Rehabbing our 120 Year Old Cottage

Built in 1901, the original red rock farm cottage had many original pieces that I aimed to hold onto, and some that needed to go.

Believed to be one of the first homesteads in Oklahoma City, Ralph’s Ranch sits on 10 acres of what was once a 40 acre plot originally intended for Native American use, but later stolen during the land run of 1889.

This homestead has had many lives through the last 100 years. The most recent was a horse stable operated by a lady named Dee. She ran her business here for the last 30+ years and cared for many horses in that time. I found this property while searching for a place near Oklahoma City that I hoped could eventually become a safe space for those in the city to escape into nature. With my work cut out for me, I began by demoing the kitchen that had not been touched in most likely 50 years.

Then we cleaned the original wood floors, added wood flooring in the second story, and gave her one big fresh coat of paint all around. I kept all the walls up, but added two large south facing windows to bring more light into the living space.

There are many more projects to come. But for now, the cottage feels cozy, original, and safe. One day I’ll get to the other house projects, but for now there are animals that need feeding and plants that need watering!