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    the (really) high life

    Houston's second-priciest penthouse sells in posh Post Oak high-rise

    Steven Devadanam
    Mar 23, 2022 | 3:00 pm
    The outdoor space features a pool and sweeping views.
    The outdoor space features a pool and sweeping views.
    Photo courtesy of Nan and Company Properties

    With more locals opting for the lock-and-leave lifestyle, elevated living is on the rise. Little surprise, then, that a highly coveted penthouse, Houston’s second-highest priced, has just sold.

    Located on the 28th floor of the tony Astoria (1409 Post Oak Blvd.), the high-rise was listed at $6.9 million by Nancy Almodovar of Nan and Company Properties. While the final sale price wasn’t disclosed, it’s estimated to be between $5.8 million and $6.76 million, according to the Houston Association of Realtors.

    Boasting six bedrooms and six 6 bathrooms, the 9,500-square-foot space features sweeping views of the Post Oak area. Amenities start with a private elevator entrance, Italian Bardiglio marble flooring, a four-screen video wall, floating shelves, and custom lighting fixtures. The unit is marked by high ceilings and wide windows.

    In the dining room, Calacutta gold marble floors balance two contemporary chandeliers while opening into a modern chef’s kitchen. The cooking/gathering space is home to custom Eggersman cabinetry, quartz countertops and glass backsplash, stainless steel Miele appliances, and a butler's catering kitchen that is also home to an ample amount of storage space, per the property description.

    Oenophiles will no doubt make use of the 600-bottle, climate-controlled wine room featuring custom cabinetry and considerable storage space. Cinephiles, meanwhile, can enjoy a private movie screening room with a 125-inch screen, Milliken carpet, and 12 sound-deadening wall pads. A game room has nine — yes, nine —large screen TVs and a view of downtown.

    After watching sports, sporty residents can take a swing in the private, 3D golf simulator room outfitted with Astro-turf, or hit the weights in a private home gym with its wall of full-length mirrors, built-in TV monitor, and direct access to a private outdoor space.

    A private, cull-cedar sauna and steam room with built-in aromatherapy, cooling sprays, shower and speakers provides a post-workhouse paradise.

    The primary bedroom provides floor-to-ceiling windows, a custom see-through fireplace, a spacious private outdoor balcony, a coffee bar and coved floor, and ceiling lights. Its spa-like primary bath features a standing glass shower, soaking tub, his and her Japanese Toto separate toilets, and mirrored TV. Details aren’t spared in the bedroom closets; they come with custom, Calacatta marble countertops.

    Though dwellers couldn’t be blamed for staying indoors exclusively, outside, the penthouse features a private oasis pool that overlooks the city with over 1,300 square feet of space outfitted with lush turf for outdoor fun.

    This Astoria high-rise is the brainchild of Randall Davis and DC Partners; lobby and residential areas were designed by Eric Clough of the award-winning firm, 212 Box.

    The outdoor space features a pool and sweeping views.

    Astoria penthouse Houston
    Photo courtesy of Nan and Company Properties
    The outdoor space features a pool and sweeping views.
    high-rises
    news/home-design
    news/real-estate

    home design trends

    How Houston homeowners are sprucing up their outdoor spaces this summer

    Amber Heckler
    Jul 22, 2026 | 1:00 pm
    Outdoor patio, Houzz 2026 Outdoor Trends Study
    Photo by Nick Neuberger / A\ Typical Studio
    Homeowners are creating their own private sanctuaries with comfortable furniture, fire pits, and more.

    A new Houzz home design trends study is revealing all the inspiration Houstonians need to spruce up their outdoor spaces for their summer gatherings, and the No. 1 priority is transforming backyards into comfortable lounging areas.

    The 2026 Outdoor Trends Study surveyed nearly 1,200 U.S. homeowners to learn about their recent or planned outdoor or home exterior projects.

    Owners are increasingly interested in making their outdoor spaces more accommodating, instead of being motivated by boosting their home's resale value. That means ditching the curb appeal and focusing on turning their yards into the ultimate relaxation zones and gathering spaces.

