903 Kirby Drive - Greenwood King Properties

Page 1

903
GREENWOOD KING PROPERTIES
KIRBY DRIVE

House

This Irish Palladian city home, built in 1998 and as finely wrought as a Fabergé egg, was inspired by the original owners’ fascination with early 19th century neoclassical architecture and decorative arts.

Commissioned and finished by interior designer Michael Siller and custom-carpet legend Larry Hokanson, 903 Kirby Drive includes three grand rooms – a gold dining room, red living room and green library – that provide nearly a sweep through the formal second floor. Each or all of these rooms, with their 13-foot-plus ceilings, elaborate draperies, crystal chandeliers and Rococo plasterwork, would have suited the monarchy of Europe’s storied empires, from France’s Napoleon to English King George IV to Imperial Russia’s Alexander I.

In fact, while building in the 1990s, the original owners traveled to Saint Petersburg to the State Hermitage Museum, founded by Empress Catherine the Great in 1764, to research colors, window treatments, lighting and decorative arts for the home. The result is a home that is luxurious, majestic and, yes, unapologetically opulent. It’s no surprise that it was featured in a major article in Architectural Digest in 2001.

“Rapidly guests gathered, then three taps were heard on the floor; and silence fell. A last quick arrangement of one’s train or one’s sleeves was possible before the double doors opened and in the frame stood his majesty, looking as shy as possible and as if dreadfully sorry to interrupt.” – from My Life, Here and There (1921), a memoir by Princess Julia Cantacuzene and hand-lettered around the perimeter of the library at 903 Kirby Drive.

Besides the second floor’s large formals and library, there is a French kitchen, jewel-like powder-room and walk-in wet bar; third-floor primary suite with his and her bathrooms (and adjacent study) and a secondary bedroom; and first-floor formal foyer and guest bedroom, plus access to the four-car garage that boasts abundant built-in storage and a separate utility room. The garage can be approached most easily from the alley behind the home (off S. Shepherd Drive). A leather-lined elevator serves all three floors.

Architecture

Designed by the renowned New York City architectural firm of Ike Kligerman Barkley, this home was conceived in the Palladian style, which is named for Italian Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio and much appreciated for its classical elements and grand appearance. The use of Ionic columns – here they are in the living room – bring a stately and timeless feel to the formal rooms. And while the outside architecture is austere, the inside is lavish and regal. The interiors are gorgeously appointed and include extensive mouldings and cornices with carved medallions, transom windows over French doors, Scalamandré draperies, custom hand-made Hokanson carpets, rough-hewn hardwood floors and brass fixtures throughout.

Neighborhood

Founded by brothers Will and Mike Hogg and attorney Hugh Potter in the 1920s, today 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. It was the founders’ wish that River Oaks would demonstrate the highest standards of modern community planning, a model for the rest of Houston to follow. 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 1 998 (per HCAD)

House 4 ,442 (per HCAD)

Lot 7,437 (per HCAD)

Dimensions Living room 29 x 21 Dining room 20 x 13 Library 20 x 13 Kitchen 13 x 8 Powder bath 13 x 8 Primary bedroom 2 1 x 19 Study 12 x 9 Bedroom #2 13 x 11 Bedroom #3 14 x 10 Utility room 1 0 x 7
Room
Library
First floor foyer Powder room
Kitchen
Dining room
Living room
Primary bedroom
Her bath
His bath
Study off his bath Garage 903 Kirby Drive 903 Kirby Drive 903 Kirby Drive

Features

The sellers of 903 Kirby Drive – just the second owners in the home’s 25 years – have spared no effort to maintain this fine residence inspired by early 19th-century Palladian grandeur. Note the cast-stone rusticated first story and pedimented doors and windows enhanced with cast-iron grill balusters with gilded trim. Other features include:

Kitchen

 Sub-Zero 42-inch side-by-side refrigerator

 DCS 48-inch gas range with four (4) burners, two (2) ovens and grill

 Vent-a-Hood extractor

 Panasonic microwave

 KitchenAid dishwasher

 Swinging door to dining room

 White marble penny-tile floor and white subway tile countertop and backsplash

 High ceiling with two (2) Art Deco skyscraper light fixtures

Primary Suite

 Fireplace

 Custom carpet

 Large hers and his walk-in dressing areas, each with bath and extensive closets. Hers has soaking tub and large Cesame Belle Epoque pedestal sink with penny tile on the floor and bead board wainscoting; his has glass-fronted closets, white marble floor, walk-in shower, marble-top cabinetry.

 Extra room adjacent to his dressing area (currently used as his study)

General Interior

 Two (2) fireplaces with gas valves

 Walk-in wet bar with icemaker and Dutch doors

 Elevator by Inclinator Company of America, with red inlaid leather, 500-pound capacity (annual maintenance by Marchal/Stevenson)

 Schumacher drapes in primary bedroom, Scalamandré red damask draperies in living room, Colefax & Fowler draperies in library

 Hardwood floors

 Extensive concealed storage

 Walker Zanger marble floor in entrance hall

 Curved staircase with wrought iron and gold-painted balusters

 Custom millwork and plasterwork throughout

 Many vintage chandeliers, sconces and light fixtures

 Two (2) water heaters

 HVAC with two (2) zones plus two (2) AC splits in garage

 Attached double-tandem two-car garage designed to hold four cars (one bay currently has exercise equipment) with hidden storage

 Two (2) electric vehicle charging stations

Exterior

 Gutters and downspouts

 Irrigation system with four (4) zones

 Two (2) electric wrought-iron gates, each with remotes

 Alley access to garage

 Whole house generator (regularly tested and maintained)

 Rear landscaped motor court

Information such as measurements, square footage and descriptions of materials, fixtures, or other components of the improvements may not be accurate and should not be relied upon, but should be independently verified by Buyer prior to purchase. Photography by TK Images Kirby Dr.
TielWay Shepherd Dr.
Dr. 903 Kirby Drive
Troon Chilton
Memorial
Elevator
Cameron Ansari cameron@riveroakshouston.com Teresa Byrne-Dodge teresa@riveroakshouston.com Realtor® Associates 713.942.6811 www.riveroakshouston.com 3201 Kirby Drive, Houston, TX 77098 a place to find your home
Rear motor court

Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.