Recipes for Winter Wild Game

January 6, 2018January 8, 2018Teresa Byrne-Dodge

photos by Taylor Byrne Dodge My daughter and I often cook together, so naturally we like to attend cooking classes together as well. Here in Houston we are fans of Central Market’s cooking school where we take a class every six months or so. A few weeks ago we learned to...

2017’s Top Real Estate Story

December 18, 2017December 19, 2017Cameron Ansari

Houston’s biggest story of 2017, real estate or otherwise, was Hurricane Harvey. It brought everything to a screeching halt. Even in neighborhoods relatively unaffected by flood waters, the buying and selling of real estate paused as though in sympathy with the hard-hit areas of our city. There was a distinct four-...

Gifts of River Oaks

December 11, 2017December 11, 2017Taylor Byrne Dodge

We know you’re hustling to cross people off your gift-giving list, and time is ticking. Fortunately, you don’t need to go to a mall or pay high shipping costs for just the right gift. Below, we’ve broken out a selection of possible recipients you might be shopping for, and our picks...

Contemporary Houses Here and Now

November 14, 2017November 15, 2017Cameron Ansari

The appetite for contemporary architecture in the upscale markets we serve here in Houston has been growing. Ever more buyers are looking for homes that boast sustainable elements (e.g. bamboo floors, stone countertops), are designed with entertaining in mind and are full of natural daylight. They want a flow between indoor...

DIY Home-Renovation Projects: What Should You Tackle Yourself

November 10, 2017November 10, 2017Paul Denikin

Nearly every homeowner has a streak of DIY spirit in them. Indeed, one of the joys of home ownership is making changes so your house better suits you and your family. For some, that might be as simple as painting the powder room. But what about the bigger jobs? Sure, you...

Nosy Questions for Gil Schafer

November 1, 2017January 8, 2018Teresa Byrne-Dodge

American architect Gil Schafer is known for creating personal and timeless homes that celebrate the lives of their owners. They are spaces intended for making and keeping memories. To that end, Schafer’s brand-new book, A Place to Call Home: Tradition, Style, and Memory in the New American House (Rizzoli, $55) pulls...

Post-Harvey: 9 Questions for Leash Yu

October 27, 2017October 31, 2017Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Since Hurricane Harvey, Houstonians have had hundreds of questions about flood claims, building codes and buying up water-damaged properties as future investments. Li-Hsi “Leash” Yu, president of Agency Yu, Inc.* in West University, recently came to the Greenwood King office on Kirby Drive to talk about flooding (and its aftermath) from...

How to Build a Fish Pond

October 4, 2017October 20, 2017Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Every great garden has a water feature. It’s the finishing touch that charms the ears even as it soothes the eyes. Installing a pond is not difficult and does not have to be expensive. Look around the internet and you’ll find many pond-and-fountain kits just right for the patio. Just add...

After the Storm

September 18, 2017October 20, 2017Cameron Ansari

Clients are asking us, “What will be the effects of Hurricane Harvey flooding on real estate?” Our first reaction is to say that it is too soon to tell what dynamics will affect residential real estate in Houston. These typically play out in unpredictable ways. There are so many unknown factors:...

First Half of 2017: Lots & New Construction

August 3, 2017October 20, 2017Cameron Ansari

At last count there were 51 cleared lots in River Oaks, only four of which were actively on the market. Most of the other lots were in private hands, often adjoining existing homes or being held for future custom new construction. Six were destined for speculative new construction. Lot sales in...