Beach House Beauty on the Texas Coast

published Jul 16, 2010

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Name: Susan Castor Collection “Beach House”
Location: Port Aransas, Texas
Size:3980 square feet — 6 bedrooms and 5½ bathrooms

The Gulf Coast is all over the news these days, but it’s rarely linked with design and decor. Today we’re bringing you news from the Texas Gulf Coast of a lighter, fresher sort. On a recent trip to Port Aransas, we unexpectedly discovered a beautiful custom-built (and eco-friendly) vacation home open for tours at Cinnamon Shore.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

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The main living room and kitchen space. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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View from stairs to dining area. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
Side by side dining areas that can be combined to suit larger dinner parties. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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Hand painted canvas chair seats. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
Orb light fixture over dining room. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
View to outside deck from the dining room window. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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Chandelier in foyer. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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Smaller sitting room off foyer. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
Breakfast nook off sitting room. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
Detail of glass tile backsplash in breakfast nook. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
Hallway with sliding door entry to laundry room. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
Washer and dryer have matching cabinet door panels. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
Laundry room sink with striped skirt and wall. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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Even the hall closet and vents are constructed of the same wood as the walls. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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Powder room. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
Sitting room in master suite. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
Wet bar/coffee station in master suite. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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Master bath. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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Second master suite. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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Detail of bookcase inset. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
Second master bathroom. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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Galvanized metal countertops in mudroom. (Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
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(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)
(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Susan Castor, along with her team of designers, collaborated with architect Melton Henry and builder Jerry Buckley to create the “Beach House” as a model for sophisticated, environmentally conscious coastal living. Their intention was to design a practical, comfortable vacation home that would accommodate extended families and maximize the beach front views. The home was completed fairly quickly thanks to careful planning and frequent communication between the architect, builder and designer (but no home owner). Although Susan Castor’s name is associated with the “Beach House”, each member of her design team was given a space in the house to design in her own voice while maintaining consistency throughout.

The most breath-taking feature of the home is the architecture of the high ceilings and the modern stairway that allows a view over the main living area. The space is open and endless reminding us of the sea, but the interior is not overly nautical. The lightly washed wood walls and floor echo driftwood and the color palette is mostly sand and water to harmonize with the coastline outside.The floor plan of the house is generous enough to include two master suites, mini-kitchens on each floor, and multiple living and dining areas. The main dining area has a banquet style table and a matching (but usually separate) square table that can be used together for large dinner parties. Overall, the house can sleep and seat 18 people!

This summer the “Beach House” is open for viewing as a concept home with 80% of the admission fees being donated to the Port Aransas Education Foundation.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our style: Casual elegance.

Inspiration:Other designers and architects.

Favorite Element: Architectural details.

Biggest Challenge:Capturing the view on a narrow lot.

What Friends Say:It’s very peaceful and soothing.

Biggest Indulgence:Art and accessories.

Best advice: Plan.

Inspiration:Nature.

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

Resources:

Appliances: Viking, Asko, and Thermadore

Hardware: Baldwin

Furniture: Custom, Hickory Chair, Kravet, Lexington, Eddy West, Tritter Feefer, Palecek

Accessories: Susan Castor Collection

Lighting: Tech, Currey & Company, Oly

Rugs: French Market, Surya, Merida, Company C, Olmos Oriental Rugs, Classic Home

Tiles and Stone: DalTile, Ice Stone countertops

Window Treatments: Custom and Hunter Douglas

Beds: Custom

Artwork: Susan Castor Collection, Mustang Art Gallery, Port Aransas Gallery

Paint: Benjamin Moore – Bleeker Beige, White Dove, Putnam Ivory, Spirit in the Sky, Honeymoon, Bone White, Hollingsworth Green, Dune Grass, Beach Glass, Dill Pickle

Flooring: Custom wood floors

(Image credit: Apartment Therapy)

(Thanks, Susan and Team!)

Images: Misty Adair

Interested in sharing your home with Apartment Therapy? Contact the editors through our House Tour Submission Form.