Elmhurst Avenue, Nichols Hills, Oklahoma

"Name this town and you could win a Shetland pony," promised Dr. G.A. Nichols to the thirty-five residents living in his Oklahoma housing development in 1931.

Here's a tip: If you want to win a Shetland pony, name the town after the guy giving away the Shetland pony: The winning contest entry was Nichols Hills. 

Nichols Hills was intended to be an escape from industrial development and "that deadly mania for getting someplace fast." When driving through the town, you're supposed to slowly meander the curving streets, enjoying the landscape and appreciating the fine houses.

The original homeowners of this house on Elmhurst probably didn't win that Shetland pony. The house wasn't built until 1949, but they still wanted you to drive by slowly and admire it.

There's plenty to admire inside too, from the gorgeous chandelier in the spacious foyer...

to the gorgeous chandelier in the spacious dining room featuring de Gournay wallpaper.

It's easy to imagine this pretty room furnished like so:

{Collins and Sweezey}

On the other side of the foyer, the living room is papered in gray-blue grasscloth:

If it were mine, I'd finish it like this:

Ashley Gilbreath

The house has a very modern, open floor plan compared to other houses built in 1949. 

The large (the realtor calls it LARGE) family room is open to the kitchen.

There's a bar area tucked away under the stairs.

Rounding out the first floor is an office/den and marble-tiled bathroom. 

Upstairs are three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The house has 4,914 square feet. (I know -- it looks bigger!)

Do you like the wallpaper choices and custom curtains as much as I do?

I couldn't resist finding another matching design for the pretty master bedroom...

{Collins and Sweezey}

because it has a fireplace and its own sitting room...

which needs its own elegant seating arrangement:

{Collins and Sweezey}

The master bathroom has his and hers vanities...

and a roomy walk-in closet.

But wait, there's more. Connected to the main house is a 648 square feet guest house.

I'll bet you it's called the casita:

Don't miss the cute garden shed. Here is a good place to mention that the house has copper gutters.

As you might have guessed by the Shetland pony story, Dr. Nichols was a bit of a horse guy. To that end, he added a polo field and bridle paths around Nichols Hills. With the addition of two golf courses and over 40,000 trees, he ensured that the Oklahoma prairie had a bucolic English countryside feel. (Hence the street names like Elmhurst, Avondale and Drury Lane.)

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Or, for a more English maritime feel, it's two and a half miles from the house to Lake Hefner and its lighthouse:

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The history of Nichols Hills can be found here and here. The listing is here.