< Previous10 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JuNe 2024 A s I write, it’s early May and I’m preparing to meet far-flung relatives at a short-term rental near Lake Conroe. Our requirements were simple — a pool, a grill and a nice outdoor space. We’re gathering to celebrate high school and college graduations, to catch up and to welcome summer, which we always believe will be a slower, more relaxed sea- son — a time to laze around for days. We’re naïve that way. But the perfume of pools — chlorine and sunblock and food sizzling on a grill — evoke for me happy childhood memories. In this issue, you’ll find islanders who have transformed their backyards into their own private paradises for family time. Whether they feature “cocktail pools” for adults or climb- ing walls and other fun amenities for children, the backyards highlighted in this issue were designed for the people who enjoy them and to entertain guests, whether it be an intimate gathering of two or more than 100. As I prepare for my poolside days with my family, I’ll be packing several books. I can’t imagine traveling without a good book, or two, and a tote full of magazines. I associate Czech author Milan Kundera’s “The Unbearable Lightness of Being” with the summer I backpacked through Europe and Ken Kesey’s “Sometimes a Great Notion” with traveling in the Pacific Northwest a few years ago. Books are journeys within journeys. This summer, I’m delving into the works of James Salter, whose books “A Sport and a Pastime” and “Light Years” have been a sweet discovery. Salter, I’ve decided, is a woefully under-appreciated Amer- ican writer still awaiting his due. I’ll be adding to my summer reading list with the help of Coast Monthly readers who each June can be relied upon to supply us with a solid stockpile of exceptional titles. We wish you happy reading and memory-making in your favorite outdoor spots this season. LAURA ELDER Coast Monthly editor FROM THE EDITOR SWEET SUMMERTIME MEANS A POOL, A GRILL AND A GOOD BOOK"Wehadmoistureandconstructionissuesthat NOonecouldsolveoraddress-butTONERHome MattersDID.Afterdiagnosingourissue,wefollowed the"prescription"weneeded.Wewouldventuretosay thatTONERHomeMattersSAVEDourhome." GOOGLEREVIEW Stayprotectedfromdamageanddeficiencieswith TONERHomeMatters'forensics-basedapproachto increasingyourhome'shealthandperformance. Mold|Moisture|Warpedflooring|Highhumidity|HVACfailures|Oddsmells Indoorhealthconcerns|Contaminates|Staining|Waterdamage|Comfortissues Swollentrim|Buildingdefects|Badworkmanship|Poordesign|Mysteries Keepyourhomehealthy andproblem-free. Design:Wedesignnewbuilds,remodels, modifications,andhistoricrestorationsthatwill performproperlyinrelationtotheclimate, construction,andclientneeds. Forensics:Whenhomesare“misbehaving,"we provideaservicethatlooksatthehouseasatotal system.Thisincludesnotonlythestructureitselfbut alsoitsspecificmicroclimateandhowthecurrentand previousoccupantsbehavewithinthedwelling. LitigationSupport:Wesupportowners,builders, trades,andotherprofessionalsintheresolutionof constructiondeficienciesinresidentialhomes. Wealsospecializeinassistinginpre-litigation effortsandcoordinatingallexpertwitnesses. PROTECTINGHOMESEVERYSTEPOFTHEWAY THEBUILDINGPERFORMANCECOMPANY PROTECTINGHOMESTHROUGHOUTTEXAS TONERHOMEMATTERS.COM12 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JuNe 2024 SHORELINES WE ASKED ON FACEBOOK: What are you reading this summer? The latest Sigma Force novel. Rick Wade That’s easy, Coast Monthly! Stacey Gottlob “Gone With The Wind” Denise Sowell Shead “enchilada entrepreneur” by Russell Ybarra. Highly recommend. Jackie Austin “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Chris Kimble I’ve got a lot of great romances — “Just for the Summer” by Abby Jimenez, “Funny Story” by emily Henry, “The Rom-commers” by Katherine Center (local author!) and I’m anxiously waiting for “Swan Song” by elin Hilderbrand. Carol and Giff Chaney “The Butcher and the Wren.” Steff Wells “Fifty Places to Sail Before You Die,” author Chris Santella. Mike Janota “At Loggerheads” by Kristin Ness. Katherine Kallay Adams “Between a Rock and a Hard Place,” Aron Ralston, second time, great read. Lynn Rivera “And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and The American Struggle” by John Meacham. “Oath and Honor: A Memoir and a Warning” by Liz Cheney. “I’m not a Serial Killer” by Billy O’Brien. Joyce H McLean Anything James Patterson writes! Andrea Pieri Sunseri “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Forest Riggs “The Covenant of Water” by Abraham Verghese. Karen Barbier “Real