If you follow Postcard Jar on social media, you’ve heard us mention our Pawhuska house quite a bit lately. In between trips for our blog, appointments and our other responsibilities, we’ve been fixing up a house in Pawhuska, Oklahoma. We bought the house last summer, about one year after visiting Pawhuska for the first time. You can read all about how and why we bought the home HERE.
We just love spending time in this small town in Osage County, Oklahoma, which is also home to The Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond and her Mercantile. Our little town is growing up quickly and there are so many new and exciting things to do and see here. It has become quite the travel destination.
A question for you:
We’ve hosted several groups of friends and family, and have more coming this week. And that brings about a question for all of you. What would you think of us putting our Pawhuska house up on Airbnb for others to rent for a night or two when we’re away?
Many of you have asked if this was a possibility and the more we think and pray about it, the more we think it might just be a good idea. Let us know in the comments section below what you think or if you have experiences with Airbnb you’d like to share. We realize Pawhuska has several incredible places to stay on Airbnb already, but we’d love to see even more people stay in town instead of just stopping by for a couple of hours.
PIN FOR LATER
And, since it’s been awhile since we’ve posted much here about our progress, we thought we’d share a few of the “work in progress” pics. So, here you go — a peek inside our craftsman-style home that’s just a two-minute and 30-second drive from The Pioneer Woman Mercantile.
We just love having a covered front porch and have already spent a lot of time out there just watching kids play and cars (albeit not very many of them) drive by. The previous owners painted the front and back doors this lovely Tiffany blue/green color and we added a wreath and welcome mat. We also added some home security and will be installing a Ring doorbell soon.
Some of the things we loved most about this house were the wood floors throughout and the big windows which let in the morning light. The photo above shows our front entryway, which we had painted a lighter shade of grey before adding a new coat rack.
The entry way is full of light in the morning and is great place to sit and read or enjoy a cup of coffee. We got two of these faux leather chairs from Wayfair and found the pillows at a shop in Kiefer, Oklahoma, called Birch Designs. We purchased the great buffalo photograph at a local art auction to raise money for art programs in our schools. It is by photographer Laine Smith and is titled, “Thunder.” We just love it.
Oklahoma history
We’ve worked hard to incorporate pieces that reflect the beauty and history of Oklahoma. The first thing we purchased for our Pawhuska home was the map above of the Oklahoma Territory. We had it framed back in Nebraska and it quickly became the centerpiece for much of our other home decor. I’m no home decorator, but I just fell in love with this map and tried to find other things (like this rug and couch) that would compliment it.
The fireplace in the living room was already painted white, but we gave it a fresh coat of paint to cover up some smoke stains. Then, we added a few accessories including candlesticks from Fixer Upper’s Clint Harps’s shop in Waco, Texas.
We’ve also added a few special items of our own like an old globe we found at an antique store in Skiatook, Oklahoma, and a photograph of our daughter, Meghan.
And of course, we found a prime spot for our Postcard Jar, which is filled with postcards from our friends, family, and readers like you.
When we bought this house, I was excited to bring some of the antiques and family heirlooms I’d had for years but didn’t really have a place for back in our more modern home in Nebraska. This antique chair has been in my family for decades; I’ve seen old photographs of me pulling myself up on it as a one-year-old. The art pictured above are two ledger paintings we found at a local art gallery by George Levi Cheyenne.
Like I said, we wanted our home to reflect Oklahoma and since I already had an infatuation with bison, we just had to include a picture of them in our new house. I found this one on Etsy and had it printed and framed. The tiny picture on the table is a selfie I found of Steve, Meghan, and I the very first time we drove into Pawhuska in the summer of 2017. It’s funny that when we took that picture we’d never have believed that about a year later we’d have house here!
The kitchen
The kitchen was already renovated when we moved in, but we’ve added a few touches of our own. We added a new chandelier over the table, black drawer pulls and handles, and our friend and neighbor, Gio, mounted some thick wooden shelves on the walls to display glasses and a few of my grandma’s antiques. We had the walls painted a lighter greige (a mix between gray and beige) and Gio painted all of the trim and ceilings a nice bright white. (He’s an amazing painter.)
We also set up a space for a coffee bar and I designed a wall hanging with one of our favorite travel quotes.
The hallway was made brighter with a lighter color paint and a new flush mount light. There was already this fantastic barn door in the hallway that hides a stackable washer and dryer. Because of the washer and dryer are where a linen closet used to be, we’ve put a ladder shelf to good use, storing extra towels and laundry supplies.
The bedrooms
The house has three bedrooms. We have one room with a king bed, one with a queen, and one with two twin beds. Today, Steve washed duvet covers and sheets and he and Gio hung curtains and blinds. We found nice antique desks at local shops and have had fun accessorizing with lamps, rugs, and throw pillows. We’ll be sure to post some pictures of the bedrooms when they’re ready (hopefully soon).
We are feeling so blessed to have this home in Pawhuska and can’t thank our friend, Gio, enough for everything he’s done to help us. In addition, we have the BEST neighbors who exemplify hospitality, keep an eye on our place when we’re gone, and call us when packages arrive before we do. Truly, we could not have done all of this without them.
