COTE DE TEXAS: Like Mother, Like Daughter

Like Mother, Like Daughter

 

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It’s not often we see a house designed by Mario Buatta in Houston.  Usually he works in New York or Florida, rarely Houston.  But there it was, in Architectural Digest (2007), all beautiful in pinks and greens and yellows.  The Buatta house is being publicized again – it’s now for sale, and listed on HAR, the favorite real estate haunt of nosey Houstonians or house stalkers (not talking about me, of course) – you know, those obnoxious people who search HAR’s website to find a house to either admire or hate, and then run to the tax rolls to discover who owns it.     The Buatta house is a little more intriguing because of who owns it and what its competition on the market is.  You see, the lady of the Buatta house, is related to the lady of another grand house for sale, right down the street a-ways in Houston’s toniest neighborhood.   One is owned by the mother, the other is owned by the daughter – both still young, vibrant, civic-minded women.  See if you can figure out which house the mother owns, and which house the daughter owns.    To be sure there is peace in the two households, both are using the same real estate agent!

P.S.  If you live in Houston, see if you can guess who owns the houses.   There is one HUGE clue in the pictures!!!    To play the game, if you already KNOW who owns it, don’t ruin it for those who are guessing.  Feel free to email me with your story:  mrballbox329@aol.com.  

 

The Tale of the Tape:

 

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House #1:  $10,800.00                                                                                                                                         

Over an acre, backs up to the golf course of RRCC                                                                                    

13,386 Sq. Ft. /3 stories /5-6 Bedrooms/9 Full, 2 Half Baths                                                            

Built:  1988, designer unknown                                                                  

Garage:   3 cars     

 

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House #2:  $9,950,000.

Over 1 1/2 acres, backs up to busy Kirby Street

7,968 Sq. Ft./3 stories/5 Bedrooms/6 Full, 3 Half Baths

Built: 1939 by renowned John Staub; interiors by Mario Buatta

Garage:  none 

Pool Pavilion:  3,331 sq. ft. designed by Curtis Windham, 2007   

        

 

House #1:

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Both houses are located in River Oaks, Houston’s most exclusive neighborhood.    House #1, though, is on the golf course of the River Oaks Country Club, primo real estate to be sure.  You really can’t see the house behind the gates if you are cruising the street, but cruising the internet it’s no problemo at all.  Lots of flowers, including beautiful rose gardens, are included in the landscaping.

 

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House #1 is a Regency style home and is relatively new for River Oaks – built in 1988.  At over 13,000 sq. ft. the facade belies the true size of the house.

 

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The front door is seen at the end of this entry hall.  The dining room is to the right.  The house has a definite contemporary vibe going on:   is this the mother’s house, or the daughter’s?   Would the daughter like contemporary or the mother?   I don’t know the interior designer used in House #1, but judging by these pictures,  I might guess it was done by the great and elegant Herb Welles or his partner Jerry Jeanmard.  But, like I said – this is ONLY a guess!

 

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Contemporary art work lines the walls of the two story stairwell.   Note that the furniture is not contemporary, but classic French antiques.  

 

 

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The dining room is wallpapered in a toile.  Antique rug and furniture. 

 

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At the end of the long entry hall, down a few steps, is the expansive main living area.  This room is filled with richly upholstered furniture and more French antiques.  The view out the windows is of the pool, the rose garden, and the golf course.   There are very few golf courses located inside the city limits of Houston – real estate along these courses is very pricey. 

 

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The paneled office/library is set up for a true businessman or woman.   Three TVs are great for news and sports watching.    Would an older man want three TVs or a younger man????

 

 

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The kitchen is a good size for a large family – with lots of children?    It looks like there are more televisions in this room.  Someone must be either a political junkie or a sports junkie in this family!

 

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The large family room appears to me to be an addition  - located off to the side of the main house.  Notice the paint treatment on the ceiling.    This room looks like it was designed for large crowds – push the furniture to the sides and you have a ballroom!!

 

 

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The master bedroom is oversized and is all in pinks, both hot and soft.     Out the window is a balcony that overlooks the swimming pool and golf course.  Must be a gorgeous view!    This room is directly on top of the living room.

 

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This large guest room overlooks the front of the house. 

