Rockport has remarkably managed to remain one of the best-kept secrets of the Gulf Coast. From quaint bayfront shops to saltbox bungalows hidden beneath windswept oaks, the town’s history is as rich as it is lengthy. Once known only as a sleepy fishing village, it has maintained its small-town feel and tight-knit community.
Just a few sidewalk-free blocks into the heart of the established neighborhood hides a home straight out of a Shelter Magazine, Veranda or Southern Living. An American flag flutters in the gentle breeze through a wild tangle of oak trees surrounding the stately two-story Colonial Revival residence of Matthew and Charissa Lynch, who, over two years and post-pandemic delays, endeavored to build “the house the children would think of as truly home.”
After having lived and worked in other places, Matthew and Charissa were ready to set roots and raise their growing family in the small town that holds so much meaning to them. “My grandmother used to take us crabbing in Little Bay … My mom’s cousin grew up in the house behind ours,” Matthew reminisced.
Those fond memories ultimately led them to design and build a structure that married the functionality of a busy household with the aesthetics of a well-appointed Southern belle. “We wanted a piece of property that felt like it was in the country but with the convenience of being in the middle of town,” the couple said.
Steve Haynes of Port Fabrications aided the Lynch family in drawing their dreams through the architectural process while their builder, Wells Collection, brought it all to life in real time. To hone in on their architectural preferences, the couple sourced inspiration from highly reputed modern traditional designers like Dallas-based Caitlin Wilson and C. Brandon Ingram of Atlanta. Especially influential to their process was a trip to tour Southern Living’s Amelia Island Idea House.
Abundant tall windows with transom lites are a key detail extracted from the Idea House experience, emphasizing the home’s 12-foot ceilings and illuminating every interior space with natural light. The Lynches had a keen mindfulness of how light and shadow affect the interior experience: “Light was a priority. I wanted to need a pair of sunglasses in my house,” Charissa said with a wink. A true student of the game, Charissa painstakingly pored over their house plans to visualize how each space would be functional, maintain symmetry and be finished with thoughtful architectural detailing.
The slate blue front door offers a warm welcome while the ample entry foyer doubles as an interior front porch-style sitting area, perfect for a game (or three) of mahjong while escaping the summer heat. The living room and kitchen are central to the home, while side spaces are segmented yet remain open by glass swinging doors and large cased openings which allow for a seamless flow from room to room.
The kitchen notably lacks the ubiquitous appliances, as Charissa opted for the heavy lifting to be done in the scullery kitchen adjacent to the main cooking space. A pass-through window with double-sided glass upper cabinets allows light to filter through while keeping the main focus of the kitchen on cooking and gathering. Behind the range wall, the most unexpectedly charming pantry is appointed with a floral chintz wall covering, a linen cupboard skirt and scalloped accessories.
Beyond the kitchen lies the true (blue) heart of the home: the laundry room. It’s a space often overlooked, but critical to the smooth operation of a household. The Lynch home is an organizational dream; function at its finest. Each child’s cubby, backpack hook and corresponding laundry bin are streamlined perfection, while the bench seat is a perfect perch for the family’s pups, Jack and Rosemary.
For the Lynch family, building a legacy home in Rockport honors their generational roots, which run as deep as the iconic bent oak trees seen from the coastline.
