08/05/08 12:39pm

Piazza Townhomes, 620-640 Harold St., Audubon Place, Houston

The planter cutouts next to the garage doors . . . the single-sided, shingled pediments . . . the cast-in-foam detailing . . . the security fence. Yes, it could only be another themed stucco townhouse compound in Montrose!

But the Piazza Townhomes, now under construction by Savannah Home Builders on Harold St. near Stanford in Audubon Place, will surely be unique! Consider: 4 stories. A garage-level wedding-cake-style central fountain, topped with . . . something that looks like a naked cherub. Above, an elevated second-floor courtyard, wrapped with wrought-iron-look railings and greened with potted topiary.

In the video below, it all blends together seamlessly, thanks to a languid easy-listening soundtrack. The project’s website puts it best: the Piazza Townhomes truly is “Architecture Imitating Art.”

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

07/30/08 11:51am

2213 Wichita St., Third Ward, Houston

You are, no doubt, entirely accustomed to finding perfectly pleasant homes listed for sale on HAR . . . as teardowns. Usually, a listing broker won’t even pretend to show off the virtues of a targeted house, limiting photos to exterior shots and including such enticing wording as “sold for lot value only,” “as is,” and the always alluring “do not disturb tenants.”

Which is why John Whiteside, who writes the By the Bayou blog, is especially appreciative of the “chirpy optimism” expressed in the listing for 2213 Wichita St., a home dating from 1930 and perched by the side of 288 in Riverside Terrace, on the market since the end of March. Next to this quaint photo of what looks like a well-roasted garage apartment are these encouraging words:

Owner started renovations on the large house with garage apartment off the freeway. Lot almost 10,000 sq. ft. Pick up this gem, dust it off, add polish and it will shine.

Sadly, you’re a little late to see this house shining its absolute brightest.

Below: More photos from the listing — including interior shots . . . and outdoor furniture!

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

07/18/08 11:56pm

This weekend, won’t you come visit some long-selling Tanglewood treasures? The lots are big but the lines will be short. Here’s what you’ll find:

1202 Chimney Rock Rd., Tanglewood, Houston

Location: 1202 Chimney Rock Rd.
Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths; 2,316 sq. ft.
Price: $499,000
The Scoop: 1953 brick-front single-owner Ranch with carpet and wood paneling, waiting for land prices to increase or a better marketing plan. Listed for almost 3 months; price cut $30K already.
Open House: Sunday, 2-5 pm

Tangle with 4 more homes as the tour continues . . .

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

07/11/08 4:30pm

If you’re looking for a cool, low-hanging Modern home, Glenbrook Valley is your best bet! This week: Glenbrook Valley’s “Mod-palooza,” courtesy of broker Robert Searcy. Three of the homes below are listed as Houston Mod’s Mods of the Month.

8119 Stony Dell Ct., Glenbrook Valley, Houston

Location: 8119 Stony Dell Ct.
Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths; 2,665 sq. ft.
Price: $199,900
The Scoop: 1954 brick L-shaped ranch on actual Houston hill at end of cul-de-sac. Carpet and tile floors; stone patio in back. Wood paneling in Den. Listed for just under 2 months.
Open House: Sunday, 2-4 pm

More moderately Mod-ish moments as the tour continues . . .

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

07/08/08 10:57am

Bedroom, 3310 Lanyard Pl., Laffite’s Cove, Galveston

Houston interior designer Babs Watkins’s ur-Aqua Beach House in Galveston, featured in a summer issue of Veranda magazine shortly after the home was completed in 2004, is now on HAR, notes Joni Webb:

The beach house generated quite a stir as it was knock-out gorgeous and was furnished with wonderful, painted antiques instead of typical tacky, beachy, white wicker. The most alluring aspect of the house was the color aqua used throughout. Aqua was everywhere, aqua floors, aqua fabrics, aqua furniture, aqua mirrors. Without a doubt, owing to how memorable this beach house was, it started a trend for Veranda: each summer since this home has graced the cover, Veranda has featured another aqua beach house. Obviously they are trying to top Watkins’ version, but in my opinion, the torch has not been passed. Watkins’ work remains the best of all the Veranda “Aqua Beach Houses.

Webb finds not much has changed about the house since it was featured, but does note some surprises. The HAR photos show . . . a pool table! And a huge open Kitchen that looks onto to the living space! And a curvy banquette and ottoman covered with a woven palm-tree-print fabric on the opposite side of the Kitchen counter. And . . . lots of floral prints in the Master Bedroom. And many more not-ready-for-Veranda moments hidden from shelter-magazine gawkers. But Webb isn’t so fussy herself:

It certainly is everything one would want in a second home, if, of course, you have a couple of cool millions. . . . In fact, this is the second time it has been listed. It’s held up pretty well, and is remarkably still “photo ready” for a second shoot which is amazing for a beach house considering the wear and tear they take.

