Bayou beauty: A custom retreat with breathtaking views, a firepit, and endless outdoor charm
Modern farmhouse dream: 20 acres of country charm with room to grow
Backyard volcano? Yes, please! This playful home blends luxury with fun
Beyond the Listing: A stunning custom home designed for lake living and unforgettable gatherings
Thank you for taking the time to read our newest edition of Green Country Living.
This edition marks the beginning of our 20th year producing GCL. The actual anniversary of our first edition comes in the fall edition later this year.
A lot of things and people have come and gone in our newsroom since the first GCL.
One of the driving forces behind the magazine — Advertising Sales Executive Angela Jackson — has been here for all 20 years worth of editions.
Angela is a cornerstone of the operation both in its creative side and in sales.
While Angela is the continuity between all the editions — nearly 80 in all — she is not alone in the production of our magazine.
There have been multiple publishers, editors, writers, photographers and designers.
before we realized this would be some kind of an anniversary year.
Kevin Kizzia and Charlie Meggyes have been with us since the beginning, too – helping to create content and distribute the final product.
There will be more time to reminisce over the course of three more editions this year and to remember more names of individuals who contributed to GCL’s success.
From the Editor
Ed Choate
The first edition credited: Lawrence Corvi, Kristi Fry, Vicky Holland, Leilani Roberts Ott, David Gerard, Cathy Spaulding, Molly Day, Jerry Willis, Jennifer Lyles and Lance McTrusty.
Larry was our publisher. Kristi and Vicky were the editorial side of our product. Leilani, David, Cathy and Molly wrote the stories. Jerry and Jennifer shot the photos. Lance was in charge of advertising at the time.
There are a couple names that stand out.
Cathy has been writing a great deal of the stories in GCL for its entirety.
As you check out this edition, you will find a story written by Cathy about the home of Jennifer and Jay Blackshaw. We asked Jennifer, a former Phoenix photographer, to shoot her home
Green Country Living is about homes as you know. But it also is about relationships.
The three most important relationships are with our advertisers and those who invite us into their homes.
Advertisers help finance the magazine. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to help your business. Among those who have with us from the start — Cooper Furniture, Creek Nation Casino, Firstar Bank, Muskogee Abstract & Title, Pioneer Abstract and Remax of Muskogee.
Shameless plug inserted here – if you like our magazine, please tell our advertisers you saw their ad in GCL.
We couldn’t possible achieve success without the many individuals and families who graciously allow us to highlight their homes. Beautiful homes are the cornerstone of Green Country Living. The concept sets us apart from many other magazines. So, thank you for sharing your home and stories with our readers.
We certainly don’t want to forget our readers.
We appreciate you very much and hope that you appreciate our efforts.
Thank you!
PUBLISHER/EDITOR Ed Choate
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Angela Jackson
LAYOUT & DESIGN Joshua Cagle
WRITERS Cathy Spaulding, Wendy Burton
PHOTOGRAPHERS Mandy Corbell, Ronn Rowland, Cathy Spaulding,
ADVERTISING COORDINATOR Joe Mack
ADVERTISING SALES Angela Jackson, Therese Lewis
Green Country Living is published by the Muskogee Phoenix. Contents of the magazine are by the Muskogee Phoenix. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior consent of the Muskogee Phoenix. Green Country Living, P.O. Box 1968, Muskogee OK 74402. email publisher@muskogeephoenix.com - Editorial: (918) 684-2929 Advertising and distribution: (918) 684-2804
Unique
Custom-built
Stylish
Realtor makes unexpected journey to Colorado-style home in Broken Arrow
Longtime
Muskogee realtor Cindy Teel knew what she wanted in a custom built house.
She found it already built in the Rabbit Run addition in Broken Arrow.
Teel and her husband, Dr. Barry Hoffman, wanted to move to the Broken Arrow area to be closer
to her son. They began looking for builders around 2020, around the time the COVID 19 pandemic hit.
“We were going to build pretty much the same style home I had in Muskogee,” she said. “It was going to be a year and a half before they could do it, because of the material shortage,” she said. “So the builder said “I’ll sell you my house.’”
