TRAVELING TEXAS
A Coastal
CALI VIBE BY ANN KOEHLER |
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF LIVELY BEACH
FROM A DISTANCE, LIVELY BEACH APPEARS TO BE AN OASIS SET AGAINST SEA GRASSES AND ROLLING WAVES BEYOND, WETLANDS IN FRONT AND BLUE SKIES ABOVE. AND THAT’S BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY IS. LOCATED ON MUSTANG ISLAND, JUST A SHORT DRIVE FROM PORT ARANSAS, THIS NEW RESORT CONDOMINIUM IS UNLIKE ANY OTHER ALONG THE COAST.
28 H O M E D E S I G N & D E C O R A U S T I N - S A N A N T O N I O
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The gated community of Lively Beach encompasses a 46-acre property, and developers have taken considerable care to preserve it, condensing the project footprint to only 11 acres and placing the remaining 35 acres into conservation. “We’ve gone to great lengths to restore natural areas, build responsibly and create long-term sustainability,” explained project developers Steve and Jeff Berkus. This includes drought resistant landscaping in developed areas, responsible construction practices, energy-efficient buildings, LED lighting and conscious lighting placement, filtered water systems and a diligent recycling program, to name a few. But when you step inside one of the buildings named after popular California surf clubs, you realize that comfort and design were not spared and that this is not an ordinary condo. The units are not individually owned, managed entirely by the developers, resulting in contemporary and consistently decorated interiors. For furnishings and accessories, subtle coastal influences are presented in a modern way, with rattan dining chairs, linen upholstery and jute rugs. Kitchens are well-stocked with essential utensils, seating is comfortable and spacious and picture windows overlook the natural wetlands or the largest sand dunes on Mustang Island. Thoughtful details include handheld steamers, magnifying mirrors in bathrooms and lights in showers. Many units have private decks for relaxing outdoors. Other public decks can be found rooftop on two units, providing breezy entertainment areas with panoramic 360-de-
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