< PreviousHomeportBy K. Pica KahnThere’s a view of Clear Lake from almost every room in Frank Tamborella’s Nas-sau Bay home.The race car driver, restaurateur and graphic artist designed a house for both entertaining and everyday living. The single father of daughter Mariah, who just graduated from col-lege, built her a house no child could forget.Although Mariah is grown, Tam-borella hasn’t change her bedroom, a replica of a Disney castle.“You walk in the room to a castle front, behind which is a playroom and above the castle front is the bed,” Tamborella said. “She still sleeps in there sometimes when we have com-pany. She still loves it. I’ve never had Built for a princessSingle father adds his own style to house with Clear Lake viewFrank Tamborella’s nearly 4,000-square-foot Nassau Bay home features a panoramic view of Clear Lake with decks surrounding all four floors.courtesY pHotos/Karin GaYlor pHotoGrapHYthe heart to change it.”Mariah’s grown-up bedroom has a clear view of the lake. The bed, designed and constructed by Tambo-rella, is suspended from the ceiling by steel rods.The technique is duplicated in the dining room, where the table also is suspended from the ceiling. As the owner of Frank’s Custom Paint in Clear Lake Shores, Tamborella designs and builds much of his own (Left) Owner Frank Tamborella didn’t have the heart to change his daughter Mariah’s childhood bedroom, featuring a replica of a Disney castle, even though she is grown and just graduated from college.90 coastMontHlY.coM / APRIL 2015 COASTMONTHLY.COM / APRIL 2015 9124HOURSERVICE7 Days A WeekLocated Across From Galveston County JailBonding From The County Jail Bonding From All City JailsGale Lilliman - Owner •GALVESTON •HITCHCOCK •SANTA FE•TEXAS CITY •DICKINSON •KEMAH•LEAGUE CITY •FRIENDSWOOD •LA MARQUE409-762-0188CHECKS ACCEPTEDGulf CoastBail Bonds5324 Ball St.If you find yourself “Hooked” call*Free Quotes• Installed from $20/sq. ft. and up*All wood cabinets 10’ x 10’ from $899 and upKitchen Makeovers for All BudgetsRemodelingTips forYour Bath6723 Stewart Rd.Galveston, TX 77551409.457.5547nancyscountertops@gmail.comCommercial & ResidentialNancy’s Cabinets& GraniteACHTWOOSWIMMING POOL SERVICE, REPAIRS & CHEMICALS WWW.ACHTWOO.COMGalveston • Bridge City • GrovesVoted Best BAR-B-QUE in Galveston CountyMon. – Sat.10:30am–8:00pmSun. 11:30am – 8:00pm35th S (One block from Seawall)409-762-3151 48 years of family cookin great BBQ for Galveston County! “Humble But Addictive”CaviarChiliPhone Orders Welcome • Catering AvailableHomeportfurniture airbrushed in his own style.“You name it and I have painted it,” he said. “I have painted my race cars and many of the cars and the rides you see at the Kemah Boardwalk.”Tamborella’s personal touches can be found throughout the house. When driving up to the house, visi-tors are greeted by a winding, moss rock waterfall built into the lawn. Upon entering the house, they meet a 12-foot rock waterfall, which ap-pears to be spilling out of a 200-gal-lon aquarium on the second floor. Two staircases — one on each side of the waterfall — follow curved walls with niches containing art pieces along the way up the stairs. The sec-ond floor is the living room, kitchen and dining room, complete with a blacklight-edged curved bar and the master bedroom.“I love curves and angles, so the entire house is curved around a pan-oramic view of the lake,” Tamborella said. Tamborella, who, at this writing was close to selling his home, also likes the color purple, which was evi-dent until a real estate agent advised him to tone it down with neutral colors. A comfortable living room, with a surround-sound music system, looks onto the outside deck. A granite counter-topped kitchen is adjacent to the bar.An English phone booth, which can be converted to an elevator shaft off the dining room, features an etched-glass door. The ceiling over the stair-case, which is domed, is painted with clouds; it lights up at night to give the illusion of clouds in the sunset.The master bedroom, with curved glass windows, is highlighted by the glass-brick lit bed on the bottom and the mirrored backlit headboard, which changes colors. Tamborella built that, too. Off the bedroom is The front entryway features a 12-foot rock waterfall, which appears to be spill-ing out of a 200-gallon aquarium on the second floor.The second floor of Frank Tamborella’s Nassau Bay home includes the living room, granite counter-topped kitchen, dining room bar and master bedroom.