TulsaPeople Home Spring 2022

Custom contemporary

SPRING 2022 | VOL. 1

LOOK INSIDE 3 OTHER TULSA HOMES

BOOSTING CURB APPEAL MEET THE CRAFTSMAN KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

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SPRING 2022 | VOLUME 2 ISSUE 1

Fired up

Vibrant violet

See Jane build

P. 30 Grilled corn with jalapeño-lime butter

P. 10 Color pops at Shoppe Sasha

P. 38 A magnet collection on display in one family home

38 SEE JANE BUILD

· Tantalizing tiles. · Going bold with wallpaper. · Shades of purple in home decor.

Tulsa home tells a global story from atop Reservoir Hill.

21 LIVING · New home, new kitchen. · Uptick in the upholstery business. · Five things to know about carpet. · Boosting curb appeal with hardscape.

4

TulsaPeople HOME

BY KIM BROWN

42 TUCKED IN THE TREES Guided by personal style, a family makes a south Tulsa home their own.

BY ASHLEY HEIDER DALY

46 LUXE TRANSITIONAL South Tulsa home’s contemporary design creates a custom-made wonderland.

BY ANNE BROCKMAN

51 SOLID GROUND New home build is rooted in family ties.

BY KENDALL BARROW

On the cover Design and styling by Heather Miller of the Home collection. See p. 46 for more.

PHOTO BY MICHELLE POLLARD

MICHELLE POLLARD

9 TRENDS

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Our interiors and design team works collaboratively and individually based on client project specifications and needs. Work spans from room restyling to full redesign including planning and design management from the ground up.

Be in touch about your upcoming design project — we’d love to work with you.

FROM THE EDITOR

“The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them.”

— David Hicks, a British interior designer known for mixing bold patterns with antiques and contemporary finishes

I love this statement. And when you think about it,

midtown, and then a wood-lover’s dream in south

isn’t it such an honest sentiment?

Tulsa.

Our homes are naturally a reflection of who we

Each of these residences tells the story of the

are. What do we consider most important? How

family who lives there. Each is a part of the Tulsa

do we spend our time? Are we the family host? Do

landscape we all call home.

we treasure our antiquities, or do we design with a nod to tomorrow?

As we shake off our winter shells and emerge into this new season, prepping this edition has

Of course, that makes me think about my own

been a joyful light at the end of what seemed to

humble abode, a place my family has lived for

be a long, cold winter. My inbox is becoming full

more than seven years now. I felt reassured in our

of newsletters with garden reminders and to-dos.

decision to leave our home’s living and kitchen

The calendar is filling up again with some of my

areas separate after watching an Architectural

favorite springtime events like the herb and plant

Digest interview with Kirsten Dunst who

festivals and Home and Garden Show.

refused to tear down the walls of her kitchen into

I loved talking emerging trends with some of

her living space. Turns out we have similar tastes,

the local designers featured in this issue. People

just different budgets. Our family’s treasures are

are ready to shake things up. Now, if we could just

mixed with travel souvenirs, half-alive house-

get our orders in a more typical, timely fashion. TP

plants, dog hair, stained wood and pops of color.

Volume 2, Number 1 ©2022. All rights reserved.

No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the publisher, including created advertising in a proofed or printed stage. published by

1603 South Boulder Avenue Tulsa, Oklahoma 74119-4407 P: 918-585-9924 F: 918-585-9926

PUBLISHER Jim Langdon PRESIDENT Juley Roffers VP COMMUNITY RELATIONS Susie Miller EDITOR Anne Brockman CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Morgan Phillips Blayklee Freed DIGITAL EDITOR Tim Landes CREATIVE DIRECTOR ART DIRECTOR MANAGING PHOTOGRAPHER VIDEOGRAPHER

Madeline Crawford Georgia Brooks Michelle Pollard Greg Bollinger

ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES Andrea Canada Josh Kampf Rita Kirk CONTROLLER Mary McKisick DISTRIBUTION COORDINATOR Amanda Hall INTERNS Rachel Dupree Julianne Tran

MEMBER

TulsaPeople’s distribution is audited annually by

Langdon Publishing Company sets high standards to ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable manner. This issue of Tulsa People was printed on recycled fibers containing 20 percent post-consumer waste with inks containing a soy base blend. Our printer is a certified member of the Forestry Stewardship Council and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, and additionally, meets or exceeds all federal Resource Conservation Recovery Act standards. When you are finished with this issue, please pass it on to a friend or recycle it. We can have a better world if we choose it together.

Disregard any TulsaPeople subscription solicitation that is not directly mailed from the Langdon Publishing office at 1603 S. Boulder Ave. Contact Langdon Publishing directly if you are interested in subscribing or renewing your TulsaPeople subscription.

Most importantly, it’s a place where we feel safe to be ourselves.

I’m eager to share with you this new issue of TulsaPeople Home. You’ll find four completely different kinds of homes featured in this issue.

Modern and efficient? Yes. Custom-made contemporary? You got it. We’ve got classic style in 6

TulsaPeople HOME

Anne Brockman EDITOR

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Custom contemporary

SPRING 2022 | VOL. 1

LOOK INSIDE 3 OTHER TULSA HOMES

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TulsaPeople HOME

TRENDS splash COLOR

MICHELLE POLLARD

FOR MORE DESIGN INSPIRATION SEE P. 10.

Designer books and original art by Tulsa-based artist Samantha Jezek infuse color into this Shoppe Sasha setting.

Spring 2022

9

10

TulsaPeople HOME

MOOD BOARD

Positively purple SASHA MALCHI OF SHOPPE SASHA SHARES HER THOUGHTS ON THIS YEAR’S HOT HUE.

“E

MICHELLE POLLARD

ach year Pantone introduces us to ‘The Color of the Year.’ This color announcement makes its way into our lives the following year from branding and packaging to beauty and fashion and everything in between.

When selecting pieces for the shop or designing for a client, I always like to see what Pantone has up its sleeve. This year I was thrilled with the 2022 color selection ‘Veri Peri’ (think periwinkle, lilac), a versatile color to try. Plunge in by painting a room; give the trend a nod by adding pillows; or dip your toe in with a vase, cocktail napkins or even a fashion accessory.

Pro tip: An effortless way to mix Veri Peri into your home is with books — blend a few into your decor and you are on trend in a snap.” TP

Spring 2022

11

HUES TO USE

Interior designer Francie Winchester shares her ideas on integrating different wallpaper patterns into your home.

Boldly going TOP LEFT: Nitik II by Quadrille “This wallpaper would work in multiple applications because the pattern is versatile. It would be great in a bedroom, bathroom or even a kitchen.”

TOP RIGHT: Madame Ziggle by Ottoline “I would love to see this in a dining room or a stair hall. It would give instant personality to a space that doesn’t have a lot of furniture.”

BOTTOM LEFT: Nasturtium by Lake August “I recently used this paper in a laundry room, and it is so cheerful. It would also be lovely in a bedroom.”

See p. 14 for Winchester’s favorite neutral wallpapers.

12

TulsaPeople HOME

MICHELLE POLLARD

BOTTOM RIGHT: Abelino by F. Schumacher “This small-scale paper holds a lot of punch and would be very attractive in a home office or a powder room.”

Scott & Kim Burnett OWNERS

Neutral norms TOP: Criss Cross by Quadrille “This is one of my favorite papers because the pattern is not too specific, so it would look great in any room and can bend to traditional or modern interiors.”