 

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One of several rose gardens on the property.   It appears this one is located right outside the stairwell.

 

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The back yard:  the three large windows are the living room.  Above is the master suite with its private balcony.  

 

 

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Past the swimming pool is the River Oak CC golf course.  Expansive views like this are rare inside the loop.

 

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At dusk, the living room and master bedroom balcony are on the left.  The large family room is to the right.  It looks like this was added on, perhaps it was once the garage?   Is this large swimming pool for children or grandchildren?   Have you already made up your mind if this is the mother’s house or the daughter’s house?  Wait………

 

 

House #2

 

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House #2, right off busy Kirby Street.  This lot is on 1 1/2 acres – 1/2 acre larger than House #1.   The front has a large parking court – room for plenty of partying guests!      This classic house was built in 1939 by famed architect John Staub who helped develop River Oaks.

 

 

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The back facade of the classic Staub house.    It looks like there are two balconies flanking the main section of the house – underneath the right balcony, the area was enclosed to make a sun room  The area on the left looks like it was left open.

 

 

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The front entry hall is quite different from House #1.  This foyer is relatively small looking, but probably this is just an optical illusion.

 

 

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From Architectural Digest:  the main living room is painted a Nancy Lancaster yellow, filled with English and French antiques and English styled upholstery.  Designed by Mario Buatta, this room makes no mistake about that.   Unlike House #1 with its contemporary art collection, House #2’s art is more traditional.

 

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Yellow silk plaid curtains and a classic Colefax and Fowler fabric dominate the living room.   The two living rooms in House #1 and #2 are similar in their quality and quantity of furniture.  But which living room is mother’s and which is daughter’s?

 

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The real estate pictures are not quite as enticing as the Architectural Digest photographs taken by Gordon Beall,  but the room still looks beautiful.  It would be interesting to see House #1 under the Architectural Digest lens, too – to level the playing field!  These ceilings appear low – they are actually a lofty 10’ high.

 

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The beautiful pink dining room with its white fireplace and Nesle chandelier looks cozy in this picture by Architectural Digest.

 

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In real life – seen in the HAR pictures, the room is very large – 24x17.  The carpet is by Starke.

 

image The morning room is in a glass-enclosed space, located under one of the balconies.   It is a cozy spot overlooking the back yard. 

 

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The real estate picture shows the true size of the room. 

 

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The library in its original mahogany paneling is traditionally English.   Is the portrait the lady of the house in her younger days, or is it the mother in her younger days?  Hard to say. 

 

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The real estate photos of the library.   The morning room is right outside the doors. 

 

 

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The master bedroom is a pure Buatta pink fantasy.  With his traditional four poster bed, there is no mistaking who designed this room – but for whom?   The daughter and her husband, or the mother and her  husband?

 

 

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Taken at night for the Houston real estate web site.    The chintz on the bed is Lee Jofa, the carpet is by Starke.  With the windows on each side of the bedroom – its runs the width of the house. 

 

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The porch along the back of the house with classic iron furniture in green and white stripe cushions – very southern looking, to be sure.   The recently built pool pavilion is off to the right.   Does this look like a place for children or for grandchildren?

 

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Looking from the back of the house out to the yard – the pool pavilion is on the right, past an allee of Live Oak trees.  The swimming pool is directly facing the house – past the trees.

 

 

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A night time shot of the large swimming pool.

 

 

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A hidden garden off to the side of the yard.

 

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A view of the pool pavilion.

 

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At over 3,000 sq. ft, the pool pavilion is larger than most houses.

 

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Buatta designed this space also.  The checkerboard floors were inspired by the lobby at Claridge’s hotel in London.

 

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The real estate photograph.  What a grand space for large parties with live bands and dancing!   Past the middle doors is the bar area, seen below.

 

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An oval bar in the pool pavilion – complete with white marble floor.  This building also houses an exercise room, a library, and a kitchen for entertaining.   Obviously this “pool pavilion” is really for grand parties rather than a place for playing children – or grandchildren.   Again, is this the young daughter’s house or is it the house of the still-young herself mother? 