(Above) The master bedroom with curved glass windows, glass-brick lit bed on the bottom and mirrored backlit headboard. (Below) The master bathroom features a large round Jacuzzi tub and lit domed ceiling.92 COASTMONTHLY.COM / APRIL 2015 COASTMONTHLY.COM / APRIL 2015 932005 Postoffice Street • Galveston • 409-762-0202Hours: 10:00 - 6:00 • Closed Tues. & Wed.Inspiring place to shop for jewelry,designer clothing, home decor & giftsBring this ad infor 10% offpurchaseMake Yourself At HomeWITHKNOWLEDGEAs a Professional Mortgage Advisor, I have the knowledge to help you finance a new home.I have the knowledge necessary to help you:• Select the best loan to suit your needs.• Research and present all viable options.• Close your loan in the quickest and most efficient way possible.• Correctly complete all required paperwork.• Refer you to a network of professional associates including home inspectors, appraisers and attorneys.• I am available to you from start to finish to walk you through each step of the way. I can help you make the buying of a home an easy process. 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This is not an offer for extension of credit or a commitment to lend.Call me today!Senior Loan OriginatorJackie LeachNMLS# 349259Jackie LeachSenior Loan OriginatorNMLS# 349259Office 281-617-2996Cell 832-259-3565Fax 832-730-4741jleach@nflpmtg.comwww.nflpmtg.comSenior Loan OriginatorJackie LeachNMLS# 349259Network Funding LP 6710 Stewart Road Suite 101Galveston, TX 77551The International Oleander Society presents The 2015 Annual Oleander Festival Honoring Lifetime Member Betty Head Festival Kick-off Luncheon and Silent Auction Friday, May 1s__11:30am/2:00pm Moody Gardens Hotel—The Viewfinders Terrace Guest Speaker: James Nicholas IOS Foreign Correspondent Reservations Required 281-433-2945 Festival Hours at Moody Gardens Visitor Center Saturday, May 2nd—10:00am/4:00pm Sunday, May 3rd—Noon/3:00pm Both Festival Days Feature: Great Shopping with Garden Theme Vendors Plant Societies and Children Activities THE FRONT PARLOR2111 Strand • Galveston, TX 77550409.762.02242015 SPRING COLLECTIONHomeporta bathroom literally fit for a king. A large round Jacuzzi tub is sur-rounded by columns and is topped by a lit domed ceiling, painted with an aerospace scene, easily visible from the bedroom.Decks surround all four floors. A roof deck overlooks Clear Lake.The third floor is the play floor, which includes a pool table and movie theater lobby. A ticket taker room is where Trixie sits, a mannequin with several different wigs. Inside the 25-seat home theater is a surround-sound Lucas-system movie room, which often is used by the owner and his friends. An entire room is devoted to holding all of the wires.And then there’s the outside. Sitting on a half-acre lot with four palapas reminiscent of Fiji, is a place to enjoy drinks and snacks. Along with bars is a TV set built into the wall.A pool with a grotto has a sound system built into the concrete with The outside of Frank Tamborella’s home features four palapas and a pool with a grotto that has a sound system built into the concrete with speakers hooked up with TV and black lights.house if you want to own a couple of boats. Guests coming over for a visit can also park there. It’s all lit up for nighttime entertaining. This is really two houses, one during the day and one at night when all the special lights are on; it is really incredible.”Tamborella is preparing to move to a smaller house, but will miss this one, he said. But a nearly 4,000-square-foot house is a lot for one person.“My daughter moved out and it’s me and the dog,” Tamborella said. C (Above and below) The third floor, also known as the play floor, features a pool table and 25-seat home theater.speakers hooked up with TV and black lights.