SECOND FROM TOP: Diamond by Gregorius Pineo “This raffia paper is the ultimate way to add interest to your bedroom, office or stair hall without committing to a big pattern.

It’s all about the texture to add warmth to any room.”

THIRD FROM TOP: Melong Batik by Quadrille “When this paper is installed, you almost don’t even see there’s a pattern. It’s very subtle and very sophisticated.”

MICHELLE POLLARD

BOTTOM: Vinyl Madagascar Raffia by Phillip Jeffries “Anytime you have a hightraffic area like a stair hall or laundry room, you could consider a vinyl paper. This vinyl is stamped to look like grasscloth so you get the look with some texture — and it’s scrubbable.” TP

14

TulsaPeople HOME

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commercebank.com/mortgage © 2022 Commerce Bancshares, Inc.

FINISHING TOUCHES

Talking tile trends with Nancy Paschal Smith of Visions tile and stone

Warming trend Paschal Smith says she has seen customers turning to warmer tones and hues. This selection embraces that trend, along with adding a metallic splash and limestone earthiness.

Clockwise: AlysEdwards “Crio” series in Moorish Red; Haussman Natural Stone in Bel Air Linen limestone; AlysEdwards “Tongue in Chic” series in Because I Gold You So

Handmade hues

Clockwise: Syzygy 2-inch fish scale pattern in various colors; 2-inch by 6-inch in Sedona; “Cadence” in Turquoise

Special thanks to Visions tile and stone.

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TulsaPeople HOME

MICHELLE POLLARD

Made by artists in Silver City, New Mexico, Syzygy embraces unique patterns and more than 118 color choices in its collection.

Go glam Mosaique Surfaces is one of the most popular lines at Visions, according to Paschal Smith. The Canadian tile company is known for its made-to-order creations using customizable patterns designed with glass, natural stone and metals.

Clockwise: Mosaique Surfaces “Rêve d’Orient” collection in Wabi Sabi Petite with polished arctic white and pacifica blue stones matched with gold glass; Calacatta Bluette polished marble; Lunada Bay Tile “Shinju Mirai” series in Moonstone

Spring 2022

17

1

2

SOLD PRICE: $293,000 ACREAGE: .28 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,185

LIST PRICE: $429,900 (UNDER CONTRACT) ACREAGE: .18 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,034

4

3

SOLD PRICE: $520,000 ACREAGE: .17 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,189

SOLD PRICE: $639,000 ACREAGE: .24 SQUARE FOOTAGE: 3,184

What money can buy A PEEK INTO TULSA’S REAL ESTATE MARKET

BY ANNE BROCKMAN

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TulsaPeople HOME

1. Located just one block from LaFortune Park, this home boasts a primary suite on the first floor, three upstairs bedrooms and a fully remodeled kitchen. The home, built in 1962, has three living rooms and an extensive deck for entertaining.

2. With three bedrooms and two full baths, this modern Tudor home has all new HVAC, electrical, plumbing and windows. The home is located in the Renaissance Neighborhood near entertainment, dining, shopping and the University of Tulsa.

3. A remodeled three-story home in historic Swan Lake neighborhood boasts three bedrooms, three-and-a-half baths, a sun room and a detached garage with living quarters. The 1925 home sits on a professionally landscaped corner lot.

4. No amenity is overlooked in this home with four bedrooms, three full baths, a single half bath and two living areas. Other highlights include a gated drive, an outdoor living area, and garage living quarters with a kitchenette and full bath. TP

COURTESY OWNTULSA REAL ESTATE

T

ulsa’s residential real estate is rich with myriad styles, sizes and prices.

“Our homes here tell a story,” says Dustin Thames, a Realtor for 15 years and owner of OwnTulsa Real Estate. “There are great homes at every price point, and each hail from a different architectural style — this creates many style opportunities for homeowners both design-wise and functionally. All homes can be modified to the way we live today while still paying homage to what makes those homes unique. One of my favorite things about the variety of Tulsa’s real estate is that as a homeowner’s taste evolves and grows, so does the availability and opportunities for purchasing homes.”

Those looking to purchase — whether you’re a first-time homebuyer, scaling up or downsizing — should know properties are scarce, according to Thames. He says inventory is at historic lows, but looks optimistically to spring.

“Buyers need to be creative to delineate themselves from their competition,” he says.

“Waive as many contingencies as possible. Sellers still need their homes to appraise.

Pricing right is the key to everything. Hire a professional who understands pricing.”

The median home sale price is $240,000 in Tulsa, according to data from the Greater Tulsa Association of Realtors. In 2021, a property was on the market an average of 24 days. In 2020, properties were on the market an average of 33 days and 41 the year before.

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Spring 2022

19

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TulsaPeople HOME

LIVING

Metal magic SARAH BAKER PHOTOS

Brass and copper react in this south Tulsa kitchen remodel.

TURN THE PAGE TO SEE MORE.

Spring 2022

21

22

TulsaPeople HOME

KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL

Cooking up comfort

SARAH BAKER PHOTOS

“T

his is a real manifestation of the circumstances of the past two years,” says Amanda Neely as she looks around her kitchen. Neely, who owns CBC Builds with husband Clark, is no stranger to home renovation. But when the diehard midtowner began evaluating her family of five’s school and home life, she knew it was time for a move to south Tulsa. On top of the renovation list for their 6,000-square-foot dream home was the kitchen.

“First and foremost we needed to use what was good in the kitchen — we liked the perimeter cabinets and layout — but input new things that would make it work for us,” Neely says.

Most important to her in the space was the use of her chosen backsplash tile, the appliances, lighting and hardware.

Made by Cle, the handmade terracotta tile is formed in a rustic, Italian fashion. Neely opted to use two tile sizes — 4-by-4 inch and 4-by-8 inch — to provide texture.

GE Cafe appliances in matte white were chosen to contrast the Woodstock cabinetry painted with Farrow and Ball Studio Green (at 50% saturation) and the island built with white oak featuring a wire-brush finish and Minwax Weathered Oak clear coat.

“One of my favorite combinations in anything is the mixture of copper and brass,” Neely says. Emtex hardware in Satin Brass is used throughout the space and complements the copper light fixtures.

By not moving the layout, the renovation only took five months (longer than the typical three-and-a-half month process due to appliance wait time).

“People think that if they don’t like their space, they must rip everything out and start completely over, which can be intimidating,” Neely says.

“Often, though, you can look at a space, use what is good and adjust finishes to make it a space you love. If this house has taught me anything, it is that there is real power in a few coats of paint and new light fixtures.” — ANNE BROCKMAN

Spring 2022

23

FIVE THINGS

Low-pile, patterned carpet is ‘in’ — especially in the bedroom.

BY MORGAN PHILLIPS

1

2

3

4

5

Penny Carnino

CARNINO SUGGESTS BUYERS CONSIDER THESE FIVE THINGS WHEN SHOPPING FOR NEW CARPET:

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TulsaPeople HOME

1. LIFESTYLE. “If you’ve got kids, if you have pets — that’s something really important you need to think about when purchasing carpet,” Carnino says. Although lighter carpet colors are still trending, they are easier to soil. However, Carnino says all of the major carpet brands now offer pet products with special stain-resistance technology.

