The Pool That Stole the Show at 1606 Guilford Lane
Every once in a while, a property has one feature that becomes impossible to stop talking about.
At 1606 Guilford Lane, it was the pool.
Set behind the main residence on an expansive 0.63-acre Nichols Hills lot, the custom swimming pool is finished in one-inch, hand-laid cobalt blue tile, creating a color that feels almost impossibly rich in the Oklahoma sun.
It is bold without being flashy. And once you see it, you understand why it became such a defining part of the property.
A Dee Johnson Original
The pool was designed by Dee Johnson and is believed to be among the earlier examples of its kind in the Oklahoma City metro.
Its design is remarkably simple at first glance, but the materials are what give it its impact.
Rather than the pale plaster or conventional blue finishes found in many residential pools, Guilford’s surface is made up of tiny cobalt tiles laid individually by hand.
The result is a depth of color that changes throughout the day. Bright and electric in direct sunlight. Darker and moodier beneath the surrounding trees. Almost ink-like in the evening. It is the kind of detail that immediately gives a property an identity.
The Setting Matters Just as Much
Of course, a pool is rarely only about the pool.
At Guilford, expansive brick terraces surround the water, giving the space the feeling of an outdoor room rather than a detached backyard feature.
Mature trees frame the property and soften the edges of the brickwork, while the scale of the lot allows the pool to sit comfortably within the landscape rather than dominating it.
The grounds were originally designed by landscape architect Tommy Roberts and later enhanced by landscape architect John Fluitt, giving the outdoor spaces a sense of maturity that simply cannot be recreated overnight.
It feels established because it is.
And Then There’s the Cabana
Overlooking the pool is another reason this backyard feels so complete.
A detached, glass-walled cabana measures approximately 744 +/- SF and includes generous living and dining areas, a kitchenette and powder bath.
Walls of glass open directly toward the pool, creating a strong connection between indoors and out.
It is easy to imagine the space working differently depending on the day: a shaded place to retreat from the heat, a casual setting for lunch, a gathering space during a party or simply somewhere to sit and enjoy the view.
Because the cabana is heated, it also gives the property a level of flexibility that extends well beyond pool season.
A Pool With Personality
What we love most about the Guilford pool is that it does not feel like something chosen from a catalog. It has personality.
The cobalt tile is specific. The brick terraces are specific. The mature landscape is specific. Even the relationship between the pool and the glass-walled cabana feels uniquely tied to this property.
Those are the details that make older homes and established neighborhoods so interesting.
They were often built slowly, changed over time and shaped by different owners, designers and craftsmen.
The result is something much harder to reproduce than a checklist of amenities.
The Kind of Detail You Remember
1606 Guilford Lane sold privately in August, but the pool remains one of those details we will probably keep talking about for a long time.
Not because it was the biggest feature of the property. Because it may have been the most unforgettable.
One-inch cobalt tile. Brick terraces. Mature trees. A glass-walled cabana overlooking the water.
Sometimes one detail is enough to give an entire home its character.
