This low-slung sorta Usonian-style home mounted between the Sugar Creek and Riverbend country clubs in Sugar Land was built in 1975 by and for Houston builder H.A. Lott, known for his work constructing the Astrodome, among many other local buildings. The home was designed by local Frank Lloyd Wright devotee Karl Kamrath of MacKie and Kamrath Architects. After a few recent updates of the granite countertop, mosaic tile, and vessel-sink variety, it went on the market last month — for $1,080,000.
Here’s another “Century Built” hollow-concrete-tile home designed by Allen R. Williams Jr. This 1954 model is at 6328 Brookside Dr. in Simms Woods. Interior designer and recently minted architect Ben Koush plucked it from obscurity and gussied it up for himself a few years back. It isn’t for sale, but it is available to compare with the unrenovated one that is, across Lawndale in Idylwood. Koush’s home has now been added to the roster for Houston Mod’s Mod of the Month open house this weekend. Both homes will be open Saturday from 1 to 4.
A few views inside:
This house on Merry Lane in Idylwood is one of 4 “Century Built” homes designed in the late 1940s and early ’50s by a not-particularly-famous Houston architect named Allen R. Williams Jr. Where are the others? One — demolished a while back — was somewhere off Campbell Rd. north of I-10, though nobody seems to remember where. Another is on West 43rd St. in Garden Oaks. The third, built not far from Idylwood in Simms Woods, was restored and renovated by architect and interior designer Ben Koush in 2005, who dug up the home’s history, got it registered as the city’s first modern protected landmark, and now features it on his firm’s website and in occasional home tours.
All the homes had walls made of lightweight hollow concrete tiles (with electrical wires running through them in conduit), heavy slab foundations with grade beams and piers, metal casement windows, and roofs made of concrete panels and insulated with Fiberglas boards. And they all had similar floor plans. The Idylwood house has been on the market since the end of last month — for $150,000 — because its original owner, Carl Stallworth, passed away recently.
What could you do with this place?
COMMENT OF THE DAY: THAT’S MY HOUSE YOU’RE GUESSING ABOUT 
“What a hoot! CiCi and I have really enjoyed reading all of the comments. Especially about the “fuddy duddy†furniture and balding grandpa. We chose this house because it was so original. It’s our style and had not been monkeyed with too much over the years. Right now, we’re upgrading to a tankless hot water heater and have pulled the rear cover down. Like most good projects, there is always something to do. Jessica1 did well. CiCi is with Greenwood King and I do marketing/branding for Green Bank. We’ve got two daughters (5 and 3) and probably outgrew the house . . . three years ago. Even with the size/rr/bath/power lines/garage issues, we’ve hung in there as the house is comfortable, the neighborhood is the best and location is perfect. Stop by and check it out Saturday between 2 to 4 if you like. I’ll be puttering about and would love to meet some great storytellers.” [Mike Barone, commenting on Neighborhood Guessing Game Over: The Other Side of the Tracks]
Not quite Southampton, not quite Shepherd Square: It’s time to venture south of 59 for this weekend’s tour — of Greenbriar and nearby Ormond Place:
Location: 2348 Bartlett St.
Details: 2 bedrooms, 2 baths; 1,801 sq. ft.
Price: $289,000
The Scoop: Early PoMo townhouse in Greenbriar. Two bedrooms on ground floor; Loft/Study overlooking Dining Room. Vaulted ceiling in Living Room. Kitchen redone recently. On the market for a week and a half.
Open House: Sunday, 3-5 pm
Want to see more?
It’s the final weekend before Election Day, which means you might want to use some of your open-house time for a bit of last-minute canvassing. And what better neighborhoods to do either in than two of Houston’s many New York- or Robin Hood-themed subdivisions! Westchester and Nottingham Forest, two Kickerillo-pedigree expanses above the northern banks of the Buffalo Bayou, are waiting for you. Knock on some doors!
Location: 14707 Broadgreen Dr.
Details: 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths; 2,694 sq. ft.
Price: $325,000
The Scoop: Slightly-dolled 1969 transitional Mansard Modern in Westchester. Central atrium. Paneled walls in Den. Laminate floors in Kitchen. Mirrored wall in Dining Room. On the market for a little more than a month.
Open House: Sunday, 12-2 pm
This way to more homes, and a brighter future:
In this episode: four decade-old houses in New Territory, all within walking distance of . . . each other! Each home has distinctive touches! And they’re all open for your visit this weekend!
Location: 1743 Heddon Falls Dr.
Details: 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths; 2,769 sq. ft.
Price: $290,000
The Scoop: 1998 brick 2-story home with slightly winding path and two 10-year-old live oak trees in front. Double-height arched brick entry. Cathedral ceiling in Family Room. Hardwood floors downstairs, new carpet up. Breakfast Room has new light fixture. Pool and spa in back. On the market since mid-August.
