Lynda and Brett Bohn Key Allegro Real Estate
When the Bohns, in the early 90’s, were introduced to each other by their daughters, Lynda was raising 2 daughters and a son, and Brett was parenting 2 daughters and 2 sons. “On our first date, we took our children to Astroworld,” said Lynda, “and the rest is history!” After their marriage, this modern day Brady Bunch settled in a new home in Houston, where Brett was, and continues to be, successfully engaged in real estate development.
The Bohns and their 7 children consistently vacationed in Rockport, for Brett had grown up spending summers in the area with his grandparents, the Zeph Rouquettes. “My family roots go back to the late 1800’s, and it was always our dream to live in Rockport,” said Brett. In 2005, he and Joe Bruce Hancock acquired Key Allegro Real Estate and the Key Allegro Yacht Club. The business opportunity prompted the Bohns to accelerate their plans to reside permanently in Rockport, and they began their search for a home. When they saw the “Tree House, it was love at first sight.
Though the compound was dated and somewhat forlorn, the Bohns embraced the project with their usual visionary style. “Upgrading and incorporating the two houses into one was not an easy task,” said Lynda, “but having merged 7 children together, we considered this venture a walk in the park.” Working closely with architect Steve Haynes, the Bohns embarked on an extensive year-long renovation. Bridged by a stunning gallery, the “Tree House” and the “Tree Top” guest house became one.
Images of windswept Oaks grace the new custom Copper double doors in the entrance gallery, which is bordered by expansive walls of glass. “I did some sketches of the Oaks on our grounds,” said Lynda, “and Florida artist Roy Datz created these wonderful doors that bear his signature.” The gallery is the perfect prelude to 3 distinctive living areas, one of which is accented with a ceiling of exposed beams and a woodburning fireplace. The focal point is a center atrium that encases a magnificent Oak tree that grows through the roof, and the enclosure is also “home” for Lynda’s 2 pet Doves, Hope and Faith. Blending the original clay tile flooring with the Saltillo tile installed in the areas connecting the houses was a hurdle. Lynda had the new tile stained and then personally painted it until the hue was perfectly matched. At the end of the day, the old and the new looked like it had always been together.
All of the entertaining areas capture views from every vantage point, and the formal dining room is no exception. Inspired by a shell-encrusted chandelier she saw in Architectural Digest, Lynda went on a mission. Using an antique fixture she found in the garage, she applied shells she collected along Bay Shore Drive to replicate the chandelier she’d admired. “I was definitely in a shelling mode,” she laughed, “and it extended to the wet bar, the fireplaces and the floor of the atrium.” Though her children teased her unmercifully about her seashell period, her daughters are now into shelling and have added coastal touches to their homes in the city.
The primary kitchen, overlooking the wide canal, features Pine walls and a sloping ceiling. Basking in serene views, the morning room is one of the family’s favorite gathering places. A second kitchen, in what was the former guest house, welcomes the pitter pat of wet feet and dripping bathing suits, and an informal dining area with a cone ceiling is perfect for enjoying burgers cooked on the grill.
The floor plan of the guest house structure includes two inviting living areas, a dramatic curved Redwood ceiling and a woodburning fireplace. There was an enclosed sauna centrally positioned, and the Bohns converted it into a garden-style tropical spa with a cone ceiling, a rock surround and a waterfall. “It is hard to decide where to sit,” said Brett. “There are so many beautiful and relaxing places to choose from, at the end of our busy days.”
The original guest house included a large bedroom, with a woodburning fireplace and 2 lavish Acapulco-style baths. The Bohns knew it was perfect for their master bedroom suite. Their bedroom wing now encompasses his and her baths, a sitting area and generous closet space. Within the bedroom, a staircase ascends to what Brett affectionately refers to as “Lynda’s Loft”.
“It’s very frilly and girly,” said Lynda. “The loft is where I retreat, and I’m surrounded by such things as my thimble collection, treasures given to me by our children and all forms of memorabilia.” The Bohn’s grandchildren, ages 3 and 6, have chosen the loft as their playroom. “Jade considers the loft her personal nest,” said Lynda, “and Khyle loves the secret door that leads to his pirate-theme niche.”
A gracious guest suite, which was once the master bedroom in the main residence, offers privacy for family members and guests. The Bohn’s have 2 sons, ages 14 and 16, who remain at home, and they are happily ensconced in a teenager’s wing.
On any given week-end or holiday, the Bohn’s coastal home reverberates with the sights and sounds of children and grandchildren who relish their visits. “When they are here, it brings back memories of my childhood and summers in Rockport,” said Brett. “It is history repeating itself.”