    The survey determined homeowners' top outdoor renovation goals include improving aesthetics (53 percent), enhancing entertaining spaces (34 percent), and extending the living space of the home (32 percent).

    Overall, homeowners are taking on exterior renovations to repair elements, and because they finally have the means.

    Outdoor kitchens, structural upgrades, and other features
    Several ways that homeowners are elevating their outdoor spaces are through deck installation, adding shade structures for extra hot summer days, updating open and screened-in porches or verandas, and building an outdoor kitchen for gatherings and cookouts, and adding al fresco dining areas.

    Nearly all renovating homeowners (95 percent) that are undertaking an outdoor kitchen project are building them from scratch, Houzz found, while infrastructure upgrades are a high priority among existing kitchens.

    Outdoor kitchen, Houzz 2026 Outdoor Trends Study Building an outdoor kitchen will make your place the summer house party hotspot.Courtesy of HomeTech Construction & Design

    Outdoor patio, Houzz 2026 Outdoor Trends Study

    Photo by Nick Neuberger / A\ Typical Studio

    Homeowners are creating their own private sanctuaries with comfortable furniture, fire pits, and more.

    "The share of renovating homeowners installing a plumbing, electrical or heating system [in an outdoor kitchen] has risen by 10 percentage points, to 68 percent, while the share opting to install appliances has risen by 6 percentage points, to 61 percent, compared with 2024," the report said.

    Homeowners are also extending their living areas outside by upgrading or adding outdoor furniture like sofas, lounge chairs, coffee tables, a fireplace or fire pit, and upgrading lighting and adding entertainment features. More than half of survey respondents said they are creating dedicated reading areas and choosing comfortable furniture pieces to bring their "quiet retreat" vision to life.

    Shockingly, the share of homeowners that are focusing on water features has decreased, suggesting that owners are not interested in the costly upkeep of a swimming pool or hot tub.

    "Swimming pool projects have dropped by 3 percentage points to reach 7 percent, while hot tub projects (9 percent) and outdoor
    shower projects (3 percent) both have dipped by 1 percentage point compared with 2024," the report said.

    Low-maintenance plants top growing greenery upgrades
    Drought resistant plants are non-negotiable for Texas households, and Houzz said more homeowners are prioritizing resilient native plants, shrubs, and trees in their yards. Flower beds and borders come in second place on the priority list, followed by upgrading garden paths, stairs, and adding planters or planter boxes.

    The Native Plant Society of Texas has a list of 10 drought tolerant native plants that Houston residents can plant in their yards, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center also has its own guide for choosing the right drought resistant plants for your environment.

    Native plants and greenery, Houzz 2026 Outdoor Trends Study Fleas and ticks haven't seen a yard this nice.Courtesy of David Morello Garden Enterprises, Inc.

    In another surprising turn of events, Houzz found homeowners are showing less interest in maintaining a natural lawn and are instead choosing "low maintenance and durable alternatives," such as synthetic lawns or hardscaping.

    "And while more than a third of homeowners are actively shrinking grassy areas — 18 percent are reducing and 17 percent are removing their lawn — the former share has declined by 5 percentage points, and 23 percent of renovating homeowners are actually expanding the lawn," the report said.

    Home exterior projects
    When it comes to a facade refresh, stark white exterior house paint is falling off trend, while beige is skyrocketing in popularity. Homeowners tackling repainting as their major exterior renovation project are also showing a greater preference for green, black, brown, and blue exterior wall colors.

    To accentuate their newly beige exterior walls, homeowners are choosing black or white paint for their trim, beams, columns, and other exterior accents.

    The report also found that 51 percent of all exterior renovation projects include some type of roofing work — namely a full roof replacement, followed by adding new roofing or repairing and patching existing areas. Over half of all renovating homeowners (56 percent) are opting for full window and skylight replacements rather than partial or temporary fixes, and 37 percent of renovating homeowners are adding windows or skylights into their homes.

    home designhouzzoutdoor decorsummer
    news/home-design
    news/real-estate
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