Shoreline Project
When CF Designs was approached to redesign this outdated Mediterranean-style residence on the Texas Gulf Coast, we knew we needed to give its new owners a design that matched their personal style, while also adding some local flavor. Enter Shoreline Project, a massive remodel which transformed this tired vacation villa into a home that brings the outside in with coastal vibes and sophisticated ease.
Beautiful Port Aransas
The Shoreline Project sits right on the water of a shipping channel in Port Aransas, Texas, a destination that offers clear blue waters, abundant fishing, and a laid-back way of life. The property has stunning views, with daily sightings of playful dolphins jumping near the noses of massive tankers. The home’s new owners – self-described fishing fanatics with a large, well-traveled fishing boat – felt ready to bring the boat home to Port Aransas. So naturally, they wanted to make this new property reflective of the things they love to do and the beauty of the environment around them.
A Major Renovation
The circa-2000 clunky Spanish style and builder-grade beige and brown color palette not only dated this home, but made it feel incongruent with its spectacular Gulf Coast surroundings.This large-scale remodel included the lofty task of reconfiguring the layout and removing outdated arches, columns, and walls. Working with UWC Custom Builders, we altered almost every surface, including retexturing the walls and replacing flooring with a durable luxury vinyl plank. Kitchen cabinets bases were reused and replaced with new cabinet doors. The bathrooms were either gutted and revamped or updated with paint, new fixtures, and mirrors. Even the exterior was revitalized with fresh paint and light fixtures. The result of this major renovation is a serene and cohesive indoor-outdoor space.
Upon entering the main house now, you are welcomed by a stunning fine art photograph of shimmering turquoise waters reminiscent tropical waters that the homeowners often fish. This bright entryway is flanked by a rattan console table and bench.
Key West Bar
Even with the vibe switch of the home, we were able to incorporate a few interesting pieces left over by the previous owner. One example is the striking metal marlin we mounted on the wall in the affectionately named “Key West Bar,” a former dining room turned cozy lounge oozing with color and character. On the opposite wall, a soft-toned green tile backdrop complements an enormous mounted tarpon caught in the Florida Keys by the new homeowner. Below the prized catch, a tiled floating shelf features spirits and glassware. Bright blue cabinets with oversized half-circle oak pulls add funky interest and warmth to the space.
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From the beginning we imagined this room as a space where cocktails will be enjoyed and fishing tales will be told. We hope the client can kick back with a drink in hand, describing their day out on the water or telling stories of how that trophy fish was reeled in.
Next to the bar, a fluted white oak wall with attached white oak boxes form a clever trophy case for all the client’s trophies, recognitions and awards. The client’s grandfather’s fishing poles are perched in the opposite corner, and as per the homeowner’s request, we leaned the poles against the wall – almost like his grandfather just came in from fishing and set them there. Small details like this homage to his grandfather bring familiarity and love to this new home location.
We searched high and low for the right light fixture to fit the character of this room and were thrilled to find this chandelier. Made to mimic a bait ball – a frenzied orb of swimming fish hunted by larger fish – this light fit perfectly into this angler’s lounge.
Living Room
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Panning to the main living room, we wanted this to be a comfortable, easy gathering place for larger groups. In order to maximize seating we added a huge light-beige sectional. A round coffee table helps the flow of the living room and added greenery brings a more organic feeling. Load-bearing columns were replaced with a long, steel beam wrapped in white oak, opening up the space. In keeping with the elevated, modern style, the walls throughout most of the home are drenched in Alabaster by Sherwin Williams while the doors and trim are painted with Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore.
Wine Den
In what we are calling the “Wine Den,” we incorporated an octagonal poker table from the previous owners into this dining nook. It fits the area perfectly and can be used regularly for snacking and drinking, and then the table top can be flipped for game nights. Its original dark, heavy wood didn’t exactly fit the intended aesthetic, so we added a custom-made tablecloth with this cheery Christopher Farr Carnival fabric that incorporates the blues, greens and whites common throughout the house and adds pattern to the space. This stunning chandelier from Arteriors draws the den in to feel cozy, yet elevated.
