< Previous8 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MAY 2026 In Independent Living you can be who you were meant to be.... It’s never too late to discover new hobbies, start an exercise program, and make new life-long friends. Choose The Meridian Independent Living and let us take care of the little things ~ so you can live big! Enjoy our fine dining, coffee bar, on-site library, fitness room and movie theater. Spend some quiet time in our chapel. Participate in scheduled activities. Take a walk on the beach. Your days can be filled with all of this and more! The Beach House Assisted Living & Memory Care gives the residents the support they need while they maintain their dignity and independence. On our Post-Acute Skilled Unit we provide Skilled Nursing and Therapy after a hospital stay where Medicare and Insurance will often cover your stay. We also offer Long-Term Care. At The Meridian, we are not just community... we are Family. Call us today or Book a Tour here! We can’t wait to meet you! meridiangalveston.com Call today 409.763.6437 2228 Seawall Boulevard, Galveston Island, TX 77550 The Meridian is a Senior Living Community © Copyright: Coast Monthly is published by The Daily News. No portion may be reproduced in whole or in part by any means, including electronic retrieval systems, without written permission of the publisher. Editorial content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the publisher of this magazine. Editorial and advertising does not constitute advice but is considered informative. WEBSITE coastmonthly.com EDITOR Laura Elder PUBLISHER Michelle Robinson CREATIVE DIRECTOR/ DESIGN EDITOR Melissa Rivera PHOTOGRAPHERS Jennifer Reynolds Stuart Villanueva CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Capt. Nate Skinner CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Shannon Caldwell Barbara Canetti David Mercado Phil Newton Laura Pennino Capt. Nate Skinner CHIEF REVENUE OFFICER Robert Howard ADVERTISING ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Maureen Beans Catherine Boudoin Aymiel Fleming Jana Knoell Tara Mize Kristi Quigley MAILING ADDRESS P.O. Box 1838 Texas City, TX 77592 EDITORIAL 409.683.5248 ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 409.683.5202 STORY IDEAS editor@coastmonthly.com LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Send letters to editor@coast monthly.com. Be sure to include your full name, city, state and phone number. Coast Monthly reserves the right to edit letters for clarity and length. SUBSCRIPTIONS 409.683.5201SELLING THE ISLAND SELLING THE ISLANDSELLING THE ISLAND BORN ON THE ISLAND BORN ON THE ISLANDBORN ON THE ISLAND RE/MAX LEADING EDGE SPAGNOLAREALTYGROUP.COMSPAGNOLAREALTYGROUP.COM SPAGNOLAREALTYGROUP.COMSPAGNOLAREALTYGROUP.COM SPAGNOLA REALTY GROUP10 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MAY 2026 A round here, the beach is never far. It frames our commutes, hums quietly in the back- ground of daily life. The tide rises and falls whether we notice it or not. And if I’m being honest, I don’t notice nearly often enough. As visitors awaken early for sunrise walks, linger for sun- set and collect shells as if each one was a small miracle, I’m guilty of driving by with barely a glance — thinking of er- rands, deadlines, dinner plans or maybe even how annoyed I am with tourist traffic. Living in a beach town easily can turn something ex- traordinary into something “normal,” something to take for granted. But each year, for our May issue, we make it a point to rekindle our love affair with this historic seaport city and celebrate our proximity to beaches. Personally, it’s a time I renew my own commitment to stop and take notice of sunsets, wildlife and the sound of the water. That commitment helps me stay connected to something bigger than routine life and reminds me how lucky I am. Access to the beach is a right for Texans, but it’s also a special privilege for those of us who live near one. As we all know, many people travel long distances and sometimes spend a lot of money just to experience what we have nearby. When I make my way to the beach, it’s often to run, and that’s a perk. How many people have such a stunning open- air gym? People-watching helps take my mind off the fact I’m running. And we all know beaches are genuinely good for you and a wave of new research provides evidence — they reduce stress, improve mood and encourage physical activity like walking, swimming or just being outdoors. It’s one of the few environments that naturally supports both mental and physical wellbeing. In this issue, you’ll find a tribute to life by the sea, includ- ing what makes a perfect beach house. If