At this new residence, a leafy landmark setting and an august brick façade suggest an Old Worth formality, yet the expansive light-filled interiors are a study in subtle modern sophistication.
The historic Houston neighborhood of River Oaks is a coveted community with roots stretching back to the 1920s and the city’s early expansion. A century later, it remains a coveted enclave brimming with impressive estates designed by illustrious architects, streets and sidewalks strewn with stalwart grandfather oaks, and an array of fashionable shops, eclectic restaurants, and thriving arts and cultural venues.
Houston, Texas | Patricia Reed, Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty
This superior milieu is perfectly fitting for this new 7,285-square-foot residence, designed by an esteemed Carmel-based architect and completed with exceptional craftsmanship by a renowned local builder. The august brick façade—with its traditional cornice, bulls-eye and diamond-paned windows, and classical roofline and chimney—suggests a formal Old Worth refinement, yet the interiors are a study in subdued modern sophistication, a collection of chic light-flooded spaces for soigné living and entertaining.
A bright, inviting foyer introduces the home’s characteristic floods of sunlight—filtered by the enveloping leafy oaks—airy volume, and plaster walls ideal for displaying art. Adjoining are a living room with limestone floors, wood ceiling beams, and an Isokern masonry fireplace as well as a spacious formal dining room with a beamed ceiling and windows on two sides. Facilitating festive entertaining is a nearby wet bar with a marble counter, handsome woodwork, and abundant storage. Vast and versatile, the cook’s kitchen features an island with counter seating, vintage pendant lighting, a 72-inch Sub-Zero refrigerator, dual Bosch dishwashers, and a five-burner Lacanche range with two ovens, a warming drawer, and a discreet remote-controllable hood. Flowing effortlessly from the kitchen is a great room with a custom steel and retractable glass wall giving way to the lush backyard and a two-sided fireplace shared with the adjoining lounge and bar with a full-size wine chiller. Tucked into a cozy corner is a morning room—which could easily serve as a den or office—embraced by large windows.
Atop a wide winding stairway with regal detailing are the home’s five bedrooms—also accessible via an elevator and an auxiliary set of stairs. The sophisticated owner’s suite is a light-filled oasis with French doors opening to a Juliet balcony, two dual marble baths—offering both a soaking tub and a glass-walled shower—and a pair of closets with custom-selected soft-close storage, carefully positioned lighting, and clever pull-down hanging racks. The four guest bedrooms feature white oak floors and en suite baths. Among the many other distinguishing elements are a variety of eye-catching antique light fixtures, colorful tile accents, whimsical wallpaper, a thoughtful whole-house generator, and a remarkable four powder rooms.
In the exceedingly private walled and fenced backyard, a lush, vibrant lawn and elegant mature landscaping surround an alluring swimming pool, a grilling area, and a covered patio with a ceiling fan and a wood-burning fireplace—all designed to encourage outdoor living and entertaining in this rarefied leafy setting amid the nearly perennial warm, sunny weather of Texas.
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