclaimed, live-edge coffee table sits on a black-and-white cowhide rug. Above a chartreuse couch, a longhorn steer holds court.

The master suite was designed with a low-profile bed and a modern LED light fixture above. No baseboards are used here, and very few are used in the entire home, in keeping with its modern design. The three-window cluster is a focal point. “The windows open up to the lovely 47 acres,” says Trisha. “They bring the outdoors in.”

Light floods the bathroom and illuminates the front face of the cabinetry, which is made of highly textured bamboo. Open storage for towels and other bathroom items is built into the cabinetry.

The tile in Gay’s master bathroom is a three-dimensional, octagonal carrara marble. The sink’s basin rests atop the marble vanity, and the floors are gray zebra marble/quartzite, which is a natural material.

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The inspiration for the movie room came from the modern artwork on the wall, which is made of wood. “Everything fell into place once I found this picture,” says Trisha. The piece is from Erdos at Home in Edmond. The console has doors that roll back into itself, and the white-piped orange sectional, the blue shag rug and the chair pillow take their color cues from the artwork.

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Trisha has a fondness for the personal touches in the Hagood home, starting with the artwork. In the entryway is a locally bought marble and granite piece by a Santa Fe artist. “I found this at the Festival of the Arts in Oklahoma City,” says Trisha.

Also in the same area is “Gray Wolf,” an Expressionist painting commissioned for the Hagoods from Oklahoma City resident Bert Seabourn.

The Hagoods can enjoy sunsets every evening from their fabulous indoor/outdoor living space. Even though there is sustainable landscaping on the property and a small herd of cattle, Brady enjoys mowing the lawn to unwind. And when their daughter, who is studying engineering, and their son are home, the family can continue to make delightful memories here. Now, that’s modern farmhouse living.

The cannonball fireplace is a stunning sight against the backdrop of the pool, and next to the fireplace under the covered porch is a fully-equipped grilling station.

A sitting area at its opposite end boasts a wood-burning fireplace and TV. Across the entire porch, there are phantom screens and infrared heaters, making the space comfortable year-round.

This handsome and rustic room belongs to the Hagoodsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; son, who is studying to be a surgeon in Canada. The novel entrance to the room is a barn door made of bamboo. The bed and nightstand are reclaimed wood, and the pillows are a woven graphic tapestry. The artwork of a windmill is a patchwork of suede purchased at Robinsonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Repurposed in Norman, made in 1979.

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our yard is a part of your home, and in good weather it should be part of your life. When you want to enjoy outdoor fun and leisure time in your own yard, you should be able to do so in complete comfort – and not worry about mosquitoes. Not only are they pests, mosquitoes can be dangerous, since they carry infectious diseases like the West Nile virus, Chikungunya and Zika.

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GLOBAL FINDS FOUND LOCAL Real Estate for Real People SHELLY STATES, owner of Folk Life 1745 D North West 16th Street, Oklahoma City 405.524.1500 | folklifeokc.wixsite.com/folklife MASON REALTY INVESTORS 70 405 HOME SPRING 2017

LIVING

EACH DAY, GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF LIVING WELL

PURE AND SIMPLE

Let Indie Lee help you clean your bathroom … or at least clean up the products you scrub with and soak in. Her story is incredible, and her organic skin care products are pure genius, as are actor Ed Begley Jr.’s home care products. Intrigued?

Turn to page 72.

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 71

living product awareness

TRULY CLEAN Thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than one way to scrub your bathroom

BY CHRISTINE EDDINGTON PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

72 405 HOME SPRING 2017

HOW TOXIC IS YOUR BATHROOM? What about the products you keep in your bathroom, the ones you use on your body? Are they clean, or are they riddled with artificial chemicals? If they are, does it really matter? Turns out it does, big-time, and that goes for cleaning products, as well. Indie Lee, creator of the organic, cruelty- and chemical-free line of skincare products that bears her name, found out the hard way that clean means different things to different companies — and in her opinion, it matters little to not at all to the FDA. After a career as a high-level CPA, the birth of her child and a stint making small batches of her successful essential oil and botanical-based baby products, Lee was sick and exhausted. She’d been working 70-plus-hour weeks and by July 2008, she found that she was deeply fatigued. Plus, strangely, she couldn’t open her hands.

“I couldn’t even get my shoes on. I thought it was Lyme disease, but the doctor said it was rheumatoid arthritis, but it wasn’t,” she says. “I began using lavender oil and calendula, which helped with some of my symptoms, and I kept going. I’m not a complainer. But by November, I’d started losing my vision.

Doctors found a brain tumor, and I went from being too busy to live to checking boxes on forms at places like the National Institute of Health and Johns Hopkins.

The day my brain tumor was discovered, I was given six months to live — and it was the best day of my life.”

Doctors couldn’t pinpoint what had caused the tumor, but thought it was environmental. Lee knew in her heart it was true: A self-described product junkie, she was using as many as 13 products a day on her body and hair.

She’d learned about the toxic load sometimes found in infants, which can be caused in part by their mothers’ skin care products, and after her surgery, which took place on Earth Day in 2009, she woke up with a mission.

Lee’s passion for healing and her personal mission to educate people

about the toxic chemicals in everyday products are clear. On her website, indielee.com, are a list of good ingredients and a list of bad ingredients.