2. BUDGET. Carpet at Grigsby’s range from $2.50 to $20 per square foot, and prices include carpet pad and installation.

“Be up front with your salesperson about your budget,” Carnino advises. The store, located at 4417 S. Sheridan Road, offers free estimates; however, she says it is best if you come in to narrow down your choices before measurements are taken in your home.

3. TRAFFIC. Though typically more expensive, carpets made with nylon hold up best, but Carnino says PET/polyester also offers some quality products and serves a good place in the market. To minimize wear, especially in high-traffic areas or on stairs, choose a densely threaded, low-pile carpet, she adds.

4. STYLE. Low-pile, patterned carpets are some of the most popular, but traditional saxony (higher pile with a more plush feel) is still well loved by many. Grigsby’s can make area rugs from any carpet in its showroom, and shag carpets are great for this. Not sure if a carpet will complement your room? Check out a sample or have the store order one for you.

5. MAINTENANCE. No matter the carpet you choose, it should be vacuumed at least weekly and professionally cleaned every 18 months, Carnino says. Carpet that is properly cared for lasts a long time. All carpet comes with a manufacturer’s warranty; be sure you’re familiar with its details. Purchasing a carpet pad from the manufacturer often adds five years to the carpet warranty, Carnino adds. TP

MICHELLE POLLARD

H

ardwoods and hardwood look-alikes — think luxury vinyl plank — are the most common choices for living and dining areas in 2022, but most homeowners tread lightly on these materials in their bedrooms, says Penny Carnino, director of operations at Grigsby’s Carpet, Tile and Hardwood. There, carpet is king.

“People still want comfort in the bedroom,” Carnino says. “They just don’t like to get out of bed and step on a hard, cold surface.”

With myriad carpet styles and knaps, where does one begin?

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Spring 2022

25

MEET THE CRAFTSMAN Anita and Gerald W. Beller inside the Beller’s Upholstery workroom. The Bellers have been in the upholstery business for five generations, incorporating as Beller’s Custom Furniture in 1971.

Family traditions BELLER FAMILY CARRIES ON TULSA’S UPHOLSTERY TRADE.

G

erald W. Beller’s hands are proof enough of his craftsmanship. As in many traditional businesses, he’s the owner and a hands-on master upholsterer. Covered in cuts, welts and calluses, Beller sparkles with joy when he describes the process of transforming furniture, beginning with a client bringing in a piece and their inspiration. Starting with lumber and photographs, he sequences cutting, padding, fabric alignment and end comfort — a beautiful sofa at the conclusion.

An ottoman, bench, chair, headboard ... anything that can be upholstered, they’ve probably done it.

“I have to figure out in my head how I want to build it, pad it, put springs in it, how I want it to sit, and have a finished product,” he says. “So that’s what I really like about it. Sometimes if I can’t figure something out, I can figure it out in my sleep.” A true craftsman at heart, he even works out solutions as he dreams — a gift upon waking ready for the next workday.

Visiting Beller’s Upholstery is a charming experience. Walking up the steps of the 1929 2,000-square-foot house on South Peoria Avenue

26

TulsaPeople HOME

where Beller’s has been located since the mid-’80s, there’s a detectable coziness — probably from the fact this business has been a family affair since 1971.

The main floor lobby showcases projects finished or awaiting their turn to be transformed.

In the basement, from an exterior door four of the Beller family members and six additional close-knit staff are set up in stations in the 1,500-square-foot basement of the historic home.

Sewing machines are whirring; staple guns are clicking; there are scissors, pins, fabrics and wood scraps galore. It’s a classic Tulsa experience to see this happy little factory alive and well.

Anita Beller, the company’s vice president, also is Gerald’s wife, which gives them a hearty laugh.

Small business teams play all the roles. She clearly enjoys the action that has been the Beller family’s mode of operation for five generations.

“We’ve done so many wonderful things,” she says.

“We do great restaurants. We’ve done Harwelden.

There’s so many things around town (where) you can walk in and say, ‘Oh, I forgot we did that!’ He had done the elevator panels in the Mayo.”

Gerald and Anita bought the business from his father, Gerald F. Beller, just four years ago after 20 years of apprenticeship. The COVID-19 pandemic hardly stopped them — in fact, they say they’ve been working to catch up since. They proudly brought their creativity to the pieces, and enjoy watching their son Harrison Beller, 22, explore his artistic upholstery eye one generation further.

“There’s just more demand for custom than there used to be,” Anita explains. They’re looking forward to a future of continuing the business traditions for Tulsa.

“Upholstery is a dying art form,” she says. “It takes years to learn how to do it. It’s not something you can just go in and pick up in a couple of weeks.

The fact there are fewer and fewer upholsterers — that’s a concern for us. We want to be able to provide all the services we’ve always provided. But a couple of guys can only do so much work. And we’ve got a nice big crew.”

With the amount of business they have to catch up on, they’re anything but old-fashioned. Perhaps craft is our way back to the future. TP

MICHELLE POLLARD

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OUTDOOR LIVING

Splash zone POOLS AND SPAS CONTINUE TO SURGE IN POPULARITY.

BY ANNE BROCKMAN

28

TulsaPeople HOME

COURTESY ATLANTIS POOLS AND SPAS

I

t’s no secret pool designers and builders have seen a boon in their industry.

In 2020, 96,000 new residential inground pools were constructed in America, which is the highest number in over a decade, according to the Pool and Hot Tub Alliance.

In Tulsa, some had to turn away business.

“We stopped selling pools. We were just too booked up,” says John Oliver, owner of Atlantis Pools and Spas for 41 years. “I’m not going to estimate a pool I’m not going to build until two years from now.

We just started back doing a few sales calls.”

With more than four decades in the industry, Oliver knows the ins-and-outs of pool design, construction and remodeling. One thing to keep in mind: The bidding process is different than in other industries. “When people get bids, it’s my design and another guy’s design and another guy’s design.

They’re not getting the same design, so it’s hard to get any kind of number to compare.”

If you’re one of the many still considering building a respite in your own backyard, here are some other things to remember.

Timing Oliver suggests beginning a pool in the fall since there’s no expectation to swim until spring. Simple pools should take anywhere from six to 10 weeks, while bigger projects likely take up to four months or longer.

Cleaning “We do a lot of the in-floor cleaning systems, which have been around for over 50 years,” Oliver says. “It cleans the whole pool, spa, everything.” With the pools he builds, Oliver says a pool owner might only spend 20-30 minutes on a Saturday maintaining and cleaning the pool.

But it all depends on the pool and its surroundings. “If you have a freeform natural looking pool and there’s trees all around it, no matter what you’re going to have more maintenance than the guy that’s got a pool in his backyard with no trees and bushes away.”

Trends Ever popular is the infinity edge — a single pool edge where water overflows — according to Oliver. But he’s also seen more demand for the perimeter overflow, where water overflows all four edges for a sleek appearance. He also says straight-line pools are trending over freeform pools right now.

Plan ahead Is this a private, humble hideaway or an elaborate external lounge for entertainment? When Oliver first meets with a customer to learn their pool wish list and assess the property, he thinks beyond the pool. Oliver asks them about any desires for an outdoor kitchen, living areas or fire elements. “I’ll design it with that in mind,” he says. TP

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OUTDOOR DINING

Fired up

RECIPES TO TRY THIS SEASON ON THE OUTDOOR GRILL

BY NATALIE MIKLES

Marinating chicken in ginger, cilantro, soy sauce and brown sugar is a delicious combo. This marinade would also be good for pork or meaty mushrooms.

