Paul Revere didn’t ride past this pedigreed residential slice of New England in Memorial’s Greenbay Forest, but it sure looks like he could have. The classic Cape Cod home (top) is a much more recent vintage than 18th c., however. It’s a 1978 design by the go-to group for such work, Boston-based Royal Barry Wills Associates. With its simple, broad-faced elevation and snow-deterring roof, many features are true to form, right down to the “keeping room” off the kitchen (above). Earlier this week, the home landed on the shores of the MLS. It has an asking price of $3.5 million.
***
Modern life amenities (and Texas proportions) have been worked into the 5,037-sq.-ft. floor plan. There are, for example, closets (no longer taxed) and ceilings taller than traditional duck-or-bump height. Custom touches inside include extensive millwork and softly gleaming hand-milled wide-plank pine flooring.
The living room is down a step and features recessed windows:
Considering the home’s dead-on New Englandness, it seems a bit curious that Williamsburg gets the credit for the colonial color scheme. Shouldn’t that red on the front door and in the study be called something more regional, say, boggy cranberry?
Three chimneys serve 5 wood-burning fireplaces, several of which are corner-cutters:
In the kitchen area, the floor bricks are handmade . . .
and there are a lot of them; they extend into the adjacent “keeping room,” which gets many mentions and photos in the listing:
So, what is a keeping room anyway? Think of it as an early form of family room, a work-and-sleep space close enough to the kitchen to snag some of the heat during the blustery seasons.
All 4 bedrooms are upstairs. The master suite gets one of the fireplaces and double closets:
One of the upstairs rooms, over the 3-car garage judging by the windows, has a kitchenette (above) and plenty of room for gatherings, with and without media intent:
HCAD indicates a 1988 renovation and the listing mentions exterior work in 2006 that brought in more outdoor amenities, such as a pergola, not-so-colonial pool, and more charming brick patios and walkways:
The home’s exterior features clear heart cedar clapboards.
In addition to high hedges, landscaping on the 20,000-sq.-ft. lot includes apple trees, blue and white plumbago, purple sage, native grasses and roses. A split rail fence hugs the perimeter of the front lawn.
The property is west of Voss Rd. and a few blocks east of Chapelwood United Methodist Church.
- 11030 Greenbay St. [HAR]
The outdoor hearth is big enough to roast a witch or two. Ooops, sorry I meant ‘a couple of Wiccans’.
The architectural equivalent of wearing a costume.
Impressive that they took the trouble to furnish it in the same style as the architecture. They spent some time collecting the right sort of artwork too.
You don’t see teardowns like that everyday.
Love.
Great to see inside of that house finally! However, the closet tax is a myth spread by docents at museum homes:
http://historymyths.wordpress.com/2014/01/18/myth-1-houses-didnt-have-closets-in-the-colonial-era-because-people-wanted-to-avoid-paying-the-closet-tax/
Wow, very nice!—I appreciate the attention to detail and the way the yard compliments the house is perfect. Very tastefully furnished—THIS is how you design a multimillion dollar house–lovely, just lovely–
This place looks so much more lived in than some of the Piney Point monsters featured several days ago. This is what, to me, a home should look like. I like that the rooms are cozy and inviting even though it’s a very large house. Perhaps it has to do with the furniture. There’s not a lot of leather everywhere.
.
And I hope it’s not destined to be torn down as Dana said. I always do wonder why an owner would want to give up a wonderful place like this but I do understand that things happen, circumstances change and life does go on.
I can smell the salt air!
No fucking way anyone will tear down this house –zero chance –I have no clue what she’s talking about—she’s very misinformed or was trying to be witty?–fail on both points
Great house, but it is NOT a Cape. The classic cape [for which I contributed to the research for Prof. David Hackett Albion’s Seed: Four British Folkways in America] is a one story house and is much more squat It is in fact a classic Georgian Colonial [with a lot of additions]…such as one finds in Deerfield or Northampton, Ma….
I have always loved that house . . . so good to see the inside. Not my taste but well done.
Stunning.
I like the little dollhouse that’s modeled after the home.
A lot of wood planks for $3.5M.
Colonial overkill. Looks dated LOL.
I’ve always loved this house. So beautifully executed. And, 35 years later, it’s still one of the best of Houston homes.
My father and his crew did the woodwork in that house when I was just a runt.-Richard Bielamowicz. Imagine raising 4 kids on 1 income running a trim crew these days. A lot has changed in there.
Brilliant. Everything is done right. This is how you do traditional.
I love it, what a beautiful home. But I would feel like I lived in a movie set, as oppposed to a home. At least, that is my excuse for my mishmash of furniture- it sure is homey!
I know this house well. Actually I know a lot of 77024 homes quite well. I used to live in the Memorial Villages. It’s like being in the country,right in the midst of an urban area. If you don’t where you’re going, you can get lost. It’s quite fun meandering around the forest that is aka Memorial… Very serene,tranquil,peaceful,safe. Excellent neighbors; top notch Memorial Villages services :police / fire/ EMT-Paramedics /garbage pick up / infrastructure installation / maintenance ,parks ,exercise/bike sidewalks-pathways are well supported amenities. .Each of the 4 villages on the SOUTH side of I-10 ( Katy Freeway ) :Hunters Creek , Hedwig , Piney Point and Bunker Hill Villages / and the 2 on the NORTH side of I-10 ( Katy Freeway ): Hilshire & Spring Valley Villages are some of the most sought after places to live in Houston. They are home to some VERY accomplished people. And many of the homes sit on wooded to heavily wooded rather large lots ; some of which are over 1+ acres.. Well known local ,national & international personalities either hail from the Memorial Villages ,have lived and/or live there now: Olympic gymnast Mary Lou Retton & her husband ,Steve Francis, Roger Clemens,et al…
SWAMPLOT: the censor police….