“You may think that because we have FDA regulation, that all of the products available on the market are safe, but you’d be wrong,” she says. “I was shocked to learn that this could not be further from the truth. So I tell people if there are ingredients you cannot pronounce in your products, odds are that they are not good for you.”

Lee’s products are the antithesis of all of that: effective, beautifully fragranced concoctions that are incredibly clean and beneficial. “Every single batch is tested for stability,” she assures. “Our bath products line was added because I believe that self-care is crucial to our health, and the products we use can either help us or harm us.”

Her product line includes body scrubs and lotions, bath soaks (we love the Jasmine-Ylang Ylang), facial cleansers and toners, moisturizing oils, anti-aging kits and skin cleansers, and is available locally at OKC’s Scandinavian-inspired spa, Udånder.

SWITCH TO ORGANIC CLEANING PRODUCTS, WE BEGLEY YOU NOW THAT YOU’VE CLEANED UP your personal product game, Ed Begley Jr. is here to help you clean up the rest of your act, er, home.

In addition to appearing on nearly every television show (including “Hannah Montana,” “Portlandia,” “Boston Legal,” “Arrested Development,” “The Simpsons,” “7th Heaven,” “The Nanny” and many, many more), he’s been an environmental champion since the 1970s, when he bought and quickly stopped using his first electric car. From 2007-2010, he appeared on the HGTV show “Living with Ed,” in which he struggled to find ways to live life with a smaller carbon footprint.

He also has released a line of organic cleaning products, Begley’s Best, which can be purchased locally at Plenty Mercantile. We tested the Begley’s Best Natural Hardwood Floor Cleaner and can report that we’re sold.

Sweep or vacuum, then lightly spray one section of the floor at a time with Begley’s. Run a microfiber mop over each section and stand back. We loved the citrus and bergamot scent and were impressed with the streak-free, haze-free results.

The Begley’s Best collection also includes multi-purpose cleaner, wrinkle remover for fabrics, pet and household odor remover, therapeutic hand soaps, produce wash and stone cleaner.

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 73

living bottom line

74 405 HOME SPRING 2017

UNDERFOOT UNDER ADVISEMENT

Which flooring option is best for your home?

BY SUSAN CLARK | PHOTOS BY SHANNON CORNMAN

DO YOU GO TRENDY OR CLASSIC? Is wood or tile your style, or might you prefer the cozy feel of a carpet or rug? With the many choices available today, considering flooring changes for your home or buying for a new home can be challenging, creative and fun.

Nathan Morgan, a third-generation wood floor installer and contractor, says to “go for a combination.”

“I like texture. I don’t want just one house full of one thing,” he says. “Different flooring [options] complement each other, and that’s the purpose of design.”

While budget and lifestyle will ultimately steer your choices, here’s an overview of flooring considerations and thoughts from experts in the 405.

WOODEN YOU?

Choosing the right hardwood flooring is a matter of taste and budget. Some might like the rich, classic look of real wood. Others might choose laminate, which offers the look of wood at a more affordable price.

Morgan said he loves the ergonomics of real wood, as it’s about as green as a customer can get. “Wood is renewable, recyclable and it comes from responsible forestry.

“Lately, there has been a trend of putting wood everywhere — entries, living rooms and dining rooms,” he says.

“There’s an even bigger trend to add it to kitchen and breakfast areas.”

Hardwood varies in grain, durability and color. Popular stains of late are the Bavarian white wash and grays, he said. “Most of what we use are oaks and hickory, although maple has its place and some woods, like walnut, are timeless. Depending on your color scheme, you might choose the darker reds.”

The advantages of wood over carpet are “allergens, bar none,” Morgan says. “When I pull up a carpet that’s been down six years, or even six months, you’d be shocked what passes through the fiber into the pad and into the concrete.”

The floor’s finish is only as strong as its top coat, so Morgan doesn’t recommend soft woods for homes with large animals. “If you have a house full of kids and animals, you’ll eventually get some wear and tear.”

As for laminate, Steven Bentley, president of Bentley Flooring, says that “the biggest advantage of it is cost, and it’s relatively durable.” Also earth friendly, laminate is versatile and can mimic hardwood, tile or stone. It resists stains and holds up well to children and pets.

Laminate flooring is a composition of different wood-based materials that are layered together and then topped with a wood grain photographic imprint on the face of each board.

“The downside to laminate is that it has a kind of hollow sound,” Bentley says. “They do now have different sound-deadening padding, which increases your costs but improves the sound.”

Less is more for cleaning wood or laminate. Consistent vacuuming is important to keep dirt from grinding into the finish. Morgan said he likes low-detergent products like Basic’s Squeaky Wood Floor Cleaner or the Bona wood-care products.

“Wood-looking ceramic tile has gone through a huge area of growth,” says Bentley. “Manufacturers have moved from the simplest of planks to where I can’t tell I’m not walking on a wood floor. For pets, it wears great, and although everything is about diligence, these more resilient surfaces can withstand a lot more torture.”

When choosing a contractor, Bentley suggested finding an experienced wood floor specialist who will come out, measure your house and talk to you while they are accessing the particulars of your home.

Nathan Morgan

TILE ARTISTRY

Artisan tiles are available in a wide array of materials, designs and colors. Popular choices include porcelain, natural stone, clay, terra cotta and encaustic or cement tiles — just ask Sydnye Steen, owner of Artisan Tile Studio, who acquires her tiles from all over the world.

