What: The River Oaks grand opening champagne toast
Where: The River Oaks
The scoop: Approximately 200 tastemakers gathered for a champagne celebration to toast The River Oaks’ complete transformation. Offering exclusive high-rise living in Houston’s most prestigious neighborhood, the landmark building has been completely reimagined to evoke the elegant, contemporary, and sophisticated lifestyle reflective of the neighborhood.
Giddy new residents, in-demand designers and real estate heavyweights sipped on a unique vintage Moet Imperial Reserve Cuvee courtesy of Moet & Chandon while taking in the splendor of their surroundings. With interiors and furnishings selected by internationally respected architect and interior designer, Lauren Rottet, the building has been designed to reflect a modernist point of view. Elegant and sophisticated, the lobby boasts a mid-century modern aesthetic. Hand-crafted contemporary furniture is complimented with vintage lounge chairs, coffee tables, and eclectic accessories. The interior scheme throughout is meant to showcase artwork. Lea Weingarten, principal of Weingarten Art Group, has curated a collection of pieces for the building that includes works by Paul Kremer, Stanley Whitney, Alex Katz, Gael Stack, and Liliana Porter.
The River Oaks’ luxury amenities were brought to life with activations in the state-of-the art fitness center, massage, and yoga rooms. Puppies were even brought in from the SPCA for a quick grooming in the pet spa. Additional amenities to explore included an outdoor kitchen, dog park, two pools surrounded with beautiful sitting gardens, overnight guest suite, and a private indoor dining room with adjacent catering kitchen and party room.
Beyond the common areas, guests swooned over the newly-completed BeDESIGN model home, featuring pieces by Rottet Studio, among others. Like the other residences within the building, the model home defines a lifestyle people seek and appreciate.
Top brass from the New York-based developer Arel Capital jetted in to greet neighbors and toast the stellar Houston-based design team, including EDI International, architect; Rottet Studio, interior architect; McDugald-Steele, landscape architect and Sudhoff Companies for sales and marketing.
Who: See in the crowd were Richard Leibovitc, Gabriel Bousbib, Eric Lagdameo, Mike Reddell, Betty Harbourt, Karen Lerner, Todd Blitzer, Tim Reilly, Jennifer Bowen, Eleanor and Steve McCarthy, MaryAnn and Mark Miller, Jane McCord, and Amber Lewis.
