Inside an Inviting Light-Filled Houston Estate

Spanning more than 16,000 square feet of refined space, this magnificent Memorial-area manor accommodates relaxed day-to-day moments and festive fêtes with equal ease.

For Houstonians and those familiar with this cosmopolitan city—America’s fourth-largest metropolis—the mere mention of the Memorial neighborhood brings to mind quiet lanes lined with leafy trees, spacious estates with manicured lawns, and some of the city’s most coveted homes. On one of the area’s most esteemed streets, this unique home—designed by award-winning Murphy Mears Architects and constructed in 2004—lives up to its community’s prestigious reputation, offering some 16,000 square feet of refined space designed for living and entertaining that befits the thriving, flourishing, fast-growing international milieu of Houston.

Houston, Texas | Kellie Geitner, Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty

The seven-bedroom home begins with a striking foyer that—with its barrel-vaulted ceiling, plaster walls, and artful spiraling stairway—introduces a singular blend of classical and contemporary influences. Boasting a 12-foot ceiling, plaster walls, Lueders limestone floors, and arched double-paned steel-framed glass doors overlooking and giving way to the backyard, the bright, airy living room is a welcoming setting for relaxed day-to-day moments and festive fêtes. Nearby are a large formal dining room clad in plaster and limestone and a wet bar adjoined by a temperature-controlled wine cellar with a 600-plus bottle capacity, a rolling ladder, and decorative iron detailing. Wrapped in windows, the sunroom is a serene space basking in a verdant view of tea gardens and mature trees. Voracious readers will appreciate the two-story library and its abundant bookshelves, fireplace, sitting alcove, and a spiral staircase to a wraparound mezzanine.

The magnificently appointed chef’s kitchen will please the gourmand and the entertainer with its Carrara marble and stainless-steel surfaces, generous counter and storage space, and top-caliber appliances from Sub-Zero, Thermador, and Miele. Warmly hued wide-plank hardwood floors and ceiling beams add a touch of Old World warmth. Set in a windowed bay, the breakfast area is crowned by a dazzling constellation of ceiling beams. Perfect for more casual moments, the cheerful family room features an eye-catching beamed ceiling, hardwood floors, recessed custom built-ins for discreet storage, and contemporary steel-framed French doors opening to a shady backyard veranda, making indoor-outdoor living a breeze. In the one-of-a-kind theater, a sculptural ceiling houses lighting and the Epson projector while nearly stealing the show.

The main-level primary suite is an expansive oasis with handsome hardwood floors, a sitting alcove, dual walk-in closets, luxurious marble baths, and doors affording access to a private courtyard and the pool. The residence also offers a collection of equally charming secondary bedrooms with en suite baths and a visitor’s apartment with its own living and dining areas and a well-equipped kitchen. Other standout spaces include a scullery, an upstairs ballroom, large storage rooms, a light-filled exercise room, and a flower-cutting room that will delight the avid gardener.

Secluded by towering trees, the backyard encourages outdoor relaxation and enjoyment nearly year-round with its impressive nine-foot-deep swimming pool and spa accompanied by an elegant limestone terrace, a veranda, a pergola patio, and swaths of lush lawn and gardens.

Classical touches notwithstanding, the home is resolutely modern, with an elevator providing access to every level, hospital-grade sheetrock, central vacuum systems, a geothermal system, a 250-foot-deep potable-water well, a whole-home generator, and wrought-iron gates at both entrances providing peace of mind. Many rooms feature a sophisticated cable art-hanging system. The community offers seemingly endless diversions, including superior shops, restaurants, and entertainment venues.