W

hether you have upgraded to a gourmet outdoor kitchen or you have just enough room for a patio grill, anyone can lay claim to being a grill master.

Hardcore outdoor cooks do it year-round, but for the rest of us, spring and summer is a prime time for putting on some music, sipping a drink and grilling something delicious. Whether you’re making a quick dinner on a gas grill or spending the day smoking something low and slow, food just tastes better when cooked outside.

And while there’s nothing wrong with basic hamburgers, brats or chicken slathered in barbecue sauce, we’re giving you some grilling inspiration with new recipes to impress your family and friends.

GRILLED CHICKEN AND PINEAPPLE K ABOBS Serves 4 1/4 cup brown sugar 1/4 cup soy sauce 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

2 minced garlic cloves 2 pounds chicken breast tenderloins, cubed 1 small pineapple, cut into pieces 1 red bell pepper, cut into pieces 1 green bell pepper, cut into pieces

In a large plastic bag, combine brown sugar, soy sauce, cilantro, olive oil, ginger, red pepper and garlic. Add chicken, and let chill 2 hours, turning chicken occasionally.

Light grill. Remove chicken from marinade, and place on skewers. Skewer pineapple and peppers on skewers, so that the chicken and vegetables can be grilled separately. Grill chicken 12 minutes, turning while cooking. Check for doneness before removing from grill. Grill pineapple and peppers 5 to 10 minutes or until slightly charred. Serve with couscous or rice.

We’re lucky to have the very best corn — Bixby corn — right in our own backyard.

One of the best ways to enjoy it is grilled. Making your own butter compound doesn’t take much time, but adds so much to the flavor.

GRILLED CORN WITH JALAPEÑO-LIME BUTTER Serves 6 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Combine butter, jalapeños, lime zest and lime juice. Shape into a rectangle, wrap in parchment paper, and chill 1 hour.

Shuck corn, removing silks. Rub corn with olive oil, then sprinkle with salt and pepper. Light grill.

Grill corn, with grill lid on, over high heat 10 minutes, turning to brown all sides.

Spread butter on hot corn.

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MICHELLE POLLARD

1 stick butter, softened 2 jalapeño peppers, chopped fine 2 tablespoons grated lime zest 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice 6 ears corn

The sweetness of the peaches complements the acidity of the tomatoes and balsamic vinegar. This is a perfect pizza for appreciating the fruits of summer.

Choosing a grill GAS Think of it this way: The more convenient the grill, the less likely you’ll achieve that smoky grill taste. At least that’s what serious grill masters will tell you. Others say they would never know the difference between a hamburger cooked on charcoal or gas.

A gas grill couldn’t be easier. It’s as simple as opening the lid, opening the valve on your propane tank and turning on the burners.

If you have a small patio or covered porch, gas is usually safer since you don’t have to worry about flare-ups and flames.

CHARCOAL Some backyard grill weekend warriors laugh at the idea of a steak cooked on gas, and don’t even ask them about trying to smoke a rack of ribs with propane. For them, charcoal is the only way to go.

It usually takes longer to start and maintain the heat on a charcoal grill. But this is something great charcoal grill cooks pride themselves on, working to get the feel for when the coals are just right.

Charcoal grills come in all sizes, from small kettle-style models (and even travelsize models) to large outdoor-kitchen style monsters.

SMOKER For the best barbecue, a smoker is the way to go. Indirect grilling with wood smoke is the way to achieve the smoky, tender meats of barbecue.

Using low to moderate heat is the best way to do it, so this takes some time, which is a great excuse to babysit the ribs on the patio.

Smokers are best suited for tough, flavorful cuts of meat like brisket and ribs. Smoking your own meat is super impressive and costeffective if you’re a barbecue junkie.

GRILLED PIZZA WITH TOMATO, PEACH AND PROSCIUTTO Serves 4 Fresh pizza dough (we like to pick up some dough balls from Andolini’s) 2 peaches, peeled and sliced 2 tomatoes, sliced and quartered 2 cups loosely packed arugula

2 ounces prosciutto 1/2 cup goat cheese 1/2 cup parmesan cheese 1 tablespoon olive oil Balsamic glaze

Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Stretch dough into a circle, about 1/4-inch thick, on a cutting board. Drizzle or brush with a little olive oil. Slide onto grill, and grill with lid closed, about 4 minutes.

Top with peaches, tomatoes, arugula, prosciutto and goat cheese. Grill, with lid closed, for 5 minutes.

Remove from grill, and top with parmesan cheese, olive oil and balsamic glaze.

OTHER Browse your favorite home stores to check out the varieties of grills, smokers and hybrids available. The flattop Blackstone is super popular as are pellet grills, like the Traeger.

In Oklahoma the Hasty-Bake is always in style, and many say it’s the best grill you can buy both for direct and indirect cooking.

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HOW TO ...

Boost curb appeal

BY GEORGIA BROOKS

BEFORE

“A front door should be clean, freshly painted, if needed, and give a welcome first impression,” Perry says.

Driveway Your driveway should be clean and have no oil stains, Perry says. Surprisingly, cat litter can do the trick, according to rethority.com. Pour on top of the stain and let sit for a day or two, then sweep it up. For older stains, saturate the stained area with mineral spirits before applying the litter.

Windows Landscaping Landscaping is hugely important for curb appeal, both experts agree. “It’s probably the best bang for your buck,” Burnett says.

“Make sure even in winter months that your flower beds are clear of debris, have fresh mulch and a clean look,” Perry adds.

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TulsaPeople HOME

Burnett notes the front door can be a statement piece that women especially tend to gravitate to.

“Freshly cleaned windows are also a very important element of your curb appeal,” Perry says.

New windows can upgrade the look of your home both outdoors and indoors, so it’s a wonderful investment if you have the budget. Installing new energy-efficient windows will not only add to the beauty of your home, but will also make your house more comfortable and save you money in the long run. Installation is key, Burnett emphasizes. Windows must be properly installed according to manufacturer specifications, so be sure to hire a trusted installer. TP

BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS: COURTESY BURNETT HOME IMPROVEMENT

“P

eople see the outside of your home as an indicator of how well you maintain the inside of your home,” says Tammy Perry, certified residential specialist at McGraw Realtors. This is something we all likely know but might forget as we focus on our indoor renovation projects.

Here are four areas to focus on to boost the curb appeal of your home, according to Perry and Scott Burnett, President and CEO of Burnett Home Improvement.

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ASK THE PROS

Maintain drains Joe Carner

Carner shares that older homes in Tulsa have drain piping that is original to the house and likely has never been upgraded. Most commonly used are materials like plastic, cast iron, clay tile, Orangeburg and cement piping. Over time, the joints of this piping will loosen and will invite tree root intrusion into the lines. “If you’ve had a stoppage (due to root intrusion), you should consider a regularly scheduled cleaning of your main line,” he says. He adds that if it happens once, it will happen again.