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 75

living bottom line

“Natural stone is my favorite,” Steen says. “It’s timeless, it’s classy and it’s beautiful.

The look and feel alone when you walk on it, even in your bare feet … there’s just nothing like it.”

The porcelains are rising in popularity. With 3D digital printing, they can replicate the look of natural stone. Steen says she also sees Moroccan tiles coming into play and a return to the terra cotta look.

For smaller budgets, she suggests porcelain, which can run from $3.50 a foot to as high as one wants. Those with mid-sized pocketbooks could consider a really nice limestone that runs about $9 or $10 a foot — though it can climb as high as $35 a foot for the luxurious Calacatta marble.

Porcelain tiles are the best choice for homes with children and pets, she said, because they are easier to maintain. “You lose a little: They are still beautiful but they are not natural stone.”

“Tile can last forever,” Steen says. “I tend to push people to stick with something more classic rather than something trendy, because it stands the test of time.”

COZY UP TO RUGS

“Rugs add warmth to a space, especially those with hard surfaces underneath,” says Amy Rappaport, co-owner of Designer Rugs. “By layering a room with extra textures, you develop more depth. The trend remains the organic look, now mixed with a little glam.

“The most common uses of rugs are in entryways, living rooms and dining rooms — anywhere with a hard surface and a lot of people interaction, because rugs absorb the noise. I see rugs as the foundation for a room, so start with your rug and work backward,” she adds. “We offer design services, come to your home, measure, make suggestions and bring rugs out on approval.”

She does not recommend machine-made rugs because they don’t last long, and if they get crinkled or bent, the bend sticks.

Hand-woven rugs, which her store carries, include highly esteemed creations in which wool is knotted by hand onto warp strings (a set of vertical strings) using a technique that takes 10 hours to make one square inch, or the less-expen76 405 HOME SPRING 2017

Sydnye Steen Amy Rappaport

living bottom line

Mark Holland

sive hand-tufted rug for which the wool is pulled through, backed and then sheared.

“We recommend if you are considering a higher-priced rug, you use real or true silk versus Viscose, which is a huge trend and less expensive, but is harder to clean,” Rappaport says. “Most of our rugs come from Nepal, and everything is hand-dyed.”

Hand-knotted silk rugs last a lifetime, while the Viscose will look good for about a decade and then begin to dull over time. For high traffic, Rappaport recommends the hand-knotted wool rugs, not the silk.

CARPET DIEM!

“I’ve always been of the school of thought that I like getting out of bed and putting my feet on a nice, comfy carpet instead of a cold, hard wood or tile floor,” says Mark Holland, store manager at Edmond’s Brewer Carpet One. Holland acknowledges the trend toward wood in homes but says carpet is still popular, especially in bedrooms, and buyers like the newer stain-resistant carpets now on the market.

“Carpet is quieter and warmer, and some studies show it can act like a filter,” he says. “Where everyone thinks carpet 78 405 HOME SPRING 2017

traps everything, it actually keeps a lot of allergens out of the air.”

Quality varies from your entry-level builder grade to the traditional nylons to the true-soft nylons that have a nice feel.

Dupont has created the brand Triexta, a new carpet fiber they’ve named SmartStrand. “Basically, it’s polyester on steroids,” says Holland. “They have their own patent on it to no longer call it a polyester. It’s got its own polymer to it and is the softest, most stain-resistant carpet on the market.

It’s upper-end, quality-wise, but they’ve hit the market with some good prices.”

Nylons hold up in high traffic areas, Holland said.

For homeowners interested in a more elegant look, Holland recommends Kane or Stanton carpet lines, which offer a host of beautiful, patterned pieces popular on staircases and for dressier rooms.

Holland recommends padding with a good moisture barrier for those concerned with allergens. “It doesn’t allow dust to get through, so when you vacuum, it pulls out all the dust and helps with long-term care. You can actually spend a little more on your padding and less on your carpet and get the same result.”

5

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Geniune Hand Scraped Wood Floors Installed (minimum of 300 sq. ft.)

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ime to say out with the old tile and carpet and in with new wood floors. Are you dreaming of new wood floors, but dread the mess associated with tearing out your tile? Are you tired of your ’70s carpet, but the thought of working with unreliable installers stop you in your tracks?

Kregger’s Floors and More is here to help.

Not only do Paul Kregger and his crew offer outstanding friendly and dependable service, but they have also created a system that eliminates many of the hassles most associated with tile removal.

Their new dust collection system minimizes the dust. Although their technique is not dust-free, Kregger says it is “light-years ahead of the rest.”

With most companies, replacing tile can take a week or more. Besides eliminating much of the dust, with Kreggers, your floor can be free of tile and prepped for new flooring in no time. “Most people think that the task of replacing tile is more construction than they want to deal with. With our manpower and no ‘middle man,’ your tile can be gone in as little as one day!” said Kregger.

The installers are what set Kregger’s apart. This ensures customers are getting someone who knows and shows skills he’s familiar with to install their flooring. “In some stores the installers are folks the store has known maybe a day, maybe a year. It’s hard to say. At Kregger’s all of our installers are long-time employees or family members.”

