Swamplot Archives by Tag: Tours

Friday, May 17, 2013

Perusing The Woodlands

May 17, 2013 – 12:00 pm
   

This is the only one of the homes to be featured in this Saturday’s AIA walking tour in the Woodlands that’s active on the market. With a view of Lake Woodlands at 34 East Shore Dr., the 6-bedroom, 8,400-sq.-ft., never-lived-in house designed by Bobby McAlpine is going for $5.2 million. The listing indicates that 5 open houses are scheduled for May and June — with the first this Sunday. The place also features a staircase that might induce a feeling of déjà vu. [AIA Houston; HAR; previously on Swamplot] Photo: HAR

12:00 pm | 6 Comments | Read more about Homes for Sale, Neighborhoods: The Woodlands, Open Houses, Quicklink
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Friday, February 15, 2013

Spotlighting an Old School Shadyside Spread

February 15, 2013 – 4:30 pm

Before this pedigreed property in Shadyside had air conditioning, the breeze sometimes carried the sound of lions roaring at Houston Zoo. And when some monkeys escaped from there decades ago, they apparently found temporary amusement in some of the trees on this 1926 estate. Or so goes some of the lore shared (and overheard) by those touring the home’s brief transformation into the Villa de Luxe designer showcase, a 17-day fundraising event benefiting Preservation Houston — and ending this weekend. For those who miss that rare opportunity to get behind the gates of the just-north-of-Rice gracious-living neighborhood, this mansion’s re-listing today extends its appearance in the limelight. Access to it, though, jumps from the tour’s $30 entry ticket, which includes lectures and presentations, to the far loftier asking price: $8,390,000.

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4:30 pm | 8 Comments | Read more about Home Design, Homes for Sale, Houston Architects, Houston History, Houston Landmarks, Interiors, Neighborhoods: Shadyside
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Tuesday, June 21, 2011

Looking in on the Mods

June 21, 2011 – 11:56 am

Future architect Brinn Miracle takes readers on an in-depth exploration of all 9 homes that were featured in the Art Institute of Houston’s Modern Home Tour earlier this month, pointing out the kinds of issues that might not be so apparent from promo photos: “The one flaw I couldn’t overlook was the lack of door to the master bathroom. While its true that couples ‘share everything’, I doubt that anyone would want to be walked in on while using the toilet. The problem, as you’ll see in the photo, is that the entrance to the bathroom faces a huge mirror –– with a direct reflection of anyone sitting on the toilet. You have to walk past this bathroom entrance in order to leave the master bedroom, so unless your partner is okay with you dashing past while looking the other way, you’ll be stuck in the bedroom until the um…business…is done. How two people are supposed to get ready in the mornings is beyond me. ‘Honey, please go brush your teeth in bed while I take a leak. I’ll let you know when I’m finished.’ While this oversight put a damper on the project, it was very well thought out otherwise.” Also included: Miracle treatment of Collaborative Designworks’ Hyde Park Double.

Photos of 1818 Palm St., by Intexure Architects: Brinn Miracle

11:56 am | 13 Comments | Read more about Home Design, Houston Architects, Interiors, Neighborhoods: Museum District
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Thursday, October 21, 2010

As Seen on Swamplot, Houston Homes Now Open for Inspection

October 21, 2010 – 12:45 pm

Included among the 9 new or newish architect-designed homes on this year’s AIA home tour this weekend: 3 properties that made recent cameo appearances on Swamplot. Shown here: the one-room-deep one-bedroom home Kay O’Toole had built behind her “antiques & eccentricities” store at 1921 Westheimer, next to Winlow Place. Did you know it was hiding back there? The design by Murphy Mears Architects — with interiors by the owner — showed up in Veranda magazine and (far more notably) in one of those extensive Cote de Texas posts earlier this year.

What about something a little more Modern-looking? And maybe a little more . . . available?

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12:45 pm | 8 Comments | Read more about Home Design, Houston Architects, Neighborhoods: Hyde Park, Neighborhoods: Montrose, Neighborhoods: Winlow Place, New Construction: Residential
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Friday, October 8, 2010

What They’re Mad About in Glenbrook Valley

October 8, 2010 – 9:54 am

A quick photo preview of a few of the stops on this Saturday’s “Mad About Mod” tour put together by Houston Mod, which will feature inside views of a few long-ignored modern homes (and a church) in Houston’s latest almost-historic district, Glenbrook Valley: Above and left, the Googie-inspired residence built for drive-thru restaurant barons Elmer and Myrtle Richardson, designed in 1955 by Pasadena architects Doughtie & Porterfield.

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9:54 am | 9 Comments | Read more about Home Design, Neighborhoods: Glenbrook Valley
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Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Houston’s Last Best Tour Guide

April 7, 2010 – 8:36 am
   

“In an ideal world,” writes Aaron Carpenter, free copies of Douglas Milburn’s 1979 The Last American City: An Intrepid Walker’s Guide to Houston “would be distributed at every coffee shop lining Westheimer Road and Montrose Boulevard, if only for the purpose of inspiring someone else to write an equivalent for today’s Houston. . . .