Inspect water systems “It is a good idea to visually inspect your water lines where exposed and notice any changes in the appearance of the pipes,” Carner says, adding that regardless of what kind of piping you have, they are all full of water pressure. Though piping can last for decades, it begins to deteriorate the day it’s installed. And leaks are more common than you’d think. The average household’s leaks can account for nearly 10,000 gallons of water wasted every year, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Flush hot water tanks Carner says we should be flushing our hot water tanks at least once a year. To flush, run water from the boiler drain near the bottom of the tank’s opening. Attach a hose to ensure the water stream is either in a drain or outside, and open the water faucet at the bottom of the tank. This will clear sediment build-up and will help maintain your tank’s efficiency.

Install hot water units

ESSENTIAL TIPS TO PROLONG PLUMBING

BY LAURA DENNIS

I

n early 2000, Joe Carner retired from his position with UPS and decided it was time to take up the family business. As a second-generation plumber and with the help of some family, he opened Carner Plumbing in March that same year.

“We felt like we could serve the Tulsa area with a more personal touch than any company was offering at the time,” he says. Carner wanted to build relationships with people; he wanted his

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TulsaPeople HOME

customers to feel as if they were phoning a friend.

Twenty-two years later, Carner Plumbing remains a family business as Carner’s sons have joined the crew. And the company now serves three generations of customers. After two decades of house calls, he says the most common plumbing issues they see are stoppages (drain issues) and non-weather-related water damage. Here are some tips on how to avoid some of these everyday occurrences.

Know your gas pipes Natural gas is an environmentally friendly way to heat water and your home, but there are some concerns about the safety of using combustible gas, even within a piping construct. Carner says we should be aware of the problems that could arise, i.e., a gas leak. Leaks or breaks were the leading factors contributing to home structure fires that began with the ignition of natural gas from 2012 to 2016, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Professionals are equipped to detect minute leaks that aren’t large enough to produce an odor.

If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn it off and call a plumber. TP

MICHELLE POLLARD

Plumbing prompts

“Tankless units are becoming very popular in Tulsa and for good reason,” Carner says, adding that going tankless saves energy and space. That said, the annual flush still applies and is critical to the unit’s operation of the tankless unit.

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CHECKLIST “Roofs are very much a point of emphasis in the state of Oklahoma,” Bryant says.

The important language here is actual cash value versus replacement cost.

Actual cash value returns to homeowners the current, depreciated value of the roof.

Replacement cost covers the full amount of a new roof. Bryant notes if you can afford it, insuring for replacement cost is a good idea in Oklahoma because the biggest exposure on a house is wind and hail damage.

Deductibles for roof claims often surprise people: Many insurance companies have moved to 1% of the home’s value.

It’s also good practice to check in with your agent about insuring specialty

items or target items, which include fine art, jewelry, firearms and other items of particularly high value. Bryant says clients might not think about their acquisition of such items as something to bring up with their insurance agents, but it’s essential if you want them included in your replacement costs. Your personal agent can schedule, or list, these items into your contract and may request a current (within two years) appraisal.

Rises in labor and material costs make now an important time to check your policy’s language concerning total loss, often

Routine review IMPORTANT BASES TO COVER WITH YOUR INSURANCE AGENT

BY ASHLEY HEIDER DALY

“S

eeing your insurance agent is probably 49th on your list of things to do, just above a root canal,” jokes David Bryant, head of Dave Bryant Insurance Agency, which was founded by his father in 1968.

But with an agent like Bryant, who is personable, funny and informative, reviewing your home insurance policy is better than dental work and, as he points out, important to do on a regular basis — he recommends yearly.

“A lot of people want fast and convenient until claim time comes, and they realize they didn’t cover what they wanted to be covered,” he says.

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TulsaPeople HOME

Compared to buying a packaged deal through a website, Bryant says a knowledgeable insurance professional can make all the difference in the quality of your coverage and experience when you need to make claims.

“We say insurance is for the things that ruin your life, not the things that ruin your day,” Bryant says. “You want to be clear about deductibles, coverage limitations and policy language.” What is covered, how it’s covered, and how much you are able and willing to pay for coverage is a nuanced equation best deciphered by someone who feels accountability and care for their clients.”

the result of a fire or tornado. Similar to roof replacement, ideally you want home reconstruction value that offers homeowners the funds to build a new home at the current costs of labor and materials.

Market value or actual cash value is a depreciated value and would leave homeowners with a large gap between their claim amount and the actual costs to rebuild their home.

Other kinds of insurance?

Bryant says flood insurance is typically something your mortgage broker will require depending on the location of your home, but it never hurts to bring it up. There also is a range of options for earthquake insurance, which is a lower risk in Oklahoma, but worth discussing with your agent. TP

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The Jane Residence won the American Institute of Architects Eastern Oklahoma Chapter’s 2021 People’s Choice Award for its design excellence at the chapter’s annual awards banquet in November 2021.

See Jane build

Tulsa home tells one family’s global story from atop Reservoir Hill.

The home with a simple black exterior was constructed to save energy with sprayed insulation and insulated glass. When building over the lot’s existing pool, some of the concrete was repurposed for other aspects of construction.

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TulsaPeople HOME

MICHELLE POLLARD; OUTDOOR PHOTOS: NELSON ZULETA

BY KIM BROWN

In the master bedroom, left, is a sitting area that includes an altar, bottom, featuring different religious relics and mementos. Above, a guest bedroom hosts family members during their extended visits.

H

ome for Juana Gomez and her husband, Nelson Zuleta, is on a hilltop overlooking downtown Tulsa — thousands of miles from where their story began. The couple designed and built their Reservoir Hill home together after years of dreaming and searching for the perfect spot.

“We travel a lot to see family,” says Gomez, principal at KSQ Design, who was born in Spain and moved to Venezuela, where she studied architecture and eventually met her husband. “Every time we arrive back at the airport in Tulsa, it’s like a big exhale.”

After graduating with architecture degrees in Venezuela, the couple lived in Miami before Gomez was recruited to Tulsa by KSQ Design about 12 years ago.

“When we discovered Tulsa, it’s like living in a big city with a small-town heart,” says Zuleta, who formerly owned a construction company and is now COO of Greenalia, a renewable energy company.

With their respective backgrounds in architecture, they had always dreamed of building their own family home to share with their son, Joaquin, 9. But it took some time to find the perfect place for what they envisioned — a modern but comfortable home with separate areas for the couple and their son, plus ample space for family and friends for long visits.

“We wanted to live near downtown Tulsa because there is diversity — we came from a place where you can see so many different tastes and colors and designs,” Zuleta says. “We wanted to have an opportunity to live in a place with different senses around us.”

When they first drove to Reservoir Hill — a quiet neighborhood just north of downtown, named after the concrete water storage tank buried there from the Spavinaw water project in the 1920s — they hadn’t seen anything quite like it in Tulsa.

“There was so much character here,” Gomez says. “The previous owner of the house next door owned this lot as a garden with a huge swimming pool, where everyone in the neighborhood grew up swimming and enjoying the view of downtown.”

In 2015, they purchased the lot, which needed clearing and included a pool no longer in use. The couple decided to fill it in and build their serene home on the hilltop. Construction of the home began in March 2020 and wrapped up seven months later.

Spring 2022

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TulsaPeople HOME

MICHELLE POLLARD

The open-concept living area is meant to be a “transformational” space with the ability for the family to move furniture around, and freely move in and outside to the back courtyard/pool area. The family’s personality is displayed on a floor-to-ceiling magnet wall that looks like art in itself. “I wanted to make an iconic wall,” Gomez says. “We love to collect magnets of all our travels.”

