What's In, What's Out, and What's Coming in Oklahoma Home Design: A Conversation with Shane Rickey
The Agency Oklahoma City & Tulsa Podcast | Episode 2 By Wyatt Poindexter & Wayne Kirby | Managing Partners | The Agency Oklahoma City & Tulsa
There is a question I get asked constantly — by buyers walking through their first luxury home, by sellers trying to decide what to update before they list, by builders trying to understand what the market actually wants right now.
The question is always some version of the same thing: What do buyers actually want?
It sounds simple. It is not. Because what buyers want in a luxury home in Oklahoma in 2026 is not what they wanted in 2020. The market has evolved. The buyer has evolved. The definition of luxury itself has evolved. And understanding that evolution — truly understanding it at a level where you can make smart decisions about buying, selling, building, and renovating — requires the kind of insight that only comes from someone who lives and breathes great design every single day.
That is why my partner Wayne Kirby and I sat down with Shane Rickey of Shane Rickey Design for Episode 2 of The Agency Oklahoma City & Tulsa Podcast. And that is why I am convinced this is one of the most genuinely useful conversations we have had on this show.
Shane Rickey is one of the most talented and respected home designers in Oklahoma. He has an extraordinary eye for what makes a space work, what makes a home feel genuinely luxurious, and what separates the properties that sell in seven days from the ones that sit on the market for seven months. He also understands the relationship between design and real estate value in a way that very few designers anywhere in the country can articulate — and he was completely unfiltered in sharing it with us.
Here is what came out of that conversation.
What Is IN Right Now in Oklahoma Luxury Home Design
The Oklahoma luxury buyer of 2026 is sophisticated, well-traveled, and has very clear ideas about what they want — and what they will not tolerate. The days of generic luxury are over. The buyer who is spending $1 million, $2 million, $5 million or more on a home is not looking for a checklist of standard upgrades. They are looking for a home that feels considered. Intentional. Specific to the life they actually live.
Here is what Shane identified as the design elements generating the most immediate and enthusiastic buyer response in today's Oklahoma luxury market.
Warm, organic materials. The cold, grey, high-contrast aesthetic that dominated luxury design for most of the last decade is giving way to something warmer, richer, and more human. Natural stone with visible veining. White oak and walnut in their most natural expressions. Aged brass and unlacquered metals that develop character over time. Textured wall treatments that add depth and warmth. Buyers are responding to homes that feel alive — and that means materials with soul.
Indoor-outdoor connection done properly. Oklahoma buyers want to live outside as much as they live inside — and the homes that do this well are commanding real premiums. Disappearing glass walls that open a great room to a covered outdoor living space. Continuous flooring materials that flow from inside to outside. Outdoor kitchens that are genuinely equipped for serious cooking rather than just a grill station tacked onto a patio. Fire features. Water features. Lighting systems that make the outdoor space as usable at ten o'clock at night as it is at noon.
The kitchen as the undisputed center of the home. The luxury kitchen has always been important. In 2026 it is everything. Oversized islands that function as gathering places rather than just prep surfaces. Professional-grade appliances — not builder-grade stainless with a recognizable brand name, but actual commercial-quality equipment that a serious cook would choose. Custom cabinetry with thoughtful interior organization. Statement range hoods that function as architectural features. And hidden pantries — the so-called butler's pantry or scullery — where the mess of actual cooking can be concealed so the main kitchen always photographs and presents beautifully.
Primary suites designed as true retreats. The master bedroom has become a destination. Buyers are expecting a primary suite that functions as a private hotel — with a sitting area, a morning bar, a spa bathroom with heated floors, a soaking tub positioned as a focal point rather than an afterthought, and a shower that could comfortably host a small gathering. The closet we discussed separately. But the entire primary suite wing needs to feel like somewhere you would actually want to spend time — not just sleep.
Purposeful lighting design. This is the single most undervalued element in luxury home design according to Shane — and Wayne and I could not agree more from a real estate perspective. Lighting transforms a space in ways that no other finish or feature can replicate. Layered lighting systems that allow a room to transition from bright and functional to warm and intimate with a single command. Architectural lighting that highlights ceiling details, millwork, and artwork. Exterior lighting that makes a home look extraordinary from the street at night. Buyers notice lighting even when they cannot articulate why — and homes with thoughtful lighting systems consistently show better, photograph better, and sell faster.
