Pam and Jim Klepper’s goal was to create an elegant but comfortable environment for entertaining their family and friends. And so they have. Their Edgemere Heights home also holds a treasured collection of antiques, wine, art and dogs — both real and porcelain. “We are humane society volunteers, so we always have a fleet of animals,” Pam laughs.
The couple’s Mortens Studio porcelain dog collection is scattered throughout their home, and consists of a variety of breeds in all sorts of poses. In the mudroom are porcelain dogs’ heads proudly holding their leashes. “I have been collecting Mortens dogs since I was in high school,” Pam says.
The couple also has a stunning collection of fine art, including paintings by Poteet Victory, Dee J. Lafon, Joy Richardson and Jerry Nabors, who is Pam’s cousin. “We both are crazy collectors,” Pam comments. Victory, who was born and raised in Idabel, is an abstract artist who the Prix de West website calls one of the most in-demand contemporary Native American artists in the world.
In 1990, the couple moved from Mangum to Oklahoma City. Jim is a lawyer and heads his own firm, while Pam, who holds a degree in interior design and art, is recently retired after a highly successful career as a real estate agent. “I had sold this house three times during my real estate career,” she says.
The Kleppers purchased the more than 4,000-square-foot residence in 2014, and began turning it into the exquisite country French and English home it is today. With the help of their contractor ATDwellings, it took two years to renovate the 1953 building. “They made it work,” Pam says. “It took a village to build this house.”
Contractors Terry and Anders Carlson of ATDwellings and their associates, including Master Carpenter Chris Maselli and Jeff Wilder of Wilder Design, executed all of the home’s custom work. “We had suggestions,” Pam recalls. “But [Anders] made it even better than I had imagined.”
Many items in their home have interesting origin stories. For instance, the ceramic cow head above the entrance to the coffee bar and pantry room was found at a butcher shop, while the entry doors, installed on rollers, were found in a field in Round Top, Texas. Round Top Antiques Fair, located south of Dallas between Austin and Houston, is one of Pam’s favorite places to shop. Editor’s note: The Spring Fair at Round Top is April 2-7. Learn more at roundtoptexasantiques.com.
Whether entertaining or looking for their next collectible, the Kleppers are right at home in their custom-created, canine-friendly environment.
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The bed is made of cast iron in the shape of tree branches. The armoire holds a portion of Pam’s vast collection of Mortens Studio porcelain dogs. Wood beams accent the high ceiling and highlight the large wood and iron chandelier.
â–º Take a closer look at the Klepper's beautiful home by clicking the photos below.
