Rienzi

Where better for the center for European decorative arts to be located at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston than at the private residence in River Oaks owned by the late arts patrons Carroll and Harris Masterson? Rienzi is a classically elegant mansion, filled with their carefully selected acquisitions including one of the finest collections of Worcester porcelain in the U.S., a noteworthy selection of European paintings and an outstanding complement of English furniture. The 4.4-acre estate combines formal gardens with natural Texas woodlands and the relaxing stroll around its lush grounds is worth the visit alone. Even if you’re not into European interior design and art, Rienzi is a portal into the refined lifestyle and sensibilities of the old guard, blue-blooded, philanthropic Houstonians.