My Bay Inspired Home - Entering the Tropics
/My love of the coast began at a young age. Give me the sun, the surf, flip flops, and palm trees and I am good.
For as long as I can remember our family would spend summer vacations on the Bolivar Peninsula. During those visits, we would make memories that would last a lifetime. Cramming as many family members as we could into a 1000 square foot bayside home was the norm. In the evenings, the floor would be littered with sleeping bags. It was far from a tropical paradise but we didn’t care, we were together. On those trips, I learned to love and appreciate the coast. Any coast. For me it represented family and fun.
When choosing a location for our retirement/weekend home I knew where I wanted to be. Thankfully, my husband was on board with a coastal home. We decided on Rockport. It may be more of a fishing village than a tropical destination but it’s on the coast and it’s Texas.
The Master Suite
In designing my master and guest bedrooms I wanted to try and recreate the feeling you get on vacation when you step into your hotel room that first day. Relaxed and carefree. I am drawn to the island vibe of Tommy Bahama Home. For my sanctuary I chose a tropical style. When I saw the Round Hill Bed in Tommy Bahama’s Island Estates Collection, I had to have it. The rich colors of the leather wrapped bamboo and woven headboard and footboard evoke that sense of exotic travel destinations.
For side tables, I chose the Bermuda Sands Chest (comes in a beautiful teal finish as well) and the Del Sol Bedside Table. I topped each with a layered capiz shell table lamp.
The bedding is from a luxury line we carry in the store called Eastern Accents. It’s a sophisticated turn on the tropical theme. The hints of teal in the duvet cover are showcased in the matelassé coverlet.
One of our favorite spots in the winter is the sitting area overlooking the canal. We watch boaters heading out for the day for fishing and fun. These Bandar Swivel Chairs, single ottoman and lamps complete the setting.
Master Bath
For the master bath we removed the original unframed vanity mirror and added two framed mirrors with an embossed wavy texture in a metallic silver. All of the lighting was replaced with custom lights from Hudson Valley Lighting.
The starfish wall décor is also in a coordinating metallic silver finish. Accessories of seashells and a preserved topiary for finishing island touches.
Guest Quarters
For the guest room I went with a little brighter color scheme. The duvet cover is a coral reef motif with cord trim in a Mediterranean blue palette. It’s light and bright. Cool and calming.
For one side table I chose a wood/iron combination cabinet and the other is the Ginger Island Bedside Table. The Plantain Bench at the foot of the bed gives guests a place to place their luggage or overnight bags. The colorful lamps are a crackled ceramic with embossed woven rope pattern with a linen shade. For guests there is a sound machine, charging station and books everywhere.
The Guest Bath
As with the master, I chose to remove the builder grade frameless mirrors and replace it with these impressive capiz shell mirrors and custom lighting.