By Cathy Spaulding • Photos by Mandy Corbell
The house, designed by architect Bob Maddox, had nearly all the amenities Teel said she was looking for.
“He really loaded it up, the builder,” she said. “It’s very livable, very open, good for entertaining, light and airy, lots of windows.”
Teel described the house as a Colorado style, with loads of natural wood posts and beams, stone arches and hearths, copper finishes.
“I like texture and an elegant, rustic look,” she said. “It’s very livable and very open.”
Teal said they made only a few changes in the house, mostly switching light fixtures.
“Some of the ceilings, we had them faux painted,” she said. “We put a hammered copper sink in the kitchen.”
Each room has a different ceiling treatment and a variety of walls.
“Every wall looks so different,” she said.
Floors in most rooms are white French oak, unifying the house. Three bathrooms and a laundry room have tile floors.
The house is made with natural stone and brick. The two-car garage has room for large vehicles. The roof has five copper finials.
“I’ve always loved copper,” Teel said.
The 2,850 square-foot house has 17 lodge poles inside, Teel said.
Knotty alder beams support the vaulted ceiling. A stone hearth features a long gas fireplace and wood mantles. A stone hearth features a long gas fireplace and wood mantles. Floor to ceiling windows are on both sides of the hearth. Cushiony leather furniture and zebra-print chairs surround a table with a cyprus root base. Teel said the room has several unique tables from Woodland Creek Furniture in Tulsa. Wine is stored in a hutch.
Mounted deer and other animal heads are in the living room and throughout the house. Teel said she and her husband bought some and others are gifts from clients.
Stone arches, supported with stone columns provide the entry to the open kitchen. Barstools sit by a curved counter. Counters have thick granite with a rough edge.
The stove has a vent hood with a copper patina, open shelving on each side of
the hood. Walk-in pantries are on both sides of the cooking area. Teel said she keeps turntables with food in one pantry and small appliances, such as air fryers and toaster ovens in the other. Both have pullout shelves.
Stainless steel appliances come from Hahn Appliances, they include two stacked microwave ovens, an ice maker and a coffee area.
A dining area with a copper table and a copper ceiling is outside the kitchen. Teel
said the brought the antler chandelier from Muskogee.
One room serves as an office/TV room/ bedroom. It has a built-in desk by a long window, a stone fireplace and log beams. A bearskin hangs on pine shiplap. A built-in cabinet with copper accents opens onto a Murphy bed.
The master bedroom has a built-in bench under tall windows. The ceiling is all brick in multiple colors. An artist friend from Tulsa painted the wall behind the bed.
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The master bedroom features a multi-colored brick ceiling, painted wall and a window with a built-in bench.
The clawfoot master bathtub has its own brick-filled nook.
Columns and column-like trees surround a backyard dining area.
A guest bath features a wood paneled wall.
Arches lead into the master bath which has an arched walk-in shower. A clawfoot tub sits inside an arched brick and wood alcove. The ceiling has half-rounded beams.
A third bedroom features a ceiling with thick wood support beams. The antler chandelier came from Woodland Creek. The bed has a copper headboard and
footboard. A faux fur throw offers a warm spot for Teel’s two Sphynx kitties, Twiggy and Ziggy.
The kitties also have their own space in a roomy laundry area, which features shelves and cabinets.
A 6-foot brick fence surrounds the back yard. Flagstone patios and sidewalks are in
the front and back.
The back patio has wood columns supporting a wood ceiling. A brick shelf has a smoker.
Another part of the back yard has a fountain and chiminea. An airy pergola with a ceiling fan hangs over a conversation area.
By Wendy burton •
by Mandy Corbell
Apristine lawn gently sloping down to the woods and a bayou, a perfect sledding hill, plenty of beautiful trees, and a stone firepit for enjoying outdoor gatherings with friends and family are some of the highlights of Jake and Amber Tiehen’s dream home just east of Fort Gibson.
