Editor's Note: Houston is loaded with must-have houses for sale in all shapes, sizes and price ranges. In this continuing series, CultureMap Editor-at-Large Shelby Hodge snoops through some of our faves and gives you the lowdown on what's hot on the market.

5100 San Felipe, #172E

When designer Randy Powers and investor Bill Caudill bought this swell three-bedroom condo on the 17th floor of Four Leaf Towers some years back, they invested beaucoup in terms of creativity and dollars to transform the basic apartment into as spectacular an aerie as space would allow.

It was an easy sell when they decided to move to terra firma. The successful businesswoman who bought the condo added her own touches of contemporary art and stylish furnishings to continue the sophisticated look. But now she is headed to River Oaks to a home she first spotted in CultureMap's On the Market feature. She hopes that this article will have similar success in moving her high-rise home.

Walk through:

Stepping into the entry way, large enough for serious art displays, we move on to an expansive entertaining area where enviable views of downtown to the east and the Galleria to the south provide a chic urban backdrop to the sleek interior. Travertine marble runs throughout the open floor plan that includes a sun room, living room and dining area. We find a welcome versatility to this open floor plan that allows for gracious entertaining in small groups or large.

Beyond the dining room, toward the interior of the building, the completely updated kitchen beckons those with a penchant for cooking and easily meets the needs of a professional caterer. Granite countertops and stainless steel appliances continue the sleek feel of the apartment.

Across the entry from the kitchen and the separate wet bar is the hallway leading to the three bedrooms, one of which is used by the current owner as a media room complete with recessed halogen lighting and built-in media center.

The master features his and her walk-in closets with custom mahogany built-ins, a spacious marble bath with oversized Zuma tub, marble surround and glass display shelves above. We love the English Wilton carpeting in the master (also in the guest room), the custom wall coverings and the heavy drapes.

Amenities: Sitting on a spacious site at the corner of San Felipe and South Post Oak Lane, residents of the twin Four Leaf Towers have access to tennis courts, playground and picnic area, dog run, Olympic-sized swimming pool with cabana baths and showers, his and her fitness facilities and underground parking.

Fantastic: The views from this floor plan and height are mesmerizing particularly at night when the downtown skyline twinkles to the east and the lights of the Galleria buzz to the south.

Square footage: 2,690

Asking price: $875,000 (monthly maintenance $1,945)

Listing agent: Laura Sakowitz Sweeney with John Daugherty Realtors