Edmondite Christy Dowell says, “We have a home full of Kregger’s floors! New wood floors, tile floors, rugs, a shower and soon to be carpet. Paul and Chris and the rest of their crew have been a pleasure to work with; always courteous, respectful and punctual. They are also very trustworthy.

We left our home to them for a week and came back to beautiful wood floors. It seems to me that ‘satisfaction’ is their number one goal...and I am completely satisfied! I highly recommend Kregger’s Floors and More.”

Kreggers is now offering an unbeatable $5.99 psf on genuine Mohawk hand-scraped wood (minimum

of 300 sq. ft.) floors installed. “What every customer is looking for is great quality at a great price. With our low overhead environment, they always get a great price and workmanship that’s second to none.” For more information call 348-6777 or stop by the store at 2702 S. Broadway in Edmond.

If wood’s not what you’re looking for, come browse through our amazing selection of carpet and tile!

Also ask about our complete bathroom remodels.

www.kreggers.com

For more information call 348.6777 or stop by the store at 2702 S. Broadway

NO SALES TAX! On Any Order We Install!

Expires 9/30/17 *No taxes were left unpaid during this sale, any resemblance to taxes being unpaid is purely a coincidence.

All taxes paid to state, you just get a price reduction equivalent to the amount of your tax.

Receive An Additional

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225 OFF

Installed Floors Over 500 Square Feet!

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Expires 9/30/17

living the warmer life

GREETING THE SEASON Billows of pillows and a bare wood floor

BY LIN SANCHEZ | PHOTOS BY SHANNON CORNMAN

IT’S NO SECRET; THIS IS MY TIME OF YEAR. Born in the heat of a West Texas summer, I love the warm season. So now that the daylight hours are incrementally increasing, my thoughts turn to trading the clutter and heaviness of fall and winter for an easy, breezy look.

My first step is to strip the room bare of all non-essentials.

Wait, back up. My first step is to put on some great music like Stan Getz’s “Samba De Uma Nota Só” and swing by my favorite local florist for a seasonal bouquet. This sets the stage for my decorating muse to make herself known and inspire a new look.

So now I can pare the room down to the basics: sofa and chairs, table(s), all arranged with conversation in mind.

80 405 HOME SPRING 2017

Some years I’ll even roll up our rugs and expose the hardwood floors, which for me are a real treat to walk across barefoot, on a hot Oklahoma summer day.

In my fantasy room, I have a neutral background that requires only swapping out one season’s color theme for the next, and voila! My work is done. The reality is that my husband and I live in a Crayola box of color, which can be a little trickier.

In both scenarios, the same principle applies: Make sure the major element, let’s say the sofa in this case, is a solid or at least subtly patterned fabric. In our own home, we have a black sofa. The one at Su Casa, my needlepoint haven in the Paseo, is a burnished coral, veering to orange. This year, I will swap the darker throw that was so perfect for the holi-

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lin Sanchez (right) is co-owner of Su Casa with Liz McGuinness. The duo has owned and operated an interior design company for 12 years, and has now brought their love of needlepoint, tea and antiques to life in the Paseo Arts District. Su Casa is a new place to indulge your itch to stitch with needlepoint kits, classes, collaboration and a fresh pot of tea surrounded by luxurious antiques, modern art and a dog or two.

days for a brightly patterned kantha, which is a lightweight summer quilt made from vintage saris. Needlepoint pillows give way to ones made from handmade textiles called molas

by Kuna Indian women from the San Blas Islands of Panama, or at least to brighter, summery hues: think yellows and citrus colors.

My great love is vintage china. After packing away the Spode “Christmas Tree” pattern, I will pull out something lighter like Fitz and Floyd “Golden Heron,” Wedgwood “Woodstock” or the sublime all-white Rosenthal “Sanssouci” for the dining room. I like to leave our tables set, because it gives me great pleasure to walk by a pretty tableau even if we don’t always dine there. If we’re entertaining, I’ll have flo-

ral arrangements here, as well. If not, a bowl of lemons looks so fresh. I’ll tuck a few magnolia leaves in, too.

Speaking of magnolias; they grow all over our property and are an inexhaustible source for cutting branches, no matter the season. In May and June they are smothered with the most delicious buttery, lemony blossoms that last for one ephemeral day indoors … but ah, what a day. I’ll place one perfect bloom in a vase on my guest bathroom sink. (Bonus: it will be reflected in the mirror so it’s a two-fer.) A crisply ironed vintage linen hand towel and hand-made guest soap complete the look.

By now, I’m probably inspired to invite some friends over for an intimate gathering. Mah jongg, anyone?

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living insurance

SHAKING OUT THE FACTS

Earthquake insurance in the 405

BY GEORGE LANG

BEFORE THE CURRENT SWARM of seismic activity in Oklahoma, earthquake insurance was something bought by people in coastal towns with names starting with “San” or “Santa.”

California had the earthquakes and Oklahoma had the tornadoes – that is, until Oklahoma started collecting other regions’ disasters.

For the first nine years of the new millennium, the ground in Oklahoma barely budged: on average, the Oklahoma Geological Survey registered fewer than three earthquakes of a 3.0 magnitude each year. But 2009 left Oklahoma shaken. By the end of that year, Oklahomans felt a total of 20 tremors of 3.0 or higher. The next year, it was 42, and then 64 in 2011.