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Dining Area
A West Elm table, encircled with custom-upholstered Serena and Lily dining chairs, is centered in the new dining room, formerly a television lounge. It is lit from above by a stunning coral-inspired chandelier, also by Serena and Lily. This is the best seat in the house to watch massive tankers and playful dolphins navigate the ship channel—a mesmerizing experience and a great conversation starter.
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The Kitchen
The homeowner loves the color blue, which was perfect since blue is one of our favorite colors to decorate with! For the kitchen cabinets we chose the paint color Summer Shower by Benjamin Moore, a crisp wisp of blue, while a subtle floral mosaic pattern adorns the backsplash tiles. Coral figurines placed in lit cubbies add depth and variation to the cabinets. Bistro stools woven in light blue tones surround the large island, with glass and oak pendants hanging above.
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The kitchen, leads to the laundry room with bright white cabinets and fun pale turquoise hexagonal tiles on the ground.
Primary Bedroom
The primary bedroom features another one of the client’s prized catches, an enormous sailfish. Sometimes wall mounts as decor can overwhelm a room. And to be completely honest they are not always a top pick for my designs. But when used correctly, they make a space really special. We added vertical 1x2 inch trim pieces to give the wall texture, then bathed the room in this peaceful sky blue. This allowed the mounted sailfish to blend into the space above the bed while still making a statement. The navy grasscloth side tables frame the woven raffia bed from Universal Furniture.
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Primary Bathroom
In the primary bath, modern white sconces light a beautiful custom white oak vanity, designed in-house. Modern champagne bronze fixtures from Delta were used to replace plumbing throughout the house and in this bathroom.
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The bathroom walls are clad in white shiplap, giving the room dimension and keeping with the coastal theme. A vertical to horizontal interchange of the shower tiles gives some visual interest to the clean look of subway tiles.
Second Bedroom
Because the homeowners have children nearing adulthood, they wanted a space for their kids and their guests to stay. A major priority was to have a high bed count for entertaining, which required some clever use of the spaces.
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A king-size bed anchors the second bedroom, and a floating loft above it adds another twin-size bunk. We kept the walls a crisp Alabaster but then added palm wallpaper to the ceiling, which made it interesting without feeling too cramped. The oak bunk railing warms up the white linens and Greek blue color accents throughout. It’s a functional space in which a small family or group of teens could stay.
Second Bathroom
Connected to this room – and also to the main living area – is the only other bathroom in the main house. Chrome fixtures and accents complement the newly-painted blue hue of the linen closet cabinet and crisp white tiles in the shower. A scalloped mirror adds whimsy to the console sink with chrome legs.
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Honeymoon Casita
One of the most unique things about the Shoreline Project is that this home boasts not one, but two casitas! The serene bedroom in what we dubbed the “Honeymoon Casita” features a king-size bed with modern, clean lines and a calming beach scene art piece. Two pink lamps offer a pop of color on either side. The shiplap affixed to the vaulted ceiling gives an elevated feel and adds to the coastal vibes.
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Bunks Casita
With its two stacks of three-level bunks, the Bunks Casita, can sleep up to six with twin XL bunks. We designed the built-in moody blue platforms with white oak ladders and railings to fit all ages – from college kids coming home, to smaller children of family and friends who visit. Along the opposite wall, we included an existing exterior bench from the client’s previous home and styled it with pillows and swimming prints. This casual look is finished off with some local vintage framed art and a mounted mahi mahi.
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Casita Bathrooms
Both casitas have bathrooms that needed a refresh, with painted cabinets and updated countertops and vanities. New lightning and mirrors create a clean, custom feel.
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The Exterior
We chose to remove some unneeded accents on the exterior to elevate the design. After choosing Alabaster by Sherwin Williams for the stucco, we made the clients a little nervous with our idea to paint the window trim blue. We tried about eight different paint colors and, in the end, we all loved the sophisticated coastal effect the blue trim gave the home. Replacing the fixtures with more modern glass box lights polished the finished look.
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At CF Designs we enjoyed every moment of the Shoreline Project – from planning and design to gutting and restoring. We feel proud of our work and believe the home now fits in perfectly with its impressive surroundings, and – most importantly – our clients’ lifestyles. We hope they will cherish this coastal paradise for years to come.