Written by Kelli Osterman, REALTOR® with The Osterman Team at The Agency | Degreed Interior Designer

What makes a home truly cool in Oklahoma City? As a degreed interior designer from Edmond with more than 20 years in real estate, my answer is this: a cool home is the one that makes you stop and look twice, and it is almost never about being the biggest, newest or most expensive. It is architecture with a point of view, original details you can't reproduce today, great natural light, a real connection to the outdoors, a floor plan that works, and personality. Sometimes you can't even put your finger on exactly what makes a house special. You just know it when you see it.

Kelli Osterman is a REALTOR® with The Osterman Team at The Agency in Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Arcadia, helping homeowners and buyers move forward with a clear plan and no surprises. Here is how I look at homes, and why I think the word "cool" deserves a real definition.

How does a designer's eye change the way you see a house?

Before real estate, my background was in interior design, and that experience has shaped the way I look at homes. When I walk into a property, I don't just see the number of bedrooms or the square footage. I notice proportion, light, materials, functionality, architectural details and how the spaces work together.

I also notice the things that can be difficult to capture in a listing description. Is the original character still intact? Does the architecture make sense for the property? Was a renovation thoughtful, or did it erase everything that made the house interesting? Does the home have a personality? Those are the things that get my attention.

A listing sheet tells you what a house has. A designer's eye tells you what a house is. Both matter, but only one of them explains why two homes with the same square footage can feel completely different the moment you walk in.

What are the six things that make a home cool?

There isn't a formula, and that's part of the fun. But there are a few things I consistently look for.

Does the architecture have a point of view?

Some homes have an unmistakable architectural identity. It might be Mid-Century Modern. It might be historic. It might be contemporary. It might be something completely different. What matters is that the architecture feels intentional. I'm especially drawn to homes where the architecture influences the way you experience the interior rather than simply providing a pretty exterior.

Are the original details still there?

There is something special about finding a home with details that you simply can't reproduce today: original woodwork, unique windows, a stone fireplace, vintage tile, built-ins, interesting light fixtures, a beautifully crafted staircase. Those details can tell you something about when a home was built and the people who designed it.

How does the natural light move through the house?

This is one of the first things I notice. You can change paint. You can replace countertops. You can renovate a kitchen. But you can't change the way a house sits on its lot or how natural light moves through the architecture without fundamentally changing the house. Good light can completely change how a space feels.

Does the house connect to the outdoors?

Some of the most successful homes I've seen understand that the house doesn't stop at the exterior walls. Large windows, courtyards, patios, mature trees, gardens and thoughtful landscaping can make the relationship between the interior and exterior feel seamless. That connection is especially valuable in Oklahoma, where our seasons give us plenty of opportunities to enjoy outdoor living.

Does the floor plan actually work?

A cool house isn't necessarily one with an unusual floor plan. It's one where the spaces work. How do you enter the house? Where does everyone naturally gather? Does the kitchen connect appropriately to the living spaces? Are there quiet areas when you need them? Does the layout take advantage of the home's best features? Good design isn't just about how something looks. It's about how it works.

Does the home have personality?

This may be the most important one. The coolest homes have personality. They don't look like they came from the same blueprint as every other house in the neighborhood. They might be quirky. They might be elegant. They might be dramatic. They might be understated. But they have something to say.

Does a cool home have to be expensive?

No, and this is something I want to emphasize as I share more of the homes I discover around Oklahoma City and Edmond. A cool house isn't necessarily a luxury house. I've seen homes with modest square footage that have extraordinary architecture and character. I've seen expensive homes that are beautiful but don't necessarily have a distinctive point of view.

Price and personality aren't the same thing. That's why I'm much more interested in what makes a home memorable than simply what it costs. When you look at a house this way, your search gets wider, not narrower, because you stop filtering only by a number and start looking for the qualities that actually make you want to come home.

How can you size up a home's character, step by step?

Here's what I would do the next time you walk through a house, whether you are buying or getting ready to sell:

• Stand outside first. Look at the roofline, the windows and how the house sits on the lot. Does the outside tell you anything about what's inside?
• Notice the entry. How do you come into the house, and what is the first thing you see?
• Follow the light. Which rooms are bright, and when? Open the curtains and turn off the lights for a minute so you see the house itself.
• Look for what's original. Woodwork, tile, built-ins, fireplaces, hardware, light fixtures. Make a list.
• Walk the daily routine. Picture coming home, cooking, gathering and finding a quiet corner. Does the layout support it?
• Step outside again from the back. Do the patios, courtyards or windows pull the yard into the house?
• Ask what has been changed. Was a renovation thoughtful, or did it cover up the best parts?