“My husband built a small staircase to get down to the water easily,” Amber said. “We go down there and hang out and play in the water, we have a kayak. Our kids love playing in it.” They love roasting hot dogs, making s’mores, and hanging out around the firepit, too — a special feature they asked the builder of their dream home to include.
The Tiehen family couldn’t love their custom-built home more, and especially appreciate the builder who helped turn their dream into reality.
“We were planning to build before COVID, and we had already bought the land, but waited until a couple years after to start building,” Amber said. “I grew up on a farm and so I wanted my kids to grow up in the country as well, they are 7 and 3, and I didn’t want to wait much longer so they could really enjoy the country.”
The house took 14 months to complete, and the Tiehen family have been happily living there for almost a year now. The process of dreaming up and
The family’s outdoor firepit is a much loved space for gatherings with family and friends.
The grand entry of the home features a massive wooden door with beveled glass allowing natural light to fill the space.
building their home was made a singularly pleasant experience by their builder, Mike Williams, Amber said.
He had built a house in their neighborhood and the couple loved the way it looked, so when they were looking for a builder, they sought Williams.
“He was such a nice person, and he draws all his plans himself. He just so easy to work with,” Amber said. “He really listened to us and what we wanted. We had such a great experience.”
Getting started was much easier than they anticipated.
“Thankfully, because it can be so overwhelming, the first thing Mike said
was ‘pick your door out,’ then he would say ‘pick out what paint colors you want,’ so we did that step by step,” she said. “And all of the contractors he has are so good and so helpful.”
The custom trim contractor, Don Gullett, was especially impressive, she said, building out a stained pine barn door for Amber’s office that was exactly what she asked for. “I showed him a picture and he made it that day for me.”
Aaron and Sons Cabinets provided the custom-built, sleek design Amber wanted in her kitchen, and Williams made sure she has the ample-sized pantry and laundry room she dreamed about.
“Another really awesome thing about Mike, several times he would meet me at Lowe’s, or Millcreek, and he would be so helpful deciding what was best — he was so good at taking out that extra stress,” she said. “I don’t know if any other builder would meet you at the store and help you pick things out. I loved that.”
The 3,500-square-foot house on 10 acres is exactly what they hoped for with four bedrooms, four and one-half bathrooms, a game room, guest room upstairs, an office for
Amber, a three-car garage, and plenty of open living space to enjoy with family and friends.
The kitchen is especially designed for entertaining, something Amber loves to do, with a side-by-side column refrigerator and freezer, double built-in ovens, and a pot filler. A large kitchen island with seating separates the bright kitchen from the living room.
“I’m in a book club, and host family stuff,” Amber said. “My parents had their 50th anniversary this year and so I had the party at my new house, and it was so nice.” The bonus room upstairs is also designed for guests, with a private bath included.
The kitchen countertops are “Etheral Glow” quartz, white with tiny gold flecks. Cabinet doors and faucets are done in gold, floors in “Stockbridge Oak” luxury vinyl plank flooring.
Large plate-glass windows fill the walls in the living room, dining room, and master bedroom. “We wanted to be able to see the trees and the sky, really enjoy nature,” Amber said.
A stone, corner fireplace centers the seating area of the living room,
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The back patio features a tongueand-groove plank ceiling and plenty of space for kids and adults alike to enjoy outdoor time.
Amber Tiehen’s dream pantry includes plenty of counter and cabinet space for small appliances and shelving for food storage.
The mud room that leads to the garage includes built-in cubbies, a sink, and the stairs that lead to the upstairs guest bed and bath.
and built-in cabinets and shelving are abundant throughout the home. “We tried to really utilize every space in this house so if there was space for a cabinet or a closets, I put it in,” Amber said.
The home feels extra roomy with high ceilings throughout — 12-feet in the living room, 10 in the kitchen and hall, and 9 feet in the bedrooms — and 8-foot-tall doors.
The Tiehens chose neutral paint colors in main rooms, “Worldy Gray” with “Extra White” trim by Sherwin Williams, and in other rooms, they chose to use vibrant colors, such as “Cheery Pink” in their daughter’s bathroom, and a gorgeous “Waterloo” blue in Amber’s office and laundry room.