Americans” by Rachel Khong. Crys Ippolito “The Tide Between us: An Irish- Caribbean Story of Slavery & emancipation” by Olive Collins. Deeva Brantley A Louisiana cookbook titled, “Who’s your Mama, Are you Catholic, and Can You Make a Roux?” Tom Rice “The Women” was great! Laura Little Flores “The Women” was riveting. Couldn’t put it down. Susanne Sullivan Recently Read “The Women,” and “The Heaven & earth Grocery Store,” and “Bury Your Dead” by Louise Penny because I’m visiting Montreal and Quebec City, which is the site of this murder mystery and have downloaded Balducci’s “A Calamity of Souls.” It’s a joy to read. Jeri Kinnear It’s an older book, but I’m reading “Henry and Clara.” It’s really fascinating. It’s about the couple who were in the same box as Lincoln when he was assassinated. Ginny McDonald “Please Don’t Tell” by elizabeth Adler. Glynda Parker Oglesby Road trip, we are listening to “Beach Music.” Nita Andrews Reid “Song Yet Sung” by James McBride. I finished “The Heaven & earth Grocery Store” by James McBride earlier this spring ... simply excellent! So, checking out more of his writing. Richard Rhoades “Dying embers” … of course! By Lou Graves MacBeth. Heather MacBeth Estrada “Carrie” by Stephen King – audiobook. Carla Davis McLaughlin “The Artist’s Way.” Sharron Fehrle Just finished “In the Kingdom of Ice” by Hampton Sides. Amazing true story of the journey of the uSS Jeanette and the life-harrowing experiences the crew encountered trying to conquer and explore the Arctic Circle. Amazing what the human body can endure. Jim McCurdy “Worth Fighting For” by John Pavlovitz. Larry Edrozo G e TTY IMAG e Shoustonmethodist.org/pcg/southeast 713.441.7265 Convenient, customized care — close to work or home. Our Houston Methodist primary care doctors provide personalized care for you and your family, including physicals, immunizations and preventive health services. Many of our practices: • Provide in-person and virtual visits with online scheduling • Offer same-day sick visits • Are conveniently located close to work or home • Accept most major insurance plans 45 146 8 Friendswood League City Clear Lake PRIMARY CARE Personalized to You14 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JuNe 2024 PRIVATE PARADISE From big parties to intimate settings, islanders love to entertain in outdoors spaces story by BARBARA CANETTI Tim and Chrissy Nguyen’s bayside house in Galveston’s Bay Harbor faces the water. The pool is framed by thick columns and white picket fencing. From the back patio, a long boardwalk leads to a double-decker boat house. PHOTO: COuRTeSY DAVID MuLLICAN ARCHITeCT AND MYLeS STRANe PHOTOGRAPHY COASTMONTHLY.COM | JuNe 2024 15 O ne of the benefits of the moderate coastal cli- mate is people can venture outdoors year-round for fresh air, a cozy dinner under the stars, a movie night around a fire pit, an enthusiastic yard game or a late-night swim in a pool. Outdoor entertaining also gives guests space to spread out and enjoy their natural surroundings, hear the birds and, if near to the beach, the lulling rhythm of the waves. Because of the intense summer heat, many outdoor parties include shaded spots and outside fans for comfort. For locals, enjoying the outdoors at their homes means al fresco meals, watching the sky turn colors as the sun sets, lounging pool- side, reading a book while reclining in a hammock or even swinging at a candy-filled piñata.16 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JuNe 2024 ‘LIKE ANOTHER WORLD’ For Tim and Chrissy Nguyen, time in Gal- veston means outdoors. Their bayside house in Bay Harbor faces the water and they spend most of their time there enjoying the view, as well as the amenities they have built into their home and yard. The pool, which is partially covered by the house, is surrounded by a picket fence and comfortable lounging chairs. But the real draw for the Nguyens is the party space below the house, which can accommodate up to 100 seated guests. “We like to cook out with the family,” Chrissy said. “But we really like to have par- ties with many people.” The house features five garage doors that lead into an open space under their home. The family uses two of the garages for storage, but the three center ones open to a columned event space where the family has at times set up 10 round tables for sit-down catered dinners. “They come and cook on the driveway, so everything is freshly cooked,” she said. The Nguyens wanted symmetry, with (Left) Chrissy and Tim Nguyen sit poolside with their 2½-year-old granddaughter Celine in the backyard of their Bay Harbor home. The