Over a line of sea grass-sprinkled dunes sit rows of soft pastel beach houses atop beautifully manicured grounds. Children roam free-range among the multitude of nearby amenities, while the scent of barbecue, salty sea air and a chorus of laughter waft along the breeze in pleasant harmony. By now, most of the Coastal Bend is at least somewhat familiar with the idyllic Cinnamon Shore seaside planned communities. The area is truly an escape—whether coming from far and wide or just over the bridge—where families and weekenders can immerse themselves in coastal living.
Aside from the clear draw of such aesthetic surroundings, the scale of these homes demands attention. Built to accommodate a kaleidoscope of guests, they are designed with entertaining large groups in mind.
Corpus Christi residents Philip and Michelle Ramirez were looking for such a place to gather both of their large (in-town and out-of-state) families and friends in a close-but-not-too-close vacation spot. Their desire led to the perfect opportunity for Philip, Principal Architect at Turner | Ramirez Architects, to design what is now their ideal coastal home away from home.
“It was designed as a place where the people that matter the most to us could all gather under one roof,” reflected Ramirez, who planned a layout to accommodate multiple families with areas for both private respite and communal gathering.
And thus, La Mer was born. The three-story, six-bedroom home with multiple indoor and outdoor living areas centers around that idea of gathering. “Having a space where we can come together and share memories—that was the vision behind it,” Ramirez said.
Going through the architectural process with Cinnamon Shore’s New Urbanist design guidelines was an enjoyable challenge for Ramirez, especially meshing traditional beach house elements with the couple’s modern, clean-lined aesthetic. The Ramirezes engaged APD Construction, LLC, and interior design work by my firm, Elizabeth Welsh Interior Design, to execute the family’s vision and bring the structure to life.
The Ramirezes envisioned an open and airy aesthetic with spaces bathed in natural light and height from vaulted ceilings and two-tiered transom windows; there are 83 total in the home. Rather than approach the interiors with an overtly coastal aesthetic, I opted for a different approach via the use of color and textures: I selected shiplap, grass cloth wallcovering and irregularly surfaced tile to add depth to the materials and punctuated furnishings with intentional showcases of color for added intrigue.
“It gets a little funky; it’s not so serious,” mused Ramirez, thinking about certain playful elements from the décor, such as the figural surfboard artwork and driftwood chandelier suspended over the living room and vintage cast concrete shorebird by the bar.
Each of the four guest bedrooms was designed as a primary suite with an adjoining bathroom, and is finished with an identifying color. “It’s interesting to see who gravitates toward which room,” Ramirez said. They each have their own color personality, which lends to the personalized vacation experience. The primary suite, which occupies the third floor, offers a sanctuary space with an adjoining reading room, a loft living area and a sunset porch.
For the Ramirezes, the desire for a gathering spot where all guests are comfortable under one roof was an opportunity for creativity in which they have been able to capture some of the sweet moments and memories only possible when not parting company at the end of an evening.
