1922 Loft

I inherited my mother’s passion for historic homes, having spent her childhood in a historic residence in Lawton. After many years of searching, she finally found the perfect historic home for our family. By then, I was in my twenties, and we all cherished our 1920s colonial house. That is the reason we moved to Guthrie. It was all about the house.

Sealed with a Kiss got its start nearly 33 years ago, and business took off quickly. We quickly transitioned from a mail-order service for our pattern designs to a cozy design studio and yarn shop in a small house, eventually moving into the magnificent historic building we proudly inhabit today.

Guthrie is home to the largest contiguous district on the National Register, and I take great pride in owning a small part of it. Although my building is technically classified as “non-contributing,” I believe it adds significantly to Guthrie’s historic charm.

My building is much younger than those of my neighbors, dating back to 1922. We are the original location of Murray’s Drug Store. When soda fountains became all the rage, the Murray’s relocated to the corner of Oklahoma and Division, which is now Boomerang Diner. Whenever I undertake floor repairs, I can still catch glimpses of the pink and white tile design from the drug store’s original flooring.

After the drug store’s departure, my building transformed into a law office for many decades. The original all-glass display windows were replaced with a faux Mansard-style awning and blacked-out privacy windows. Honestly, the front of the building looked more like something you'd find in the back alley. During that time, visiting your attorney was a discreet affair, with clients sneaking in through the alleyway. That is why our back entrance is probably the best in town!

In the early 1990s, the law office changed ownership and received an exterior update. Although we've altered the colors and made a few minor tweaks, the overall look has stayed mostly the same. The interior, however, tells a different tale. Right after acquiring the building, my dad completely renovated the lower floor, and since then, we've experienced several major repairs and renovations. Owning a piece of history is a very expensive venture!

While we frequently talk about the lower level, there’s a spacious second floor that only a select few have had the opportunity to explore! I’m lucky to have a separate entrance to this second floor that doesn't connect to the shop.

The roomy hallway is perfect for storing numerous antiques and other furnishings when they're not in use downstairs.

The front apartment has welcomed many tenants throughout the years and once functioned as my office and an additional classroom. Keith and I lived here during our home renovation while I was pregnant. Shortly after Mason arrived, I began renting it out again. Unfortunately, tenants have not treated this place well, and it reached a point where something had to be done. 

We spent the first part of this year in the throes of a remodel, finally completing the project by mid-summer. I’ve transformed it into an Airbnb, which is wonderful for accommodating guest instructors and gatherings. The layout was intentionally designed to meet the needs of knitters, crocheters, and other crafters, ensuring there is plenty of lighting, ample seating, and as many beds as possible.

The piano came with the building and had been neglected for decades. After a good cleaning, tuning, and some much-needed repairs (the front legs were falling off), it now makes a lovely addition to the apartment. The piano bench, however, was in bad condition, so I decided to make a cover for it. Only problem - I couldn’t find a pattern. There are zero bench covers of any kind on Ravelry. I found a mosaic crochet blanket pattern called ‘Piano Love’ from Frankys Crochet. I used three panels of the motifs and Rowan’s Softyak DK to turn it into a cover for my bench.

The skylights are really cool. Above the ceiling is a small attic crawl space, and because our building was constructed long after our neighbors, you can still see the original advertisement signs painted on what were once the neighboring exterior brick walls.

The front door needed a wreath and a sign to guide guests to the entrance. I knitted a cable panel and wrapped it around a styrofoam wreath, and I really like how it turned out.

At the rear of our space lies a rather messy storeroom. My husband has transformed the area beneath the skylight into his winter greenhouse. While I can't share images of this area, there's also a smaller apartment in the back that is currently occupied, featuring its own entrance at the back of our building

If you're visiting from out of town or in need of a delightful staycation, our 1922 Loft is perfectly situated in the heart of our charming historic downtown, just above our fabulous yarn shop! You can find availability and make reservations on Airbnb.

If you wish you had a lovely cable wreath, we are delighted to offer the pattern to you for FREE. Enjoy!