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A muted green kitchen with matching tile work mingles with the warm tan hue in the dining area. Both spaces overlook the covered patio.

By Leanne Libby, Special to the Caller-Times

September 25, 2005

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A jeweled marionette homeowner Sam Neff bought on his travels hangs from a bookcase in the living room.

Nestled just off Ocean Drive, Sam Neff’s cozy home wraps visitors in warm colors. Brazilian cherry hardwood floors with crossbeams and cabinetry painted to match lend a touch of casual elegance to a place Neff says fits right in with a laid-back, coastal lifestyle.

“It’s a good relaxation house,” he said. “It has the big back porch for relaxing or entertaining.”

Listing agent Jan Gignac of Garron Dean and Associates said the single-story home is ideal for a couple looking for a centrally located, low-maintenance dwelling. Situated in Edgewater Terrace near Ennis Joslin, it offers quick access to the university, downtown and the beach.

Low-maintenance

“This is a custom-built, new home,” Gignac said. “It was designed to be low-maintenance but elegant.”

It’s a perfect location, Neff said, for people who enjoy walking or jogging in the area.

“From the house, you can go toward the base, toward SPID or Ocean Drive,” he said.

A relaxing retreat at the end of a workday, the home, located on a cul de sac, also could be a telecommuter’s haven. The study has double doors for privacy yet looks into the living room.

“I just love the study,” Neff said of the cozy nook. “I’ve spent a lot of time in there.”

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A cherry wood door with an intricate transom makes an impressive entrance as an abstract area rug with blue, green and tan colors enlivens the gray tile floors.

The office area, which Gignac said also could be used as a small bedroom, is steps away from cathedral ceilings in the living room. The living area’s large bookcases provide ample space for reading material and keepsakes.

“I travel a lot and I’m always picking up something,” Neff said.

Neff also picked up accents for his home to enhance the atmosphere, including framed mirrors in the bathrooms and dramatic light fixtures throughout the house.

In the kitchen, stainless steel appliances complement the Italian porcelain tile on the floor and counters.

“I like granite counters but everyone has them,” Neff said. “I wanted something more rustic, earthy.”

The kitchen opens into the dining area, where leisurely diners can gaze upon Corpus Christi Bay.

Neff listed the home’s open floor plan and high ceilings as the features guests most often comment on, guests Neff hopes also appreciate the all-inclusive guest suite he designed with them in mind.

“I hate going to visit somebody and having to go in the hall to go to the bathroom,” he said.

Aesthetic appeal

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In the master bath, rustic shades of green tile provide a subtle contrast to the dominant green walls and cabinets.

The master bathroom, complete with garden tub, joins the master bedroom via a short hallway wide enough for a writing desk or sitting area.

The home is topped off with a metal roof Neff selected for its longevity as well as its aesthetic appeal.

“I like the way the metal looks and it’s very energy efficient,” he said. “It has the same kind of paint they use on cars so it will last.”

Storage space abounds, from the closet, cabinetry and walk-in pantry in the laundry room to large closets in each bedroom. The master bedroom includes a his-and-hers walk-in closet with generous, built-in shelves.

Eddie Seal/Caller-Times

Brazilian cherry wood floors cover the living area where cherry-wood painted cabinets and matching painted crossbeams add richness to the warm tones of the room.

Clutter-free comfort

The detached, two-car garage is an organized homeowner’s dream, with a closet nearly the width of the garage. A second area large enough to tempt a conversion into a guest apartment or studio also keeps clutter our of cars’ way. Walking to and from the garage is a nearly weather-proof exercise, thanks to a covered walkway. An electronic gate in the driveway offers added security and walls off a portion of the large lawn in a yard that also could accommodate a pool.

While work and travel often take Neff away from the area, he said the home always has been a welcome retreat.

“It’s a very comfortable house,” he said.