Striking contemporary new construction from Unicus Developments offers an exceptional class of city dwelling in West Oaks, a small private gated community on the east side of Tanglewood. Known for spectacular contemporary architecture coupled with functional interior design, boutique residential builder Unicus Developments has completed numerous Houston projects. To date, most of the homes – recognizable by their elegant alignment of volumes, soaring 11-foot ceilings, expansive white walls, large windows and imaginative entry areas – have been in Upper Kirby, River Oaks and the Memorial Park area. This four bedroom/four-and-a-half bath home has an elevator and pool and is set for completion in late November. $2,975,000. Click here.

Eighty-six years old and just two owners. That speaks volumes about a home. It says, mostly, that this is a house that has worked hard for the people who have raised their families in it. It’s a house that doesn’t sway with the latest trends. It’s a house that merits a family’s investment and its affection. You might say, it’s a house for the ages. With 4 or 5 bedrooms (all up) and large formals downstairs, this classic Southern Colonial is just a short stroll to River Oaks Elementary. Do not miss the third-floor game room with built-in bunks, built-in desks, built-in canteen table, big toy bins, bookshelves, a full bathroom – and every inch paneled in rustic pine. There’s even a shuffleboard court worked into the linoleum floor. Imagine your kids or grandkids playing here and the fun sleepovers they will have. (This is the house you wish you had grown up in!) The grounds are handsomely maintained, and the rear garden has space to build a pool. Price: $1,998,000. Click here.

This lovely and sensible Avalon Place home was built in 1940 and most recently updated over the past decade. The property is comprised of two buildings – the main house and the two-story guest house – that together offer four bedrooms, three full bathrooms and two half baths, plus office/library, formals, sauna and multiple living areas. The building duo forms an L around the pool, and they are tied together by a shaded gallery outfitted with a dreamy summer kitchen. Every square foot of the two buildings, as well as the gardens, patios and connecting hardscape, are put to efficient use. Aside from the home’s versatile architecture – it would suit modern furniture, antiques or traditional styles equally well – the location is ideal. It’s just a few minutes to many of the city’s finest restaurants, supermarkets and shopping. It’s also zoned to River Oaks Elementary, one of Houston’s very best schools (Buyer must verify eligibility for attendance). Price: $2,785,000. Click here.

Like a long cool sip of a Pimm’s Cup, 2154 Inwood evokes a languid lifestyle that is gracious and ageless. It is one of River Oaks’ original pre-war homes, completed in 1941. A 2005 refresh by Eubanks Group Architects more than doubled its size and incorporated must-have 21^st-century features, such as a large cook’s kitchen, mud room and family room. With four bedrooms (all ensuite) plus full guest quarters, this home will accommodate a sprawling family and/or owners who love to entertain. The home is appointed with antique fixtures, and the formal rooms feature floor-to-ceiling windows, extensive millwork and oak floors. Out back, enjoy the lovely rear garden and fountain as is – or add a pool. There’s already a full bath below the guest quarters adjacent to the garden. Close to River Oaks Shopping Center and Buffalo Bayou Park, 2154 Inwood is sited on a 12,000 SF lot. Whether it conjures classic Charleston or NYC’s Upper East Side depends on you. Price: $2,750,000. Click here.

Located on one of the most coveted streets in River Oaks, 3723 Knollwood is a low-slung brick home perfectly sited on more than three-quarters of a wooded acre. Prompting descriptions like “striking” and “art collector’s fantasy,” this 1950 contemporary masterpiece by architect Wylie Vale is notable for its polished white limestone floors, luxurious finishes and fittings, and expanses of glossy white walls. The main house offers more than 7,000 square ft (per Appraisal) of living space, including 5 bedrooms, 4 full baths and 3 half-baths. Art lovers will appreciate the floor-to-ceiling windows that allow in natural light as well as unbroken walls that offer space for large art installations. From the street, the home’s modern silhouette features a massive chimney, as well as several rectangular masses that overlap or intersect horizontal roof slabs. Need a visual? Imagine Palm Springs circa the Rat Pack era. Property and improvements/structures did not flood from Harvey. Price: $6,995,000. Click here.

In addition to its four bedrooms (all up) and five full and two half baths, this house has abundant windows and French doors opening onto the rear garden, plus lovely hardwood floors and three fireplaces. The kitchen has been renovated for the serious cook, with high-end appliances and expansive work surfaces. Company coming? The agreeable guest apartment over the garage includes a full kitchen and separate bedroom and bath. Those born to entertain will be keen for the home’s enormous great room with 25-foot ceiling and baronial woodwork. Mix cocktails and serve appetizer platters from the large walk-in wet bar with granite countertop and mirrored back bar. The grounds are handsomely maintained, and the rear garden has enough space to build a small pool – there’s already another half bath at the side of the garage. Best of all, the semi-covered rear patio faces north, so it is protected from the harsh western sun in the afternoon. Located close to Willowick, it’s a straight shot south to Central Market and Highland Village, and a small jog west to the River Oaks District. Price: $2,900,000. Click here.