When Mike Sikes, owner of Oliveto Italian Bistro, and his wife decided to order their first custom-made house, Mike reached out to 1st Oklahoma Homes' Ali Farzanah. In fall 2019, he began working in earnest on the project with Ali and the architect. Timing was iffy; it was about 10 days prior to the hit of COVID-19.
Despite challenges associated with the early days of the pandemic, their home was successfully completed in 2021.
Mike describes the process of working with Ali and his team as positive if a bit stressful because this was the first time he and his wife had worked with a custom builder. He said in the few instances where there was a miscommunication, Ali and his team were quick to respond and work out a mutually agreed-upon solution.
"Ali has a high degree of integrity. We'd definitely work with him again if we ever do this again," he stated.
The Sikes went with a Craftsman-style house with an open floor plan and vaulted ceilings. At their request, the builders added a steam shower to the master bath, a large kitchen with giant island for food prep and casual dining, and a bonus room for their home gym and sauna. They also built an oversized garage onto the house in which to store their camper. Like all 1st Oklahoma Homes, the house has high marks for energy efficiency.
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While 1st Oklahoma Homes is facing the same pandemic-related challenges in obtaining materials and the soaring costs of those materials as other builders, which means they have put new custom home projects temporarily on hold, they have a number of move-in homes across the metro for sale, and they are happy to visit with clients about their plans to build a custom home in the near future.
Owner Ali Farzaneh said they build houses in several popular styles. Two of their model homes are showcased here.
The nearly 2,300-square-foot main house featured in these pages is located in Norman's Summit Lakes addition and features a Scandinavian design, the trademark of which is functionality, simplicity and clean lines that are in harmony with its environment.
Drawing on this aesthetic, 1st Oklahoma Homes incorporated natural materials like stone and wood, as well as light-colored walls and trim with punches of natural wood. Another element of Scandinavian design is the free use of light and open space, hallmarks of this new build.
The second model home, located in The Ridge addition in Newcastle, features a modern design and a focus on form and function. Modern design derives from mid-20th-century designs that stays away from heavy textures, ornamentation and dark dramatic elements in favor of clean straight lines and uncluttered spaces. The overall look is one of calm and relaxation.
Learn more about 1st Oklahoma Homes, including the communities in which their turn-key homes are located, at OKCHomeBuilder.com.
