When Matt and Leslee Holliday decided to move back to Stillwater, they reached out to Gary Gardner of Gary Gardner Homes, and Amber McCullough of Amber McCullough Design. Matt, a Stillwater native, knew them both from childhood — Gardner was one of his teachers, and McCullough was a classmate.
Speaking of these connections, McCullough said, “That’s just the kind of people Matt and Leslee are; they are going to support their people.” And “their people” certainly delivered: In 2022, the Hollidays moved their family of four children and four dogs into a stunning contemporary house.
The Hollidays are a baseball family with an impressive legacy. From 2004-2018, Matt was an outfielder for several MLB teams: the Colorado Rockies, the Oakland Athletics, the St. Louis Cardinals and the New York Yankees. He’s a seven-time All-Star with four Silver Sluggers, and he won a World Series Championship in 2011 with the Cardinals. Leslee works for Pro Athletes Outreach, a Christian organization that creates fellowship opportunities for athletes and their families. Although baseball has taken the family across the country, it has always rooted them in Oklahoma. Matt’s father, Tom, coached baseball at Oklahoma State University for 26 years. Currently, Matt and his brother Josh both coach at OSU. Matt and Leslee’s sons, Jackson and Ethan, are also embarking on promising baseball careers.
The family’s love of the game is evident both outside and inside their Stillwater home. To facilitate practice, the Hollidays added some unique amenities to their property: A wiffle ball field sits proudly beside the residence, and a converted barn contains an indoor batting cage. Within the house, framed jerseys hang in a media room, a basket of baseballs sits atop a coffee table and rows of bats, hats and gloves are artfully arranged on built-in shelves. In one bedroom, a vibrant painting of Matt at bat inspires the color palette. Wooden baseball bats halved and arranged in a linear pattern serve as a focal point, and a leather accent pillow with woven stitching is reminiscent of a baseball glove.
Above all else, Leslee and Matt wanted to create a welcoming, comfortable and inviting home where they could extend hospitality, host bible studies and entertain guests. Leslee had complete faith that McCullough would execute their vision beautifully. She delivered, creating functional spaces with timeless design and understated elegance.
Outside, the two-tiered pool and fully equipped outdoor kitchen provide plenty of space for hosting and entertaining. Inside, luxurious, durable furniture and finishes in calming neutrals create a relaxed atmosphere. In the kitchen, a variety of textures adds visual interest. A Venetian plaster vent hood, alabaster and brass pendants, drapery and glass front metal cabinets all combine exquisitely. A powder bath goes bold with a dynamic black-and-white quartzite slab and tiger-print Gucci wallpaper; a whimsical surprise likely to delight guests. The Hollidays couldn’t be happier with their house; they love the layout, the design and most of all what it provides — the ability to host so many people and gather close to friends and family in this place that they call home.