Left, a piano is one of the focal points of the living room, which receives a lot of natural light from the numerous windows. Above, the home bears Juana’s signature she has used on her art over the years.

Below, The couple wanted their only child, Joaquin, 9, to have privacy and space as he grew up. So they gave him an entire wing of the home. His bedroom has space for his Lego masterpieces — displayed on white bookshelves — and his “Star Wars” toys and artwork. In this closet, he has room for his collection of sports memorabilia.

Gomez designed the 3,000-square-foot home, and Zuleta served as project manager for the construction. They selected and procured all the materials themselves — fortunately gathering many before the COVID-19 pandemic affected the supply chain.

“We wanted to make the home elegant and simple,” Zuleta says. “We wanted concrete floors with no baseboards or moldings, 10-foot ceilings, dark wood doors — we wanted to let the air flow around the users in a transformative space.”

“The house is designed in a u-shape around the central courtyard and this view,” Gomez says, pointing to the spectacular view of downtown Tulsa. “The sunrises and sunsets here are some of the best in Tulsa.”

The design has a Scandinavian feel, which makes sense in the eclectic Reservoir Hill area,

where many styles — from Mediterranean to Georgian — blend.

“Next door is a home built in 1919, but the simple style of our house doesn’t compete with that,” Gomez says. “It reinforces what you have around you.”

Upon entering the contemporary home is the large common living area and kitchen filled with light and a view of the courtyard and pool. To the right is the first wing — with two bedrooms and three baths. Joaquin’s bedroom suite gives him space and privacy, so he can grow with the home.

“We are both artists,” Zuleta says, pointing out that Gomez created all the colorful artwork displayed throughout the home. His photographs of their travels also are featured, which contributes to the home’s warmth and personality.

The couple’s primary wing is complete with a bedroom and living area, an enviable walk-in closet, and a spa bathroom with a large tub. The couple designed the home so it would have the same serene feeling throughout.

“We didn’t want to focus on one main spot in the house,” Zuleta says›. “We wanted to feel the same flow throughout the whole house.”

The couple has given a name to their home — the Jane Residence — which is a tradition in their cultures. “Juana” is often translated to “Jane,” and she developed it as a specific signature she used on her paintings over the years.

“She used that logo on everything she did, so when we built this house, I sent it to a local metal artist who created a piece we hung right outside the front door,” Zuleta says. “The Jane Residence is in honor of her — because I love her.” TP Spring 2022

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Guests are invited to enter the home via the steam-bent wood deck walkway. Numerous natural and wooden nuances were created by the home’s architect and original owner.

Tucked in the trees

Guided by personal style, a family makes a south Tulsa home their own.

T

he Prior family toured their current home over three years ago. While they didn’t purchase it at the time, they couldn’t seem to get it out of their heads, or their hearts. In May 2020, Brittin Prior and her daughter decided to drive by just to admire it. Later that day, she slipped a note in the mailbox telling the current owner she loved the house and would welcome a chat if he ever wanted to sell.

By March 2021, Brittin and her husband, Jeff, were moving in with their two teenage kids, Elke and Lars, a cat and two friendly dogs of opposite sizes.

“We were ecstatic to get it,” Brittin says. “I love being in this house with all its quirks. All these trees and windows. All the light spilling in.”

The house, constructed in the late ’80s and completed in 1992, was designed by architect and

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TulsaPeople HOME

woodcarver Ken Fowler as a home for himself.

The three-story structure is nestled in the woods along a city greenbelt and has decks and windows tucked all around it. The home features reclaimed wood floors from an old high school basketball court in the main living room, rock floors sourced from Woolaroc by the architect, and a few stainedglass windows from England ensconced in a divider wall between the kitchen and a stairwell.

The natural shake exterior settles it perfectly into its wooded surroundings.

“I feel like I am at an Airbnb in the woods,” Jeff says. “I spent a lot of my childhood playing in the forest in a little town outside Munich, Germany.

And this house reminds me of that time.”

Their daughter Elke calls it “the treehouse.”

Her room was specifically designed by the architect for his own daughter. It’s the only room on the

top floor, eye-level with the treetops. She admits to shopping the house for decor for her room. Her mom enjoys watching her daughter’s aesthetic develop. They both enjoy decorating.

As for everyone, 2020 was a difficult year, but it brought with it a chance for Brittin to spend more time with her family, growing closer with her children. She and Elke began going to estate sales together and discovered a shared love of finding treasures.

When Elke describes her mom’s style, she says, “A lot of everything. Some stuff is new, but most of it is old.”

Her mom smiles. “I’m definitely eclectic,” she says.

“I kept picturing it coming together,” says Brittin of the living room, a large space with windows across the back and a fireplace, open subtly to the

MICHELLE POLLARD

BY ASHLEY HEIDER DALY

Above, the deep navy feature wall holds a gallery of estate sale and family treasures. Below left, William Morris wallpaper encapsules the wood-burning fireplace surrounded by the same granite used in nearby spaces like the dining room. Below right, the formal dining room’s heavy, custom-made table came with the home.

Spring 2022

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TulsaPeople HOME

MICHELLE POLLARD

Above, “I knew I wanted a checkered backsplash,” Brittin Prior says of her dreams for the open-concept kitchen, which boasts cabinets painted in Sherwin Williams’ Dirty Martini complemented by stainless appliances. Below left, for the airy and sunny breakfast nook, Prior found this bench on Facebook Marketplace for a steal. Below right, English stained-glass windows partition spaces and a stairway.

The family has only called the property home since spring 2021 and has respected numerous original elements, including wooden details such as the stairway railing and repurposed hardwood floors from a gym. In the pandemic mother and daughter bonded over shopping estate sales and finding new art, accesories, furniture and curiosities for their new home.

kitchen and the dining rooms. “I wanted it to feel like a warm hug.

“I wanted the architecture of this house to guide my design choices. With all the trees, I knew this home would have an organic, cozy, earthy vibe.”

Their last home had white walls and featured fewer design risks, but this home called for more color. Many of the walls are covered in bookshelves or wallpaper, or are filled with artwork found at driveway sales, antique stores and estate sales. A varied collection sifted and organized, something to admire and inspect at every turn.

“If a piece of art makes me feel something and I keep coming back to it, I know,” she says of choosing pieces.

Brittin takes a lot of inspiration from old magazines and Instagram, especially the design company Pierce and Ward, which evokes a moody, cottage, collected style.

While Brittin primarily tends to the decor, Jeff is on maintenance and functionality. He oversaw the handful of repairs and updates the

house needed initially, including a new roof, tree maintenance on the property, and tending of the many decks and railings. They also overhauled the kitchen. It was originally a white, very simple, modern, ’80s-feeling kitchen; now it has pale green cabinets with a navy and white checkered tile backsplash. The view from her breakfast nook is Brittin’s favorite. From there she can see out windows to the entryway and expansive woodpile, as well as into her kitchen and on to the living room with its tree-lined windows.

Brittin describes the process of preparing, decorating and tending the house as “a lesson in patience.” With the pandemic, everything has moved more slowly, and she thinks that has aided the way things have come together, giving her a better rhythm for her life.

“I really do feel this home has been healing,” she says. “It has felt like the beginning of a new chapter.