The thick, soft carpet in the bedrooms is “Urban Rustic” by Patriots Point, and the floors in the bathrooms are Belucci Bianca polished porcelain — hexagonal in the master bath. The laundry room floor is tiled in patterned Mallorca porcelain.
The pantry and laundry room are specially designed for the family. The roomy pantry includes plenty of cabinets and drawers, and plenty of space for her appliances to keep the kitchen clutter-free.
The laundry room includes plenty of storage, a large countertop for folding clothes, and a mud room sink. “But my favorite part of the laundry room is the custom cabinet with built-in drying racks.
There’s four panels that pull out called ‘dryaway’ racks for all my clothes,” Amber said.
Both rooms feature black pearl granite countertops. Bathrooms have “New Venatino Grey” quartz countertops.
In the master bedroom, Amber and Jake have filled one wall with windows overlooking the back of their property and their firepit area. The ceiling is vaulted and features a custom, stained beam.
The master bath is entered through an interesting set of doors. “it’s kind of a like a mini-French door but they’re really tall,” Amber said. “That’s what we had in our old house and I think those look really nice.” The floor is done in hexagonal tile,
The children’s large playroom could also be repurposed as a bedroom or den in the future.
The laundry room includes a custom-built cabinet with pull-out drying racks and a large counter for folding.
The master bedroom has a vaulted ceiling and breathtaking views of the outdoors.
all the fixtures in the bathroom are black and cabinetry is white.
The children’s bedrooms are large with plenty of natural light and private bathrooms designed specially for each — pink flamingos for their daughter and a shark theme for their son. The children also have a 15-foot by 16-foot playroom that could become another bedroom in the future, if needed.
The Tiehens chose every detail of the exterior of their home too, making it attractive and unique in several ways.
“We did river rock in our landscaping instead of mulch,” Amber said. “I thought it was kind of special and different. Underneath our front porch, the ceiling, and on the back porch, we have tongueand-groove stained wood, I just loved that look.”
Much of the exterior is done in Bershire stone that matches the firepit and the fireplace inside. LP smart side exterior siding is done in “Greek Villa” by Sherwin-Williams, the roof is done in “Midnight Black” shingles, and the brick is “Snow Mist.”
The grand entry includes the extra-wide front door they chose first in the whole process — stained wood with beveled glass panes that give the main entry a cheerful glow.
And pride of place in the entry hall hangs a painting by renowned Cherokee Artist Virginia Stroud — a gift from Amber’s grandmother — with a sign that says in Cherokee “until we see each other again.” It’s perfect for seeing family and friends off after a delightful visit to the Tiehen home.
Jennifer and Jay Blackshaw have the house of their dreams, complete with a theater/ game room, built-in coffee bar — and a volcano.
Jennifer Blackshaw, a former Muskogee Phoenix photographer, said she and her husband had planned to build a house. But then they found this 2,800-square foot house south of Bixby.
The two-story, four-bed room house is on a half-acre lot next to a pond. A blue pottery fountain contrasts with white rocks in the garden bed leading to the entry.
“The way this house is laid out, we absolutely fell in love with it,” Jay said said. “We actually believe the house was made for us.”
By Cathy Spaulding • Photos by Jennifer bla
Almost.
“The house had 90% of what we wanted, Jennifer said, adding that she was not enamored of the generic appliances.
She said she works at Hahn Appliances, so she was able to buy appliances she wanted from the vendor.
Kitchen appliances include a built-in stainless steel refrigerator, a trash compactor and built-in microwave oven. A
built-in bar has a small refrigerator.
A built-in Thermador coffee maker serves hot beverages, including cappuccinos, coffee and lattes. Just preset your favorite brews, press your mug against the device and out comes the beverage, with foam on top, if desired.
The breakfast area has 96 bottles of wine on a wall, conveniently arrayed on four tall wine racks. Sun shines through
a picture window.
