100 Years in the Making: My Yearlong Journey Restoring Woodward Place
Wow! We took on a 100 year old home in 2024 which brought more challenges than we ever expected.
We bought this lovely home because we knew it would be a great Utica Square and Cherry Street vacation rental. When I first stepped inside, I knew I wasn’t just buying a property — I was taking on a piece of Tulsa history. What I didn’t know was just how much work, stress, patience, and grit it would take to restore this century‑old home in the Yorktown Historic District. Everyone always hopes for the best only to find hidden issues when it comes to remodels and this was no exception.
The house was, in every sense, a wreck. Like many historic homes in Tulsa, time had taken its toll: the foundation needed major attention, the original hardwood floors were worn down, the kitchen was outdated, the bathroom needed a complete gutting, and the heating and air systems were far past their lifespan. This wasn’t a cosmetic flip. It was a full historic home renovation from the ground up.
But I believed in this house. And for more than a year, I poured myself into bringing Woodward Place back to life.
Touching Every Inch of a 100‑Year‑Old Tulsa Home
There wasn’t a single part of this one-hundred-year-old home that didn’t need love. Some of the biggest transformations included:
Foundation & Structural Repairs
Before any remodeling could begin, the foundation had to be stabilized — a common challenge with older Tulsa homes. This step was essential to preserve the home’s historic structure.
A Completely Reimagined Kitchen
The kitchen wasn't actually a take down to the studs kind of project but more like a remove and repurpose sort of thing. I got rid of the appliances and moved one large cabinet where the old trash compactor was. Then I took the large cabinet surrounding the enormous (too big for that kitchen refrigerator) and saved it for my next project which was to redo the old carriage house out back. The enormous fridge went to a better home (thank you FB Marketplace).
I completely remade the Washer & Dryer space so new ones would fit and polished up the old hardware in the drawers under the kitchen sink. Lastly, I added a properly sized fridge and everything was complete. Well, I left out all kinds stuff like building floating shelves and plumbing issues but I didn't want to bore you. So today, the rebuilt space is a bright, functional space. It now blends modern convenience with the charm expected in a historic Tulsa home renovation.
Re-stained Original Hardwood Floors
One of my favorite parts of the project was restoring the original hardwood floors. After decades of wear, they were sanded, repaired, and re-stained to bring back their 1919 character.
THE Total Bathroom Transformation
The bathroom wasn’t salvageable, so it was completely gutted and rebuilt. I decided to open up the back of the original living room fireplace and it turned out to be a great idea. Unfortunately, after several layers of sealant, the mortar between the bricks was still falling out. In the end, I had to have the whole thing tuck pointed which I should have done in the beginning of the remodel. Oh well, lesson learned.
When we removed the tub, we saw a gaping hole that led directly into the crawl space. Lots of plumbing dollars later…the floor and the bathroom was completed. The new design offers modern comfort while still respecting the home’s historic feel.
New Heating & Air Conditioning
Like many older homes in Midtown Tulsa, the HVAC system needed a full replacement. Installing new heating and air conditioning was a major upgrade — not glamorous, but absolutely necessary. We even added a new Eco Bee thermostat which I am now in love with after I got it to quit sending me “high humidity” notifications. FYI: there was no “high humidity” in the first place.
Working with Contractors (and Keeping My Sanity)
If you’ve ever remodeled a home in Tulsa — especially a historic one — you know the emotional roller coaster that comes with coordinating contractors. Multiply that by a dozen, add a 100‑year‑old structure, and sprinkle in surprises behind every wall, and you get the Woodward Place experience.
There were days I felt overwhelmed, days I questioned my decisions, and days I wondered if the project would ever end. But remembering to take baby steps, moving slowly contractor by contractor, we kept going forward.
The Historic Preservation Committee Adventure
Because Woodward Place sits in the Yorktown Historic District, my husband and I had to go before the Tulsa Historic Preservation Committee to get approval for exterior changes — including a historically appropriate driveway with a green grass strip down the middle. They are notorious for turning people down.
It was nerve‑wracking, but the committee understood the vision. They liked that we repurposed the original backyard patio stone for the front sidewalk and retaining wall. One of my husband's great ideas. Thank you, G! The design was approved, and the finished driveway is now one of the most charming and historically accurate features of the property. All in all, I am thrilled with the outcome. Because it’s a stucco house, it is much quieter on the inside than I expected. What a nice surprise.
Lastly, I was so proud to have a custom made floor vent created from a small business in Ukraine. They did such a great job on this. Yay!
You can check out this lovely home and it’s beautiful interior at: Selectliving.lodgify.com
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Cheers!
Lisa
P.S. Stay tuned for round #2, the Garage Remodel for this home. Now that was SOMETHING!
