2920 San Felipe - Greenwood King Properties

2920 SAN FELIPE

2920 San Felipe

House

Set on an extra-large lot of more than 15,000 square feet, 2920 San Felipe is among the ever-shrinking constellation of original River Oaks homes. Like many others of its era, it is of classic proportions with an old-fashioned room arrangement. It was designed by Birdsall Briscoe, one of Houston’s foremost architects, and was originally built in 1928 as a spec house for the River Oaks Corporation.

The rooms are knit together in a pleasant way that is the complete opposite of an open floor plan. Downstairs includes a living room with fireplace, the dining room with vintage wainscoting, a nicely arranged kitchen and a family room with wet bar. The postage-stamp-sized powder room has a pull-down brass sink such as you might find on a passenger train circa 1935.

Three bedrooms, each with an ensuite bath, are upstairs. The primary bedroom has a tray ceiling, marble-lined bathroom and large walk-in closet with shelves, cubbies, rods and drawers. One of the two secondary bedrooms, mid-way up the staircase, is especially cozy, built under the eaves of the house as a garret and lined with white beadboard. Think: Emily Dickinson or Jane Austen.

To the rear of the property and attached to the garage is a cottage with living area, bedroom and bathroom that might be ideal for a child in college or live-in employee – or give it a fabulous make-over for guests. The swimming pool is bordered by abundant brick hardscape, and there is guest parking on the property inside the wrought iron fence.

Despite its many owners over nearly a century, 2920 San Felipe remains in unspoiled condition. It will inspire the lover of traditional old homes.

Architect

Architect Birdsall P. Briscoe was born in Harrisburg, Texas, in 1876. He served in the United States Army Infantry during World War I and was subsequently educated at Texas A&M and the University of Texas, where he was a classmate of Will Hogg (see below). He began his architectural career in 1904 in Houston as an apprentice with architects Lewis Wilson and Lewis Sterling Green, then launched his own firm in 1912. Briscoe became known for his elegantly composed and detailed houses with disciplined formal composition and scholarly rendition of historic detail. Briscoe’s finest houses, designed between 1926 and 1940, exhibit an array of architectural styles characteristic of American eclectic architecture. They are distinguished by harmonious proportion and full-bodied ornamental detail. It’s no surprise, then, that 2920 San Felipe is included in Stephen Fox’s 2023 book, The Architecture of Birdsall P. Briscoe.

Neighborhood

Founded by brothers Will and Mike Hogg and attorney Hugh Potter in the 1920s, River Oaks is Houston’s premier residential neighborhood, located conveniently close to the central business district and to the city’s main retail, arts and medical areas. Since its creation, River Oaks has been published in national news, real estate and design media and been the focus of scholarly analysis in recognition of its contributions to the 20th-century American elite community development. Property values have been protected and enhanced by strong deed restrictions, subdivision governance and architectural preservation. The subdivision, home to the River Oaks Country Club and numerous pocket parks, is patrolled by a 24-hour proprietary security service.

By The Numbers

Year built 1 928 (per HCAD)

House 2,538 sf (per HCAD)

Lot 15,250 sf (per HCAD)

Room Dimensions

Living room 1 9 X 13

Dining room 13 X 13

Kitchen 12 X 10

Family room 1 6 X 16

Entry hall

Rear garden

Primary bedroom

Primary bath

Primary closet detail

Secondary bedroom

Secondary

Secondary bath

Family room

Cottage living room

Cottage bedroom

Features

What the house at 2920 San Felipe might lack in square footage, it makes up for with rich architectural charm, including vintage hardware, original windows and abundant woodwork. Meanwhile, the lot itself is more than 15,000 square feet. Other features include:

Kitchen

 Viking cooktop

 Miele Combiset built-in cooktop

 Viking double wall ovens

 Viking side-by-side refrigerator

 Bosch dishwasher

 Wood ceiling

 Tile floor

 Antique blue and white Mexican tile countertops and backsplash

 Rustic wood cupboards and paneling

Primary Suite

 Hardwood floor

 Tray ceiling

 Large walk-in closet with rods, shelves, built-in drawers, track lighting

 Marble floors and walls in primary bathroom

 Walk-in shower, jetted tub, two (2) sinks

General Interior

 Wood-burning fireplace with carved-wood mantle

 Hardwood floors

 Brick herringbone floors

 Crown molding, base molding

 Ceiling fans

 Many vintage fixtures, including doorknobs, lights, block panel wainscoting, windows, plantation shutters

 Multiple sets of French doors open to garden patio

 Wet bar in family room

 Utility room on first floor

Cottage

 Includes living area, bedroom and full bathroom

 Brick floors

 Opens to pool and to garage

Exterior

 Oversized lot

 Pool

 Fully fenced, with wrought-iron fencing in front and a gated driveway

 Extra guest parking

 Composition shingle roof

 Wood shutters

 Brick construction with bat and board, painted white

 Pier and beam foundation

 Landscape lighting

 Copper gutters and downspouts, copper portico over front porch

 Irrigation system

 Brick hardscape on concrete slab

 Detached two-car garage

 Mature landscape includes magnolias, oaks, yews, shell ginger, crepe myrtles, aspidistra

Architectural drawings by Birdsall Briscoe