“You could sit in there and watch a game, if you want,” Tamborella said. “There is also a double boat 94 COASTMONTHLY.COM / APRIL 2015 COASTMONTHLY.COM / APRIL 2015 95(409) 763-0555www.fullenjewelry.com2215 Postoffice, GalvestonFullenFullenFullenFullenFullenJewelryJewelryJewelryJewelryJewelryThe Original Galveston Story Bead CollectionThe perfect gift for all who love Galveston, be they Born on the Island or Islanders by Choice. There’s the BOI bead and the IBC bead. And the popular Galveston Island Beach Bead contains actual sand from local shores. They’re compatible with major bead collections.Make Your MoveThe time to buy is now!SINCE 1976Make Your MoveThe time to buy is now!409-763-2800david@davidbowers.comThe House Company RealtorsDAVID BOWERS, REALTORRepurposed Furniture • Home Decor • Gifts2113 Postoffice, Suite B Galveston, TX 77550 409-762-3300See and be seen in Coast Monthly’s PARTY PICS. If you are planning a party, gala or fundraising event, email editor@coastmonthly.com two weeks in advance.Stem to SternStory by David Canright Photos by Stuart VillanuevaAt her covered berth at Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook, no one would take Liberty Belle to be a houseboat. Sleek and seaworthy at 67 feet, her lines bear the stamp of renowned yacht designer Jack Hargrave. Her all-aluminum hull is a 1968 product of Miami’s Lantana Boatyard, her gleaming paint and Liberty beLLeYacht is full-time home to family of five – and two catsPaul and Amy Dunphey and their sons, Benjamin, Nicholas and Sammy, live aboard their yacht, Liberty Belle, which is moored at the Lakewood Yacht Club in Seabrook.varnish work are a credit to the club. But she is the full-time residence of Paul Dunphey, his wife Amy, their three sons, Nicholas, 8, Benjamin, 11, and Sammy, 13, and their two cats. Liberty Belle is every inch a yacht, but she functions well as a three-bedroom, three-bath home, with full if compact galley and commodious living, dining and entertaining areas on deck and below. “The kids love it here,” Dunphey said. “We can’t get them to leave.” Marinas are pleasant places, with water views, lawns and palm trees and an endless variety of boats. When 96 COAStMONtHLy.COM / APRIL 2015 COASTMONTHLY.COM / APRIL 2015 97The Tom & 19611 Shores Drive $1,200,0004/5 Bedrooms 3 Baths Beach Front Paradise1011 Rollover 2 $410,0003 Bedrooms 3 1/2 Baths Coastal Lovers DreamA view from every room!26934 Bay Water # 101 $259,0003 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms Easy Living Bayside500 Seawall Blvd $310,9002 Bedrooms 2 Baths with views and amenities.21531 San Luis Pass Rd Sea Isle$198,000Beach Side Bargain Least Expensive Listing Beach Side!Tom: 409.789.2297 Gerri: 409.789.167219611 Shores Drive $1,200,0004/5 Bedrooms 3 Baths Beach Front Paradise1011 Rollover 2 $410,0003 Bedrooms 3 1/2 Baths Coastal Lovers DreamA view from every room!26934 Bay Water # 101 $259,0003 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms Easy Living Bayside500 Seawall Blvd $310,9002 Bedrooms 2 Baths with views and amenities.21531 San Luis Pass Rd Sea Isle$198,000Beach Side Bargain Least Expensive Listing Beach Side!THE TOM AND GERRI TEAMTom: 409.789.2297 Gerri: 409.789.167219611 Shores Drive $1,200,0004/5 Bedrooms 3 Baths Beach Front Paradise1011 Rollover 2 $410,0003 Bedrooms 3 1/2 Baths Coastal Lovers DreamA view from every room!26934 Bay Water # 101 $259,0003 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms Easy Living Bayside500 Seawall Blvd $310,9002 Bedrooms 2 Baths with views and amenities.21531 San Luis Pass Rd Sea Isle$198,000Beach Side Bargain Least Expensive Listing Beach Side!THE TOM AND GERRI TEAMThe Tom and Gerri TeamTom: 409.789.2297 Gerri: 409.789.1672www.tomandgerri.comRE/MAX Leading Edge409.744.330019611 Shores Drive $1,200,0004/5 Bedrooms 3 Baths Beach Front Paradise1011 Rollover 2 $410,0003 Bedrooms 3 1/2 Baths Coastal Lovers DreamA view from every room!26934 Bay Water # 101 $259,0003 Bedrooms 3 Bathrooms Easy Living Bayside500 Seawall Blvd $310,9002 Bedrooms 2 Baths with views and amenities.21531 San Luis Pass Rd Sea Isle$198,000Beach