 

To Recap:

 

House #1’s living room:

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House #2’s living room:

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Do you think you know which house is for a young family, with young children and which house is for an older couple, with no children at home?   Does the fact that Mario Buatta designed one of the houses sway your opinion?   Or does the location sway you – one house on the golf course, the other on a larger lot, but right off a very busy road?   Do you have a favorite house?     Do you prefer the more contemporary one, with the French antiques, or the older, more traditionally styled house – with English antiques and furniture?          Does the furniture give away which one is owned by the daughter and which by the mother?   Do you wonder why both houses are for sale at the same time, both sharing a real estate agent?  Are they downsizing or moving up or both?    Maybe they should just trade houses!    

 

P.S. Remember if you happen to already know who lives here, don’t spoil the fun for those playing along!

69 comments :

  1. Interesting, My guess House #1 the daugher and House #2 the mother.
    Do I have a favorite?...no not at all, neither house has any flow at all...all in all to much.
    After one more look before hitting enter...I like the pool area of House #1, looks nice at night, like a hotel pool...I have always liked the feeling of a hotel pool @ nite...

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  2. Truly, I can't tell which person lives in which house, but I do prefer the house that backs to Kirby...it has more of a gracious feel. The 'new' one that backs up to River Oaks CC seems like an architectural time warp of the late 80s.

    I wonder why they are moving?

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  3. * After "disecting" every delicious pic, & appreciating EACH style of home (my preference being #1~ and, too, a HUGE attraction is that it's on the golf course!), I've come to one conclusion... "I'm TOTALLY CLUELESS" to the answers to ANY of your "questions"!!!

    One minute I think ONE thing, & yet ANOTHER minute my mind changes tracks on just WHO a house belongs to... and WHY they are selling (UNpaid taxes?!?! Oh no! Silly me!)... and WHY they're using the same realtor (or is one of THEM "the REALTOR"?), etc...

    Thanks, Joni~~~ this was interesting, fun, challenging and now that it's getting close to bedtime, "FRUSTRATING"!!! Will I be ABLE to SLEEP if I'm SUPPOSED to know the answers to all/some of your questions and DON'T?!?!?

    Thanks ALOT, girlfriend! What's that pill one can take to get some sleep? I may NEED one! WHEN do we get the ANSWERS, please?????????

    Hugs,
    Linda (P.S. ALtho so MUCH is just "DIVINE", I truly COULD envision my Jim, the dog and me in the oh-soooo-comfy n' happy MORNING ROOM!!! And I KNOW DH could NEVER, EVER sleep in a pink bedroom like Mario did... lovely, but I don't think TOO many men COULD, do you???(Could darling, willing-to-please "Mr. Muckluks"? ENQUIRING MINDS want to KNOW!!!)...

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  4. I knew these homes were in River Oaks! I've only been there once when I was visiting Houston, but a friends friend is the main housekeeper at billionaire Richard Kinder's house in River Oaks and lives in an amazing attached appartment on the side of his mansion. I have a TON of pics of the interior of the home, including real Picasso paintings etc. The lady was allowed to give my friends a tour of the mansion, but not a certain wing of the home where the master suite is. I'll have to find the pics and send them to you. It's AMAZING!

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  5. ok, hello over the top??? I mean they are stunners, and that pool pavilion?! i can't imagine either being infiltrated with kids and their gear, but since it's a guessing game, i'll go against my first instinct and say my money is on the more fancy one being the young family and the more 'modern' one being the grandparents. my reasoning goes like this:
    the original daughter prob grew up in a very nice traditional home with her parents, hence her leaning towards that when she's grown up and doing her first adult mansion. in the meantime her parents outgrew their original mansion and sold it to downsize and tried a new look, a more modern look. the family owns some sort of sports team and are selling bc they bought a new team in another town and will relocate for work... they obviously all work together! I'm guessing the BIG HINT is the letter 'L' on the bedroom ceiling?

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  6. Joni, I definitely have a favorite, and it's Mario Buatta! Oh, I love him! He is one person I would love to meet. The Buatta designed house is just like a wonderful treat... color and fabric and furnishings, all!

    For some reason, I think that the mother might own House #1 and the daughter, House #2. House #2 seems more like a nest to me, and if she had children when she lived there, I would think you'd want a comfy, cozy nest with pretty, happy colors and furnishings. Plus chintz hides a multitude of sins, and I would think that some of those would be chintz slipcovers.

