The ultimate lake remodel

November 13, 2024 | PK Magazine | Uncategorized

Story by Steve Nussbaum | Photos by Matthew Renfro

Steve and Trish Burross of Wichita Falls recently completed a total remodel of their beautiful lake home located on the Possum Kingdom Lake peninsula. The main living room is anchored by a beautiful stone fireplace, soaring ceilings and incredible lake views.

Steve and Trish Burross of Wichita Falls recently completed a total remodel of their beautiful lake home located on the Possum Kingdom Lake peninsula.

The 3,400-square-foot structure, which features four bedrooms and 3½ bathrooms, was built in 2003 and has been updated from its early 2000s style. It now features a bright open-concept space with incredible lake views and outdoor spaces that can’t be found anywhere but Possum Kingdom Lake.

The couple bought the home in 2017 with plans to update the interior in a few years, but it was the grounds and landscaping that really sold them on the space, even though the bones of the house were special.

Trish Burross, who is a decorator, said her standing rule is to wait five years before remodeling a home. She said it’s necessary to live in a space for a while to see what works – and what doesn’t, too. She and her business partner, Debbie Gustafson, own T&D Décor, which specializes in reimagining out-of-date spaces.

It was the beautiful grounds surrounding the home that convinced the couple to pull the trigger, and it was Carol Wallace, a local landscaping designer, who created this landscaping showcase. Wallace designs and manages many home landscapes in the area, and Trish Burross credited her for maintaining the beautiful space and consistently improving it each year.

In addition, local landscaping firm Let Us Do It Landscaping helps restore some of the plants or adds new pieces to the outdoor space every year, and the company also installed all of the home’s outdoor lighting.

Visitors driving down the gated driveway of the home immediately notice the well-manicured grounds, which offer a glimpse of what’s to come, and along the driveway is a hill sporting a selection of plants designed to attract monarch butterflies. At the front of the house, a bridge leads to the stylish metal front door, where guests begin to see the tiered grounds that surround the cliffside home.

The various outdoor spaces created around the property provide different types of spaces to enjoy the outdoors. One of Trish Burross’ favorite spots is a seating area off the kitchen that provides a quaint space to read and relax. The back of the home features a mix of huge natural boulders, manmade steps and patios that leads down to a lake dock that was built in 2017. The rock work incorporated into the natural cliff line helps create a wonderful space for enjoying the lake.

The entrance of the home is located on the upper level, with a peek of the great room and living space below. The main living area below is accessible either by an open staircase or the home’s elevator, which the previous owners incorporated into the design so they could manage living in the home in their golden years.

The heart of the home is the downstairs area, with its great lake views and outdoor spaces. The living room has huge open ceilings to the upper level, with a rock fireplace that soars to the second level. Two large-screen TVs anchor the wall next to the fireplace – a necessary design for Steve Burross so he can watch his favorite college sports team, the Oklahoma Sooners, and other games at the same time. All the storage along the media wall has been updated from its original design, too.

The living space opens to a refurbished kitchen, which features a light sage-green color on all the cabinets. Trish Burross didn’t replace the kitchen appliances, as they were in excellent condition – and the couple does most of their cooking outside while at the lake, anyway.

The kitchen’s color and design were all chosen not only to highlight the brighter interior, but to enhance the art in the main living space. The furnishings in the home are unique and eclectic, with some of the items coming from higher-end shops, as well as from Sante Fe, New Mexico, and even from the PK East Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary sale.

All of the rooms, including the bedrooms and bathrooms, have a fresh look that makes the home feel like it’s a new build, but with the character that only a timelessly designed home can have. Each bedroom evokes the ambiance of a luxury hotel, providing visual evidence that the remodel has been a labor of love for the couple.

Steve Burross is still a practicing dentist in Wichita Falls, and he spends about 40 percent of his time at the lake, but his wife likes to get down to PK more often.

“Steve still gets his golf in at the Wichita Falls Country Club,” she said.

Steve Burross and his daughters have been coming to PK their whole lives, and he owned a home on Trail Ridge Road when they were younger.

Steve and Trish Burross bought a house in the Harbor in 2013 before purchasing their current home in 2017. They

said they love the lake community and support all the local businesses when they spend time there. They also said they feel like they have more of a social life at PK than they do in Wichita Falls. They enjoy spending time with their lake neighbors and friends, and Steve Burross serves on the board of the Harbor Chapel of Possum Kingdom Lake, which they now consider to be their home church.

As much as the two of them love their time at the lake, it’s the times when family and grandchildren come to visit that they enjoy the most. Trish Burross said that when the grandchildren are around, her husband never relaxes.

The couple married in 2019 after having been together for 14 years. Three of Steve Burross’ grandchildren were attendants in their wedding, and his grandson Hutch Ratzlaff served as best man. In fact, Ratzlaff was in charge of the couple’s honeymoon, so they took all the younger ones to Disneyland in Anaheim, California.

The lake is the perfect place to bring kinfolk together, and every Fourth of July weekend is special for the whole Burross family, because that’s when they gather with all their neighbors and put on a huge fireworks display.

Steve and Trish Burross want to eventually spend more time at PK, and said they feel like they’ve created their dream lake retreat. Those who are invited into their home will know why PK is such a special place to them, and will understand why they look forward to sharing their space with family and friends for years to come.

The front door is a modern metal door with frosted glass. To get to the front door you cross an elevated walkway with views of the garden below.

The garden and patio spaces are surrounded by great places to soak up the lake views and enjoy a morning cup of coffee.

It is the outdoor space that sold Steve and Trish Burross on the home in the first place. They loved the combination of natural boulders and stone patios.

As you drive down the driveway you get a sneak peek of the lake and the beautiful grounds surrounding the home.

The stone pathway leading to the dock is adorned with stunning oak trees and carefully curated landscaping. The large dock and deep waters make this the perfect space for the grandkids to hang out.

One of Trish Burross’ cherished places is the cozy seating area located just off the kitchen. This charming nook is enveloped by vibrant greenery and seasonal flowers.

The front garden showcases a butterfly garden crafted by local landscaper Carol Wallace. Annually, this garden draws in thousands of Monarch butterflies as they migrate south.

The home features several patios off the back of the home with great views of the lake.

The home is surrounded by lush green grass and unique plantings.

You enter the home from the second level landing with views of the great room below. You can access the main living area by using the stairs or the built-in elevator.

The double big screen TVs were the only thing Steve Burross asked for. He can now watch his Oklahoma Sooners and all the other games at the same time.

Brushed gold hardware and light colors give the kitchen a clean modern look. Trish Burross saved the original appliances, as they do most of their cooking at the lake on the grill outside.

The kitchen has refurbished cabinets in a light sage green to compliment the art and color scheme of the entire home.

The items in the home have been selected from high-end home decor stores, unique finds while traveling to North Carolina and Santa Fe and even the Possum Kingdom Lake Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary.