From practically any vantage point – inside or outside – Roger and Del Iker’s Interlochen neighborhood home is a work of art. But, then, that’s appropriate, given that Roger does art for a living.
He works primarily in oils on canvas, with mostly Texas subjects. Like the state he paints, the dwelling he shares with his “happy homemaker” wife Del is grand. And spacious. And beautiful on so many levels.
The stats on the property read like this: four bedrooms, four and a half baths. The house consumes 5,921 square feet of a half-acre lot. The lot banks one of the Interlochen canals. For nearly four years, the Ikers have called this spot home.
Visitors likely call it words such as “ideal” and “impressive” and, maybe even “incredible.” They would be correct in all cases – this is Interlochen we’re talking about.
“We were drawn to the house by its location in the Metroplex,” Roger says. “It is near both stadia and centrally located to all of our friends. We entertain a lot, and the house is large and sits well back on the lot with a huge curved driveway that will accommodate at least a dozen cars with added parking along the street because of a green belt across the way.”
There are no children at home, but the Ikers have two grown sons and a granddaughter (16) and a grandson (12). When the lot of the Iker family gathers in the house for special occasions – or any others – there is ample room to do what they want and plenty of unique “nooks” to ensure that they will always be comfortable.
Dell finds special comfort in her favorite place. “One of the best areas in the house is the master suite, which includes a 22-foot-by-11-foot closet, a small utility room, a large bathroom with two vanity areas, and a sunroom with beautiful views of the canal,” she says. She also likes the large open-concept kitchen, the great room (“which is great for entertaining”) and the large library with an attached media room. “It is a great retreat area because it is secluded upstairs at the back of the house,” she says. “It also has a unique view of the canal.”
Roger likes that the neighborhood is quiet and secluded with great tall trees and flowering shrubs tucked away with only two ways in and out. “No pass-through traffic,” he says.
The house has the look of a grand estate with a big yard and the aforementioned circular drive. It also has a lovely manicured lawn and shrubs with great trees. There’s a wrought iron gate to the garages and a large steel gate to the porch, which has a huge double custom iron door.
“There is a linear park across the street and a bike/walking trail that goes for miles,” Del says. “The canal at the back of the house is connected to four other canals that provide for a beautiful boat ride in the morning and evening, and the canals are stocked yearly with tilapia and contain many medium to large fish for a great fishing experience. There is also a dock nestled among some trees where you can sit in the shade and daydream.”
As mentioned, the Ikers love to entertain and regularly have as many as 45 guests in the house. “The large open area and the flow of the house easily facilitates this number,” Del says. “The kitchen has a flow of cooking and serving surfaces that is great for buffet style food, snacks and beverage service. Plus there is the plentiful parking.”
The bottom line: The Ikers’ home is, indeed, a work of art. “Our favorite memories,” Del says, “are time spent with our friends in fellowship, time spent together in the home, on the canals and in the pool with many, many hours spent drifting and dreaming.”
