2006
Home & Garden Tour
2025 Carey Place
This is the home of Aaron and Aimee Ahpeatone at 2025 Carey Place. It is a 1 ½ story Spanish Mission Colonial Revival situated along the unique street which was once intended to be a streetcar right-of-way. The right-of-way was abandoned in the 1930’s making way for private developers to begin construction of these unique homes and duplexes.
After months of house shopping, this house came open about a year ago and was purchased the first day on the market without Aaron seeing it. Aimee fell in love with this quaint home and knew Aaron would love it too. After a year on Carey Place, they are still quite happy with their decision.
The home was built in approximately 1936 and sold for around $9,000. The home still has some of the original charming touches including the original tile in the entryway and upstairs bathroom. The tile in the bathroom is the basketweave pattern. The original working fireplace is unique to the houses in this neighborhood. Also, in the main living area a hidden cubby exists which had housed alcohol during the time of prohibition. Rick Deaton, former owner of 2025 and current neighbor just to the north said, “when I bought it, it still had some old glass pieces in it.” Rick also did a complete remodel of the living room ceiling and most of the beautiful texturing throughout the home.
The kitchen was remodeled about 8 years ago by another former owner, Barbara Smith. She added the front yard garden, the new kitchen, and had the original wood floors reworked. We’ve been told that at one time the house doubled as a barbershop and that the side window from the garden into the office was the doorway.
Throughout the home you may notice various pieces of art, many of which are by local artists and friends Aimee and Aaron love to support. Aimee says, “When we purchased the home a year ago, it was in such great condition that we’ve only needed to paint a couple of walls, put in a few new appliances, and arrange some fixtures to our taste!”
1828 N. Indiana Avenue
Begun in 1929 and completed in 1930, this fine example of Colonial Revival was constructed by renowned Oklahoma builder, G.A. Nichols, for Robert and Mildred Loy. The Loys lived here, along with their children, until shortly after the end of WWII. The architecture features a side-gabled roof with a small portico at the left front corner. This portico displays an elliptical arch under the gable, classical columns and dentil molding common to the style. The south side of the home is spanned by an open porch with similar detailing and supports a second story balcony opening off the master bedroom. A bay window topped by a copper cap allows a view of the backyard from the breakfast area at the rear of the home.
The current owners, Scott and Janet Seefeldt, purchased the home in 1996. Over the years they discovered several coincidences connecting their love of the home to its first owners. During one renovation, original wallpaper was revealed in several rooms…in patterns and colors very similar to those chosen by the Seefeldts. Several years after having the current awnings installed, the Seefeldts received a photo from Jim Loy, son of the original owners, showing the home as it appeared in the early 1930s—complete with the original awnings—in a similar green and white stripe.
The interior layout has changed very little over the decades and still has many of the more appealing features common to historic homes—original hardwood and ceramic tile floors, plaster walls and ceilings, original kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, solid wood doors with period hardware, lighting fixtures and divided light windows with wavy glass. The wall dividing the kitchen from the breakfast room was partially removed in the 1980s and a peninsula with a dropped-in Jennaire was added. Janet Seefeldt’s collection of antique potholders is displayed above the cooking area.
Although the home has had more than a half dozen owners and was used as a rental for several years, it wasn’t until 1998, 50 years after the Loys moved away, that the Seedfeldts discovered a box of old Christmas ornaments in the rafters above the garage apartment. Several of the ornaments were from the early 1900’s and when Janet Seefeldt contacted Jim Los about the box he confirmed that they had belonged to his parents. Mr. Loy insisted that the current owners keep them, explaining that his mother had loved the house and missed it after she left. Janet Seefeldt fashioned the old ornaments into a Christmas wreath always displayed during the holidays.
Displayed in the entryway all year round, however, is a dress form adorned with an 1850’s French wedding gown, featuring a 16-inch waist, and affectionately referred to by the Seefeldts as “Mildred” in honor of the home’s first mistress.