The kitchen features granite countertops, white cabinets on top, black on the bottom. An island has the kitchen sink. There is space for barstools on the island’s other side.
The kitchen opens onto spacious living room.
Black wood beams criss-cross a high ceiling.
CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE:
A bar offers a variety of cold and roomtemperature storage options.
Racks hold just under 100 bottles of wine on the wall.
Stainless steel amenities include a microwave, trash compactor and coffee brewer.
“It really does make the room look bigger and allows light to come in,” Jay said. “You feel like you’re in a mansion.”
An electric fireplace with a black brick hearth is on one side of the living area. Open shelves and cabinets are on both sides.
Large picture windows look onto the back yard, which features a swimming pool, cabana, hot tub — and a volcano.
The master bedroom has a black wall with raised wood pattern, which Jennifer likes.
“She loves it so much, she wouldn’t let me put pictures on it,” Jay said.
He said a lot of furniture came from Mathis Brothers.
Master bath has his and her sinks, standalone tub and a walk-in shower with two shower heads.
A small room by the master suite serves as a workout space.
Upstairs, a theater/game room has a shuffleboard table, dart board, dorm fridge, digital popcorn machine and vintage Pac-Man video game. A row of plush theater recliners look onto a big screen TV.
A small laundry area, with shelves and cabinets is next to a roomy walk-in closet, which has high shelves, a mirror and windows.
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“Sometimes we make dates, where it is just us,” Jay said.
A third bedroom, which serves as a guest room, also is upstairs. It has a small walk-in closet and a bathroom with a shower.
The house is equipped with an alarm system. A voice speaks when an exterior door is opened.
The back yard is a dreamland of its own. There’s a play set for the grandchildren. Stone fountains pour into an in-ground pool, which has a sea turtle painted on the bottom. A cabana by the
pool has curtains and loungers.
Jennifer said her husband comes from Costa Rica, “so there are themes of Costa Rica out back.”
A hot tub is by one side of the pool and a propane fire pit is by the opposite side. Jennifer said most of the furniture came from Metro Appliances, Hahn’s sister business.
Jay now is working on an outdoor kitchen, sauna and a raw wood fire pit.
“I just keep going, they gave me all this yard, it’s so huge,” he said. Now for the volcano.
Jay said he made the volcano from leftover dirt from building the pool. He sprinkled the mound with lava rocks, and there are two arteries where lava comes down.
“And it’s safe,” Jay said. “You can get these science kits from Amazon. When the kids are around I mix it and make it erupt. Mostly, it is really just an oversized chiminea. When you put in chiminea wood, I love the smell of it and once it gets to burning and I smother it and the smoke comes out of it and it absolutely looks like a volcano.”
Tulsa residents
Melissa and Leland Nissley faced a challenge while moving to the Muskogee area in 2020.
“We looked for almost nine months before we found the house,” Melissa Nissley said. “That was COVID year so the market was pretty tight. Looked in Muskogee, looked in Fort Gibson, looked in Oktaha,
Park Hill, looked around everywhere.”
They found the modern farmhouse of their dreams on a 20-acre spread in Fort Gibson. She said Duane and Alisha Cooper built the house in 2017.
“We looked at it the day after they listed it and gave them an offer,” Nissley said.
The Nissleys are financial advisors with Edward D. Jones.
By Cathy Spaulding • Photos by Mandy Corbell
Melissa Nissley said she likes living close to Muskogee and Fort Gibson, but far enough away to be in the country.
“We loved the unique floor plan, it was open and it was a great price,” she said. “We like the fact that we can grow old here and never have to move.”
The two-story house has three bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms and a loft.
An east-facing porch sweeps across the front of the house. Nissley she likes watching the sunrise from the porch or
LEFT: Leland and Melissa Nissley enjoy wine in their kitchen.
BELOW: The bar is a room of its own, complete with places to sit.
the kitchen window. A driveway circles around a butterfly-attracting garden featuring a “gnome house” made from a tree stump.
The house’s unique floor plan becomes apparent immediately. The entry opens onto a spacious island kitchen. Barstools cozy up to the island. A breakfast area has a built-in bench.