When you finish, you'll know more about the house than any listing description could tell you. And if you're the seller, that list is the story your marketing should tell.

What mistakes erase what makes a home cool?

• Renovating away the character. A remodel that replaces original details with generic finishes can erase the very thing that made the house interesting.
• Covering up the light. Heavy window coverings, dark rooms and dim bulbs hide one of a home's best features.
• Painting everything the same. Not every house needs to be white and neutral. I wrote about that in Should every home be painted white and neutral before selling?
• Marketing it like every other house. If the listing only counts bedrooms and baths, the people who would love the design may never notice it.
• Judging a home only by its price. Personality and price aren't the same thing, on either side of the deal.

If you own a home with real character and you're wondering what to fix and what to leave alone before selling, What hurts home value in Oklahoma City when rates are high? walks through what buyers actually notice.

What does this look like in a real home?

Picture a buyer touring a house with modest square footage on a lot with mature trees. On paper it doesn't stand out. Inside, a wall of windows faces the backyard, the original wood paneling is still there, and the light moves across the living room through the afternoon. The kitchen connects to the gathering space, and there's a quiet room at the far end of the house. That buyer has found something you can't build from a catalog.

Now picture the seller of that same house. Their first instinct might be to paint over the paneling and swap the light fixtures so it looks like the newer homes nearby. Here's what I would do instead: clean and repair what's original, open up the light, and write the listing so it says plainly what makes the house different. The home stays itself, and its marketing finally matches what it is.

What local signals point to a cool home around Oklahoma City?

Around Oklahoma City, Edmond and Arcadia, the homes that catch my eye share a few traits. They have mature lots and established surroundings. Their architecture has a clear identity, whether that's Mid-Century Modern, historic or an architect-designed contemporary. They make the most of Oklahoma's seasons with patios, courtyards and big windows. If mid-century homes interest you, start with What should you know before buying or selling a mid-century home in Oklahoma City? For historic homes, How do Guthrie's historic district homes sell compared to the rest of town? is a good look at how character homes can follow their own path to a sale.

Why am I creating Coolest Homes OKC?

This is the idea behind my new Coolest Homes OKC project. I want to highlight the homes that make Oklahoma City interesting. That might mean a beautifully preserved Mid-Century Modern home. It might be a historic house with incredible craftsmanship. It might be an architect-designed contemporary. It might be a home with an unforgettable kitchen. Or it might simply be a house that makes me walk through the front door and think: "Wow. I've never seen anything quite like this."

Those are the homes I want to find. And as a real estate professional and degreed interior designer from Edmond, I want to bring both perspectives to the conversation. Buying a home isn't just about bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage. It's about how a place makes you feel, and how well it's designed for the way you want to live. Kelli Osterman is a REALTOR® with The Osterman Team at The Agency in Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Arcadia, helping homeowners and buyers move forward with a clear plan and no surprises.

What questions do people ask about cool homes in Oklahoma City?

What makes a house cool instead of just nice?

What makes a house cool instead of just nice? A nice house checks the boxes. A cool house has a point of view: intentional architecture, original details, great light, a connection to the outdoors, a layout that works, and personality. It's the house that makes you stop and look twice.

Does a cool home have to be a luxury home?

Does a cool home have to be a luxury home? No. I've seen homes with modest square footage that have extraordinary architecture and character, and expensive homes that are beautiful but don't have a distinctive point of view. Price and personality aren't the same thing.

Can a renovated home still be cool?

Can a renovated home still be cool? Yes, when the renovation was thoughtful. The question I ask is whether the work respected what made the house interesting or erased it. Original details and good light are hard to bring back once they're gone.

Why does natural light matter so much?

Why does natural light matter so much? Because you can change paint, countertops and even a kitchen, but you can't change how a house sits on its lot or how light moves through it without fundamentally changing the house. Good light can completely change how a space feels.

What is Coolest Homes OKC?

What is Coolest Homes OKC? It's my project to highlight the homes that make Oklahoma City interesting, from preserved Mid-Century Modern homes and historic houses to architect-designed contemporaries and homes with an unforgettable kitchen.

What's the next step?

If you're seriously looking for a home in Oklahoma, whether it's on the market now or you're positioning yourself for when the right one appears, the smartest move is making sure you're in front of me before the home ever goes public. Call or text me at 405-808-1082, or call or text The Osterman Team at 405-593-8326. Tell me what you're looking for, and I'll make sure you're one of the first calls the next time something exceptional comes across my desk.

Kelli Osterman is a REALTOR® with The Osterman Team at The Agency in Oklahoma City, Edmond, and Arcadia, helping homeowners and buyers move forward with a clear plan and no surprises.