82 405 HOME SPRING 2017

By 2015, Oklahoma had a bad case of the shakes. The state Department of Energy and Environment reported that Oklahoma got rocked by 907 earthquakes that year. That increasing frequency prompted 15 percent of all Oklahoma households to purchase earthquake insurance, according to state Insurance Commissioner John Doak.

As many homeowners discovered after the flash floods that affected central Oklahoma City in June 2013, flood damage is a “separate endorsement” — a type of damage that requires a unique tier of insurance — and standard homeowner insurance does not cover what happens when the levee breaks. Similarly, a standard policy does not cover earthquake damage. This is why an increasing num-

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But what I will say is this: If you’re going to have earthquake insurance, you’d better be really, really, really prepared.

You’d better have all your ducks in a row.

ALICE YOUNG, PUBLIC ADJUSTER WITH BROWN O’HAVER

ber of Oklahomans elect to pay $50 to $300 per year for extra protection from the exigencies of shaky ground.

But despite our increased need to white-knuckle-it through yet another window-rattling tremor — seven low-level earthquakes hit central Oklahoma in the first five days of 2017 — earthquake insurance might not be for everyone. In fact, there’s evidence that relatively few consumers benefit from the coverage. In May 2016, the Oklahoma Insurance Department reported that of the 1,094 earthquake insurance claims filed since 2010, only 208 claims were paid, or about 19 percent.

Meanwhile, insurers collected $76 million in premiums for earthquake insurance policies.

Alice Young, a senior professional public adjuster with Brown O’Haver, does not like those odds. As an advocate for the insured, Young works to provide insurance adjustments on behalf of policy holders when adjusters from the insurance companies deny claims. She said that the shifty nature of Oklahoma soil, which contracts and expands dramatically depending on moisture content and generates millions of dollars in revenue for the state’s piering and slabjacking industry, often gives insurers an easy out when adjusting earthquake-related claims.

“In Oklahoma we have so many different issues, like settling and all the other things that go into being in Oklahoma and the Texas dirt we’re on, the insurance companies are mostly saying that damages have something to do with anything other than an earthquake,” Young says.

High deductibles are the other major problem. Other than the November 2016 earthquake that damaged several properties in Cushing and the 5.6 quake in 2011 that severely damaged the superstructure of Benedictine Hall at St. Gregory’s University in Shawnee, Young said she rarely sees damage that exceeds the deductible, which she said hovers around 10 percent of the homeowner’s policy. So, if a home84 405 HOME SPRING 2017

owner’s policy is valued at $250,000, the property would need to sustain $25,000 before coverage kicks in.

Researchers, scientists and government bodies such as the Oklahoma Corporation Commission recognize a causal link between wastewater injection drilling and increased seismicity. For insurance customers, knowledge about current exploration in their areas, along with the seismic information supplied on websites such as earthquakes.ok.gov, can help determine whether they live in high risk areas for earthquakes.

But Young said she recommends that homeowners interested in purchasing earthquake insurance go into the process with eyes open and a plan for defending future claims.

“Am I going to tell everyone in the world not to get it?

No, because then if something happens, they’re going to blame me for it,” Young explains. “But what I will say is this: If you’re going to have earthquake insurance, you’d better be really, really, really prepared. You’d better have all your ducks in a row.”

First duck: Hire an engineer to check out the property. Determining whether any structural issues exist before coverage kicks in, and fully documenting the findings, will provide much of the ammunition needed if a claim is denied.

But the most important move is to treat your house like a celebrity and hound it with your camera. Documentation could make the difference between payout or denial if the big one hits.

“Take pictures of the outside of your house, take pictures inside your house,” she advises. “People say they’re going to do these things and then they don’t, but it’s an absolute waste of money to pay for earthquake insurance and not have everything else taken care of. Because otherwise, they’re going to deny it.

“Pictures are the biggest thing. I always tell people, ‘If you think you have too many pictures, take one more.’”

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Ask Gary Baccus Question: How can I lower the cost of my homeowners insurance?

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3. Increase your deductible.

4. If replacing your roof, consider getting a Class 4 wind and hail resistant shingle.

I know price is important, but more important is making sure your homeowners policy provides the coverage that you need. All homeowners policies are not the same. If you want the protection and peace of mind you deserve, give me a call today.

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 85

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ALFRESCO

ENHANCING YOUR CORNER OF THE GREAT OUTDOORS

TAKE IT OUTSIDE

With warmer temperatures on the way, more time outdoors should be part of your plans — which makes this an ideal time to think about investing some effort in improving your outdoor living space. Redesigned landscaping to backyard kitchen installations, the sky’s the limit, and the rewards in enjoyment can be immense. See page 98.

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alfresco landscaping

90 405 HOME SPRING 2017

FRONDS WITH BENEFITS Eco-friendly and fabulous landscaping at its best

BY GEORGE LANG | PHOTOS BY DAVID COBB

A smooth expanse of lush green lawn is a hallmark of suburbia; as much a part of our mental picture of Americana as a picket fence or a mailbox next to the driveway. But it’s also a bad idea ecologically, especially in climates where nature tends to encourage other kinds of foliage. If you look beyond Bermuda grass, you’ll find a whole world of more environmentally friendly beauty.