you think about it, it’s hard to feel stressed out in a beach house. Perhaps it’s a sense of escape from work, traffic or chores. Or maybe the airy décor and coastal colors have a calming effect. Even the architecture and design — big windows, open spaces, lots of light — reinforces that sense of serenity. Or maybe we just associate them with vacation, family time, summer and slower days. Coast Monthly spoke with talented builders, architects and designers to understand elements of a good beach house. And we also caught up with beach lovers who never lose their appreciation for the salt air, warm sun and sand underfoot. I never get tired of watching visitors arrive and make straight for the shoreline, wide-eyed and unhurried. I espe- cially enjoy watching children and dogs dash in and out of waves. It’s then I remember that this place — this stretch of sand and water — isn’t ordinary. It’s a gift. LAURA ELDER Coast Monthly Editor FROM THE EDITOR LIFE HERE REALLY IS A BEACHhoustonmethodist.org/cancer 713.790.2700 From diagnosis to treatment to recovery, your dedicated Houston Methodist cancer center team uses leading research, cutting-edge technology and the latest treatments to create a personalized care plan for you. At eight cancer center locations throughout the Greater Houston area, you’ll fi nd the cancer expertise to help you feel whole again. That’s the difference between practicing medicine and leading it. For you. THEIR ADVANCED TREATMENTS BEAT MY CANCER The Woodlands Baytown Willowbrook Sugar Land Clear Lake Katy-West Houston Texas Medical Center Cypress12 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MAY 2026 SHORELINES WE ASKED ON FACEBOOK: What’s your favorite beach activity? Searching for shark teeth and shells! DeLynne Collins Doing nothing. Genette Bassett My favorite beach activity isn’t an activity at all! Love sitting on the seawall and watching the waves, the birds, maybe even see a dolphin if I’m lucky, and listening to the sound of the waves rolling in and hitting the shoreline. Add a colorful sunrise or sunset and nothing could be more perfect. Pam Ali Building sandcastles with my grandkids. Melanie McCormick Kaufman Favorite beach time is with the family hunting for sand dollars and watching younger grandkids make sand castles and the older ones surf the waves. Kite flying is fun too on a breezy day. Marian Armstrong Millo Remembering how we had open lunch at Ball High in the late ‘70s and we would spend our lunch time on the seawall soaking up the sun. Barbie Schwalm Miller My favorite beach activity is walking in the ocean! Sandy Maness Stringing up a hammock under the shade of Murdochs and spending a lazy afternoon with the coastal breeze and sound of lapping waves! Roxanne Tandy Barton Searching for shark teeth! I could do it for hours! And have quite the collection! Jacki Hart Finding shark teeth! Maria Mutmansky Surfing, beachcombing and putting trash in trash cans, camping, documenting Texas Open Beaches Act violations and coastal erosion and public beach access issues. Ellis Pickett Walking on the seawall and sand at 5 a.m. Carla Davis McLaughlin Beachcombing. Denise Arango Core memories: Walking along the shoreline searching for sea treasures while also watching my husband and children surf! Picnics at the beach and playing Frisbee with one of our Aussies! Mary Sue Hopkins Surfing — on those days we get waves. But just sitting on the beach with friends is pretty nice, too. Karen Barbier Walking the wrack line looking for treasures — sea beans and shells. Maureen Nolan-Wilde Looking for various shaped seashells. Denise Sowell Shead Beachcombing for all kinds of treasures, doing science lessons on what we find in the sargassum seaweed, reading picnics and plein air painting the colors of the moment, are all some of my favorite beach activities. Rachel Wiley-Janota Walking on the beach, feeling the breeze, the familiar sound of the Gulf. The waves breaking ashore and sunrise. It’s serene! Doreen Hughes I thoroughly enjoy leisurely walking out into the surf with my fishing rod and casting. Being out there is great, catching a fish is just the bonus. Bobby Martin Simple pleasure of walking on the shoreline looking for shark teeth and sea beans! Bobbey White Taking the grands to play in the water and building sand castles. They love the beach, me not so much! Jennie S. Latham Watching the sunrise, listening to the waves, while taking in deep breaths and giving praise for another beautiful day. Valerie Bell-Barrett Walking in the early morning on a cloudy Wednesday off season, looking for beach glass and finding hidden treasures, like an occasional dolphin popping out for a