“We spend most of time at the kitchen island,” Nissley said. “That’s kind of our place even when family comes.”
The family comes often from Broken
Arrow, Fort Gibson and Bixby.
“At least one or two weekends a month we’ll have the grandkids,” Nissley said. “My parents come once a month and stay in the front bedroom.”
White cabinets line the kitchen walls. A walk-in pantry is tucked deceptively into a corner.
The kitchen and living area offer plenty of space for entertaining, which Nissley said they do often.
“That’s one of the favorite things we like to do,” she said. “We like to decorate
for the different seasonal holidays for the grandkids. We rotate every holiday.”
This time of year, the decor pops with pink and red valentine pillows here and there.
A roomy bar featuring a bench, two chairs and two windows is smack in the middle of the living space.
“It’s kind of a decompress room to hang out,” Nissley said. “Sometimes we have a cocktail. It’s nice and quiet.”
She said her brother-in-law, Myron Nissley, made a wall lamp featuring
whiskey bottles with lightbulbs in side. She said her father-in-law, Ray Nissley, made a corner cabinet for cigars.
Melissa Nissley said they made few changes to the house. They even bought most of the furniture along with the building.
They painted the white gas fireplace black to contrast with the white walls.
Two bedrooms, joined by a Jack and Jill bathroom, are on one side of the first floor. The children’s room features a hanging macrame seat and a polkadot
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The kitchen offers two places for dining — noshing at the bar or meals at the table.
The deep corner pantry is much larger than it looks.
The bar features storage for cigars, glasses, and beverages.
bedspread.
The master bedroom on the other side has a recessed ceiling with a lit ceiling fan. A sliding barn door opens onto a master bath with his and her sinks. The bathtub is built into a nook with an opaque window.
Upstairs, a roomy loft offers all sorts of playtime or work-time possibilities. It features a walk-in closet and a walk-in attic.
The back porch can be its own room with a vaulted ceiling, gas fireplace and big screen TV. Nissley said they enjoy
CLOCKWISE FROM TOP:
Comfortable seating surrounds the warming fireplace in the living room.
A bath has its own nook with a frosted window that ensures privacy while bringing in light.
A front porch swing offers a sweeping view of the Nissley property.
A sliding barn door opens onto a half bath.
The master bath features his and her sinks, plus a walk-in shower.
watching the Cowboys — Dallas and OSU. Other favorite teams Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Oklahoma City Thunder.
A grill and Masterbuilt smoker are at one side. Nissley said they plan to screen in the porch and add a built-in grill.
“We’re definitely in the process of change,” she said.
The back porch faces west.
“The sunset is gorgeous,” Nissley said. We see the coal train going to OG&E. We have deer. We have coyotes. We have raccoons and squirrels.”
They also raise chickens that are well protected from the coyotes.
“We laugh that we have one of the worst business plans ever,” Nissley said, adding that she’s allergic to eggs and her husband doesn’t eat chicken.
“The chickens are just for the eggs, and they all go to our kids,” she said.
In addition to the attached garage, there is a storage shed for tractors and mowers. The spread offers plenty of romping space for the two dogs, Blaze and Chloe. Nissley said they are building their parents house on the property and working on a second pond.
The existing pond has benches in strategic spots.
“We can fish, it is stocked,” she said. “But we just go sit out there and hang out.”
» ADDRESS: 421419 E. 1183 Loop, Eufaula, OK
» ASKING PRICE: $775,000 (includes a boat slip on the community dock)
» SQUARE FOOTAGE: 2,700+ sq. ft.
» ACREAGE: 0.96 acres
» BEDROOMS: 3
» BATHROOMS: 3.5
» HEATING AND COOLING: Geothermal system
» OTHER AMENITIES: Floor-to-ceiling plate glass windows with lake views, vaulted 16-foot ceiling in living areas, custom cabinetry and built-ins throughout, spacious master suite with luxury
bath, walk-in shower, and freestanding tub, bonus room for office, game room, or additional bedroom, large two-car garage with ample storage for lake gear, community amenities include resort-style clubhouse, pool, pickleball courts, playground, dog park, fishing pond, and walking trails.