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alfresco landscaping

92 405 HOME SPRING 2017

QUENTIN BOMGARDNER, one of the founders of the annual Norman Music Festival, recalled a flight he took into Las Vegas several years ago. As the jet descended toward McCarran International Airport, he looked down at the rows of suburban homes that lie beyond the Las Vegas Strip, and he saw green lawns.

Green lawns, in a city where the average air temperature reaches above 95 degrees four months out of the year.

Without extreme intervention (chemicals and intense irrigation), most turf grass will turn to dust in those conditions. From a horticultural standpoint, Las Vegas yards are the worst-case scenario: the path of greatest resistance most people travel when maintaining supernaturally green lawns filled with nonindigenous grasses and plants.

“Environmentally, it’s expensive; monetarily, it’s expensive,” Bomgardner says. “And beyond that, it’s just not that interesting.”

Bomgardner remembered that image when he started looking at landscaping options for his central Norman residence known as The Chouse. Built in 1926, The Chouse was formerly the St. Thomas More University Parish, but was converted into a residence in 1981 and later became the home of the late photographer Tom Lee. Bomgardner wanted to create a sustainable and responsible environment around his home, one that was low maintenance and appropriate to central Oklahoma’s environment. Today, The Chouse is surrounded by indigenous short grass, fruit trees and other plants that, once they are established, are essentially self-sustaining. They simply need the level of precipitation provided by Oklahoma’s environment.

“Native plants look more natural — things that are drought resistant, absorb runoff and look awesome,” he says.

“It helps with the soil erosion, but more than anything, these are plants that are well adapted to the weather we’re subjected to. Once we get them established, during a typical summer we don’t have to water them at all. You’re also not out there with your lawnmower, burning gas to take care of it.”

THE SOUND OF SILENCE

A NEWFANGLED BREED OF YARD-CARE MACHINERY HUMBERTO MANZANO started his own Oklahoma City-based company, Apple Valley Eco-Landscapes, in September 2016 after years of working in the energy sector. His company specializes in organic fertilization and weed control, and helps customers make the transition to native plants and sustainable landscaping, but what differentiates Manzano from many yard services is how utterly quiet his teams are: Every trimmer and mower they use is battery-powered.

“It’s not like what you see at the commercial stores,” Manzano says. “There’s no noise, no gas.”

Comparing the machines sold at home stores to what Apple Valley uses is like comparing golf carts to Teslas. He was inspired to take an eco-friendly approach after a long day of trimming his own yard with gas-powered appliances.

“The noise was so high, and the weed eater was so hot, that I wanted to do something about it,” Manzano says. “I’d been trying to do organic fertilizing for the past few years, and so I thought it would be a great idea to do organic fertilizing with battery-powered trimming. We want the people who are concerned about the environment — those customers are our target.”

LANDSCAPING WITH A DASH OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL To facilitate this change, Bomgardner turned to another veteran of the Norman music scene for help. Before he designed ecologically sound landscapes, Adam Sarmiento was a member of New Tribe, a popular Norman jam band in the 1990s that recently reunited after 20 years for a series of shows and a new album. But when New Tribe called it quits in 1997, Sarmiento decided to redirect his energies.

“Around the time of New Tribe starting to dissolve, I got a summer job with a guy in the Newcastle area who had an organic garden, and he paid me to tend that garden,” he says. “Then, around the same time, my girlfriend at the time and I decided to move out to the West Coast.”

Sarmiento took several internships and apprenticeships in Oregon and Northern California, and then established Eco Landscaping in Eugene, Oregon, in 1998 — while continuing to learn as much as he could about sustainable agriculture and horticulture.

When he returned to Norman in 2002, he brought the business with him, and refocused on the plants that work best in the plains of central Oklahoma.

In Sarmiento’s front yard in the historic neighborhood north of the University of Oklahoma campus, a mixture of indigenous buffalo grass (bouteloua dactyloides) and curly mesquite (hilaria belangeri) covers the lawn, having been allowed to

grow longer during the cold winter months. During spring, those grasses take on a green-gray hue and can be cut, but they only need to be mowed once or twice a year — a bonus for homeowners who tire of Saturday mornings spent lugging trimmers and exhaust-belching lawnmowers.

The benefits don’t stop at cutting and maintenance. The grasses Sarmiento planted at The Chouse and in his own yard have roots that grow 3 to 15 feet deep. Compared to Kentucky Bluegrass with its 6-inch deep roots, there’s an obvious benefit to growing grass that is fully adapted to dry summers and that can obtain water yards below the surface.

“So, these roots are actually building soil,” Sarmiento explains. “There are all kinds of benefits, plus it’s graceful-looking and inviting. It’s a stepping stone to a prairie — a shortgrass prairie.”

The demand for this kind of landscaping is growing: Sarmiento said he and his team have enough work to keep them constantly busy, and new companies are springing up to meet the demand for more environmentally conscious landscaping options.

Helping people make those changes can be daunting, given that most homeowners are creatures of habit, and so many neighborhoods have covenants dictating a degree of uniformity. But many people simply don’t need covenants to maintain uniformity.

“Most people just think aesthetically,” Sarmiento says. “We have sort SPRING 2017 405 HOME 93

alfresco landscaping HOW MUCH GREEN DO YOU WANT? NOT ALL ECOLOGICALLY conscious landscaping plans will break the bank — in fact, there are options for nearly every homeowner’s price point.