Side Bargain Least Expensive Listing Beach Side!...and more! Located in the Gulfway PlazaShopping Mall Exit 13PROUDLY SERVING THE GULF COAST FOR 20 YEARS!IN-HOUSE ROD AND REEL REPAIR • REEL PARTS ROD COMPONENTS • INSHORE TACKLE • CUSTOM RIGGING CUSTOM RODS • OFFSHORE TACKLE • CUSTOM SPLICING INSHORE AND OFFSHORE SPECIALISTSwww.AffordableAirTX.comSERVICE SPECIALWith This Ad expires 4/30/15$69Brent Ballard 409.925.8275TACLBO22538ESay Goodbye to Window Units with a Modern, Affordable Central A/C & Heating System!Premier Dealer:FREEESTIMATESFInAnCIngAvAILABLEAFFORDABLEAIR & HEATwe are here for youwhen you need us!SERVICIng youR CITy SInCE 1994!Stem to Sternthey’re part of a major, fully appoint-ed yacht club, they also are pleasant places to live. Most of all, they offer a kind of sociability that is rare in suburban or semi-urban developments.“How often do you go into a restau-rant in the city and know everyone in the place? That’s what it’s like at the club dining room or the bar,” Dunphey said. “Living here is like living in a village.” It’s a village of high-end yachts, pro-tected by 24-hour security at its only land entrance. But like a traditional village, it offers children the kind of freedom to roam and visit friends and explore that has become rare in most American childhoods. Dunphey and his wife are confi-dent that trouble of any kind will Benjamin Dunphey, 11, reads in the living quarters on Liberty Belle with the family’s two cats.be responded to by friends, rather than ignored in the anonymity of city streets.Like many large yacht clubs, Lakewood maintains an active youth sailing program, racing small boats two afternoons and Saturday morn-ings each week. The youngest and oldest Dunphey boys are active par-ticipants, though Benjamin has other interests. The clubhouse facility, in addition to the restaurant and lounges for the adults, swimming pool and tennis courts, includes a large game room for kids. The game room is staffed after school and on weekends.It was partly for this kind of neighborhood living that the Dun-pheys decided to sell their house on a 2-acre lot overlooking Galveston Bay and build a new house in a more cohesive community on the ca-nal at Seabrook. Selling and build-ing would take more than a year, so for the interim they moved aboard Liberty Belle.Liberty Belle features a full yet compact galley.“The kids love it here. We can’t get them to leave.”– Paul Dunphey98 COASTMONTHLY.COM / APRIL 2015 COASTMONTHLY.COM / APRIL 2015 99TideWay offers Aquatic and Land Based Rehabilitation. The Patients #1 Choice in Galveston County for Aquatic Rehabilitation Care. “All Physician Referrals are Accepted”Ask Your Doctor: “Can I Benefi t From This Type of Therapy”Most all insurance programs accepted including Medicare and MedicaidWater exercise classes are available to publicMonday - FridayAchieving a Better, Healthier You!Outpatient Rehabilitation Monday-Friday 8 am - 5 pmLOCATED 1 BLOCK FROM THE SEAWALL AT 6444 CENTRAL CITY BLVD.(409) 741-8472 / FAX (409) 741-234220152015Texas City Art FestivalTexas City Art FestivalCharles T. Doyle Convention Center • 2010 5th Ave. N. • Texas City16th Annual Juried Art Show and Juried Student Art showOpening Night Reception Awards • Saturday, April 11th• Student Awards 5-6pm Featuring TCHS Jazz Band• Juried Show Awards 6:30-9pm Featuring Sparky’s Jazz ExpressArt Show Open for Viewing • Sunday, April 12th • 2-6pmMonday-Wednesday, April 13-15 • 8am-8pmArt workshops and demonstrations are free to attendhowever, attendance is limited.For information call Carol Outlaw-Wagner 713-569-4024or email: texascityart@gmail.comArt Workshops and DemonstartionsSunday, April 12th through Wednesday, April 15thFor more information contact Texas City Recreation & Tourism409-643-5990Sunday Brunch 11am - 4pmCall us to book your next event in one of our private meeting rooms. Oyster Tuesdays!$21.95 5pm-9pmPrime Rib Thursdays$19.952211 Strand • Old Galveston SquareHistoric Downtown Galvestonwww.headtofootsies.com • 409•762•2727New fromLondon Times...Kimono sleeve dress,perfect for daytimeor into the evening.Lots ofSpring Dressesin stock.Next >