“It’s a magical, peaceful feeling being in our home. Tucked in the trees, but still in our city.” TP Spring 2022

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Inspired by a sofa she saw in Dallas, designer Heather Miller commissioned a local craftsman to design one for this space atop a custom-sized rug.

The home’s color palette is based on four shades of neutral white, and those four ended up being in the top 10 of Benjamin Moore colors that year.

Luxe transitional

With entertaining in mind, a home leans into a love of contemporary design with tailored finishes.

I

t was The Home Collection owner Heather Miller’s reputation as a kitchen designer and master of materials, plus her ability to strategize layouts for maximum space, that brought her to meet a couple whose new home was in the framing phase in south Tulsa’s Belmont neighborhood.

As the frequent host of family gatherings, like grandchildren graduations, bridal parties, Sunday brunches and holiday celebrations, “it was important to build an entertaining space with the flow of the main living area and kitchen at the heart of the home,” Miller says.

This was 2015. A builder was chosen and Miller

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TulsaPeople HOME

was brought in to carry the design through to reality. While the project officially wrapped up in 2017, Miller has remained connected to the project.

“You always build a level of relationship with your client. You have to in order to get what they want,” says Michelle Jones, the homeowner’s daughter-in-law. “I think what Heather did with (the homeowner) was beyond that. I think they really built a friendship with her, and they had a level of commitment to her.”

With teenage grandchildren in mind, the 7,412-square-foot home features plenty of entertainment areas — like a pool, spa and multiple outdoor living spaces, as well as an

upstairs TV room and bedrooms for sleepovers, and a theater room.

“A lot of theater rooms sometimes are after thoughts,” Miller says. “It was very important at the very beginning to pick out and discuss and talk about it. It definitely wasn’t an afterthought.”

Because the client wanted something unique, Miller and design assistant Lindsay Clyma curated items and ideas from around the country.

“A restaurant in New York, drapery in a casino, water features in Florida — sometimes you obsess so much about a design job that it event takes over your dreams,” Miller says. “Some of my best inspirations come from dreams.”

MICHELLE POLLARD

BY ANNE BROCKMAN

The heart of this home is the kitchen, left. To accommodate larger groups and parties, a separate table was custom made to easily make more table or buffet space in addition to the 11-foot island.

Marble countertops complement a 3-D porcelain tile backsplash.

A Galley sink and Gaggenau appliances make this a true cook’s kitchen. Three Fine Art light fixtures provide illumination. Nearby, a butler’s pantry and beverage station provide more amenities for the host.

Upstairs are two bedrooms, a TV/rec room and a spa room, above, whose bathroom leans into a tranquil setting with natural stones and clean, contemporary finishes.

Along with building a relationship with the designer, the homeowner’s longstanding friendship and admiration for the work of Fine Art Handcrafted Lighting was key in this project.

“She always calls it the jewelry of the house,” Jones says. Fifteen collections of lighting from the company, all featuring hand-blown glass and crystal made in America, were installed in the home.

“We actually did start with the lighting fixtures in this one,” Miller says. “It really dictated the celling treatments and the heights of those celling treatments. It even dictated what kind of custom finishes were done in the house.”

Throughout this project, Miller accompanied the homeowner on numerous buying trips across

the country, including the Fine Art showroom near Miami, Florida. A local businessowner herself, the homeowner would have much preferred to buy in the Tulsa market, but the custom, creative pieces she desired were not to be found.

That’s when Jones saw a niche to fill. She opened Matters of Design, 8285 S. Harvard Ave., in 2019.

“She might have seen a light fixture online that she liked. Well to really see what that glass looked like she would have had to go to Dallas or she would have to go to Miami,” Jones says. “Even if we don’t have that fixture here, we have the glass and finish samples. We have something that will help your process without having to make that trip.”

The furniture, lighting and design showroom at Matters of Design is a resource for Tulsa designers and shoppers. “As much fun as it was to shop all over the country, trying to pull a design together is very difficult,” Miller says. “Limited resources served as one of the inspirations to opening Matters of Design in Tulsa. Had I had this resource at the time, we would have saved hours, money and our sanity completing this project.”

A designer for 20-plus years, Miller says getting to know her clients and listening to their wants and needs is a critical part of the design equation.

For example, in the formal dining room a square glass and acrylic table serves two functions. “For sitting down with family she wanted to be able to Spring 2022

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MICHELLE POLLARD

Above, Miller commissioned these three prints that sit on the second-floor landing, which overlooks the home’s main entrance and entryway. The home has five bedrooms and is fully automated.

Below left, the home’s outdoor attractions include a pool and spa, waterfalls, a fire pit, a fireplace and multiple seating areas. Below right, to complement a rotating collection of original art, Miller designed a dining room featuring neutral colors and a space for easy interaction during family meals and holiday celebrations.

In the primary suite’s bathroom, floating cabinetry is illuminated underneath with LED strip lighting, which reflects on the natural stone. “If you do all the same size tile in a pattern, you’ll start to see (the grout lines),” Miller says. “Your eye wants to follow those lines so then you’re not paying attention to the stone.” To eradicate that, Miller used square and rectangle pieces in the design of the heated floors. A soaking tub is haloed by another Fine Art lighting fixture and adjacent bar cart. Below, residing on the first floor, the primary suite boasts a geometrical beamed ceiling designed by Miller after being inspired by a restaurant in New York City. The room features a gas fireplace surrounded by natural stone and a very popular sitting room used for watching TV.

all speak to each other, that’s why it’s in a square,” Miller says. The clear color lets the artwork, chandelier and a custom finish by Carolyn Finch stand out. The rotating collection of art glass pieces center the table.

In the primary suite, his-and-her closets were priorities. For him, easy access and visibility, darker tones and streamlining the dressing process. For her, having things put away and not distracting were key.

The family room’s bookmatched fireplace — created out of six slabs of marble — centers the room with a ledge intentionally set to its right.

Miller says discussions about holidays and talking about Christmas and where the tree was going to go dictated the space not be overlooked.

Miller continues to work with the homeowners as they prepare to put the home on the market.

“One of the successes I see as a third party looking in is the friendship that was built,” Jones says. “There’s a genuine appreciation and respect for each other that is really obvious.” TP Spring 2022

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Spring 2022

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B

igger is not always better, or is it?

When a Tulsa couple was gifted the husband’s childhood house, they knew the existing ranch home, which sits on nearly 2 acres in midtown Tulsa, would never meet their desired style regardless of how much they invested in remodels and additions.

So, with his mother’s blessing, the couple demolished the home that had been in the family for three generations to make way for their dream home: a 9,900-square-foot colonial, New England-style residence designed by Tulsa architecture firm W Design.

Emily Davis of Emily Davis Interiors was hired during the framing stage and tasked with the home’s interior. For Davis, the adage “a picture is

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worth a thousand words” rings true, which is why she always asks clients to share inspiration photos with her. “I can say ‘traditional,’ and that may conjure a different image in your head than it does in mine,” Davis says, “but it’s hard to argue with a visual.” She says it was immediately evident her clients wanted a warm, East-coast vibe.

Davis says her goal is for all her projects to reflect the people who live there. “I really want my clients’ homes to be the very best version of their style, not my style per se,” she says. “The home is a classic Federal style, so on the interior we brought elements that speak to that classicism.”

