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During early spring and fall, the Leporis enjoy breakfast or dinner on the patio, often with unexpected guests. “We see deer all of the time. They ate all of my impatiens, the little stinkers,” Leita Lepori said.

By Diane S. Morales, Caller-Times

July 17, 2005

Eddie Seal/Caller-Times

A sitting nook by the kitchen provides extra space for interaction or a quiet retreat for daydreaming into the backyard view.

Leita and Firman Lepori live on an oak tree peninsula in Rockport. The couple’s countryside setting offers them the best of both worlds — memories of their hometown and new memories to build.

The Gonzales natives moved to their Rockport Country Club home on Olympic Drive about 12 years ago when Firman Lepori’s banking job moved the couple from Houston to the coastal community.

“I thought we would stay in Rockport about four years,” Leita said. “But it’s the people, our friends, that keep us here.”

The Leporis spotted their future 3,400-square-foot home when it was under construction and bought investing in a vacant lot filled with a grove of live oak trees next to their home. With sprawling live oaks shading the front and backyards, it’s obvious why Leita Lepori calls her home an oak tree peninsula.

“We’re both from the country, so the open space means a lot to us,” she said.

Eddie Seal/Caller-Times

In the kitchen, the pale blue and ivory colors flow into a casual dining space overlooking the backyard. “If your colors flow, then it’s easy to move things around. I always do. It keeps things interesting,” Lepori said.

A touch of english

The home’s red brick facade and white columns reflects the traditional decor inside, but the pale blue and ivory shades mixed with wood and antiques create a sense of an English countryside home. A dash of contemporary furnishings and accents create an eclectic blend.

Leita Lepori, an interior designer, said the couple has always kept a traditionally styled home in their 46 years of marriage.

“Everybody needs to stay with a style they’re comfortable with and this is what we’re used to,” she said.

Lepori favors shades of blue Ming and celadon green porcelains because their versatility complements any style of furniture. On the wood floor entry, a hint of the home’s pale blue theme impresses visitors with an antique Chinese area rug of flowers on a sky blue background.

To the right of the entry is the formal dining room. It includes an oval wood table with ivory tapestry upholstered dining chairs highlighted by a crystal chandelier. A matching china cabinet illuminates the Leporis’ collection of colorful glassware, crystal and fine china.

Eddie Seal/Caller-Times

A collection of Leita Lepori’s crystal pieces displayed on a glass cart sparkle by a delicate lamp light in the living room. “Lamps and indirect lighting can do a lot for a room,” she said.

“I really like fine china and crystal,” Lepori said. “We travel to Europe yearly, and I buy them there. And we use them. That’s the fun part.”

Leita Lepori takes pride in her timeless furniture pieces that the couple has held on to over the years.

The furniture and fine dishware have withstood raising three children and frequent visits from eight grandchildren.

Serene surroundings

In the living area, the live oak trees spanning the backyard create a tranquil contrast to the formal dining room with its Ming china vases, a black piano and fine artwork.

“The children always say it’s so peaceful here, and it is,” Leita Lepori said.

Eddie Seal/Caller-Times

Pale blues and creamy ivory hues dominate the living area’s palette, while a backdrop of live oak trees embraces the home with a soothing ambiance.

Through the living area, a casual dining table and kitchen overlooks the backyard as well. Soft blue and ivory fruit-patterned fabric covers the chair seats and the barstools along the breakfast bar.

A breakfast nook with two natural plaid wingback chairs in front of a trio of windows offers a cozy sitting space for reading the morning paper and sipping coffee.

The home’s three bedrooms, including the master suite, occupy one side of the home, down the hall from the living area. As the number of Leporis grandchildren increasedd, the couple added an upstairs family room and an office about five years ago.

“We needed the extra space for the grandkids,” Leita Lepori said. “Plus, we wanted to keep the bedrooms peaceful by adding the space away from them.”

A peaceful home is a constant pleasure for the Leporis, one they plan to keep for as long as the shadows of their oak tree peninsula stretch.