When Polly Wilson first learned the 1930s ranch near Bartlesville, Okla., was for sale, she felt as if she'd struck oil. The ranch's limestone walls evoked everything she loved about the West - well-worn boots, old saddles, and twilight. After searching for a place to relocate their Colorado cattle operation, she knew this was the spot to settle with her three cowboys - son Corb, husband John, father-in-law Big John - and their herd of 900 Herefords.







Front Hallway

At the Bartlesville, Okla., ranch house of Polly and John Wilson, the family's everyday work boots and a vintage French faux-wood vase of wildflowers greet guests.



Dining Room

"Mine isn't always a conventional view of the West, but it lets me express my love for the land," says Polly of the tableaux she creates. "I love beautiful furniture, I love comfort, I love my family. This place shows that it all can work together."



Dining Room Details

In the dining room, a flower-filled French soup tureen lends an elegant touch to meals served at the antique farm table. Crystal-cut stemware and bone-handled cutlery - both passed down through John's family - underscore the tradition of gathering 'round to share the day's news.



Limestone Walls

The living room fabrics suggest the soft tones of the limestone walls. "I didn't want the furniture to shout," says Polly. "I wanted it to look as if it emerged straight from the rock." Polly has long collected furnishings with a sun-baked touch. "It's as if I'd always known I'd end up in a stone house."



Kitchen

The kitchen floor evokes the look of broken-in leather. To get the effect, the homeowners acid-washed the cement surface.



White Wood Panelled Bedroom

The Wilsons recycled the dark, worn panelling in their bedroom by flipping the boards and whitewashing their unscarred undersides. An Italian chandelier, white linens, and Polly's grandmother's settee complete the romantic effect.



Chaise by the Fire

Polly enjoys reading on the comfortable chaise by the fire. On the mantel, she displays two family heirlooms: a first-place cattle trophy and an antique champagne bucket.




Text: Kelly Palmer