It’s playtime at the Symphony Show House
I nterior designers Ronette Wallace of OTW Interiors andRenae Brady of Lorec Ranch each imagined places to play in their allotted spaces in this year’s Symphony Show House, one for kids and one for adults. They realized their visions expertly.
No one could have told that by the captions that appeared with photos Saturday in The Oklahoman’s Real Estate section. The captions misattributed the creativity and work to different designers and companies entirely.
The Symphony Show House, which concludes Sunday, gets thorough coverage — a half-dozen articles, counting this one, and 30 photos over its 16-day run — for good reasons. It’s a good cause. The Oklahoma City Orchestra League has staged the event for 44 years to raise money for its music education programs. That is especially important when public schools are struggling.
It’s put on by good people. Orchestra League members volunteer their time arranging it, and designers and home furnishing stores donate time and expertise and tie up inventory for weeks. It’s an unsure investment that pays off mainly in public exposure at a popular annual venue.
It’s a good read, or, to be more exact, it generates great photos for readers of
The Oklahoman and viewers of NewsOK.com.
For all those reasons, it was a shame that I mixed up designers and photos last week. And it’s for those same reasons that I’m happy to set the photographic and design record straight here.
First, the 9,943-squarefoot Symphony Show House is at 4808 Rose Rock Drive, off Grand Boulevard south of NE 50 and west of Interstate 35. It has seven bedrooms, seven full baths, one half-bath, an indoor pool and cabana and two outdoor fire pits.
The home is open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Tickets are $12 online or at authorized outlets, or $15 at the door. Also on Saturday from 5 to 7 p.m., for another $25, is Dessert First, craft beer and chocolate tastings, sponsored by MercedesBenz of Oklahoma City.
OTW Interiors
“Overnight Adventure” is what Ronette Wallace, of OTW Interiors, called her room, her ninth one for the Symphony Show House. Here’s what she had in mind:
“Upon walking into the Cabana upstairs room with all the ceiling angles and niches, I immediately thought it was a great space to create a child guest room. It felt like an old attic that would offer up many hours of play and imagination. So I wanted to create a space that did the same!
“I wanted it to not be bold in colors but bold in style. The room was challenging with the layout, but I solved that within the design and in fact created two custom sleeping areas — a suspended twin-size bed and a tepee toddler bed (built by Masterpiece Designs). Both items can be customized and ordered, by contacting OTW Interiors.
“Also within the room, I created multiple niches for reading and play. In my distinct personal design style, the room is layered with custom art (done especially for the room, painted by Lezley Lynch) and accessories that range from rustic to whimsical, from industrial to Boho. Even the ceiling wasn’t exempt. I created a custom medallion and added a fun light fixture.
“This room is not like any other you will see at the Show House. I like my rooms to stand apart from the others and reflect a styling that is unique and different. I think that is one of my strong points that carries into each client’s home I design. It creates rooms for the client that are as unique as them.”
Lorec Ranch
Lorec Ranch — owner Kari Lopez, sales manager Mary Wick, designer Renae Brady — was founded in 1993 and has been at 4111 W Reno Ave. since 2008. It promotes itself as “a hands-on experience where you custom design and we build.”
Here’s what Lorec Ranch had in mind for the Symphony Show House:
“Lorec Ranch had the opportunity to evoke the feeling of a Mediterranean resort and spa in the cabana.The freshly glazed kitchen cabinets give the instant age of sunbleached wood.
“Designer Renae Brady custom designed eight swivel bar stools with coordinating fabric, distressed leather seats and authentic copper patina backs which reflect the aqua hues of the swimming pool. This casual serving zone allows for large buffet-style entertaining.
“The twin oversized fabric chaise lounges offer a sense of mental ease from views of the pool. The pottery overflowing with greenery is a treat to the senses.
“In the dining area, the rusticity of the elements was accomplished with a large Ponderosa pine reclaimed wooden dining table, and Lorec Ranch’s own handcrafted and color-washed wooden bench, accented by metal chairs.
“This ideal retreat, for homeowners and guests alike, makes for an everyday vacation.”