» FLOORS: A mix of wood, tile, and high-end carpet.
» SCHOOL DISTRICT: Eufaula - Sch Dist (T2).
» INFORMATION: Natalie Tracy, Lakeside Real Estate and Custom Homes, Contact: (918) 720-5773.
Avision realized by two partners passionate about home design, Natalie and Aaron Tracy, this more than 2,700-squarefoot home located in a lakefront subdivision on Lake Eufaula is easily a
By Wendy burton •
discerning buyer’s future dream home.
Natalie — the Oklahoma agent broker for the recent Patriot Pointe development — and Aaron — who specializes in custom home construction — own Lakeside Real Estate and Custom Homes.
traCy
The beautiful home located at 421419 E. 1183 Loop, Eufaula, is the ultimate vision of everything Natalie and Aaron love themselves — custom design, thoughtful craftsmanship, and a deep love for lakeside living.
And the neighborhood is a prime location for vacation homes, full-time family homes, is airbnb and Vrbo friendly, and comes with a slew of amenities for all, Natalie said.
Some of the standout features of the development are the resort-style clubhouse,
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The home's open spaces, high ceilings, and floor-toceiling windows throughout give it an airy feel full of natural light.
The Patron Pointe development includes a massive clubhouse, community pool, pickleball courts, playground, and fishing pond.
The focal point fireplace has an industrial concrete feel, but the flooring and decor is a comfortable, natural design.
a large community pool, pickleball courts, playground, dog park, fishing pond, and walking trails. About 30 homes have been built in Patriot Pointe so far.
“The entire subdivision sold out in 19 months so that definitely was a good market reaction to the demand for Lake Eufaula, and something that is fairly unique,” Aaron said. “It’s an all-paved, gated subdivision with a massive community pool and clubhouse, high amenity for what you see in lake development.”
This home was the first to go up, just a stone’s throw from the clubhouse, and it was one the couple were able to put every ounce of experience and passion into designing as a standard for the upscale development.
“The purpose of this home was always to complement the environment,” Aaron says, explaining that Patriot Pointe is designed to allow homeowners to embrace the outdoors as much as the indoors.
RIGHT: The light fixture in the dining room is an art piece Natalie Tracy loved and wanted to make a statement.
BELOW LEFT: The kitchen features contemporary cabinetry and interesting accents in tile and wood.
BELOW RIGHT: The kitchen and appliances are made for entertaining.
They typically work with homeowners to give them everything they desire in the design, construction, and overall project, but this time the couple were able to build to their hearts’ content instead.
“When we get to design every aspect of a home like this, we like to have fun,” Aaron said. “It’s our chance to go more cutting edge, use things we’ve seen at the homebuilding show, in Architectural
Digest. But I think it’s also important to stay away from trendy. Natalie and I have always just been drawn to timeless design.”
The two-story house includes three bedrooms, four bathrooms, a huge two-car garage — with plenty of space for storing lake toys, tubes, water skis and other sundry playtime items — and a bonus room that could be a game room, office, or future bedroom.
The exterior is clad in native stone with James Hardie siding, tongue-and-groove planks line the porch ceilings, it features a shingled roof with metal accents, and it incorporates high-quality windows made by Quaker. The back porch is plumbed and wired to facilitate any outdoor lifestyle people want so it’s ready to install an outdoor kitchen and a future hot tub, Aaron said.
ABOVE: The master bath includes cabinetry in "Urbane Bronze" by Sherwin-Williams and industrial mirrors and hardware.
BELOW: The master bath is roomy and elegant.
The heat and air system is geothermal, which is incredibly efficient and installed by Hollyfield Services out of Muskogee, Aaron said. Most of the main construction materials and contractors are sourced locally, including lumber from Millcreek in Broken Arrow.
All the cabinetry throughout the home, including built-in dressers and desks in walk-in closets, is custom made with ample storage in mind to allow for clean, uncluttered living spaces.
