Bay Home

The Home: Sitting elegantly at the end of a small road on the West End of Galveston Island, overlooking the bay and coastal wetlands, lies the home of Dr. Gary and Barbara Hankins. Or should I say, it is the home they are allowed to live in by Baby, the real owner. Baby is a Labrador Retriever mix who adopted the Hankins while their home was being built. And while the Hankins may have paid for and helped design the home, make no mistake . . . this is Baby’s house. Who has a bed in every room on every floor? Not Gary. Not Barbara. Baby.

Just how complete is Baby’s control over the four story bay front home? Just ask the builder how long it took him to build the house. “Long enough for Baby to go from a stray to owning it!”, is the deadpan reply from Steven F. Paparcuri, owner of Gulf Coast Custom Homes, Inc.

As stray dogs go, you don’t get much luckier than Baby. First, she finds great owners in the Hankins. Gary is the chairman of the Ob/Gyn Department at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Barbara is a civil engineer. Both are friendly, kind and crazy about Baby. Then Baby gets to move into a house that features some of the finest quality craftsmanship on the Gulf Coast. And did I mention she had a bed in every room?

Speaking of quality craftsmanship, you can’t take a step without noticing some of the unique, upscale details in this 4 bedroom, 5.5 bath custom home. The first floor patio has a tongue and groove Cypress ceiling. And that’s just the outside. Inside, you’re greeted with a ground floor foyer that, when looking up, features a vision of sheer grandeur, viewing up two freestanding staircases, stacked one on top of the other, that soar up 45 feet to a coffered ceiling from which an artistic chandelier titled “Rain” is suspended. This is Mr. Paparcuri’s favorite feature of the house, and is a testament to the highly skilled craftsmen who were, according to Paparcuri, not subject to many of the normal constraints on home builders. “The Hankins are the most wonderful clients,” said Paparcuri, “It was a privilege to do their house because of the quality of those two people. It was really a joy to work with them.”

The joy he felt shows in the details. The stairs are attention getters. The railing is custom made wrought iron, with designs of cattails that were chosen by the Hankins to reflect the scenery in the wetlands that are just outside their front door. The steps are made from a light maple, while the faces are made from a contrasting dark Honduran mahogany. Once on the second floor, you enter the den, which also has an adjacent, soaring wine room, with drawers made from wooden wine boxes. Above the fireplace is a flat screen television, which is concealed behind a painting that is raised via remote control when it’s TV time. Spectacular red onyx countertops and matching splashboards adorn the wet bar area, which is flanked by a glass top table supported by a bronze dolphin, seahorse and fish sculpture created by noted Virginia artist Dr. William Turner.

Moving up to the third floor, you enter the living room and adjoining dining room. The kitchen is also on this floor. The living room’s most notable feature is a curving wall of windows, looking out over the bay, providing a perfect vantage point for sunset viewing. Outside is a balcony that is also curved, giving a onboard ship sensation.

Volga Blue Extra granite tops the kitchen counters, and is fascinating with its iridescent, large flecks of vibrant blue color, dancing amid the dark gray and black stone as the light changes. The gorgeous cabinets are made from two woods: the frames are of Honduran crotch mahogany, the panels are of Beeswing Sapia. Hanging above the kitchen counter are three orange hued Murano glass lamps.

The third floor also houses the master bedroom and bath. The bedroom ceiling is domed, and was painted with a dark center and light edges, and has a variable light switch for immediate mood control. The master bath has a barrel ceiling of Honduran mahogany, and a chandelier over the bubble tub.

The stairs leading up to the fourth floor are a tight spiral. They were entirely handmade on site, according to Mr. Paparcuri. The quality is evident in the sturdy feel and lack of any creaking as you ascend. On the fourth floor is the Hankin’s workout room and home theater. The theater has a remotely operated, descending screen that tucks nicely out of way when not used. Even when the screen is up, the theater still provides entertainment, with windows overlooking the wetlands that showcase pink tinged Roseate Spoonbills, Blue Herons and Peregrin Falcons.

From the fourth floor you can see the Hankin’s have a pier extending into the bay. It provides a great fishing spot for Gary and Barbara. It also is popular with local birds, who sometimes cover the entire pier. Until Baby notices. Then she trots out into the mass of birds, triggering an eruption of fleeing wings, until the pier is completely Baby’s. Fortunately, Baby isn’t as possessive of her home as she is her pier. She allows Gary and Barbara to keep her company inside. Lucky dog.

The Builder: The Hankin’s spectacularly detailed bay front home was built by Gulf Coast Custom Homes, Inc., owned by Steven F. Paparcuri. Mr. Paparcuri has more than 25 years experience in the high-end custom home industry and has earned a reputation second to none. He was chosen as one of the builders for Beachtown, the extravagant Galveston New Urban design, master planned community on the island’s East End. He has been awarded the building contract on some of the community’s most prominent homes.

Specifically, Gulf Coast Custom Homes has been selected as builder for a Beachtown home in Village One for a Houston attorney. The home is adjacent to the main dune walkover passage and will become a landmark. It is designed by celebrated architect Milosav Cekic.

Mr. Paparcuri has also been selected to build a Beachtown home for a Houston orthopedic surgeon. The surgeon looked to Mr. Paparcuri to execute the new beachfront home after having Mr. Paparcuri build the surgeon’s bay home in Galveston seven years ago. Repeat business in the high end custom market is the ultimate compliment. Designing the home will be nationally acclaimed architect Michael Imber.

The quality of construction is evident in the visible details of Gulf Coast Custom’s homes, and makes them beautiful to behold. The quality of the construction in the non-visible, structural areas, however, are more important than exterior beauty. Mr. Paparcuri builds all of his Beachtown homes to a fortified standard (Business & Home Safety (IBHS) developed “Fortified…for safer living®”), a standard that exceeds all required engineering standards for the State of Texas. It meets Dade County Florida standards, which are the toughest engineering requirements in the country.

The structural components of Mr. Paparcuri’s Galveston homes were tested in the extreme by Hurricane Ike, and, when many other homes failed completely, his did not sustain any major damage. One of his Beachtown homes, the King residence, was featured on ABC, and broadcast in New York’s Times Square shortly after Hurricane Ike, with Mr. and Mrs. King providing a tour through the unscathed living levels of their home.