Transcript Staff

Several Norman area designers have played a part in the 2009 Designer Symphony Show House currently open to the public through May 17 in the Heritage Hills neighborhood of Oklahoma City.

This year’s Symphony Show House XXXVI has an historic theme. “Opening the Doors to History” spotlights the 17-room, 4,600 square foot Italiante villa at 431 NW 17. It was built in 1918 by oilman and banker Walter D. Caldwell.

Caldwell constructed the home with 99 doors and windows. He soon moved to California and sold the home to fellow Oklahoma oilman E.W. Marland, a future Oklahoma governor.

Marland never lived there. In 1922, John “Jack” Walton was elected governor with the help of an unusual coalition including organized labor, farmers and the Ku Klux Klan. There was no governor’s mansion and Walton convinced his supporters to finance a mortgage on the Marland property.

Walton was impeached after a turbulent year in office. He declared martial law throughout the state and censored newspapers. Armed guards were on duty around the clock at the house.

The home is owned by John and Denise Bode. Former residents besides Caldwell, Marland and Walton include Mr. and Mrs. William Veazey, Mr. and Mrs. Grant Pengilly; Mr. and Mrs. Kee McKee, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Trosper, Mr. and Mrs. George Bettis, Mr. and Mrs. Byron Dawson and Dr. and Mrs. Grover Harrison.

Show House hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday through May 17. The last admission to the house is 30 minutes before closing. No children under age 8 are admitted.

Tickets, costing $15 at the door and $16.50 online, are also available locally from Antique Gardens, Ltd., 323 W. Boyd Street and Mister Robert, 109 E. Main and Kern’s, 2001 W. Main. Tickets for groups of 10 or more cost $10.

Organizers said 58 designers worked on the home which has 24 interior spaces and 13 exterior spaces. Four designers from Mister Robert in Norman were involved in the project. Keven Carl, ASID, did the formal living room. Steve Calonkey and Susie Pickett did the sun room and the entry way. Dixie Willard did the entry and the landing.

From Kern’s, Jenny Heffington, Nikki Braun and Megn Sparkman did the home’s evening retreat, an intimate den downstairs and the butler’s pantry.

Barbra Fite and Mariah Pinkerton from Antique Garden in Norman designed an “eclectic personality” room upstairs in the home. Christie Morrow of Marcum’s Nursery in Goldsby designed the Welcome Garden near the home’s entry.

More information is available at www.SymphonyShowHouse.com. Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Saturday for $12. A Sunday champagne brunch is $15. The cafe offers a lunch and tour package for $25.

Proceeds benefit the Oklahoma City Orchestra.