Collectors' Gulf Coast Bungalow
After years of vacationing in the fishing community of Matagorda, this retired Houston couple decided to build a place of their own on the Texas Gulf Coast. Designed as a gathering place for their children and grandchildren, they came to Studio Plumb during construction with one clear request: color, pattern, personality, and lots of layers.
Over the next year and a half, we worked together remotely to design every finish and furnishing. The result is a new home that feels deeply personal, layered with original art, collected objects, and a lifetime of curiosity.
Project Scope
Full-Service Design & Furnishing of the whole home.
Styling
Studio Plumb
The home announces itself immediately. A magenta front door opens into a blue paneled entry hall, and the staircase becomes a piece of art in its own right, with a runner in alternating stripes of pink, blue, green, and coral. A built-in nook tucked beneath the stairs offers a cushioned seat as a quiet landing spot.
The living room is layered, comfortable, and designed for gathering. Powder blue floral wallpaper wraps the walls, while mint-painted trim and built-ins display shells, coral, books, and collected coastal memorabilia. Generous seating invites the entire family to settle in and enjoy views of the Gulf, while layers of pattern and a hand-knotted rug ground the room and give it warmth.
Designed to host a crowd, the dining room centers around a long table surrounded by woven rattan chairs upholstered in a playful mix of fabrics. A periwinkle sideboard and striped lampshades layer on the pattern, while a large-scale painting by Lisa Bartell from the clients’ own collection anchors the area. Just beyond, the dining room opens to a covered porch and the sand dunes beyond, creating an easy connection between indoor gathering and nature.
The kitchen was the very first room we designed and ultimately established the palette for the entire house. The clients had already selected a dramatic Cristallo Tiffany quartzite slab for the island, and its colors inspired everything that followed.
Unlacquered brass fixtures and cheerful Roman shades bring relaxed character, while a zellige mosaic wall with open brass shelving creates a spot for the bar area.
Just off the kitchen, the back hallway incorporates built-in storage, while checkerboard terrazzo flooring continues into the powder bath, where fish wallpaper wraps the room. For a family of fishermen and naturalists, it couldn’t be more fitting.
On the way to the primary suite, an awkward transition space became a reading snug, with a built-in window seat and shelving that turns a forgotten corner into somewhere worth lingering. Beyond it, the primary bedroom is lush and restful. The client fell in love with a discontinued tropical creatures wallpaper and tracked down remnants from the maker to finish the room.
The primary bath is designed around a showstopper pink quartzite on the countertops and tub surround. For a couple who love geology and the color pink, it was an easy choice. The palette stays simple to let the stone shine, with a custom cement floor tile featuring little fish adding pattern underfoot with a nod to the natural environment.
The guest suites continue the home’s playful approach to color and pattern while offering spaces for rest and retreat. From soft blue walls and botanical patterns to retro florals and vintage textiles, each room has its own personality while still feeling connected to the larger story of the house. The adjoining bathrooms embrace the same spirit, layering color, pattern, and unexpected details to create spaces that feel both welcoming and memorable for family and guests.
The bunk room is one of the most joyful spaces in the home. Bold built-in bunks, layered textiles, and plenty of color create a space designed for sleepovers, storytelling, and watching Gulf storms roll in. Like so many rooms in the house, it embraces the idea that vacation homes should feel fun, personal, and meant to be lived in.
The upstairs loft is tucked away but designed to do a little bit of everything. It’s where family members can sneak away for an afternoon nap, play games after dinner, catch up on work, or simply watch the weather roll in over the Gulf. A deep, bold-patterned sectional sets the tone, while an oversized papier-mâché chandelier echoes the painted blue ceiling overhead, proving that even the hardest-working spaces deserve a little drama.
