Neighborhoods skirting the downtown area are some of the oldest homes and structures of Corpus Christi, several dating back to the early 1900s. Tucked behind a Secret Garden-esque 10-foot brick wall lies one of the great hidden treasures of Corpus Christi.
A 1950s-era Humble Oil filling station once serviced the town’s burgeoning automobile population. Vehicles would pull through the cement-columned pump station and into the high-ceilinged service bay for routine checks. Fast forward two decades and a few innovative owners, and the property was purchased by Katie Reichert’s parents.
“My parents bought it in 1977 and turned it into [the] house [as it is seen now],” Reichert said. She always knew she wanted to live in the unique structure.
In 2018, Katie and John Reichert purchased the historic building and began the two-year transformation of their dream home. The Reicherts anticipated the construction process would be extensive: “We pretty much changed everything,” she recalled. However, they carefully kept key components to preserve the structure’s deep-rooted history.
Large format Saltillo tile flooring spans the length of the formal living room encased in floor-to-ceiling windows, transforming the space into a reverse atrium and giving a panoramic view of the lush flora that fill the surrounding courtyard. Remaining true to the original architectural detailing, the Reicherts restored the ceiling millwork treatment which craftily conceals modern air conditioning.
The mélange of color and nature prompts feelings of joyous familiarity while sitting on the large sofas amid lively textiles and an assemblage of the owners’ favorite items. Reichert is a true treasure hunter, whose expansive exotic shell collection is perfectly displayed along the sills.
Once used as the gas station’s office area, the primary bedroom sits directly off the formal living room. Saltillo tile runs through the bedroom, where antique birch doors tie the past to the present for Reichert. “The doors have cool little hidden windows that open up,” she said. “We used to play with them, and now my grandkids use them for puppet shows.”
Soft pink-toned bed linens and flokati textiles set the stage for the original Pecky Cypress wood paneling, potted foliage and eclectic decor that balances chic style and antique charm.
The home’s layout corresponds with the building’s original intention. In the concurrent kitchen, dining and living room, floor-to-ceiling windows that mimic the rolling doors of the service garage flood the space with natural light. Reichert was the mastermind behind the entirety of the design. “I don’t really have a specific style, I just know what I like,” she shared.
White walls provide a clean canvas for a collage of colorful artwork between black steel-frame windows. The colorful art and eclectic decor, combined with a low-hanging focal pendant and modern textures, add to the bohemian Brooklyn loft aesthetic.
“I love a white background, so I can fill it with color,” Reichert explained. Although hot pink for dining chairs is bold, in this home, it doesn’t just thrive; it inspires an elegance that anchors its designated territory and unifies the spaces.
The Reicherts had more than aesthetics in mind when designing the 20-foot-long built-in buffet featuring intricately carved custom drawer fronts, full-height glass front cabinets and an expansive kitchen island. The illuminated cabinets have an abundance of storage and display vibrant serving platters and glassware, paying tribute to the colorful life they have lived. Below, Mexican-influenced encaustic tiles line the backsplash and effortlessly complement the half bathroom flanking the kitchen.
In the large courtyard, John works hard at nurturing the Eden that envelops every corner. “We are stewards of [the] plants; she picks them out and I grow them,” he said. Pots of blooms and shrubs hang from the tall pergola above a brick path, offering physical form to whimsicality.
“The house is perfect … it surprises people,” agreed the Reicherts. One could never guess from outside the wall how the inside bursts with life.