The 6-bedroom, 6-and-2-half-bath house is on the canal side of Laffite’s Cove, and sprawls over three lots. The asking price is $2.1 million, but you may be too late to buy it: It’s listed as “Pending Continue to Show.” After the jump: a few pics from HAR, before they’re disappeared!

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

07/03/08 8:52pm

Neighborhood Guessing Game 14: Living Room

Well, where were we? This week’s mystery sky-pad fetched individual guesses of: Greenway Plaza, Museum District/Med Center, “near Woodway,” Gessner and Memorial, Memorial between Shepherd and Westcott, The Woodlands, Champions, Champion Forest, Riverside Terrace, Sugarland, Missouri City, River Oaks, Glendower Court (actually, “North of Westheimer and probably west of Shepherd, in that town-house filled area south of River Oaks”), and the Galleria.

Some of you guessed particular buildings. Two of you took a stab at Regency House, 2 1/2 fell for Four Leaf Towers, and 2 said it was the Timber Top. We also had guesses of the Huntingdon, the Willowick, Bayou Bend Towers, “the highrise near the Medical Center and Hermann Park” (the Parklane or the Warwick Towers or the Mosaic?), the Endeavour, “a small mid-rise apartment complex” on Augusta between San Felipe and Westheimer, the St. Clair Condos near the Post Oak YMCA, 14 or 15 Greenway Plaza, Hermann Towers (?), and the Spires.

The winner is LawrenceDean, who was first to name the Timber Top highrise in Champion Forest — and threw in this bit of color commentary:

I’m going to go with this being a glimpse of the lifestyle of a (very old) northside baller…..

However, this came after some excellent advance work by Bernard, who is apparently expert in staring out of windows:

I don’t see how it can be “in town”. Take a look out the window. There’s nothing but green space. It’s hard to imagine a high rise in town that wouldn’t have a view of at least a couple tall buildings popping up from the tree tops.

It’s clearly a two story unit. Must be a penthouse. But it doesn’t look too high up. The building can’t be more than 15-20 stories.

Maybe it’s on the west side of town with a west facing view. It would suck to have a penthouse facing the wrong direction. . . .

There are two patches of green out the window. Is that a golf course? Maybe some forward thinking developer stole (I mean borrowed and never repaid) some S&L money and built a mini-high-rise out in The Woodlands or Champions. I don’t know those ares very well.

If only you had! That’s enough for an honorable mention, though!

Special recognition goes to our two fully authorized troublemakers this week — Jeff and GoogleMaster — who identified the listing to us privately and then vied to keep easily swayed guessers focused on inside-the-Loop neighborhoods. This loopy comment by Jeff, in particular, is priceless:

Seriously, only an Inner Looper would have elephant tusks next to their couch.

After some initial overreaching, this Timber Top penthouse has been sitting on the market for quite some time. How long? See our summary:

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

07/01/08 12:31pm

Joni Webb goes on a tear through Bellaire, describing some new builder homes:

Each year, Bellaire builders compete in a Showcase of Homes where they try to out build each other with more and better amenities, more square footage, more details, more windows – more of everything and anything to win the Best of Show. The builder is the star here, architects are rarely if ever mentioned. I don’t blame them, I wouldn’t want to claim one of these “show” houses myself. Is it truly harder to design an attractive house? Is it more difficult to design a home with inviting curb appeal? I don’t think so. I think it actually must be harder to design one of these detailed overloaded showcase style houses.

And then . . . she takes readers on a tour of Bellaire’s baddest spec homes! Here’s Swamplot’s edited version . . . actual addresses, details and asking prices, and links to the listings have been added (and some contrasting homes Webb likes much more have been left out):

4701A Braeburn Dr., Bellaire, Texas

Location: 4701 Braeburn Dr.
Details: 4-5 bedrooms, 4 1/2 baths; 5,076 sq. ft.
Price: $999,000
The Pitch: “Stunning Mediterranean stone and stucco new construction in Bellaire! . . . Virtual grass added to photo!”
Docent Comments: “Is it Mediterranean or French, contemporary or Tuscan? Take your pick, there are elements here of each style. The front loading garage is the focal point. Can someone please explain the two windows lowered on the stone at the front of the garage? Are they lowered for children or dogs to peer out of them? And why are there two faux windows on each side of them? I count FIVE lanterns on the garage alone. The house itself is barely noticeable, it’s so pushed to the back of the garage. The front door is encased in a square stone facade, again, why? Two turrets of different heights flank the front door. The stone work is placed with no regard to design. The left turret has a stone base, the right turret has a stone facade with bands of colored stucco at its base. The windows are contemporary, while the house is not. And why are there three faux windows with a small gable above the right turret on the second floor? There is nothing, absolutely nothing attractive about this house. If someone buys it, it will be a miracle.

Oh, yes . . . there’s more!

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

06/27/08 10:49pm

This weekend we venture west of Meyerland to tour Maplewood and Maplewood South . . . where the 1960s come back to life — one way or another!