Open House: Sunday, 1-4 pm
More New Territory options as the tour continues . . .
If you want to see all the cool new homes on this weekend’s AIA Home Tour, it’s gonna cost you. If you want to go on the Old Sixth Ward Victorian Home Tour this weekend, it’ll cost you. But if you just want to poke into a few open houses in Oakwood Forest and Candlelight Forest West, taking Swamplot’s short-form open-house tour this weekend is completely free!
And the electronic version doesn’t even cost gas money. Here we go:
Location: 9619 Kindletree Dr.
Details: 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths; 2,615 sq. ft.
Price: $179,900
The Scoop: Remodeled 1971 2-story home in Candlelight Forest West. New tile floors, carpet, granite countertops, appliances, paint, and wet bar. Pool. Balcony off upstairs bedrooms. Just listed.
Open House: Saturday, 2-6 pm
Just a couple more:
The northerly stretches of Boulevard Oaks, where the call of the Southwest Freeway is clear and constant! Four lovely homes await your visit:
Location: 1336 Vassar St.
Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 baths; 2,398 sq. ft.
Price: $749,000
The Scoop: Recently remodeled 1935 bungalow in Vassar Place, with arched doorways, plantation shutters, mustard and seagrass interiors. Kitchen has built-in desk, Breakfast Nook, arched faux-finish vent hood. Ceiling-mounted sound system in both bathrooms. On the market for 3 months already.
Open House: Sunday, 2-4 pm
More this way:
Swamplot’s regular Friday roundups of weekend open houses have been on hiatus since Ike hit, for obvious reasons.
Is it time to start running these weekend open-house tours again? Or is it still too early? Any opinions on the format? What are your thoughts?
That Sunday open house scheduled for this townhome at 18224 Lakeside Ln. in Bal Harbour Cove on Clear Lake? Probably not going to happen. Sadly, it may be that the only open houses taking place in the Houston area this weekend will be unscheduled ones.
If you find any impromptu open houses taking place in Hurricane Ike’s wake, how about adding them to this weekend’s Open House Tour? Send pix to the Swamplot tip line, or add your comments or directions below. Have any other Hurricane Ike photos, videos, or stories you’d like to share?
Something old, something new; some styles borrowed, some rather expensive houses sitting on the market for quite a while! Yes, it’s time to tour a few open houses in Glen Cove, tucked just under Memorial Park’s right wing. Here’s what you’ll find if you venture out this weekend:
Location: 6023 Rose St.
Details: 3 bedrooms, 3 baths; 1,885 sq. ft.
Price: $619,000
The Scoop: Lushly landscaped 1947 bungalow with small freestanding guest house in back but no garage. Remodeled Kitchen; lots of diagonally placed slate tiles. Window wall overlooks back yard with koi pond. On the market for 3 weeks.
Open House: Sunday, 2-5 pm
Wanna see more?
Should your Labor Day weekend — or relocation — plans bring you to Seabrook and Lake Cove, you might want to take a peek at these open houses:
Location: 2330 Pin Hook Ct.
Details: 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths; 2,484 sq. ft.
Price: $215,900
The Scoop: Brick 2-story home from 1992 in Lake Cove. New granite countertops and appliances in the Kitchen; Downstairs Master Bedroom. Mirrored Dining Room; sprinkler system. On the market for more than 100 days. Price dropped 3 times, $9K total.
Open House: Sunday, 1:30-5 pm
Four more coastal casas to check out, below:
This weekend: Hunters Creek Village, up and down Voss. Big lots! Big prices! And the new construction is bigger too! Here’s a tour of what you’ll find open if you visit this Sunday:
Location: 7623 River Point Dr.
Details: 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths; 2,035 sq. ft.
Price: $999,000
The Scoop: Multi-bay Midcentury Modern classic in Riverbend, designed in 1955 by Preston Bolton and Howard Barnstone, altered in the late ’90s. Courtyard entry, vaulted ceilings. Extensive enclosed back porch overlooks Buffalo Bayou. Houston Mod’s “Mod of the Month” (along with the Tanglewood home on Huckleberry Ln. by Arne Engberg described here). On the market for 3 weeks.
Open House: Sunday, 2-5 pm
Wanna see more?
Thinking of taking a test drive on those Pearland Town Center parking lots this weekend? Why not stop by these Silvercreek open houses nearby? Silvercreek is “the community that feels like a neighborhood”!
Location: 2618 Misty Grove Dr., Manvel
Details: 4 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths; 2,923 sq. ft.
Price: $235,000
The Scoop: Trendmaker Homes doubled down on crown molding in this 2002 one-story. Large Kitchen with granite countertops and tall maple cabinets. Tile and carpet downstairs; carpet up. Large Master Bath has several slender columns, large mirrors, space for TV. Owners are VERY!!! interested in selling this house to you.
Open House: Saturday, 2-4 pm
More brick-faced sprawlers — after the jump!