What Is OUT in Oklahoma Luxury Home Design
This is the part of the conversation that generated the most animated discussion — because the list of things that were everywhere five years ago and are now quietly working against sellers is longer than most people realize.
Grey everything. The grey-on-grey aesthetic — grey walls, grey flooring, grey countertops, grey cabinets — had a remarkable run in luxury design. That run is over. Grey finishes are not just dated at this point — they are actively turning buyers off in the luxury segment. If your home is still fully committed to the grey palette, this is worth addressing before you list.
Open concept without purpose. The completely open floor plan — where the kitchen, dining, and living areas exist as one undifferentiated space with no visual separation or sense of destination — is losing favor with luxury buyers. The new luxury buyer wants defined spaces. They want a kitchen that feels like a kitchen, a dining room that feels special and occasion-worthy, and a living area that feels cozy and deliberate rather than simply large.
Builder-grade luxury finishes. There is a category of finish that looks expensive in a photograph and reveals itself as ordinary the moment you touch it. Hollow cabinet doors. Faucets that feel lightweight. Hardware that wobbles. Flooring that flexes. Countertops that chip. Luxury buyers in 2026 are tactile — they touch everything, and they know the difference between genuinely premium and premium-adjacent. Homes that invested in the appearance of luxury without investing in the substance of it are being identified and discounted accordingly.
Excessive formal spaces. The formal living room that nobody sits in and the formal dining room used twice a year are losing their appeal in luxury home design. Buyers want spaces they will actually use — and a home that dedicates four hundred square feet to rooms that function as museum exhibits is a home that feels wasteful rather than grand.
Matchy-matchy everything. When every finish, every fixture, every hardware pull, and every light switch plate matches identically throughout the home it reads as a builder spec rather than a thoughtfully designed residence. The finest luxury homes have a design thread that connects them — but within that thread there is variation, personality, and surprise. Buyers who have traveled, who have stayed in great hotels, who have seen truly exceptional properties know the difference immediately.
What Is COMING in Oklahoma Luxury Home Design
This is the section that every builder, developer, and buyer thinking about new construction or significant renovation should pay the most attention to. Shane has an eye for where design is going — not just where it has been — and what he shared about the emerging trends making their way to Oklahoma is genuinely actionable.
Wellness infrastructure. The luxury home of the near future is being built around physical and mental wellness in a way that goes far beyond a nice gym. Cold plunge pools. Infrared saunas. Dedicated meditation and breathwork spaces. Air filtration and purification systems built into the HVAC. Circadian lighting systems that adjust color temperature throughout the day to support natural sleep rhythms. Water filtration at every tap. These are not niche requests from health-obsessed buyers — they are becoming expected features at the upper end of the luxury market and Oklahoma is beginning to see them in new construction specifications.
The return of character and craftsmanship. After a decade of clean lines and minimalist luxury, the pendulum is swinging back toward homes that show their craftsmanship. Hand-applied plaster walls. Exposed beam structures. Custom millwork with genuine depth and detail. Arched doorways and niched walls that give a home a sense of having been designed rather than assembled. Buyers who have been living in minimalist homes are ready for more — and the designers and builders who can deliver genuine craftsmanship are going to be in extraordinary demand.
Dedicated technology infrastructure. The smart home is no longer a novelty — it is an expectation. But the luxury buyers of 2026 are expecting something more sophisticated than a few smart speakers and a programmable thermostat. Whole-home integration systems with single-interface control of lighting, climate, security, audio, video, window treatments, and exterior systems. Dedicated server rooms and network infrastructure that support a home functioning as a genuine remote work environment. And importantly — the technology needs to be invisible. The finest luxury tech installations disappear into the architecture rather than demanding attention.
Outdoor living as a true room. The outdoor living space is evolving from an amenity into a primary living area — and in Oklahoma's climate it is one of the most impactful investments a homeowner can make. Fully equipped outdoor kitchens with commercial refrigeration, pizza ovens, and bar service areas. Climate management through misting systems, radiant heating, and retractable screens. Outdoor audio and video systems that rival the interior. Pools designed as landscape features with natural stone, water elements, and lighting that make them as beautiful to look at as they are to swim in.
Quiet luxury in every detail. The loudest trend Shane identified for the coming years is actually the quietest — the move toward luxury that does not announce itself but reveals itself over time. The drawer that closes with a whisper. The faucet that feels substantial in your hand. The window that seals so completely you cannot hear the outside world. The floor that never squeaks. These details are invisible in a listing description and unmistakable in person — and they are what separate a home that feels expensive from a home that is extraordinary.
