MELON, TWO WAYS

INGREDIENTS FOR WATERMELON-ICE FIZZ:

• Frozen watermelon pieces (cubed or ball-shaped) • Sparkling water • Mint leaves • A splash of lime juice • Optional alcohol: splash of rum or fruity hard seltzer, or swap the sparkling water with prosecco

Make summertime sweet, savory and refreshing

BY COURTNEY PRYOR PHOTOS BY BRANDON SMITH

IN THE SUMMER, I always try to think of easy recipes that don’t require much prep time or heat. When it’s 95 degrees outside, who wants to turn on the oven? Also, my three-year-old daughter absolutely loves melons; we always have cut watermelon and cantaloupe in the fridge. I decided to put these ingredients to work.

A salad, for starters: Sweet melons pair deliciously with balsamic vinegar and mozzarella. Toss it all together with your favorite crunchy greens, and opt to top with chilled shrimp or prosciutto. I’m serving this salad alongside a refreshing melon drink, a watermelon-ice fizz. The pink cubes are both cheery and versatile. Mix it up and make it your own — and cheers to a cool summer.

INGREDIENTS FOR MELON FRUIT SALAD:

• Mixed greens • Cubed cantaloupe, watermelon and honeydew melon • Mozzarella pearls • Balsamic vinegar and olive oil • Optional proteins: sliced prosciutto or chilled shrimp

Industry Excellence Awards

For the first time ever, we polled our readers on their go-to homebuilders, interior designers and decorators, and kitchen and bath professionals. We asked them, “Who do you call on again and again?” and “Who do you recommend to friends?” — and the nominations poured in. With a list of local picks in hand, we hired a third-party research company, DataJoe, to vet submissions among industry peers. Now we’re ready for the big debut, and we’re thrilled to share this list with you. Congrats to our first-ever 405HOME Industry Excellence Award winners!

SUMMARY We went out looking for respected trade firms in the area. To this end, we conducted a multifaceted research process. First, DataJoe conducted a massive Internet research campaign to isolate the top trade firms in the region. Then, we polled the magazine’s readers, asking them to nominate their favorite providers in various trade areas. Finally, DataJoe conducted a massive Internet “reputation” research campaign, reviewing indicators across a wide variety of online sources, including ratings, reviews, and memberships. In the end, we utilized a proprietary algorithm combining all of the above metrics to then score each company. This list reflects the entities with the highest scores. FINAL NOTE We recognize that there are many good trade firms that are not shown in this representative list. This is a sampling of the huge array of reputable firms within the region, but it is by no means exhaustive. Inclusion in the list is based on metrics and other information that we were able to gather in our independent research. We take time and energy to ensure a fair, multifaceted process, although we understand that the results of this research project are not purely objective. We certainly do not discount the fact that many, many good and effective trade firms may not appear on the list. DISCLAIMERS DataJoe uses best practices and exercises great care in assembling content for this list. DataJoe does not warrant that the data contained within the list are complete or accurate. DataJoe does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. All rights reserved. No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without written permission from DataJoe.

Kenyon & Brandi Woods

2422 NW 178th St. Edmond, OK 73012 405.285.7464 buildauthentic.com

AUTHENTIC CUSTOM HOMES

Authentic Custom Homes has been building beautiful homes for 16 years. Their goal is to give customers the ability to create a home that reflects their own personality, spirit and character.

Owners Kenyon and Brandi Woods are grateful to each and every homeowner and to all of the people who have helped build and sell their homes over the years. They are also very proud of the team they have in place today.

“After 16 years, you could say we are experts in home building and running a company, and you’d probably be correct, but we both plan on learning and growing until we retire,” Brandi Woods said. “We have a group of people who really care about our homes, our customers and our reputation of being authentic.”

Each home they build is truly authentic and not the same as the house next door. Customers appreciate the fact that the company is family run, and that Kenyon and Brandi are in the office each day. The company has grown in Oklahoma and other states, but they maintain the feeling of a small family company.

“I still look at each home and spend time making sure that it is one of a kind,” Brandi said. “Kenyon still walks jobsites. Our company is so important to us. We are proud of what we have built together and enjoy our work.

Kenyon has worked in homebuilding for more than 20 years, Brandi for almost as long. They will celebrate their 24th wedding anniversary this year. They hope to teach their children the business as well, to continue the family legacy.

“It is so much fun to share this love of business and design with them,” she said. “Both of our kids have grown up going to meetings with bankers or listening to business calls while in the car. It’s amazing to me how much business knowledge they have ‘caught’ instead of being taught.”

KEVEN CALONKEY CARL, NCIDQ, ASID

At Mister Robert, Keven Calonkey Carl has worked with many repeat clients over the years.

One client in particular has come to Keven for three separate projects. At the time, the client was recently widowed and needed a “new start.” The sizable project included selecting paint, wallpapers, lighting, window treatments, rugs, furniture, as well as some structural changes.

“All projects are different, and I see the role of the Interior Designer is to first listen to the client and then make suggestions to build a space they love,” Keven said. “I started by listening to the client, and then made suggestions to meet her needs. She was very happy with our result.”

The same client went through a relocation and downsized twice more over the years. Keven used the new square footage optimally to ensure both beauty and functionality and make each new place feel like “home.”

“All people face transitions in life, some more difficult than others,” Keven said. ”I am honored when I get to help clients negotiate these. Professional Interior Designers understand

that our work can improve people’s lives by making them feel comfortable and safe.”

Keven has two pieces of advice for hiring an Interior Designer. First, credentials matter. Look for a designer who has NCIDQ, which is the highest obtainable certification in Interior Design. Her second piece of advice is that your space should reflect your taste and style. She said clients can sometimes feel pressured to do whatever the designer suggests, rather than speak up for themselves.

