Open House

A Place to Call Home

A HOME WITH HEART, HISTORY AND A STORY IN EVERY CORNER BY: CECILE GOTTLICH PHOTOS BY: JASON PAGE

The framed floral paintings in the hallway are prints of the classic 19th century Redouté Roses by renowned French artist Pierre-Joseph Redouté.

Ahouse is made of bricks, lumber, beams and sheetrock, but what truly makes a home are the memories and the love that fill it. When newlyweds Emily and Michael Winnie decided to return to their hometown of Corpus Christi after living in San Antonio, their mission was to find a place to call home. “We bought our home during COVID. It was the first house we bought together after we got married,” recalled Emily. “I really wanted the design to embody home. I wanted it to be welcoming, warm, calm and peaceful with traditional touches.”

Emily, who is an interior decorator, was determined to make her newly built house into a timeless and welcoming abode with character. Rather than designing the entire space at once, she took her time accumulating special pieces to give the home charm and individuality.

“I really try to make it a point to collect things over time, rather than designing a room quickly, so I brought in old pieces, new pieces and pieces that have been a part of our families collectively,” she said. Many of Emily’s furniture pieces and accents, including the Henredon tables in her primary bedroom, were found via estate sales, antique shops, Etsy and the renowned Round Top Antiques Fair.

After moving into the home, Emily also replaced the builder-grade lighting and cabinet hardware, and wallpapered the dining room. The denim blue grasscloth in the dining room is a traditional design staple and gives the room warmth and texture, while the empire-style chandelier from Chic to Chic adds a classic, eye-catching focal point.

“Not everyone finds use for a dining room these days, but I love the traditional aspect of it. We really utilize it and gather in that space,” said Emily. The

The homeowner’s most prized furniture piece is the antique dining table discovered on Facebook Marketplace. When purchased, the table was painted orange and white, but Emily had it refinished to its original state.

room also houses her favorite furniture item: her dining table found on Facebook Marketplace. “It was painted white and orange. I found it right before we got married. We had it refinished,” she said. “It was our first furniture piece as a married couple. It’s very sentimental and one of my favorite pieces in the house.”

Emily’s other favorite room in the home is her newborn son’s nursery. “The nursery is so special to me. I dreamt of it for a long time,” she said. The room with its baby blue walls, porcelain garden stool, blue and white pinstripe detailing and sisal rug is the epitome of traditional style.

“I wanted it to be classic with the light blue. I wanted it to be magical and to be a special place for him,” Emily said. The framed watercolor bunnies from Dogwood Hill above the crib provide a sweet touch, while the monogrammed lumbar pillow adds a personal element.

“Bringing our son home to the home we purchased was truly a dream come to life. It completed our family, and was the last thing we needed to bring into this house to make it a home.” Emily succeeded in her intention of turning her family’s new house into a warm, peaceful and beautifully designed home, and has definitively proven that home is both a place and a feeling.

The nursery walls are painted in Benjamin Moore First Snowfall, the perfect shade of baby blue.