    My cousin and his wife had a house full of chintz when they raised their family, and we all used to smile because he's such an outdoorsman! He did have a man cave, though. ;-)

    Those are my guesses, but I'm sure I could be wrong. And I have no idea who lives there. It's not Mr. Magpie's aunt who also lives in River Oaks. LOL!

    XO,

    Sheila :-)

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  7. Wow...I like them both, but number one is my favourite.
    I think #1 for daughter but I suspect that it is the opposite from your hints.
    Can't wait to find out which house had the younger occupants!

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  8. "Is the portrait the lady of the house in her younger days, or is it the mother in her younger days? Hard to say." Hmmm....if my two choices are lady of the house or mother then I guess you're telling us that the daughter owns this one. (Traditional) Otherwise you would have said"or is it the mother/daughter in her younger days?"
    That would be my guess anyway. I'll bet the Mother's already had a house like this and moved onto something more modern. I also think an office with 3 tv's is for a man without a family still living at home.
    Ann

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  9. Well, I missed the huge clue...but even before seeing the 2nd home I picked the first for the mom and I am staying with that...fun, fun, fun, I can't wait to see. Now I am going to go read the other comments ...

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  10. First is the mom's....some things just seem outdated there, in a way an older person might have gotten used to and not want to change.

    Second house is definitely the daughter's...traditional in a very 'in' way.

    Both houses are too huge for my liking. But I suppose it's an entire lifestyle.

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  11. joni !

    my drool bucket 'run-eth over'.

    xx

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  12. first one is the Mom's, I think perhaps former Houston mayor Bob & Elyse Lanier (hence the L in the bedroom), 2nd is the daughter but I don't know which one...only one I could find any info about on the web is Courtney Sarofim? Lot's of sleuthing since I don't live in Houston... but then, you know I love to snoop me some Real Estate from your Sue Ellen Gregory post ;)!

    Michele in Raleigh

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  13. I'm guessing #1-daughter's and #2 -Mom's. That canopied bed is just stunning. I remember seeing that in a magazine and thinking how beautiful it was.

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  14. OMG! I am moving in the pool pavillion! Fabulous photos. Thanks for letting me be a fly on the wall.

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  15. Both are gorgeous! I'd guess second , more traditional is the mom's.

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  16. Whenever I read one of your posts on my hometown, I get sooo homesick! How is that possible, to long for the concrete jungle! The staircase was a big clue for me. A long, long time ago House #1 was on the Azalea tour. We could walk through the back yard and I remember peeking through the house at the staircase. I also remember the owners! So I say house #1 is the Mom and house #2 is the daughters.
    I love house #2. Seems more current!

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  17. My guess is the first one is the daughters (with the 3 TV's) and the second one is the mom's. The pool pavilion was certainly an experience to see!

    Great post, as always!

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  18. Why buy magazines when I have your blog!!!! Have just spent some wonderful morning time checking everything out...fabulous! I just finished a charming little ottoman slipcover that I think would go well in one of these homes, stop over and see @ sweetup-northmornings.blogspot.com xoxo~Kathy.

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  19. I might be wrong but I'm guessing the house #2 is the mom's. Wow! These homes are gorgeous. I actually like the house #2 better than the #1. Simply beautiful!

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  20. My guess would be that the daughter owns house #1 and the mother owns house #2. But as I looked at the two houses I went back and forth... so I am not certain. If I had to choose a house for myself I would have to choose house #2. I am young and I just kept thinking about what a great house that would be to host social gatherings. And that just reaffirmed my opinion that the mother owns #2 for the same reason. She is probably a wealthier figure and enjoys the social scene. I picture an older lady that is totally southern and the hostess with the mostest. But who knows...

