Come of the most exquisite homes in the Coastal Bend derive from the Cinnamon Shore community, but this eclectic three-bedroom, three-bathroom property, fondly referred to as “The Haus of Jacques,” is an example of what imagination and a love for interior design can produce. Seabreeze Construction built the property in early 2024. Dr. Andrew Aoshima and Brittany Wendl-Aoshima saw the home as an investment opportunity and an ideal vacation spot, and decided to buy.
“We knew we wanted to get a place in Cinnamon Shore because it played a special part in our wedding,” Brittany said. As the home had been built before their purchase, the majority of the interiors were complete; however, the new owners added personal touches, such as fresh light fixtures, wallpaper and amendments, to create a unique seaside getaway.
Atop the stairs on an antiquated glass-front hutch sits a brass replica of an old-fashioned deep-sea diver’s helmet named Jacques, purchased as a statement piece for the new house.
“We found him in a Home Goods store before we moved in,” Brittany remembered. “We wanted to theme the house around a story of someone that was well-traveled with an old-world elegance.” The age-old style that Jacques represents shines prevalently—not just in the fine details, but in the overall décor inspiration.
On the ground level, the intimate open-concept layout offers effortless socialization while supporting a roomy feel. Deep oceanic hues, sandy tones and bold patterns throughout the home cast a scene of deep-sea life with a seamless combination of minimalism and maximalism.
White kitchen cabinets and walls set the stage for colorful highlights in the brass cabinet hardware and blue quartz countertops, while a life-sized steel hammerhead shark, created by a local artist in Rockport, hangs from the high ceiling.
“I love that this place is not so serious,” Brittany said. “It has nice pieces to it, but at the same time it’s irregular.”
A live edge wooden dining table topped with spiral candlesticks imitating plant life and a large sea shell sits beneath a palm frond chandelier. These examples of the playfulness Brittany effortlessly instilled in the design further the tale of Jacques’ deep-sea adventures.
The spacious half-bathroom continues the sophisticated underwater motif, giving visitors’ imagination plenty to absorb. Panoramic wallpaper imitates a blue sky with wisps of clouds, or perhaps frothy waves lapping at a shoreline, while a homemade mirror bordered by saddle oyster shells and dried sun palm leaves inspires thoughts of the ocean.
A unique feature of the home is the reading nook, nestled beneath the staircase inside what once was a closet.
“We thought we would turn it into something cool, rather than a simple closet,” Brittany said. The hideaway, with its walls wrapped in deep-hued foliage, offers a cozy refuge for imagination to wander freely.
Up the stairs, past the octopus-adorned sconces and Jacques’ resting place, bedrooms prompt a sense of cool relaxation. Creating cohesion throughout the home, the oceanic, old-world elegance stands out in the small details of the master bedroom. A stained bamboo headboard, creamy textiles and palm trees echo the ease of coastal living, while brass touches among blue tones and ombre curtains pay homage to Jacques’ shining veneer.
Viridian bunkbeds take the spotlight in the eclectic bunk room. “The bunk beds used to be white but I liked the green, and it helps keep them looking cleaner,” Brittany said. The combination of blue ceiling, woven wicker and unique grasscloth palm tree visuals transports visitors through the tropics.
Brittany and Andrew created a truly inspired space for themselves when looking for an adventure in this home away from home.
