When you design an interior, it doesn’t have to be decorated,” says Kent Oellien, president of Oellien Design Inc. An example of his philosophy is evident in the sophisticated simplicity and exquisite detailing of this midtown Tulsa home.
Inspired by a house the owners saw in the Highland Park area of Dallas, architect and builder Mike Dankbar and Oellien worked in tandem to create a home that met their clients’ goals. Along with architect Robert Freeman, the creative team’s attention to detail is threaded together in the architecture and interior.
Cast stone from Tulsa Casting leads to the striking front entrance, and because the home’s design provides a view from the front through to the back yard and pool, a custom pair of stainless steel gate doors with fluted glass provides privacy from the street as well as additional security.
Once inside, the cast stone transitions to 24-by-24-inch French limestone. Flanking the front door is a pair of Lucite pedestals with French limestone tops custom designed and fabricated through Oellien Design. Mary Murray Flowers created the floral art.
The ceilings soar to 14 feet, so to anchor the space and provide a division between the living and dining rooms, Oellien custom designed a Pagani Studio lighting fixture covered in quartz and mica.
To create a soothing symmetry between the open spaces, Oellien used matching custom wool and leather bound area rugs. Hanging at the same height in each room are matching contemporary glass chandeliers manufactured by Ochre. In the living room, four lounge chairs are set around an Oellien-designed stainless steel and glass table. The imposing beveled glass and stainless mirror was fabricated by Chelsea Gallery.
The dining room features a table produced by Wiggers Custom Furniture and custom designed chairs using Spinneybeck leather. Oellien designed the drapery rod and draperies mindful of the room’s scale and proportions.
A collection of antique silver glass is displayed in the custom niche.
“I like the simple repetition of shape and color,” says Oellien.
The cherry wood kitchen cabinets were designed by Shelley Goodrich Cummins with Jay Rambo Company. To create a visual statement, Oellien continued the same cherry wood above the cabinets, wrapping it with an over-scaled cherry crown molding.
Large hinged storage areas flanking the cooktop contain all the small appliances that can clutter a kitchen counter. By concealing the refrigerator and dishwasher and using a stainless steel toe-kick, Oellien created the feel of a large furniture piece instead of kitchen cabinetry.
“We wanted the larger counter surface to appear lighter and reflect more light throughout the kitchen,” says Oellien.
The counter’s French limestone slab matches the floor tiles, and 12-by-24-inch metallic tiles from Artistic Tile placed behind the cooktop help reflect more light.
All of the furnishings in the adjacent den/media room were custom designed and fabricated through Oellien Design. As an example of the meticulous detail taken throughout the house, the island barstools were custom designed to the height difference between the owners by varying the depth of each stool.
The soft quiet of the master bedroom is accented by a bed with polished acrylic legs. The bedside chests repeat the detail in the curtain sheers.
“We used an automotive metallic paint that allows the grain to be seen with a sparkle of light,” Oellien adds.
The custom drapery rods also mirror the pattern in the sheer fabric.
This newer house in an older area is light and fresh, creating the calm, peaceful environment the owners desired.
