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This superbly restored midcentury home is sited on a towering bluff above Buffalo Bayou just outside Houston, Texas. It was designed in 1970 by architect Jack Stehlin—which explains the midcentury vibe of the home—but was extensively renovated in 2018-20—which explains the atrium. The home features light-filled, open spaces with full-length windows and glass slider doors that open to the woods, as well as that massive, three-story glass atrium at the rear with panoramic views; there are terrazzo floors throughout, a conversation pit as you enter the home, and a modern kitchen comes with sleek cabinets, a Gaggenau refrigerator/freezer and a Bosch cooktop. It is It could be the atrium that sells the house … or the conversation pit … or the property … the floor-to-ceiling windows … but for me it’s the wide-open spaces and that spectacular primary suite with Zen garden, organize wood-clad tub, and a closet I’d be willing to go back into. But that’s just me; does any part of this house make you want to part with $3.1 million of your hard-earned cash?                             |
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Architecture Wednesday: The Atrium
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Parts of this I like. The exterior I love especially. But I don't like most homes in Texas. They always seem to look like high end plastic surgery offices and specialty doctor offices. I feel as though there is a guy around a corner waiting with a white glove on that's going to ask me to cough.
ReplyDeleteBut I liked the photos are taken without many decor or furnishings to leave us to see the actual bones of the place.
I think it needs more wood floors--like those in that breakfast area--to warm up the spaces; and more color and more art and several cats!
DeleteThis does remind me a lot of the office building my dentists uses, he even has an atrium.
ReplyDeleteI bet he doesn't have an atrium like that!
DeleteMy dentist has his office in a renovated 1590-year-old bungalow!
This is beautiful.
ReplyDeletersrue.blogspot.com
It is a nice piece of land to build a house on.
DeleteLove everything except the Texas part!
ReplyDeleteCP
Parts of Houston are the anti-Texas and I'd just go to those places and then home!
DeleteIt is spectacular. I love the huge windows, but would worry about falling into the conversation pit!
ReplyDeleteAim for the sofas!!!!
Deletethe dog's mother
ReplyDeletexoxo :-)
😃😃😃
DeleteI love it. Beautifully renovated. If I had $3.1M I'd part with it for this --- if I wanted to live in TX. Even if it does have a flat roof (they tend to be leaky). 'Course, then I'd have to put in a pool.
ReplyDeleteA pool would be nice but then some of the trees would have to go and I love those trees!
DeleteSwoon! I'd have to be really careful with all of the stairs, but there is so much house, I would seldom need to go up and down the stairs. I can add a little color.
ReplyDeleteI think you and I are on the same page!
DeleteHouston, Texas you say. Buffalo Bayou is inside the 610 loop that surrounds Houston. Might be a little too close for comfort. Maybe further out but no more than an hour or so.
ReplyDeleteI love the home. I will always love big windows and light. The space as an airiness to it.
I would had some color and put my stamp on it. Bring in some coziness and comfort. I see that design today has not taken into account of vessel sinks. They are not practical and water tends to go everywhere. I love the color of the wood. Just the right shade. The kitchen is simple which I like. I guess if you have space and money why not place a kidney shaped tub in the middle of the bathroom. I ask how often will one be taking a bath.
The outside is welcoming. The trees bring interest. I know it's Texas and the summers tend to be on the warm side but I would still try to incorporate some outside living. And yes, what is there seems an afterthought. You are trying to sale a multimillion dollar home and this is what you put out there. Scale people. A nice dinner outside on those cool evenings would be nice. Better yet, coffee in the early morning hours before the heat settles in.
Overall, I like the home. I could buy the home and rent it out for corporate housing or C-Suite retreats. I would vet like crazy. I would have to investigate the companies mission and values statement and how responsive they are to others. Does their talk match their walk.
Great choice for this week. Thank you.
Houston is not really Texas, like Austin and San Antonio aren't Texas ... though you are surrounded by Texas.
DeleteI could give it some color and live in it just to look at the trees surrounding the place.
I wish all these homes could be seen unfurnished. The outside feels serene. That atrium with multi-levels visible feels chaotic. This one’s not for me. I get a conference center/institutional vibe and not a home.
ReplyDeleteI wish that glass-walled room didn't have that monolithic staircase, bomb shelter thing in the middle. But I do love the spaces. And I'd kill for that primary bath and closet!!
DeleteThat is a stunning house! Maybe because of your mention of the year it was built, I am reminded of the rich couple's house in "A Clockwork Orange"!
ReplyDeleteOh no ... now I am picturing the young Malcolm McDowell running rampant through the house!!!
DeleteNot for me. For such money I could find something I would like much better.
ReplyDeleteIt's not everyone's cup of tea.
DeleteI personally loathe that giant glass room with the cinderblock tower looking thing in the middle of the room!
Here's the thing:
ReplyDeleteParts of this would have me moving in right away. Texas? No.
I also can see what people have said about being kinda sterile. I think it's the floors. Parts of the house , though, are astounding.
XOXO
Well, the large scale white terrazzo tiles could be replaced with a nicer wood floor.
DeleteI will say, I have several gay friends living in Houston and it has a thriving gay community, and even had a gay mayor for a few years so it's not TEXAS Texas.
xoxo