“The angle for Natalie and I is that by nature we tend to lean more toward clean contemporary, but you’re at the lake so you want to integrate natural products like the rock, wood, and stains,” he said. Natalie oversaw the interior design, with a more than a nod toward natural, rustic decor and a smidge of urban industrial design thrown in here and there through light fixtures and the incredible floor-to-ceiling fireplace.
“I like to do this in design — combine some of the elements of an earthy nature, but the fireplace has an industrial concrete look and the light fixtures try to incorporate that as well,” she said. “I also love to include artistic features, like the dining room light fixture which I ordered from overseas. We had to put every piece of it together ourselves, but it was worth it.”
LEFT: Closets throughout the home are roomy with built-in cabinets and dressers.
FAR LEFT: The luxurious freestanding tub has a private nook in the master bath.
A bath upstairs includes black matte hardware and contemporary cabinetry.
A guest bathroom includes a large shower with frameless glass doors.
A guest room upstairs includes large windows and high ceilings.
Natalie has furnished the home in quality furniture and decor with an aim toward comfortable entertaining, family gatherings, celebrations, and cozy nights spent around the fireplace.
“Many people purchasing a lake home love to have a turnkey home so these furnishings are available, everything down to all the linens is ready to go,” she said.
Doors throughout the home are Logan doors from Millcreek, and Natalie hand-selected the luxurious carpet on the staircase and in bedrooms. “This is a super-thick carpet, but with just enough pattern so it’s not just plain. It’s higher-end, durable and long lasting,” she said.
“Many people purchasing a lake home love to have a turnkey home so these furnishings are available, everything down to all the linens is ready to go.”
— Natalie Tracy
The living room, kitchen and dining room are open spaces with a 16-foot vaulted ceiling and floor-to-ceiling plate glass windows to let in natural light and allow for lovely outdoor views — of not just trees and sky, but wildlife such as turkeys and deer that make appearances from time to time.
The kitchen features Frigidaire Pro appliances, including a gas stove and a refrigerator/ freezer that has a separate cooling drawer roomy enough for party platters and drinks.
A custom wood-veneered vent hood and picket tile backsplash add texture and warmth to the contemporary entertaining space. A 9-foot kitchen
CLOCKWISE FROM RIGHT:
The back patio is perfect for hosting company while enjoying the great outdoors.
The bonus room is a great secondary living space, but could be a bedroom or playroom.
The mud room includes a sink and built-in coat and shoe storage cubbies.
island separates the kitchen from the dining room, which also features expansive natural light-filled windows.
A large pantry includes built-in shelving and cabinets perfect for storing kitchen appliances out of sight and keeping the main area pleasantly clutter-free. Behind the kitchen, a short hall leads to the powder room for guests, a mud room with a sink and built-in cubbies and coat racks, and the entrance to the garage.
The powder room has a vessel sink, gold fixtures and black granite countertops. “Lindsey Boles is the owner of
Surfaces in Bixby and the design consultant on all the countertops throughout the house,” Aaron said.
The master bedroom, located on the bottom floor, features a vaulted ceiling and a wall of windows, and leads to a master bath made for luxury indulgence. A walk-in shower and freestanding tub complement two vanities and cabinetry painted in “Urbane Bronze” by Sherwin Williams.
The mirrors and hardware evoke an industrial feel that feels natural in the contemporary space. Upstairs, there are
two more large bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and the bonus room.
Priced at $775,000 that includes a boat slip on the community dock, the home is a true gem in the heart of Patriot Pointe — and an opportunity to live the lakelovers dream.
“People come to the lake to reconnect,” Aaron says. “With nature. With family. With friends. And it’s the floor-toceiling windows, the open spaces, every room facing the sunrise, sunset, or the lake, that really make it a beautiful place to do that.”
Christmas in Toyland — was more about giving than receiving. Parade-goers were encouraged to bring toys or personal hygiene items for parade marshals, Fostering Hope and Murrow Indian Children’s Home.
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