visit. Janet Cohen FILE PHOTO: STUART VILLANUEVABET JENNINGS 2022-2025 Real Trends America’s Best Real Estate Pros in Galveston & Texas 281.773.3477 | bjennings@greenwoodking.com Chase Jennings, Associate RSPS | chasejennings@greenwoodking.com Breathtaking Panoramic Views in Laffite’s Cove 13415 Jibstay Court SOLD14 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MAY 2026 FEATURE BEACH HOUSE BLISS From views to durable design, experts share keys to a perfect home by the sea story by SHANNON CALDWELL B eautiful beach houses come in all styles. Miami Beach has Art Deco houses with porthole win- dows and curved walls. In South Carolina, Low- country houses are brightly painted with grand porches, and New England’s Cape Cod houses have steep gable roofs and dormer windows. Galveston beach houses have elements of all three along with Victorian influences. The architectural styles and interiors on the island are as eclectic as the people who own them. Traditional or modern, a beautiful beach house begins with a good foundation, combines form and function, and reflects the needs and desires of the homeowners, experts agree. Paloma Prida, owner of Paloma Construction, loves prob- lem solving with her clients and team of architects, engineers and builders to create a beach house she can stand behind. “There are about 800 steps to building the perfect Gal- veston beach house, but it starts with house placement,” Prida said. “I visit every lot and fly a drone to get the views from all directions.” Process-oriented with focused attention to detail, Prida PHOTO: STUART VILLANUEVA COASTMONTHLY.COM | MAY 2026 15 PHOTO: COURTESY A Galveston beach house built by Paloma Construction reflects elevated coastal design. (Opposite) A bright, open kitchen designed by Paloma Prida features clean lines and coastal-inspired finishes.16 COASTMONTHLY.COM | MAY 2026 FEATURE cites staying up to date with build- ing codes, installing quality building materials as the manufacture intend- ed, and selecting coastal finishes for the interiors as key to a beautiful beach home. Prida, who was born on Galveston Island, has a degree in Construction Science from Texas A&M University at College Station. She acknowledges being a young woman in construc- tion is still unusual although the industry is evolving. “Paloma Construction is truly a one-woman show, but I have a great team and when I occasionally experi- ence bias, I show them I am compe- tent and deserve the same respect I show them,” she said. She grew up on building sites — her father owns Prida Construction known for residential, commercial and institutional projects in Galveston. Architect David Mullican agrees a beautiful beach house begins with a site visit and good foundations. “We put as much lumber in the ground as some people use to build a home,” Mullican said. “When you are using that much natural resource it is important to make sure it is beautiful.” Mullican’s storied career began with an architecture degree from the Uni- versity of Kentucky and University of Houston master’s degree specializing in architecture in a harsh environment. Since then, he has designed more than 300 houses from his East End Historic PHOTOS: STUART VILLANUEVA (Above) Paloma Prida relaxes on a porch swing, a hallmark feature of many Galveston beach homes designed for outdoor living. (Below, from left) A bedroom in a Paloma Construction home features soft coastal tones and natural light; Prida stands inside a custom-built bunk room, a popu- lar feature in beach homes designed to accommodate guests. COASTMONTHLY.COM | MAY 2026 17 District studio in Galveston. “I say I live in the laboratory surrounded by history,” Mullican said. “I don’t copy what I see, but Victorian details do make it into my work.” Mullican still draws plans by hand and builds a small study model of his designs so owners get a better under- standing of what their home will look like when completed. “The plan is the body and the style is the clothes we put on it,” Mullican said. “Develop the body first.” Over her 17-year career, Cate Black, owner of Cate Black Archi- tecture Studio, has designed 75 new construction or renovated homes in Galveston. She has seen beach houses change from simple fishing camp cottages to grander designs in PHOTOS: COURTESY (Clockwise from right) Architect David Mulli- can stands with scale models of his designs, a hands-on process he uses to help clients visualize their homes; columns and layered porches define this home designed by Mullican, blending classical influences with coastal function; a waterfront home designed by Mullican highlights symmetry and elevated construction suited for coastal conditions.Next >