Let’s take a step back into 2006: Architects John and Biby Dykema of Levy Dykema Architects were hired to design a single-level retirement home for a client with whom they were lifelong friends. Little did they know, 15 years later they would have the special opportunity to become stewards of the home they had lovingly designed.
As it was situated on an ideal stretch of the picturesque Coastal Bend, the Dykemas approached the site layout to maximize the bayfront view while buffering the vehicle bustle of Ocean Drive. “The first thing we did was site the house [on the property] … By building farther into the lot we got this incredible view,” recalled Biby. By layering an exterior wall, street-facing auto court and interior courtyard, the home is both insulated from the noise and concealed for privacy.
The interiors reflect the culmination of thoughtful collaboration and storied collection. Both original and current owners’ tastes are reflected in the interior appointments blending their 45+ years of collecting art as a couple with the earthy elegance of Santa Fe, New Mexico—where the original homeowners spent much of their time and found aesthetic inspiration. A classic example of such inspiration in the living room is the traditional “Kiva” adobe fireplace with curved hearth, full-height chimney and hand-applied plaster—details which are deeply intertwined with the cultural heritage of the Southwest.
Designed with entertaining in mind, the primary living, dining and kitchen areas merge seamlessly into each other, only separated in the living space by 1,400-year-old painted columns sourced from a Tibetan monastery. An antique sofa provides a comfortable and unexpected way to engage with the kitchen activity, while a large central seating area, tables and lounge chairs in the living room provide a multitude of seating options, perfect for entertaining big parties. Touches of red are cleverly placed throughout each area of the home, weaving in threads of the Dykemas’ personality as unique as a fingerprint.
The Dykemas made only minor modifications to the home to suit their personal aesthetics: Whitewashing the solid pine timber beams throughout lightened the space overhead and complemented the clear sealed maple floors. Painting a tonal accent color to ground the signature exterior turquoise trim added an additional layer of visual interest. Personalizing the home offices to reflect their preferred working environments, Biby opted to paint the walls a vibrant red-orange with tortoise wallcovering, while John preferred a calming neutral palette.
The house today stands as both a personal sanctuary and a living testament to the power of enduring design. Its seamless blend of place, memory and artful restraint proves that when a home is built with intention and heart, it can echo far beyond its initial purpose. The fact that the new owners, the very architects who first imagined it, found no need to overhaul its identity is perhaps the greatest compliment to the design.