What This Means for Oklahoma Buyers and Sellers Right Now
Wayne and I have been selling Oklahoma luxury real estate for a combined several decades — and the conversation with Shane reinforced something we tell our clients constantly.
Design is not decoration. Design is value.
The homes that sell quickly and at strong prices in Oklahoma's luxury market are almost always the homes that got the design right. Not necessarily the most expensive finishes or the most square footage — but the homes where every decision was intentional, every space was considered, and the overall experience of being inside the home is genuinely elevated.
Conversely, the homes that sit — the ones with price reductions and frustrated sellers — are frequently homes where design decisions were made without understanding the market. Where money was spent on the wrong things. Where finishes that felt current five years ago are now signaling to buyers that the home has not been touched since.
If you are selling a luxury home in Oklahoma right now the most important conversation you can have before you list is not about your list price. It is about your presentation. And that conversation should include someone with Shane Rickey's level of expertise.
If you are building or buying a luxury home in Oklahoma the trends Shane identified in this episode are your roadmap — not just for creating a home you will love but for making an investment that the market will recognize and reward when the time comes to sell.
Listen to the Full Episode
The full conversation with Shane Rickey is available now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and everywhere you listen to podcasts. Search The Agency Oklahoma City & Tulsa Podcast and subscribe so you do not miss what is coming next.
Episode 3 is already in the works — and it is going to be another conversation worth your time.
About Shane Rickey | Shane Rickey Design
Shane Rickey is one of Oklahoma's most sought-after home designers, known for creating spaces that are both beautiful and deeply livable. Shane Rickey Design brings a rare combination of aesthetic vision, market awareness, and genuine craftsmanship to every project — and Shane's understanding of what moves buyers makes him one of the most valuable voices in the Oklahoma luxury space.
About Wyatt Poindexter & Wayne Kirby | The Agency Oklahoma City & Tulsa
Wyatt Poindexter and Wayne Kirby are the Managing Partners and Owners of The Agency Oklahoma City & Tulsa — Oklahoma's premier luxury real estate brokerage. Together they have built one of the most recognized and respected luxury real estate operations in the state, combining decades of experience, deep market knowledge, and the global marketing platform of The Agency to serve Oklahoma's most discerning buyers and sellers.
Wyatt Poindexter has spent 31 years selling Oklahoma luxury real estate and is the only Elite Guild Member of the Institute for Luxury Home Marketing in the state of Oklahoma. In the past 12 months Wyatt has closed nearly $70 million in personal sales production, sold the three highest-priced homes in Oklahoma, and currently carries three of the most expensive active listings in the state. His average sales price in Oklahoma is just over $1,200,000 — nearly five times the Oklahoma market average. He also maintains a curated portfolio of off-market hip pocket listings that are never advertised, never posted to the MLS, and only shown to qualified buyers.
Wayne Kirby brings his own extraordinary depth of experience and market expertise to The Agency Oklahoma — and his partnership with Wyatt has been instrumental in building the brokerage into the luxury force it is today. Together they are not just running a real estate company. They are redefining what Oklahoma luxury real estate looks like.
If you are buying, selling, or simply curious about what your Oklahoma luxury property is worth in today's market — reach out. Every conversation starts with listening and ends with results.
Wyatt Poindexter Managing Partner / Owner | The Agency Oklahoma City & Tulsa 📞 405-417-5466 📧 [email protected] 🌐 www.WyattPoindexter.com 🌐 www.OKLuxuryHomes.com 📍 112 S Broadway | Edmond, Oklahoma 73034 📍 Specializing in Edmond · Jones · Arcadia · Nichols Hills · Oklahoma City Metro · All of Oklahoma
Member — Institute for Luxury Home Marketing (ILHM) Elite Guild Member — The Only One Selling Oklahoma's Top Luxury Homes Million Dollar Guild Member (CLHMS) International Award Recipient — Real Estate Marketing Managing Partner — The Agency Oklahoma City & Tulsa 31 Years Full Time Oklahoma Luxury Real Estate Nearly $70 Million in Annual Production 1,000+ Oklahoma Homes Sold $1 Billion+ Career Sales Volume Average Sales Price $1,200,000+
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