Nguyens spend most of their time there enjoying the view of Galveston Bay. (Below, from left) The pool is surrounded by a picket fence and comfortable lounging chairs; the Nguyens use the breezeway under their Bay Harbor home as an entertainment space, accommodating as many as 100 guests. ST u ART VILLAN ue VA PHOTOS: COuRTeSY DAVID MuLLICAN ARCHITeCT AND MYLeS STRANe PHOTOGRAPHY COASTMONTHLY.COM | JuNe 2024 17 FEATURE everything equal on both sides, architect David Mullican said. It’s evident in the breezeway under the house, with the thick columns balancing the area evenly, as well as the formation of the fencing, yard and gardens. Everything is equally matched. From the back patio, the family built a long boardwalk out to the double-decker boat house, which they frequently share with migrating birds. The birds, however, avoid their house and party space because Tim installed a bird decoy device to keep the patio and pool clean. The device broad- casts various distress and predator calls to frighten away birds from the space. The yard and green space is small, but Chrissy has planted an herb garden on the side. They wanted the property to be as maintenance-free as possible. “And from the windows, you cannot see the yard, only the water,” she said. “You feel like you are on a boat and just see water. “It’s like another world for us. So quiet.” ‘A RELAXATION AREA’ Outside means leisure time for Lee and Robert Glover. Their midtown yard in Gal- veston provides sunshine, shade, gardens, a place for grilling and lots of space for grandkids to play. The Glovers seem to find themselves outside more often than inside their ren- ovated 1895 house they bought in 2017. Once they repaved the driveway and replaced the dilapidated fence, they were able to open the yard for lots of activities. They put a television in a waterproof box and hung it on the garage wall, surround- ed it with comfortable chairs, gliders and small tables in front. They hung a swing bed Lee frequently uses for afternoon naps. In the winter, the fire pit emits enough heat to keep them warm, although she has an impressive inventory of blan- kets and quilts to pass around. The yard is where the family and friends gather for movie night, karaoke, meals and parties. On the side yard, their three toddler grandchildren ascent a miniature climbing wall or ride the pint-size red roller coaster into the grass. This area is securely fenced for the kids and the family pets. And if the weather is too hot or too cold, they can go (From top) Galveston residents Rob and Lee Glover have created a backyard where their friends and family gather for movie nights and parties and they can relax and enjoy the outdoors; colorful potted plants surround a sitting area featuring a hammock. PHOTOS: J e NNIF e R R e YNOLDS “We spend so much time out here. It is just a relaxation area.” LEE GLOVER18 COASTMONTHLY.COM | JuNe 2024 FEATURE inside to a playhouse under the main house, which at one time was a cobbler’s workshop. Remnants of the former resident’s profession — mallets, tools, shoe forms — were discov- ered there. But the Glovers have created a kid’s paradise with a doll house, Legos, vid- eos, art studio, library and for the two older grandkids, a computer and workout area. “It is really a cool space,” Lee said. “The kids want to come here all the time.” The Glovers have selected a variety of blooming plants that give their garden a tropical and welcoming feel. Palm trees, roses, snap dragons and hibiscus line the perimeter of the yard, encircling a large hammock and additional seating. “We spend so much time out here,” Lee said. “It is just a relaxation area.” (Clockwise from top left) Lee and Rob Glover have a climbing tower and kid-friendly roller coaster in the side yard for their grandchildren; sail-shaped shades stretch between the garage and back porch, covering a bar-height table and the grilling station; a television mounted on the garage wall is often used for outdoor movie nights. A swing bed, comfortable chairs and a fire pit make it the perfect spot to relax and visit or watch movies; a repainted vintage chair is tucked between tropical plants. PHOTOS: J e NNIF e R R e YNOLDSExquisite Homes Laffite’s Cove, Galveston TX 3425 Petite Circle | $3,400,000 14454 Spyglass Circle | $1,850,000 13527 Windlass | Call listing agent for price 13526 Windlass | $800,000 For Sale For Sale For Sale For Sale 281.773.3477 bjennings@greenwoodking.com Chase Jennings, Associate chasejennings@greenwoodking.com BET JENNINGS 2022 & 2023 Real Trends America’s Best Real Estate Pros in Galveston & TexasNext >