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    Buffalo Bayou beauty

    Houston palace graces market at $60 million as priciest listing in Texas

    John Egan
    May 30, 2022 | 10:30 am
    Nestled in a wooden wonderland.
    Nestled in a wooden wonderland.
    Image courtesy of Icon Global

    A Houston-area estate fit for a queen or a billionaire is being marketed for $60 million, making it the most expensive residential real estate listing in Texas.

    The main house of the chateau-inspired Lodge in Hunters Creek, adjacent to the Buffalo Bayou and Houston Country Club, encompasses a whopping 22,000 square feet. The nine-acre estate is in Houston’s wealthiest ZIP code.

    The listing went on the market last year, but without an asking price. Recently, Dallas-based Icon Global revealed the $60 million list price.

    “Our client has recently instructed that the estate be sold on the open market with the list price now that we are well through the pandemic,” says Bernard Uechtritz, owner and founder of Icon Global. “The estate’s size, price, and amenities put this property in the front row of first-class properties offered nationwide and is among the very best available in the country. It is certainly the crown jewel of the Texas marketplace.”

    Formerly known as the Romanov Estate, the property includes a 3,500-square-foot guest home and additional staff quarters. Among the highlights are a wrought-iron elevator, chandeliers, carved mahogany staircases, and space for as many as seven cars.

    Completed in 2005 after six years of construction, the tree-shrouded estate — built of steel, concrete, and Indiana limestone — is designed in the Richardsonian Romanesque style. It features aspects inspired by the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, and the Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California.

    The interior includes architectural elements chosen by the current owner and shipped from Belgium, England, France, and Italy.

    “As an architect doing work for over 35 years across the United States and in several other countries around the world, I will tell you that the [estate] … is one of the most extraordinary houses anyone may ever see,” architect Ken Newberry, who was hired to design the estate, says in an Icon Global news release.

    In 2016, the estate hosted the Bayou Preservation Association’s 50th anniversary soiree.

    Icon Global shared few details about the estate, including its address. The cul-de-sac property, being marketed to ultra-high-net-worth individuals, sits behind security gates and is equipped with other security measures.

    “Given the likely profile, privacy, and security requirements of a prospective new owner, we are only providing detailed interior and other amenity specs to vetted, approved, and invited prospects or brokers on a case-by-case basis,” Uechtritz says.

    Anyone who tours the property must first sign a confidentiality agreement.

    Uechtritz calls the estate “one of the most expensively built, tasteful, and well-designed compounds ever built in Texas or nationally for that matter … .”

    Nestled in a wooden wonderland.

    Lodge in Hunters Creek Houston
    Image courtesy of Icon Global
    Nestled in a wooden wonderland.
    home-for-sale
    news/home-design
    news/real-estate

    making design approachable

    Houston designer shares 5 expert tips for mixing classic and contemporary

    Emily Cotton
    Jan 23, 2026 | 11:45 am
    Melissa Roberts interior design tips
    Courtesy of Melissa Roberts Interiors
    Mix design eras for an approachable space.

    Houstonians are, as a rule, enthusiastic about an elegant blend — in any form. From historically-lax zoning laws to fusion cuisine and everything in between, a “little of this” and “a little of that” is unequivocally Houston.

    It seems, however, that when it comes to choosing how one reconciles the desire to embrace the contemporary architectural design boom happening in and around the city, while avidly participating in the highly-fashionable quarterly antiques fairs taking place outside of town, things have run amok. Not to worry — a Houston pro is here to help.

    Successfully blending classic and contemporary design is a dance 10-year interior design veteran Melissa Roberts knows all too well. One challenge Roberts and her team encounter the most is how to take a new, contemporary, custom-build home and create an elegantly pared-down space that exudes warmth and classic Texas charm. They see the same from their robust list of remodel clients as well.

    “Refined, natural, layered, organic — that’s our style,” Roberts tells CultureMap. “If you just put a vintage piece in there, that doesn’t mean it’s going to be successful.” Melissa Roberts Interiors isn’t in the business of construction project management. While her firm is happy to make recommendations for contractors, Roberts’ design niche is solidly in consultations and procurement.

    “We’re solving problems. We are like a consultant for people and their lifestyles,” explains Roberts. “How can we assist. How can we take off the stress so that it’s more of an enjoyable project versus being a chore that needs to be tackled. It’s a thousand decisions for one room. We make those decisions for the clients and then they just see the overall picture and know they like what they see without having to stress over edge profiles of counter tops and little things like that that people don’t usually consider.”

    The firm’s new location above Yves Saint Laurent on The Woodlands’ luxe Market Street conveys that elusive blend of classic and contemporary well — elevated (both literally and figuratively) and approachable. That approachability is what led Roberts to keep up a design blog and home decor gift guide, a little something to invite potentially-skeptical readers into the conversations revolving around design.

    “There was an era when designers were stiff and just not approachable,” Roberts laments. “I want this to be refined and luxury, but approachable at the same time — there is flexibility. How to make [design] work for a busy lifestyle, versus, ‘I’ve got one way and this is the way we’re going to do it.’ We’re really problem solving.”

    Melissa Roberts’ Five Tips for Blending Classic and Contemporary Design

    Anchor the space with timeless pieces
    Start with classic foundations: tailored upholstery, natural stone, or traditional millwork. Next, layer in contemporary elements through lighting, art, or furniture silhouettes. This creates longevity while keeping the space feeling current.

    Mix eras, not styles
    Rather than combining multiple design styles, focus on blending eras. A traditional room can feel fresh with a modern light fixture, while a contemporary space gains depth from an antique or heirloom piece that is paired with a modern fixture and mirror.

    Let materials do the talking
    Classic materials like marble, wood, and brass feel elevated when paired with cleaner lines or unexpected applications. The contrast between material and form keeps the space from feeling predictable. Unexpected applications is key here.

    Use restraint with trends
    Contemporary design often shows up in trends, curves, bold finishes, or sculptural forms. Introduce these in ways that are easy to edit over time, such as accent furniture or decor, rather than permanent architectural elements.

    Edit for balance
    The most successful classic-meets-contemporary spaces feel intentional, not layered for the sake of it. Thoughtful editing ensures each piece has room to breathe and the overall design feels cohesive.

    Melissa Roberts interior design tips

    Courtesy of Melissa Roberts Interiors

    Mix design eras for an approachable space.

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