1804 NW 18th
This year’s featured Gatewood home is 1804 NW 18th Street. The brick two-story house was built in 1924 in the Prairie School style. It has a low pitched hipped roof with overhanging eaves, a projecting front porch with a gabled pediment and recessed-panel brick on a massive pier. An open terrace extends from the front door to the opposite corner of the house and an open side porch has a room above. The glazed paneled door has side lights; the “9/1” wood windows have wide concrete sills, and “soldier course” lintels on the first floor. The home also has a left rear one-story brick garage/cottage.
The home was purchased by John and Susan Hogan in the fall of 1993. The Hogan’s selected a home in Gatewood Historic District to be within walking distance of St. Francis of Assisi Church and to allow their three children to walk to Rosary School.
John and Susan were also attracted to Gatewood because of the historic character of the 1920s vintage homes. A native of New England, Susan particularly enjoys the comfortable feel and personality of an older home. The large windows and open floor plan provides a light and airy feeling that the Hogan’s enjoy. The home’s oak floors, woodwork and crown moldings have never been painted and are some of its most striking features.
Though they say they are “not finished yet” the Hogan’s have completed a number of updates to the home. Shortly after moving in, they opened up the kitchen by removing walls to join the breakfast room, the kitchen and the back hall into one large room. In order to remove the walls two 2x12 beams were added in the ceiling to carry the structural load.
The next renovations converted a back hall closet into a well organized food pantry. Upper cabinets, designed to match the original features, were added to take advantage of the space afforded by the high ceilings. Down-lights over the sink and track lighting over a center island updated the kitchen’s style and improved task lighting in these key work areas.
Most recently, the Hogan’s replaced a free standing butcher block island with a custom built peninsula with deep storage drawers. To keep the contrast of a light top and dark cabinet, they selected a maple counter top from the Michigan Maple Block Company and gave the peninsula a hard black enamel finish.
Other architectural details included integrating a raise panel pattern in the back and end of the peninsula. The same pattern is found in the construction of the balustrade in the living room stairway. The peninsula was finished with custom corbels cut from a pattern hand-drawn in the architectural style of the fireplace mantle.
The addition of storage in the new peninsula allowed the removal of upper cabinets over the refrigerator, which gave a more open feeling to the room. Additional improvements included new plumbing, lighting and fixtures in the downstairs half bath. Updates in lighting, flooring and fresh new color completed the kitchen renovations.
1328 NW 20th
The style of the house is known as Colonial Revival that was most popular between World War I and World War II. Some of its characteristic features are the 2 story symmetrical, rectangular façade and temple-like entrance with simple columns flanking the doorway. The original multi-pane, double hung windows are still in place. The style overall is simplistic and classical which arguably put an end to the elaborate Victorian style in architecture and reflects American Patriotism.
Our house has passed hands in ownership more than 20 times since it was built in 1928. The land originally platted by G. A. Nichols has been owned by the Stout family, the McDonald family, the Edurim family, the Tolbert family, the Boxley family, the Redwine family, the Frank family, the Cassidy family, the Barnum family, the Wall family, the Cook-Giles family and now the Nations family.
In 2005, the previous owners enhanced and restored the house. The changes made kept the integrity and charm of the original home, but modernized the décor. The kitchen ceiling has been raised and tin tiles were added. There is also the accent of tin in the dining room around the chandelier. The walls have been professionally textured and painted with rich vibrant colors. The original hardwood floors were uncovered, and have been stenciled in the center entry-hall and around the downstairs fireplace. The original pink tile is still in place in the upstairs bathroom. Since buying the house in late 2005, we have attempted to decorate with furniture and add landscaping that compliment the original style of the home.
2005 Gatewood Avenue
This Tudor style home was built in 1928 and has been home to the Greb family since 1976. After falling in love with the neighborhood, the Grebs purchased the home as a “fixer-upper”, and the home has evolved and transformed over the years to meet the changing needs of the family. Renovations have included refinishing woodwork, new plumbing and wiring, and the addition of central heart and air.
The front of the home is dominated by a large sycamore tree, one of five trees planted on the property by the Grebs. The landscaping can be enjoyed from the front bench or the original side porch, favorite spots for a cup of coffee or an evening glass of wine with the neighbors.
