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A limestone fireplace from Mexico provides the focal point in the formal living area. Owners Liz and John Murray enlisted decorating help from their friend and Houston interior designer, Bill Stubbs. Stubbs’ work is profiled in the December issue of Architectural Digest.

By Leanne Libby, Special to the Caller-Times

December 25, 2005

Eddie Seal/Caller-Times

Owner Liz Murray said this sunroom is the family’s favorite spot in the house. The home, located just off Ocean Drive, has views of Corpus Christi Bay.

Tucked on a cul-de-sac just off Ocean Drive, Liz and John Murray’s home has a beautiful, Mediterranean-style exterior, with stucco walls, tile roof and custom ironwork. At this home, however, it’s what’s inside that counts.

Murray home Address: 3634 Denver St. Cost: $1.3 million Square feet: 4,493 Bedroom: 4 Baths: 4 1/2 Built: 2002 Realtor: Garron Dean, Garron Dean & Associates, 992-4182

John, who owns a commercial construction firm, chose steel for the studs, frame and roof trusses, and reinforced the slab as well. The result is an elegant home that is, literally, strong as steel in a hurricane-prone environment.

“You won’t find this is any other house in Corpus Christi,” said Garron Dean, the property’s real estate agent.

Liz said the steel provides peace of mind, especially in a home so close to the water.

“There’s a security in knowing you’re in a home that’s built so well,” she said.

Inside, the home is a welcoming blend of Mediterranean, Tuscan and Mexican flair.

The home’s interior was a labor of love for the couple, who teamed up with friends to get the look they wanted.

“I enjoyed doing this house,” said Liz, whose background is in marketing. “I’ve never done anything like this.”

Local architect John Dykema helped tweak the home’s design, including the entry area and the staircase. The couple, who splits their time between the Coastal Bend and Houston, were accustomed to grand, curving staircases but wanted a more casual entry for their home. The resulting staircase, tucked behind the dining room and bordered by an iron banister, was just the thing.

The alder wood beams and cabinets throughout the house are classic yet modern, a look Liz can thank a vacation for showing her.

Eddie Seal/Caller-Times

Stuffed ducks adorn the top of the stairwell in the home at the Murray home.

She had seen distressed alder wood in magazines but had not been able to settle on a vendor. Then she and John were staying at The Westin La Cantera Resort in San Antonio where they saw alder wood doors in the style they wanted. They looked on the side of the door for the vendor’s name and the rest was homebuilding history.

The kitchen is stocked with amenities including warming drawers and professional-grade appliances. John, an avid outdoorsman, selected a Dacor vent hood so he could cook fish indoors without sending an aroma throughout the house.

Longtime friend and interior designer Bill Stubbs, whose work is profiled in the December issue of Architectural Digest, stepped up when Liz was looking for guidance on furnishing the home.

“Bill gave me that comfort level of knowing I had this incredible professional assisting me,” Liz said. “He would say, ‘These are the things I think would flow with the house and your taste but you decide.’ And I liked everything he selected.”

Eddie Seal/Caller-Times

High ceilings and arches provide a spacious yet intimate feel to the home. John Murray, who owns a commercial construction company, chose steel for the home’s studs, frame and roof trusses.

Although the couple began with a Mediterranean and Tuscan concept, Liz said they quickly incorporated South Texan and Mexican accents.

“It was fun to make it a little more eclectic,” she said.

In the formal living area, eyes are drawn to a stately limestone fireplace from Mexico. In the adjacent sunroom, the wet bar is brighten by back splash tiles designed by Rockport artists Nancy and Al Barnes.

“This is probably one of our favorite rooms,” Liz said. “When we have a small group, it’s really nice.”

Liz said the home’s design makes it ideal for entertaining. During a recent party, the couple opened the doors leading out to the back yard patio, giving guests more room to mingle.

“It really flows well,” she said.

The master bedroom suite is a quiet haven, with built-in stereo speakers and doors leading out to a covered patio.

Eddie Seal/Caller-Times

Custom, alder wood cabinets give the gourmet kitchen an inviting look. John Murray, an avid fisherman, selected the Dacor vent hood so he could cook his catch indoors.

The master bathroom has an inlaid tile rug in front of the garden tub as well as an inlaid tile back splash in the double-headed shower. An island vanity features a double-sided mirror supported by alder wood beams with sinks on each side. Liz enjoys her spacious closet, which has entries from the master bedroom or bathroom.

Upstairs, three bedrooms provide plenty of space for children, guests or workspace. Liz’s office has a private bathroom, a built-in mini-bar and French doors opening to a slate balcony with a view of Corpus Christi Bay.

When John was designing a bedroom for Liz’s son he included a tub in the connecting bathroom.

“I said, ‘What 9-year-old boy do you know who takes a bath?’” Liz recalled, leading the couple to install a large, tiled shower with glass doors.

While their lifestyle increasingly draws the Murrays to Rockport and Houston, Liz said she couldn’t think of a better area of Corpus Christi to have a home.

“This is an established area with new construction,” she said. “We’re near the water but we don’t have the traffic.”