That’s about all for now. Please do let us know your thoughts on renting our Pawhuska house through Airbnb. We just feel so blessed to be able to live here and would love to share this beautiful home with others if there’s interest.
Would love to visit your Pawhuska home as an airbnb! Love the OK decor, as well as your own antiques. Being an native Okie, I’m interested in knowing more about your OK Territory map. Love it! As my sons & I are about to sell our family’s homesteaded farms in Kay County, OK, I want to retain as much OK history as possible. (We have “buffalo wallows” permanently embedded in our pastures). I, too, think it is wonderful that you have both loved Osage County, (where both of my parents were born!), so much you wanted to become a part of Pawhuska! Your home is lovely!
We just love Oklahoma. We hope you’ll come visit Pawhuska sometime!
I love your home and think it would be a wonderful home for BNB!
Thanks, so much, Susan. We’re pretty excited about the possibility of sharing this beautiful place with others.
My husband and I visited Pawhuska, using a lot of what you posted as a guide. We were just there, end of March. The town is very friendly and cute. We were there Sunday afternoon, Monday and left Tuesday. Everything is closed on Sunday, except the supermarket, so be prepared. Also, almost every shop was closed Monday as well, as they are open Saturdays. We stayed at the Frontier Hotel and it was spectacular! The Mercantile was amazing , the food was out of this world, delicious and all handmade. I would certainly return. I enjoy the Postcard blog. Keep it up, and thank you, for all the good tips.
Thank you, Carol, for your kind words! We are so glad that you enjoyed your time here in Pawhuska and Osage County. Please do come back, and let us know when you do. We love to meet our blog readers when we’re able to!
Love all the special touches you have done to make this home reflect your lives and the things you love. That being said, I would be very cautious in leaving the antiques that have great sentimental value…such as that gorgeous chair of your grandmother’s. Your home is one we would certainly be interested in staying in should we be able to travel to Pawhuska. We are currently planning a trip to Nashville this fall, and have been exploring the Airbnb as an option. We have stayed at Bed and Breakfasts in the past, and the charm and intimacy of that lodging option is also appealing. I have noticed that many B&Bs do not allow children, and that would be something you might want to consider. As wonderful as it may seem for families with young children to have the convenience of a home environment, I think a homeowner would have to be very careful in trusting their possession to just anyone. I have witnessed too many young families complete disregard for others property as we have traveled to resorts and such. May God bless and guide you as you make this important decision.?
I love your home and would consider staying there if we come back to Pawhuska. Our first trip is next month. We are staying at a b&b in Bartlesville. Great job. God bless you.
We hope you’ll come back and stay in Pawhuska. You really get a better feel for the town and the people when you stay close to The Mercantile. Let us know when you’re here. We’d love to meet you if we’re around.
We appreciate your comments and will definitely consider your suggestions. We attended a meeting with other bnb owners a few weeks ago and thankfully, most of the people who visit Pawhuska are pretty thoughtful and respectful of the properties. Most of the owners said they’ve never had anything damaged or stolen. But still, lots to consider.
Your home looks very inviting and comfy. I was concerned about your antiques getting stolen or broken and also the front steps. Some people have trouble going up and down steps. Is there another way to come in and out? I have been to Pawhuska twice and will be back again. I would enjoy staying in your home next time. Would you rent it out as the whole house or just rooms? Can’t wait to see the bedrooms! Airing is the way to go!
Thank you for the kind words, concern, and encouragement. We hope to have all the finishing touches done on the house soon!
In the back of the house there is a door that only has 1 step in order to get in.
Ihave been following you and Steve on Facebook and really enjoy all your posts .
Please don’t be to trusting of people in deciding to make your home an Airbnb . You have so many beautiful antiques and precious pictures I would hate for them go out your door in a tote or overnight bag . To many of them are hard to replace! My late husband and I did a lot of traveling and really enjoyed it.
Thanks for your comments and suggestions. One nice thing about listing through Airbnb is that there are procedures in place to recover any losses. However, you’re right in that some family heirlooms cannot be replaced. Lots to consider, for sure.
Steve (and Ann)–Chris’s mom is a HUGE Pioneer Woman fan. If you rented out your house, I bet they’d make a cross-country pilgrimage to it. (Not kidding. Their whole family is in the Midwest anyway–Missouri, Kansas, South and North Dakota, Minnesota).
That’s neat to hear! I’ll just say that even if we’re here, there are a lot of great places to stay in town–she should totally plan a trip regardless of whether it’s to our house.
We have a lot of resources on our blog to help her find a place to stay in town and see all that there is to do.
Have you read the book, “Killers of the Flower Moon?” It’s a true story set here in Pawhuska and Osage County about the murders of Osage Indians in the early 1900’s and the way the FBI came in to investigate in what was be one of their first operations. Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio have signed on to do the movie.
