By: Jacqueline Gonzalez Photos By: Jason Page
When searching for the perfect home, location is a majorbrfactor in the decision-making process. Jennifer Lee and her husband, Monty,brwere on the hunt for a neighborhood with a strong family dynamic, a greatbrschool district, and a strong sense of place where their children could play outsidebrand make lots of friends.
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In addition to the location, the Lees sought an untouched,brun-remodeled home that would serve as a blank canvas for a design project.brOriginally, they were drawn to the variety of lot sizes and architecturalbrstyles of the Lamar Park neighborhood, but soon discovered a hidden gem among thebrMid-century modern homes in the Ocean Drive area.
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Jennifer, a Corpus Christi native, was familiar with thebrarea, and was excited to find a small, 1959 original Paul Blanchard Mid-centurybrmodern home – tucked away in the Port Aransas Cliffs area, between Bessar Parkbrand Lamar Park subdivisions. She was immediately drawn to its potential, andbrthe close proximity of the water and the bayfront was a bonus!
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Jennifer, owner and designer for ŌCKERLEE DESIGN, loved thatbrshe was able to see directly through the home into the large backyard,brpresenting the perfect canvas for future add-ons and renovations. Theybrpurchased the home in 2004, and although it was a work in progress, Jenniferbrand Monty lived in their home for several years until they fine-tuned thebrdesign and saved money to expand it for their growing family. In 2009, theybrcompleted two new wings, one for adults and one for kids, and a slew ofbradditional renovations, tripling the size of the home from 1,400 square feet tobr3,466 square feet.
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The hard work put into their home was well worth the effort.brImmediately upon arrival, guests are struck by the masterful front door curbbrappeal, making a personality-packed statement. The sway of the concretebrentryway adds architectural interest, as guests enjoy the landscaping beforebrbeing greeted by the front door, dressed in a bold shade of orange.
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Originally, the house was a shade of beige that Jennifer wasbrnot happy with, but she set out to showcase the natural materials, bones, andbrera of the house, embracing the natural beauty and location. The color palettebrwas inspired by the colors on the rich print of an Orla Kiely shoulder bag. Thebrbrown bag showcases a fun print, filled with shades of taupe, grey, ivory,brorange, and green, Jennifer’s favorite color – it proved to be a handy shoppingbrcompanion.
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The Lees’ decor is best described as eclectic. Each room hasbrperfectly displayed family antiques and heirlooms, including hand-me-downs andbrMid-century modern pieces they have collected over the years. A few pieces werebrpurchased specifically for their first home, but Jennifer’s mantra is “workbrwith what you have,” and her vision is slowly, but surely, coming together. Shebrstates, “While we would love to fill the whole house with architect-designed furniturebrpieces, a tiny budget is our reality, so we have to work with what we alreadybrhave and fill in the pieces we can afford.”
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Inspiration for the interiors comes first and foremost frombreach other, random pieces they find in shops or create themselves, or anybrpieces they are gifted from friends and family. Two lovely Charles Eames loungebrchairs sit in front of a wall of books, creating a cozy reading corner. The treasuredbrchairs were gifted to Jennifer by her architect neighbor, the late SambrPennington, and add the perfect touch to the area. A vintage Sputnik chandelier,brpurchased from their photographer friend Brenda Miles, sits atop the diningbrroom table, overlooking the front yard. This room, often referred to as “ThebrLibrary,” showcases a wall of books, and a custom-made sectional couch, makingbrit an ideal place to spend quality time with family. Taking advantage of thebrdarker color palette of the library, the Lees use this room to escape from thebrheat in the summer, host dinner parties, watch movies, and gather around thebrfireplace in the winter.
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Although the home has a strict color palette, there are a fewbrbreaks, allowing the house to showcase a different aspect of its owners’brpersonalities. From Jennifer’s love of different shades of green to Monty’sbrminimalistic preferences, the bright colors in their daughter’s room, and the low-key,brcasual area where their son plays his video games, the Lee home reflects charm,brfamily, and comfort.
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Jennifer’s best advice for anyone experiencing a home decorbrquandary: “Define your style before you buy anything. Pinterest is a greatbrtool, but don’t get caught up in aiming for an Instagram-perfect home – focusbron the reality of your lifestyle and embrace it through the decor!”
