Stately escape

Tanglewood's most expensive manor elegantly strolls onto market for $10.99M

Home buyers looking for something that blends the idea of a private oasis with a space that wows guests need look no further than 5412 Sturbridge Dr. The manor-style home is on the market for $10.995 million, listed by Bobby Yazdani and Brian Spack of Martha Turner Sotheby’s International Realty. The Jack Preston Wood-devised estate sits on 1.19 acres.

Every aspect of the home is grand. Imagine walking through the French mahogany doors into the grand foyer, looking up at the duple iron and teardrop crystal chandelier, set in a niche high above a double marble-clad helical staircase that sweeps upward, creating a jaw-dropping entrance.

Or, think about sinking into a sofa in the formal living room within the rotunda, where arched miniature leaded glass transom windows and double height butted glass windows flood the space with light and offering sweeping views of the grounds. Picture guests waving from the scenic overlook above the great room, taking in the coffered ceiling above and the sports and recreation spaces outside.

A private hallway leads from the grand foyer to the secluded master suite, itself an opulent oasis in a home that's filled with superlatives. The suite's athenaeum features a tray ceiling fortified by stone columns, making it a comfortable reading nook. Mount a television to the wall and it becomes the perfect spot to binge watch in seclusion.

Three sets of French doors accent the sleeping chamber, leading to the pool and gardens and the spa-like master bath, with its oversized walk-in shower with dual shower heads and shower wand, a private water closet, dual vanities and sinks, and leaded glass windows. The dressing room holds space for suits and gowns, shoes and purses, and everyday wear. Seasonal attire is easily stored on the third-tier pull-down rods.

The grounds of 5412 Sturbridge are as luxe as the home itself. In the backyard, a bubbling fountain within a waveless basin draw the eye towards the heated swimming pool and stone-framed wall of water. A heated spa adjacent to the pool offers another space to relax, and beneath the pergola is a stone-backed, cascading 10-foot water wall that trickles into the pool below.

In the northwest corner of this estate, find the sports complex, where owners and guests can practice their golf or tennis swing, smack the tetherball around the pole, put together a pick up game of basketball.

Josh Gremillion for Sotheby’s International Realty

5412 Sturbridge in Tanglewood is for sale for $10.995 million and sits on 1.19 acres.

Other incredible features of this massive manse include a movie theater, a second-floor game room with kitchenette, a first-floor library with a spiral staircase leading to a second story with built-in shelves, a third-floor studio that can be a yoga or art space, and seven bedroom with ensuite baths.

From its Tanglewood location, the city is easily accessible, making 5412 Sturbridge the perfect home for those looking for something that is in the heart of Houston with the feeling of being tucked away from the Bayou City's bustle and go.

New Museum District high-rise lures tenants with events and on-site bar

Photo courtesy of Sentral

Forme, a new high-rise apartment building in the Museum District, offers amenity-driven living.

High-rise apartment living is taking on a new look at Forme, which just opened its doors in the Museum District. Located at 5501 LaBranch Street, the 33-story building boasts urban living centered on wellness, productivity, community, and restoration, with a setup that blends the best of luxury hospitality and amenity-driven living.

Residences range from 500-square-foot studios and efficient junior one-bedrooms and studios to 1,400-square-foot three-bedroom homes with panoramic views stretching across Hermann Park, downtown Houston, and the Museum District skyline. Rents start at $1,750 per month.

Designed by Lamar Johnson Collaborative and operated by Sentral, Forme’s intended residents are young professionals seeking to balance busy personal and professional lives with supersized amenities tailored for recharging, re-focusing, and networking. To that end, the building’s 60,000 square feet of shared space provides a plethora of amenities and gathering spots, including a 20,000-square-foot fitness and recovery area, a 9,000-square-foot outdoor pool deck with pool and expansive hot tub, and 20,000 square feet of flexible coworking space along with a 12th-floor cocktail lounge dubbed The Branch on La Branch.

Apartment interiors emphasize warm modernism and everyday functionality, pairing floor-to-ceiling windows with quartz countertops, gas ranges, soft-close cabinetry, walk-in closets, smart-home technology, and wide-plank flooring.

“Forme was conceived as a living environment where the experience extends far beyond the apartment itself,” said Myron Washington, associate director of portfolio operations for Sentral, in a statement. “Every space inside the building was designed to support the rhythms of modern life – from movement, recovery, and creativity to productivity and social connection. Residents can begin the day with an exercise class, work from a fully serviced coworking floor, attend a wellness lecture or networking mixer in the evening, and end the night poolside with neighbors overlooking the skyline. It creates a completely different relationship between people and where they live.”

Residents can expect sunrise workouts, run-and-brunch gatherings, poolside picnics, wellness activations, social mixers, and professional networking events. When it opens in July, The Branch on La Branch will offer a boutique hotel-style cocktail lounge and raw bar. In the meantime, weekly wine tastings with light bites are available every Thursday from 6-8 pm thru the end of the World Cup, featuring international wines reflective of the countries playing matches in Houston. These events are also open to the public, and reservations can be made through Sentral management at Forme.

Photo courtesy of Sentral

Forme, a new high-rise apartment building in the Museum District, offers amenity-driven living.

The complex’s fitness center offers dedicated spaces for strength training, Pilates, yoga, HIIT, mobility work, cardio conditioning, and recovery, along with hydromassage chairs, luxury locker rooms, personal training services, and scheduled fitness classes led by an onsite fitness director. The 1,200-square-foot pool and 550-square-foot hot tub are surrounded by daybeds and chaise lounges, making the pool deck a natural place for sunset gatherings and other events.

Residents who work remotely can do so in Forme’s flexible coworking space operated by Regus. Spanning 20,000 square feet, the space includes reservable offices, quiet zones, collaborative areas, and meeting rooms designed to support both focus and connection.

In addition to traditional apartments, the high-rise also has furnished residences, extended stays of 30 days or more, and nightly accommodations.

“Every detail — from the way you work and train to how you rest and connect — is designed to meet you where you are and move with you,” according to Forme’s mission statement.

With so many amenities and so much thought given to designing an ecosystem where residents can live, work, and play, Forme should hit a sweet spot for a certain kind of renter. The high-rise’s location, within walking distance of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, restaurants such as Lucille's and MF Sushi, and Hermann Park, is merely icing on the 33-story cake, giving residents easy access to some of the city’s best cultural, entertainment, dining, and wellness spots.

high-rises openings