“If you don’t like what a designer suggests you do not have to do it,” she said. “Your space should make you feel safe and comfortable. Good design offers insight and options. It does not dictate a style or force a specific product. Your home should be beautiful and functional for you, not someone else.”

Mister Robert Fine Furniture & Design

109 E Main St. Norman, OK 73069 405.321.1818 misterrobert.com

WINTER HOUSE INTERIORS

Winter House Interiors has been designing and furnishing spaces in the Oklahoma City area for more than 30 years. Located at 6411 Avondale Drive in Nichols Hills, Winter House’s showroom exhibits many furniture, art, lamp and accessory lines for clients and retail customers. Offerings also include work by local artists, candles, soaps, pantry items and gifts.

“We design for you, the client, not to satisfy our personal tastes,” said owner Steve Winters. “We ask questions and pay close attention to your responses. We believe a good and experienced designer will save you money, not cost you more.”

Whether you’re in your forever home or a short-term residence, the team at Winter House Interiors will put together the perfect design plan to fit you and your budget.

“We have known Steve Winters for over 15 years and have reaped the benefits of his vast knowledge and expertise designing our homes,” said one client. “We are in the process now of building a new home, and Steve has been with us through each process, starting with house plans. I could not imagine building this house without him. His design ideas are unique and yet, he knows our ‘tastes’ and is able to blend the two beautifully.”

The showroom is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday

405.607.1199 | winterhouseinteriors.com 6411 Avondale Dr. Nichols Hills, OK 73116

EXCELLENCE WINNERS

INTERIOR DESIGNERS & DECORATORS

30A Home A-Line Designs LLC Alyssa Collins Design Chateau Design & Interiors Cherdena Daniel Creative Design Studio CRH Design + Build Decorating Den Interiors By Celia Designer’s Brew Designs By Debbie Inc Dovetail Studio Edmond Kitchen & Bath LLC Fanny Bolen Interiors FLX Architecture & Interior Design Gant Mckenzie Design Gretchen Clark Interiors Hannah Sutter Interiors Henry Home Interiors Huff & Co Designs by Decorating Den Interiors Interior Gilt Ivy House Interiors Janet Biddick Designs Jennifer Welch Interior Design Julie Johnson Interiors Kelsey Leigh Design Co Kirby Home Designs L Harper Designs Lauren Corbyn Design Lori Fleet Interiors LLC Lukhu Interior Design Luxurious Spaces by Leslie Sipes LW Designs Interiors Marissa Adler Designs McGee Design Co Micah Abbananto Designs Michael Poczos For Ethan Allen Oklahoma City Mister Robert Modern Whimsy Interiors Pastiche Studios Pencil Shavings Studio Shelbie Skelly Interior Design Shift Interior Design Southwind Interior Designs Tara Towns Interiors The Loft Thomson + Thomson Tiffany Montgomery Design + Style Tom Hoch Designs Inc Traditions Fine Furniture We3 Dwellings Winter House Interiors

HOMEBUILDERS

1st Oklahoma Homes Adams Kirby Homes Affinity Homes Alder Fine Homes ANW Custom Designs Authentic Custom Homes Avalon Homes BDC Elite Homes Beacon Homes Bill Roberts Custom Homes Brookfield Custom Homes Byrd Building Chateau Fine Homes Christopher Lee & Company Fine Homes Cooper Built Homes Cornerstone Homes by Chris Moock Craft Homes Davidson & Company Homes Denali Homes LLC Element Homes LLC Evans Fine Homes LLC French Construction Hampton Homes LLC Handmade Homes Hill’s Land & Construction Home Creations Homes By Taber LLC Huffman Custom Homes Ideal Homes & Neighborhoods JW Mashburn Homes K & B Homes KCI Homes Kingdom Home Builders Landmark Fine Homes League Custom Homes Inc Liberty Homes Lifetime Homes Manchester Elite Homes Manco Homes Marvin Haworth Homes Inc MassaRossa Luxury Homes Matt Wilson Custom Homes McCaleb Homes McGregor Homes Millennial Custom Homes Mirage Homes Monarch Properties Monticello Signature Homes LLC Muirfield Homes By Alan Cheshier Neal McGee Homes Inc Oak Creek Homes OKC OklaHome Homebuilders Parsons and Company Custom Homes Pruitt Quality Homes Punnett Construction R&R Homes LLC Rausch Coleman Homes Oklahoma City Richardson Homes Shaw Homes Shawn Forth Homes Silver Stone Homes Sooner Homes LLC Southern Quality Construction LLC Spectacular Homes STK Homes Stone Ridge Homes Stoneridge Enterprises Inc Sudderth Design Swift Co. Ten Key Home & Kitchen Remodels Timber Ridge Custom Homes TimberCraft Homes Trillium Homes TRS - The Roofing Specialist Turner & Son Homes Two Structures Homes United Built Homes Oklahoma Vesta Homes Westpoint Homes Wheeler Home

KITCHEN & BATH

Boyer & Sons Construction LLC Classic Kitchens Counter-Tops by Tom Design Directions Edmond Kitchen Bath Home LLC hōm Kitchen + Bath Home Renew Innovative Construction & Remodeling LLC Kitchen Society Design L&L Kitchen & Bath RJ Sami’s LLC Silex Interiors Southern Quality Construction LLC Ten Key Home & Kitchen Remodels Urban Kitchens Vásquez Home Projects Wilshire Cabinet + Co

LIVING

GIVE YOURSELF THE GIFT OF LIVING WELL

Dive In

POOLSIDE LIVING IN ALL ITS GLORY PAGE 70