Adam Sarmiento of Eco Landscaping in Norman suggests some options for homeowners who believe that “green” is more than just a color.

B $2,000–$5,000: Replace

existing non-native shrubs and flowerbeds with native shrubs and flowers. If flower beds don’t exist, add some basic native plant beds near the front of house and in other high-visibility areas.

B $5,000–$10,000: In addition

of built-in inertia about the choices we make: ‘We’re going to have a lawn here; we’ll have flower beds there.’

The difference in the way we think is creating a functioning ecosystem that doesn’t require a lot of inputs from us and a lot of maintenance from us.”

“In Oklahoma, we have the most ecoregions of any state.”

A DA M SA R MIENTO

MURDER BY MONOCULTURE Sarmiento continues, “One big thing for me is that, across the country, we’re removing native landscapes and creating a monoculture of the lawn and the shrubs. In the process, we’re taking away the character of the land itself.

We’re losing our sense of place.”

And that monoculture has a particularly nasty side effect: It’s killing off species like the monarch butterfly.

The disappearance of indigenous milkweed in the area, which the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service identifies as the butterfly’s only host plant for laying eggs and the sole source of nutrition for monarchs in their larval 94 405 HOME SPRING 2017

stage, is reducing their population.

Sarmiento prefers planting milkweed and other indigenous plants for their sustainability, but also because imported plants are useless to the local food chain. By nature, humans like to exert control over their environment — but that environment isn’t just theirs to control.

“We have aesthetics that we’ve developed over the last 100, 200 years,” he says. “There is a definite fear element: We fear nature and we want to control it.”

But lecturing people on the need for change can only go so far. Sarmiento said he prefers to show homeowners how native plants can enhance their lives. For one client on College Avenue, he installed plant groups representing three different Oklahoma microenvironments, including a more arid environment with succulents near the street, a more forested area in the back yard and one area for growing wheat — enough to produce sufficient flour to bake a loaf of bread every week throughout the year.

“In Oklahoma, we have the most ecoregions of any state,” he says. “So we can identify microregions on our properties that we can emulate.”

Those include fruit trees. As part of The Chouse project, Sarmiento plant-

to the first level of eco-friendly changes, native turf grass lawn can replace existing non-native lawns and more native plant beds and trees can be added. Also, add vegetable and fruit-producing beds and/ or rain gardens.

B $15,000–$25,000: Beyond

the first two levels, nonporous hardscaping can be replaced with porous hardscaping such as crushed granite. Additional native plant beds and food-producing areas can be installed, and the irrigation system modified for greater efficiency. Rain catching systems and gardens are also great options.

ed several edible fruits, vegetables and herbs along with milkweed and indigenous grasses. The cost of putting in native plants can be daunting initially, but Sarmiento said the cost is generally zeroed out after one year by the money saved on watering and trimming. After that, the homeowner’s bank account, the environment and the hard work of maintaining a traditional yard receive a wellearned break.

Plus, some of it can be eaten.

“I’ve got figs, pomegranates, strawberries, oregano and a few things like that,” Bomgardner says. “You’re not going to sustain yourself, but nothing tastes better than a fresh strawberry that you just picked.”

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 95

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CABANA PLANNER A place in the sun (and shade)

BY JILL HARDY

IT’S A GOOD INCLINATION TO FOLLOW. Real estate experts will tell you that outdoor living areas will increase your home’s resale value, should you ever put it on the market, and anyone who has taken this particular plunge can attest that it will greatly improve your quality of life while you’re living there yourself.

Going big or going home isn’t a precept that has to apply to yard makeovers, fortunately. A variety of options for outdoor living space improvement exist, across a wide spectrum of design choices, price points and time frames.

Once the decision has been made to start improving outdoor space, it can take time to bring a full vision to fruition. A good plan of action is to think in terms of stages of development if you’re looking at a large scale re-do, or if it’s something that needs to be budgeted for in the long term.

Mike Lindsey is the owner of Scapes Inc., a Mustang-based landscape design company, and has helped create outdoor remodeling and construction plans for homeowners in diverse stages of ability and desire.

“I’ll develop a master plan with a client and we can implement it a project at a time,” Lindsey says. “Not everyone can afford to do a dream remodel all at once.”

An overall plan is essential for coordinating various aspects of outdoor living areas; putting in a pool may seem like a simple matter of deciding on a location, but making sure that things such as outdoor kitchens and lounge areas are placed to advantage is key, as is choosing features to en-

hance both the aesthetic and practical wishes of everyone involved. This is where having someone overseeing the “big picture” is helpful.

Lindsey has a certified landscape architect on staff — an important distinction when employing experts to advise on the best use of space and materials that will connect all the various elements of your outdoor living area. More than simply choosing plants, a landscape architect helps achieve balance between the natural and built environments in your yard.

“We talk with the homeowner and decide what the best use of the property is,” Lindsey says. “We act as general contractors. We do the stonework, the landscaping — also water features such as waterfalls if those are desired — we’ll draw up a plan and then meet with the concrete people, the outdoor kitchen people, so that we’re on track for everything working together.”

DAVID COBB

DAVID COBB

The advent of spring propels most of us outdoors at least a little more, but many homeowners may have an additional itch as the weather grows warmer — the urge to build up their backyards with amenities that will make spending time there more comfortable, even when the mercury soars.