6110 Cheena Dr., Maplewood South, Houston

Location: 6110 Cheena Dr.
Details: 4 bedrooms, 2 baths; 2,216 sq. ft.
Price: $259,000
The Scoop: 1965 single-story brick home in Maplewood South. Laminate floors with some carpet. Den has raised, beamed ceiling, window seat, corner fireplace. New appliances and tile in Kitchen; large back yard. Listed since the end of March. Price cut twice, a total of $20.5K.
Open House: Sunday, 2-4 pm

Like what you see? There’s more, this way!

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

06/26/08 2:37pm

Kitchen and Dining Room, Wabi Sabi House by Olson Sundberg Kundig and Allen, Houston

Hall, Wabi Sabi House by Olson Sundberg Kundig and Allen, Houston

The Dwell blog and a Dubai-based “ezine” named De51gn both feature long-awaited interior photos of Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen‘s Wabi Sabi House on Bartlett St. near Greenbriar. Doesn’t look like the house has been staged too heavily, but . . . isn’t that the point of “imperfect beauty”?

Have a look around:

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

06/20/08 11:50pm

Just outside the Beltway, just north of Ellington Field: Homes in this weekend’s tour are in Pasadena, but zoned to Deer Park schools! (Except for the one in Baywood Oaks West, which has found its way into the Pasadena school district.) Follow below as we wander through Baywood Oaks, Baywood Shadows, and Village Grove!

4727 Baywood Dr., Baywood Shadows, Pasadena, Texas

Location: 4727 Baywood Dr.
Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths; 1,662 sq. ft.
Price: $169,900
The Scoop: Late (1981) custom “contemporary” in Baywood Shadows. Clerestory windows, brick fireplace, wood paneling, and sloped ceiling in Family Room; private “loft area” in Master. Marble tile in entry and Kitchen; carpet everywhere else. Covered porches along back of house and side; 6-foot-high brick wall encloses back yard. Hot tub and gazebo available separately! On the market since the end of May.
Open House: Saturday, 1-3 pm

The tour continues this way . . .

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

06/04/08 10:22am

Bathroom with Toilet Fish Tank, 3838 Southmore Blvd., University Woods, Houston

“Fish tank in face bowl” is the actual caption to this photo in the listing for 3838 Southmore, in University Woods, by Riverside Terrace.

Face bowl?

The house has 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths. Clearly, though, this one ought to count for more than just a half. The home is listed at $224,999 — bathroom aquarium included.

After the jump: How to get your own very private fish tank . . . without having to buy the whole house!

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

05/30/08 11:55pm

Southern ranches almost as old as air conditioning itself! This week’s homes are low slung and and unsung, but still have room to party in back! Woodside, Braes Terrace, and Knollwood Village hook into the bottom of the Loop, between Stella Link and South Main.

8714 Bevlyn Dr., Braes Terrace, Houston

Location: 8714 Bevlyn Dr.
Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths; 2,955 sq. ft.
Price: $329,900
The Scoop: Expansive 1953 brick ranch in Braes Terrace. Featured here back in August, for $55K more, before all that beautiful wood paneling was painted over. Game Room, Study; Sunroom leads to backyard deck and pool with changing rooms and half bath. Just relisted.
Open House: Sunday, 2-4 pm

More dressed ranches this way . . .

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

05/27/08 1:41pm

12415 Perthshire Rd., Before

12415 Perthshire Rd., After

From one of Swamplot’s initial correspondents, K, comes word of a redo in Memorial Hollow she says

looks like a Mr. Potatohead gone wrong — parts and bits and pieces on a foundation that don’t really go together. It still looks to me like the bottom half of an older house that someone plopped new construction on top of.

At first, K thought the house

was being torn down like so many other 1960s-era homes in my neighborhood. It was a one-story, typical little cottage on a big lot — the kind they love to demolish and then fill up the entire lot with a three-story monstrosity. But then I realized that they were, in fact, totally remodeling it. They tore the roof off and blew out the back of the house until only three brick walls were standing.

Then they rebuilt the back wall and added a second story to the house. It looks pretty bizarre now, although I can’t tell if that’s because I was used to the little bungalow that was there before or because the house really does look weird. You be the judge.

Below: More before-and-after photos of this hollow sixties memorial in Memorial Hollow, ready for your verdict!

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY

05/19/08 10:02am

Wabi Sabi House by Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen, 2316 Bartlett St., Houston

The Wabi Sabi House is Carol Isaak Barden’s latest High Concept development. Tucked into a normal-sized lot between Greenbriar and Kirby just south of 59, the 3,700-sq.-ft. cedar-faced home is the first Texas residence designed by Seattle architects Olson Sundberg Kundig and Allen. It’s scheduled to be complete this month.

What’s the big idea? Explains Barden,

Generally, wabi means humble, and sabi refers to the imperfection that comes with time. Freely translated, it means something like “lived in.”

Alternate translation: Move over, feng shui. Wabi-sabi is the ancient Japanese idea behind the latest category of home-design looks and books.

After the jump: A view from the Wabi Sabi House’s huge roof deck. Plus: Barden’s checkered and gilded past!

CONTINUE READING THIS STORY