From the moment you walk in the home’s entry, it is hard to deny its grandeur. The custom, espresso-stained herringbone wood floors, paneled

walls and statement chandelier from Circa Lighting all set the tone for the rest of the house, which was completed in June 2020. Davis’ favorite feature of the home is its impressive millwork, most notably in the entry and formal entertaining areas. “The team of carpenters who worked on this home were true artists,” she says. “The details in the millwork take the home to the next level in terms of design.”

Thanks to its sheer scale, you can see the home is built for entertaining. The formal living room features soaring ceilings, a pair of chandeliers and wall paneling that was painted white to contrast and pop against the walls, which were painted Sherwin Williams’ Gray Shingle. Two sets of French doors lead to the backyard that boasts a pool and patio area.

KACEY GILPIN PHOTOGRAPHY; STYLING: ARTFULLY BY KENDALL

Davis had to reassure the homeowners the dark wall color in the study, left, was the right decision. “I like to push people in the direction of something you haven’t seen everywhere,” she says.

Above, a well-appointed mudroom eases daily life. Below, a pool is part of the nearly 2 acre property.

Above, Davis says when at all possible, she prefers to source items locally such as the living room art by Camille Cornett and pillows from Little Design Co. Below, the home’s massive kitchen has two islands, both topped with Grey Goose granite, to ensure plenty of space for cooking and entertaining.

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The formal living room also includes an outfitted bar opposite the fireplace. The bar’s bookmatched marble slab backsplash is repeated on the fireplace surround. Davis says each of the home’s four fireplaces has its own look. “This particular one (formal living room) is more modern, and it really complements the bar area in the room,” she says.

“The dining room is an incredible room to make memories in,” she adds. The room features not one, but two crystal chandeliers, a necessity for both the size of the room and its long custom table, according to Davis. The walls are covered in a Thibaut metallic silver wallpaper with neutral accents. Between the dining room and kitchen is a butler’s pantry designed to accommodate every host’s need — from china to linen storage.

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In the large kitchen, Davis says she purposefully spaced things out. “I completely disagree with the kitchen triangle concept that your sink has to be within so many feet of the appliances … I find it leads to everyone being on top of each other,” she says.

The kitchen features two islands, one intended for cooking and the other for entertaining, as well as a coffee bar on the perimeter of the room. In addition to the Thermador range and a Galley sink, one island features an induction cooktop, which helps the busy family get dinner on the table quickly. “It’s truly just a dream,” says Davis, who worked with Sullivan’s Custom Cabinets to design every detail of the space to ensure it would meet the homeowners’ needs. Davis covered the

walls in a bold, yet classic navy subway tile and Sullivan’s created a custom paint color for all the cabinetry, with the exception of the islands, which are painted Benjamin Moore’s Hale Navy.

Despite the home’s impressive size, Davis says the owners and their young children actually use all the space. “Details like a fully outfitted mudroom and drop zone off the garage and a main-level playroom ensure the ease of daily life,” she says.

The home functions equally well when extended family visits, thanks to a guest suite that is separate from both the living areas and other bedrooms.

Davis says her clients wanted a classic family home that was comfortable for day-to-day life.

“They wanted to build a house that stood the test of time,” she says. “I have no doubt this one will.” TP

KACEY GILPIN PHOTOGRAPHY; STYLING: ARTFULLY BY KENDALL

Left, the dining room features a custom-made table, multiple crystal chandeliers and metallic wallpaper all made to shine with natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Above, the master bath features a Carrera mosaic basket weave tile floor with a black marble detail, glass tiled shower walls and quartz countertops. Below, the primary powder room features wallpaper by Schumacher and a washstand style vanity from Restoration Hardware.

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Stephen Turner

Master of glass and light

BY CONNIE CRONLEY

W

hen he was a boy, Stephen Turner carried a hammer in a belt loop of his jeans.

He built elaborate tree houses along Joe Creek behind the family home, scrounging materials from the Patrick Henry addition being constructed nearby. At age 13, he built a two-story tree house dressed with shingles.

No surprise he became an architect. Some say he was the most creative architect in Tulsa. He died young, age 56, but from his small, boutique firm he spun an array of spectacular residences. Turner was prolific and eclectic, but was best known for his love of the Frank Lloyd Wright Prairie School of architecture. With walls of glass, Turner blurred the line between outdoors and inside.

He was the second of six siblings born to 56

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Gen. Joseph W. and Polly Turner of Tulsa, and was a scrawny kid from a bout with polio. In adulthood he was over 6 feet tall, pencil thin and flamboyant. “He was a gay man who always had beautiful women hanging all over him,” his brother Terry Turner says. He wore a trim beard, smoked a pipe and liked a glass of wine. Later in life, far too much wine. In the summer he tanned himself nut brown. Friends, clients and colleagues remember a larger-than-life artist with an infectious laugh, boundless creativity, amazing people skills and someone completely absorbed in the profession of architecture. Part of the scrawny kid never grew up. He was ornery, unrestrained and “funny as hell,” one friend said.

Tulsa architects Philip Doyle and Jeremy Perkins each joined his firm right out of college.

Perkins saw how Turner forged deep relationships with his clients, especially the women. “He truly loved his clients and spent a lot of time with them.

He listened closely to what they wanted and turned that into a design.” Doyle admires his versatility.

“Mediterranean, traditional, flat roof, concrete block — all over the board. I didn’t appreciate it as much then as I do now.”

Turner honed his Prairie School skill at the University of Arkansas where he studied under Fay Jones, a student of Wright. He loved stone, glass, wood and big fireplaces, but even his most stunning houses felt like a home, not photos from Architectural Digest magazine.

One of his most famous houses, and some say his best, is a contemporary concrete block residence built for Larry and Myrna Seale at 2624 E. 33rd St. and featured in John Brooks Walton’s “One Hundred More Historic Tulsa Homes.”

When the residential market hit a slump in the 1980s, he did jaw-dropping interior buildouts, including two for Dewey Bartlett Jr.’s Keener Oil and Gas. He worked such magic on the 10th floor of the historic 320 South Boston Building where a hallway resembled the underside of a ship’s deck and Turner replaced interior walls with glass bricks to illuminate the hallways. Around 2000, at 1648 S. Boston Ave., Turner transformed a dark 1950s building with glass to infuse it with light, significantly changing the building’s exterior and the interior layout.

His most astonishing residence might be the one he built for himself, “the most unique residence I’ve ever been in,” Doyle says. That house on South Lewis Avenue near East 39th Street, now owned

by Steve Sanders, can’t be seen from the street.

Secreted behind a stone wall is an organic Prairie Style home nestled in what Turner described as a Colorado forest. A double row of skylights spans the length of the ceiling. The main living area, like a Japanese tea house, has sliding glass panels opening to waterfalls and a swimming pool resembling a natural pond.

Turner tailored his one-person home for his own tastes. Instead of a kitchen, a long countertop hides an ice maker, refrigerator and two dishwashers. (He didn’t put dishes away, just moved them from one dishwasher to the other.) There’s a stovetop but no oven.

When he was a high school junior, Turner got a job with Tulsa architect Murray McCune so he could visit his home, Westhope, the only Tulsa property designed by Wright. When Turner was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer in late 2001, he had a protege drive him to Pennsylvania to see Wright’s famous Fallingwater house.

Turner died four months later, in February 2002, closing a career that began and ended looking at the Prairie Style architecture he loved. TP

COURTESY TERRY TURNER

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