SPRING 2017 405 HOME 99

DAVID COBB

alfresco outdoor living

100 405 HOME SPRING 2017

“There isn’t any aspect of an indoor kitchen that we can’t duplicate outdoors.”

CL AUDE R A PPA PORT choices that will give you the durability and easy upkeep while blending in with your desired decor. Midland offers tan, black, EcoStone and a Woodgrain series that has 11 colors with seven stain blends.

“Vinyl will stand up to the harsh weather that Oklahoma has each year,” McDowell says. “All items we make are

SHANNON CORNMAN

CUSTOMIZATION IS KEY Once your plan is in place, mindfully considering options for materials is the next big decision, if your vision includes furniture or structures such as cabanas or pergolas.

As a venerable champion for vinyl, Gwynn McDowell, president of Midland Vinyl Products Inc., has a list of reasons why it can be a great investment for both structures and customized outdoor furniture.

“The great thing about vinyl is that it will not warp, splinter, rot, peel or be subjected to termites,” McDowell says.

“Any dirt, mud or spills from drinks or food can easily be wiped away.”

If white vinyl doesn’t suit your tastes, rejoice: There are plenty of

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alfresco outdoor living

PHOTOS THIS PAGE BY DAVID COBB

PERFECT PLANTS FOR A VERDANT BACKYARD HAVEN

also heavily reinforced with internal galvanized steel, for rust-free support.”

Outdoor kitchens are becoming more commonplace, as homeowners realize that bringing food prep outdoors extends entertaining and ensures that the chef isn’t left out of the party. Being able to enjoy company and the fresh air while cooking can actually make it more fun, and when you have a full kitchen at your disposal, the menu opens up beyond simple grilling.

“There isn’t any aspect of an indoor kitchen that we can’t duplicate outdoors,” says Claude Rappaport, of OKC’s Culinary Kitchen. “We’ve got pizza ovens, ranges, fireplaces that use ethanol, ovens — you name it, we can achieve it.

One of my favorite innovations is The 102 405 HOME SPRING 2017

Galley: It’s extremely practical because it’s a sink, but it’s also got insert pieces to make it into extra space for serving food, so you get double duty.”

Whether it’s a simple setup or more extravagantly equipped, Culinary Kitchen’s expert designers and builders can help clients create an outdoor kitchen that will truly enhance openair recreation. Once considered an extreme luxury, an outdoor kitchen is slowly being recognized as a practical expenditure that can yield a great return in terms of relaxation — if you’re putting effort into your outdoor space and want to use it for dining, a kitchen maximizes your time spent there.

“The idea is to make it an extension of your home,” Rappaport says. “All of

WHETHER IT’S RESILIENCY against poolside splashing or the stamina to provide adequate shade for a full Oklahoma summer, your backyard landscaping requires some planning, especially if it needs to complement structures and you have a lot of space to fill.

Landscape designer Mike Lindsey is brutally honest about the conditions in our state, with its notoriously fickle weather.

“Nothing in Oklahoma, landscaping-wise, is easy,” he says.

While there’s a spectrum of choices that range from high-maintenance to almost fuss-free, Lindsey warns that keeping yards pleasant here will cost you, one way or another. Changing out soil, finding plants that will thrive, making sure there’s sufficient water if you’ve chosen to go way beyond what our temps and rainfall will support … there’s a price to pay if you want an Eden outside your back door.

The landscaping bottom line isn’t all bad, though; choosing the right trees now might actually save you money — and headaches — in the future.

Proper placement of trees can accomplish more than just shading the pool. Eventually, they can provide wind protection (a big plus in Oklahoma) and if you’ve chosen well, certain trees will add unique character and beauty to your home, as well. Expert guidance about sizing and future growth is helpful, however, for minimizing things such as power line interference and storm damage.

what we offer at Culinary Kitchen is American made, and designed to last for 20 years or more.”

While there are do-it-yourself options that you can put together over a weekend to make the occasional barbeque a little more comfortable, changing the face of your yard to become a true living space is usually an investment of both time and resources.

But making it easier to spend time outdoors, in what John Muir called the “Grand Show,” has a payoff that will add value to much more than just your property.

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looking ahead

A Feel for Fall

BY CHRISTINE EDDINGTON | PHOTOS BY CARLI WENTWORTH

AT 405 HOME, fall is afoot. While we wade through sublime spring and sticky summer, our minds have drifted ahead to a cooler clime, where tartan throws and piping hot cocoa reign supreme: the pages of our fall issue.

If there’s one thing citizens of the 405 know how to do, it’s tailgate. And if there’s one time of year we love it the most, it’s fall. Editor-at-Large Sara Gae Waters and photographer Carli Wentworth found the ultimate tailgate vehicle, victuals and vessels and have concocted a guide to make your tailgate sing.

104 405 HOME SPRING 2017

We’ve also gone mad for monograms, and our affinity shows no sign of slowing down. There are more monogrammable items than even we first thought, and we promise, our selection will make holiday gift-giving a perfectly personalized breeze.

As always, you’ll find fabulous, inspirational and aspirational homes, artists and makers, and a seasonal celebration of outdoor living within our pages, as well.

Intrigued? Enticed? Let’s meet up in October and celebrate living in the 405.

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