In the late 1960s, as America’s original Mid-century Modern movement was winding down, architect George Smart was commissioned to design a low-slung brick and glass house at 2300 Timber Lane. It would serve as the parsonage for St. Luke’s United Methodist Church for 49 years. When it was sold last year, the neighborhood assumed the house would be scraped away, as was the fate of so many others. Fortunately, Unicus Developments stepped in to brilliantly redevelop the property, maintaining the original footprint while expanding the first-floor master suite and preserving the modern brick facade, mature live oaks, and circular drive. Following 14 months of renovation, 2300 Timber Lane is set for its second act. It has four ensuite bedrooms – including the garden-side master bedroom – plus upstairs and downstairs powder rooms, a high-tech kitchen, elevator, refrigerated wine storage, private interior patio and a one-of-a-kind rooftop terrace with summer kitchen. Price: $3,850,000. Click here.

Winner of the 2011 John Staub Award from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, this brick and shingle home by Houston architect Jay Baker offers an open floor plan, multiple indoor/outdoor spaces, abundant light – in spite of the dense gardens that surround it – and a mix of modern and traditional materials. It’s located on one of the city’s rare hills and faces the River Oaks Rock Garden ravine, a tiny wild place in the heart of the city’s toniest neighborhood. Approach the house by either the stone steps from the street or the handy backdoor alley. Inside, a central hallway runs the length of the house, like a backbone that connects rooms on both sides, every one with a garden view. Because the sellers host many musicians, the living room is separated by two steps from a mezzanine (currently site of a grand piano) that acts as a stage. Upstairs are three large bedrooms, including a particularly nice master with his and her baths. Price: $2,950,000. Click here.

A designated Houston Historic Landmark residence designed in 1936 by Birdsall Briscoe for his own family, this classic home showcases the architect’s gift for proportional design and ornamental detail. At the same time, to provide for today’s modern living, amenities include an updated island kitchen opening into spacious living spaces, a master suite and bath carefully designed for livability, three additional ensuite bedroom/baths, and landscaped patios and gardens. Recent updates include exterior paint (2018), new roof (2018) and McDugald Steele decorative fencing (2011). This home is located on one of River Oaks’ desirable park-like “courtyards” that offer splendid green space and buffer homes from busy streets and through traffic. A note on Birdsall Briscoe: Houston’s earliest residents chose this architect (as well as John Staub) to build their generational homes in River Oaks and elsewhere. He is considered one of the city’s greatest classic architects. Price: $1,697,500  Click here. 

This dazzling Beverly Hills-style Spanish Colonial Revival villa has caught the eye of passersby since it was built in 2014. Authentic details – white-washed stucco walls, rustic terracotta roof, ornamental wrought-iron work, balconies, hand-painted tiles, striking archways and heavy wooden doors – are a marvel of workmanship, and it’s all integrated with state-of-the-art modern amenities, including an elevator and house generator. Spacious entertaining spaces include a grand reception hall and oversized formal dining room. An impressive chef’s kitchen opens to a large family room and resort-like loggia and pool. Spanish revival architecture became widely known as a result of the 1915 Panama-California Exposition in San Diego, and prominent examples include the Ponce de Leon Hotel in Florida and the Hearst Castle in California. This River Oaks home is surely Houston’s most outstanding expression of the style. Price: was $4,200,000 – now $3,500,000. Click here.