Hi Steve and Ann! I don’t know if you remember me or not, but we met in a Facebook cruise group and then connected with everyone in that group when we boarded the ship. You all are the reason I want to visit Pawhuska so very much (well and because I love Ree Drummond too lol)! I actually Airbnb a Rustic, tiny cabin in the heart of the Big Thicket in Southeast Texas, and I love it! I’m a people person, as you both are, so I love meeting the people who come from all over the world to stay at our cabin. Your Pawhuska home is so beautiful, and you are in the ideal location to Airbnb your home. If you ever decide to follow through with your Airbnb idea, I would love for you to consider using my referral link to sign up to host. Have a wonderful day! ~~Angela
http://www.airbnb.com/r/angelar11684?user_id=112258907&s=41&ref_device_id=d7d70b5275981f5a8d764148d098db5adae65bf5
Ok soooooo…I don’t know how my comment posted twice, or why my link pops up in a foreign language! Eek I’m so sorry about that! Anyway…good luck to you both in your future Airbnb endeavor!
I live down the road in Wynona and would love to stay in your ABNB…lol
Lol. I want to do it all. Teddi Demel 4795311664. Dying to explore more USA
Hi Steve and Ann! I don’t know if you remember me or not, but we met in a Facebook cruise group and then connected with everyone in that group when we boarded the ship. You all are the reason I want to visit Pawhuska so very much (well and because I love Ree Drummond too lol)! I actually Airbnb a Rustic, tiny cabin in the heart of the Big Thicket in Southeast Texas, and I love it! I’m a people person, as you both are, so I love meeting the people who come from all over the world to stay at our cabin. Your Pawhuska home is so beautiful, and you are in the ideal location to Airbnb your home. If you ever decide to follow through with your Airbnb idea, I would love for you to consider using my referral link to sign up to host. Have a great day! ~~Angela
http://www.airbnb.com/r/angelar11684?user_id=112258907&s=41&ref_device_id=d7d70b5275981f5a8d764148d098db5adae65bf5
Thanks for much for messaging us here! It is great to hear from you. You should definitely come visit Pawhuska.
You guys have done an amazing job! I’m so happy for you both. I love all of the decor, especially the Oklahoma territory map in the living room, and I can’t wait to see the bedrooms when they’re done! My four-year-old daughter Isla loves the front door and the wreath! 🙂
I love the Airbnb idea! My Mom and I have really been wanting to come to Pawhuska because we also love The Pioneer Woman. I say it’s a wonderful idea!
Thank you for the kind words! We (especially Ann) have had so much fun turning this house into a home. Please do come see Pawhuska and Osage County. Stay tuned to our FB and blog, if and when we put it on Airbnb, we will definitely announce it there.
You are so welcome. How exciting! My Mom and I would love to come and if we do, we will have to plan it at a time so we can stay at your house! I love following you guys. Keep up the good work! 🙂
Hello from Western Wisconsin! I really think you should open your home as an Airbnb. It looks inviting and homey! And, since you live so close to all things Pioneer Woman that would be an added bonus! I was in Pawhuska about a year ago. Drove down with a friend from Michigan, my niece and sister from Kansas City. We did not stay in Pawhuska that time. My friend from Michigan, Nancy, and I are thinking of a return trip to Pawhuska to see the things we missed. We certainly would entertain the thought of staying in your town!!
We think you would absolutely LOVE it here in town! Please come back, spend a few days, and enjoy all that Pawhuska, and Osage County, have to offer.
I will certainly put that on my bucket list!!
Truthfully, I just figured that was the goal in the beginning when you purchased and renovated the home. Why not! Everyone is doing it. I am reminded of the excitement of the tiny town of Dresden, Ohio in the1990’s – the peak of the Longaberger business in that town. Busloads of women would visit on a daily basis. All of us who sold would arrange these day trips and overnight trips if we were lucky enough to find hotels/B&B’s available. So many buses the Tourism Bureau had to limit the number that could come each day. Big boom time for building, sales, shopping, shopping, shopping….. Love Ree Drummond – she is the real deal!
Initially, we thought of this as an investment that we could put on Airbnb. But once we got here, we enjoyed it even more than we thought we would. Truly this has become a home for us. So we’ve been back and forth on the decision. But we kind of think that if we’re going to be out of town, it would be good for the town to offer one more place to stay. In our opinion, people who come to visit the Merc need to stay in town to be able to enjoy the whole experience and if we can help make that happen, then maybe we should.
Before you decide, be sure your neighbors also think it’s a good idea! It’s a huge issue in New Orleans, to the point that laws have passed that only if there’s a resident on-premise are guests allowed. I do not live near any B&Bs, and would not appreciate NOT knowing who was coming in & out at all hours in our quiet neighborhood The house is lovely and would be a major draw for tourists.
Before you decide, be sure your neighbors also think it’s a good idea! It’s a huge issue in New Orleans, to the point that laws have passed that only if there’s a resident on-premise are guests allowed. I do not live near any B&Bs, and would not appreciate NOT knowing who was coming in & out at all hours in our quiet neighborhood The house is lovely and would be a major draw for tourists.
I vote YES! 🙂
Thanks, Jill. We’ll keep you posted.
What a beautiful home! I’ve never been to Pawhuska, but I’d love to come visit and stay in your Airbnb!
We would love to have you!
Yes! Airbnb is a great idea!!!
Thanks for your encouragement. Have you been to Pawhuska?