Some questions that can be answered with this book: What was the best convenience store in town? (Answer: the 7-11 at 603 Bayland.) What map was ‘best for the suburbanite?’ (Answer: Gousha.) What is ‘The Ghost of Sul Ross Street?’ (Answer: too long to explain here.) Here is his advice for a Sunday afternoon out:

‘Enter The Galleria on the south side (Entrance No. 8) off Alabama. Drive down to the first level. Bear right around the ramp and park somewhere on this level – Level B, in either Zone 8 or 9. Intrepid Drivers’ Note: Drive here some Sunday when the garages are mostly empty, and spend a surreal half hour exploring these vast, gray spaces with their nautilus-like spirals and their bleak perspectives occasionally broken by glimpses of the interior of the mall. At several points one emerges on the roof where whole new vistas unfold.’” [OffCite]

8:36 am | 8 Comments | Read more about Quicklink, Tourism
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Friday, July 17, 2009

Spreading the Wealth: Annotated Midtown Apartment Walking Tour

July 17, 2009 – 12:54 pm

Blogging at NeoHouston, Andrew Burleson declares that the connections a building has to the world around it — what he calls its interface — have a big effect on value:

A house may be great, but if it doesn’t have a nice front yard it won’t be worth as much as the house next door that does. Likewise, homes in an area with lots of big trees tend to be valued higher than places without them. The interface is better.

Well, sure. Big trees is nice! But Burleson also claims that the value effects of interface success — and suckage — can travel:

Interfaces are highly radiant, they have a significant impact on the values of surrounding properties, and this value has a tendency to spread. If a street is truly beautiful, every adjacent property is likely to be highly valued. If a street is very ugly, every adjacent property is likely to be somewhat undervalued, even if some individual structures on that street are highly valued.

So why are we jumping over fences in Midtown? It’s all part of Burleson’s photo tour of the “interfaces” of 3 apartment complexes within a few blocks of each other: The Post Midtown Square (the good), the Camden Midtown Apartments (the bad), and 2222 Smith Street (the so-so).

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12:54 pm | 7 Comments | Read more about Apartments, Development Strategies, Neighborhoods: Midtown, Parking, Streetscapes
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Friday, November 7, 2008

Weekend Open House Tour: Greenbriar and Ormond Place

November 7, 2008 – 6:38 pm

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:

2348 Bartlett St., Greenbriar, Houston

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?

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6:38 pm | 8 Comments | Read more about Homes for Sale, Neighborhoods: Greenbriar, Neighborhoods: Ormond Place, Open Houses
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Friday, October 31, 2008

Weekend Open House Tour: Westchester and Nottingham Forest

October 31, 2008 – 11:48 pm

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!

14707 Broadgreen Dr., Westchester, Houston

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:

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11:48 pm | 1 Comment | Read more about Neighborhoods: Nottingham Forest, Neighborhoods: Westchester, Open Houses
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Friday, October 24, 2008

Weekend Open House Tour: New Territory

October 24, 2008 – 11:45 pm

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!

1743 Heddon Falls Dr., New Territory, Sugar Land, Texas

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 . . .

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11:45 pm | 1 Comment | Read more about Fort Bend County, Homes for Sale, Neighborhoods: New Territory, Neighborhoods: Sugar Land, Open Houses
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Friday, October 17, 2008

Weekend Open House Tour: Oakwood Forest and Candlelight Forest West

October 17, 2008 – 11:49 pm

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:

9619 Kindletree Dr., Candlelight Forest West, Houston

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:

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11:49 pm | 2 Comments | Read more about Homes for Sale, Neighborhoods: Candlelight Forest West, Neighborhoods: Oakwood Forest, Open Houses
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Friday, October 10, 2008

Weekend Open House Tour: North Edgemont and Vassar Place

October 10, 2008 – 11:33 pm

The northerly stretches of Boulevard Oaks, where the call of the Southwest Freeway is clear and constant! Four lovely homes await your visit:

1336 Vassar St., Vassar Place, Boulevard Oaks, Houston

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:

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11:33 pm | 3 Comments | Read more about Homes for Sale, Neighborhoods: Boulevard Oaks, Neighborhoods: North Edgemont, Neighborhoods: Vassar Place, Open Houses
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Friday, October 3, 2008

Weekend Open House Tour: Any Takers?

October 3, 2008 – 10:42 pm

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?

10:42 pm | 3 Comments | Read more about Notices, Open Houses
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Monday, September 15, 2008

Retail Damage Tour: Hurricane Ike Visits Kirby Dr.

September 15, 2008 – 2:59 pm

Corner of Kirby and Nottingham after Hurricane Ike, Houston

“Kirby Drive is just as purty as ever,” writes the Swamplot correspondent who took these photos Saturday.

The evidence?

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2:59 pm | 4 Comments | Read more about Disaster Aftermath, Hazards, Neighborhoods: Rice Village, Neighborhoods: West University, Retail
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Friday, September 12, 2008

Weekend Open House Tour: Do It Yourself

September 12, 2008 – 3:49 pm

18224 Lakeside Ln., Bal Harbour Cove, Nassau Bay, Clear Lake, Houston

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?

3:49 pm | Add a Comment | Read more about Flooding, Hazards, Homes for Sale, Neighborhoods: Bal Harbour Cove, Neighborhoods: Nassau Bay, Open Houses
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