Sandi and Randy Dittmann have spent the past 6 years restoring various buildings on their 45-acre property, including this 1920s 5-bedroom home, which has been converted into a bed-and-breakfast inn.

Though only a few miles from downtown Tulsa, Sandi and Randy Dittmann's 45-acre spread seems at least a galaxy or two away from the hubbub of the city. Champagne, a sociable, blond-haired pup with a happily wagging tail is ready for any visitors who might pull up the west Tulsa property's long, tree-canopied drive. She's part of the Dittmanns' built-in welcome committee, which frequently includes a chorus or two of chirping birds, a gentle breeze, and the fizzy sounds of a nearby pond and fountain.
It's that sense of being removed from the rest of the world that made the location an ideal getaway spot for the couple and their family. The space is not only their home, but also the site of the future Cedar Rock Inn Bed and Breakfast, which the Dittmanns have spent the last few years refurbishing.

When the couple considered buying the land in 1998, they weren't sure what they wanted to do with it other than some remodeling here and there. The previous owner suggested that a 1920s house on the property was an ideal choice for a bed-and-breakfast inn. With that in mind, the Dittmanns embarked on what has become a 6-year journey, converting the 1920s building and several other structures on the property -- a home built in 1890 is now their main residence -- and transforming nearly every corner of their 45 acres into a wooded retreat.

With no firm ideas or time frame for the remodeling, the couple enlisted the help of several contractors, including builder Mark Laley, who has worked on the project from the beginning. An absence of time constraints meant the Dittmanns and their design team could work on whatever area needed the most help at any given time.

"We really had no set plans," Randy Dittmann said. "We wouldn't say, 'OK, on day 82 we're going to put this knob on.'"

The Dittmanns began by gutting the 1920 structure and refurbishing it from the inside out while maintaining as much of the original characteristics as possible. Carpeting was replaced, bathrooms were repaired, existing woodwork was restored, and new wood pieces such as two thick, heavy doors created by Antlers-based craftsman Dan Barney, were added.

Today, the soon-to-be inn is nearing completion, with just a little more painting, decorating and installation work to go. The Dittmanns hope to have it ready for visitors sometime within the next year, but no opening date has been set.

Part mountain hideaway, part Western-style lodge, the inn is a mix of native sandstone and wood siding that has been painted a cheery, barn-red hue. Interior walls are a cozy combination of sandstone and log cabin-style wood planks. Floors are thick planks of hardwood, and the previous owner even left behind a "dollar-bill" floor decorated with the likenesses of U.S. currency.

A sandstone stairway that was originally part of the home's exterior now separates the downstairs dining and kitchen areas from the upstairs sleeping quarters.

The inn's five suites, which are divided between the two floors, bear names relating to their decor or some special feature. The upstairs Sage Room overlooks an herb garden on the upper terrace that includes several varieties of sage planted by Sandi Dittmann. Downstairs, the Cedar Room beckons with the heady fragrance of fresh cedar from its walls and adjoining sauna. The room is also equipped with a private entrance from the outside, and is handicapped-accessible.

Antique furnishings scooped up from estate sales and auctions adorn the suites, which also feature full bathrooms and expansive views of the property. Each suite has been outfitted with decorative features such as an intricately carved wooden fireplace. One suite's bathroom sports an oversized walk-in shower with a mirrored ceiling that gives it the effect of being much higher.

The suites also will be equipped with wireless Internet access, Sandi Dittmann said.

Downstairs, visitors will be able to enjoy gourmet meals in an airy dining room; peruse books in a small library; or visit the gift shop for made-in-Oklahoma products such as lotions, gourmet treats and calendars.

Outdoors, there are plenty of nooks and crannies to explore, including a swimming area and a 1/2-mile walking trail that winds through the hilly, wooded terrain behind the property.

A thick, cushiony lawn sprinkled with perennial gardens faces the front of the inn. The gardens were planted several years ago, according to Randy Dittmann, and have since grown to look as if they are part of the natural landscape instead of something added by humans. The gardens include a mix of plants such as red caladiums and lots of native Oklahoma species.

Across the lawn sits a pond, which, according to Sandi Dittmann, was "just a hole in the ground" when the property was purchased six years ago. After some dredging and cleanup work, the pond was filled and is now surrounded by a flagstone terrace with a gently sloping waterfall.

A red-brick driveway winds around the back of the inn to a seven-car carport constructed out of 100-year-old wood salvaged from an aging Nebraska barn. In all, about 70,000 brick pavers were used to line the driveway and walls of a drive-through carport, which offers a hookup for car vacuums. The carport abuts a small alcove on the west side of the inn, which houses a potter's studio.

Several smaller buildings are located throughout the property, as well. One serves as the Dittmanns' offices and furniture storage area. Another small building, which was partially constructed from salvaged wood, houses Sandi Dittmann's art studio. A third is reserved for an extensive model train village, which future inn guests will be able to enjoy, and a nearby barn will eventually be converted into a small-scale conference center for business meetings.

"We've had such a good time with it," Sandi Dittmann said of the project, noting that the design team members have become like family.

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Megan Miers 581-8310
megan.miers@tulsaworld.com