The home features a sunken living room with a ten-foot ceiling, a Frankoma tile fireplace, built-in bookcases, and elaborate crown molding. The living room also features the original double-hung nine over nine wood windows. Please note the original drawing of the home hanging in the living room, a gift drawn by the couple’s artistic niece.
Three arches connect the large living room to the dining room, where an oak staircase has been added to access the upstairs bedroom and bathroom, carved out of the attic to accommodate the growing family. This suite has progressed from a retreat for two teenage girls, to a dorm style room to accommodate three boys, to an ideal pad for the last remaining eighteen-year-old son.
The arch theme has been repeated in the connection between the breakfast room and kitchen and in the breakfast room’s built-in corner china cabinet. The kitchen layout was re-designed and updated in the 90’s, but with an effort to maintain an old-fashioned charm. New cabinets were added, with matching doors for the original cabinets, and old linoleum was replaced with tile.
The downstairs bathroom also features an arch over the tub enclosure. The tub is original, extra deep and long. A recent addition to the bathroom is a new pedestal sink. Future plans are to remove the tile and re-do the walls with bead board, as well as to restore the original tile floor.
Many other original features remain in the home, including glass door knobs and crown molding. Carpet is being removed to reveal the original hardwood floors, another future refinishing project.
The back yard of the home is another favorite retreat, featuring a covered patio, a fish pond (dug by one of the sons at the age of thirteen), grape vines, and John’s collection of antique weather vanes.
PhotoArt Studios
1738 NW 16th
K. O. Rinearson was born and raised in Oklahoma. His interest in photography began at an early age, because his father was also an avid photographer.
He has worked with many companies to help define their public image through photography. He has also worked closely with photographers from New York City, Santa Fe and Los Angeles. Mr. Rinearson is Photography Director for several local magazines, including Oklahoma City Downtown, Nichols Hills News, Norman Living, NW Style and Edmond Monthly. He is Corporate Photographer for Chesapeake Energy.
He is mainly known for location photography. However, he opened PhotoArt Studios as a place to shoot more complicated advertising photography, and as a gallery for his work. (Look for his Gallery Shows every few months.)
The building at 1736 N. W. 16th has been through many owners and tenants. From 1952-1978, it was owned and operated by Louise Ward as Quality Cleaners. The radio tower on the roof was for the dry cleaner’s two-way radio system that kept in contact with delivery vans. They specialized in fur storage and cleaning.
From 1978-1993, Robert C. and Dena Baade owned the building and operated Southwest Direct Mail Advertising. When the Baades retired, the building sat vacant for many years. From 2003-2004 it was occupied by a Mexican restaurant.
In January 2006, K. O. Rinearson purchased the building and renovated it extensively for PhotoArt Studios.
Gatewood Historic District welcomes you, K. O.
1941 NW 17th
Pearl Sullens has lived at 1941 N. W. 17 for 55 years. When the house was bought in 1951, the garden consisted of only lilies and iris. Trees used to line N.W. 17th street, inhabited by bats and owls. Her husband Ray dug all the flower beds in the front and back.
Gerbera daisies in the back and moon flowers in the front were originally planted by Ray. When Pearl had the shrubs below the front window removed to do work on her window, the moon flowers came back, after 14 years of dormancy.
Pearl’s back yard shows she loves flowers and trees. She also is a collector of bird houses and St. Francis statues. She is a member of the Apogon Iris Garden Club and the Okla. City Garden Council.
Thank you Pearl for being one of our longest Gatewood residents and a wonderful gardener.
1205 NW 20th
Phillip and Patricia Scott moved into their home 18 years ago. This year their very attractive and restful back-yard garden (only) is on tour. (They have also made major improvements to the interior of their home, which was featured on the 1997 Gatewood Home and Garden Tour.)
Their back yard is strikingly beautiful, and the colors are outstanding. Even a first glimpse reveals how hard they have worked to make it special. An old badminton court was removed to add their second water feature. Since 1997 they have built a back porch, planted more flowers and trees, and added to their whimsical collection of “farm animals.”
They took down an old gazebo to build a concrete patio with railing to match their front porch. The Scotts also have a collection of old metal signs nailed on the side of their garage. which will take you back into history.
Thanks, Phillip and Patricia, for helping to make Gatewood beautiful.
