On the Market: A Honey Paneled Beauty in Wildewood
text and photos by Lynne Rostochil
Enjoy real, true, rich wood paneling? Then you’re going to love this gem that just hit the market in one of my favorite OKC neighborhoods, hilly Wildewood.
This home was built in 1959 for a local attorney and his family, and they loved it so much that they’ve been the sole owners until now. They also loved it so much and took such great care of their hilltop abode that there is nary a crack or one bit of settling in this well built, 2,400 sf home. That alone is pretty astonishing — after all, we do live in clay-soiled Oklahoma where every building seems to heave a bit over time — but what is even better is the incredibly preserved MCM interior. Overlook the furnishings, which certainly do not match the home’s architecture, and you’ll find so many original details. Let’s start with the formal panel-covered living room complete with a room divider/built-in bookcase and red brick fireplace — glorious!
Love that vaulted ceiling that makes the room so open and airy! The fireplace overlooks the galley kitchen with original stainless steel countertops and more jaw dropping blonde wood cabinetry and built-ins:
That countertop is DIVINE! And I’m so in love with that two-way shelf that divides the kitchen from the breakfast area — so, so sweet! And see what I mean about the paneling? Having grown up in the ’70s with that dark faux wood paneling crap, I’ve never been a huge fan of the look … until now. I’m so in love with the honey-colored stuff in this house because it’s so darned cozy and makes every room feel warm, bright and inviting. I mean, don’t you just want to sit at that kitchen breakfast table for hours and bask in the cheery glow that all of that paneling provides? I know I do.
Let’s take our basking into the equally warm and happy, window-wrapped den on the other side of the kitchen:
All of that light! All of those windows offset by that paneling! How great is this room — I mean, really great? While I’m not too crazy about the dining table in here — would probably move it into the formal living area if I called this place home — you can tell from all of the furnishings that this is an ample space. And look at the original acoustic tiled ceiling! Please new owners, don’t change one thing about this room … well, okay, you can remove the carpet but that’s it!
Off of the living areas is a hallway with a bath, two bedrooms, and a pretty impressively sized laundry room:
At the end of the hall is one of the biggest master suites I’ve ever seen in an older home:
You can’t tell from the photos but this is a BIG room. At some point, the owners converted a small third bedroom into a study for the master, which is why this space is so huge. The all-original master bathroom is off of the bedroom — love the tile and sink so much:
There are so many things to love about this stunning house, but you haven’t seen the half of it. The outdoor space is just as impressive. This hilltop home sits on a giant half acre lot with limitless potential. Want a pool? No problem, plenty of room to build a near-Olympic sized one if you want. Looking to create a garden oasis in the middle of the city? Well, you easily could plant your own mini arboretum in this yard. Just want a fun play area for the kiddos? Yeah, there’s a ton of space for that, too. Here’s a partial view of the backyard and you’ll see what I mean:
And one side yard with the nearest door that goes into the master and the background door that opens up to the den:
Perhaps the best part of this original beauty is the price — a modest $179,000! I know, I can’t believe it, either! So, if you want to live in a roomy house in one of the loveliest neighborhoods in the Metro, you can contact the listing agent — Jerri Shepherd at 753-4477. A big thanks to my pal, Kerry Norman, for showing me this mid-century modern treasure — if you don’t have a realtor, she’ll be happy to show you the home, too. Her number is 848-4940.