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  21. I was completely stumped, but I've figured it out -- there is a clue, a very good clue...I think. From your description (before the photos), I would have thought for sure the first house was the daughter's and the second the mother's. House #1's living room just seems more up-to-date?? But I was wrong. House #2 is the daughters...I think.
    Kerry

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  22. I am going with house #1 mother & House #2 the daughter. Just a hunch! To me I see some clues in the decor... we will see!
    Leslie

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  23. Well I think house #1 is the daughter's, and if it's not, it should be, and that is all I'm going to say about that.
    I love that you showed us photos taken by professionals, then shows us the same rooms photos taken by HAR. Oh my, it really shows what good equipment, talent, proper lighting and staging can do. The colors and detail are so much better in the pictures taking by the pro.
    Thanks for showing us these two "Grand Dames" of River Oaks, (and I'm talking about the Homes).
    Joy

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  24. Of course I already had to snoop over to HAR and HCAD to figure out the mystery. I guessed completely wrong. But what intrigue there is with that family! One google search on the daughter's husband's name results in quite interesting reading about his previous marriage.

    You and I with our nosy minds and the Internet at our fingertips would get along quite famously!

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  25. My guess is House #1 is the Mother and house #2 is the daughter...They both have beautiful pieces but I tend to lean towards the second more. They are hugeee though and have a lot of stuff! hehe...The poor person who has to dust everything LOL! Those trees in the backyard of house number 2....gosh they are so beautiful!!! Thanks for another wonderful post..can't wait to know who lives where :0)

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  26. House #2 belongs to daughter. I saw this article when it originally ran in AD and after seeing House #1 I cannot believe both mother (E) and daughter (C.) are so much alike in person down to the clothes, jewelry, etc. and yet their homes are soo far apart in my opinion. LOVE the daughters home; not keen on the mom's home.

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  27. I'm guessing house number 2 is the daughter. The only thing that jumped out at me as a signal of youth was the prominent laptop sitting on the cocktail table in the foreground of the library pic. I picture Mom as more of a PC than a Mac...LOL

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  28. Solved with a little help from whitepages.com and mapquest. I wonder why they are both moving??

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  29. All those photos on the baby grand in house number 1.... got to be Meet the Parents.

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  30. Glueless!!!!! Since we are supposed to guess, I will go with Number one being the daughter and Number two being the mother.

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  31. I read all the comments and clues but I stick to my first idea, #1 daughter's and # 2 mother's or so it should be as Joy already said.
    Please please please let us know!I am sure next post on these houses will be loooong and juicy!

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  32. This is a little like the "I Spy" books, isn't it?! So fun!
    Kerry

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  33. Well I would need to downsize too after all seven of my kids grew up and moved out too. That is my guess on the older set. (hehehe!)

    Why the daughter is selling I have no idea.

    Samantha

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  34. I won't wager any guesses.
    What interests me is the contrast between the AD shots and the real estate shots for House # 2.
    Yellow living room far more saturated in ADs photo, an egg yolk yellow as opposed to the cooler lemony hue of the estate agents. In fact their photo displays a yellow that is nearer that of Nancy's famous Yellow Room, at least as it appears today. And of course, the Buatta decorated house is streets ahead of House # 1, no contest whatever.

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  35. I initially assumed the first home was the daughter's and the second home was the mother's but, I think I will be surprised and it will be the other way around.

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  36. I think that #2 belongs to the daughter and #1 to the mother. #2 has some rooms that are more cheery, like you'd want your children to feel. It would be fun to see the rooms side by side to compare. Both felt like resorts, and I'm more into cozy.

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  37. What a outstanding post... the photos as well as the guessing game! I pick #1 for the daughter and #2 for the mom! Of the two, I prefer #2.

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  38. #1 is M. Johnson's #2 is the Lyons

    ???

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  39. I love that house #2! The interior is a bit formal for me -but it's lovely - especially the exteriors! I'm guessing #1 is the daughter and #2 is the parents?

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  40. I am thinking that the first house is the mother's and the second, the daughter's. The first house's kitchen is dated to me and too staid. The second house?
    A Freaking dream come true!!!
    When can I move in?

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  41. What a waste of time.
    This post truly is vulgar.

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  42. hey jerk face from Covington Louisiana - don't come back, ok? just leave me alone, I'd appreciate it.

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  43. My Mother and I are truly disappointed that you would discuss our private real estate dealings.

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  44. I'm with Toby who commented earlier. The differnce in the AD to agent photos is beyond night & day. The intensity of colors, even the warmth of the spaces...it just isn't happening i the latters photos & for that price you'd think they could do better.
    Aa I the only one that thinks the the guest bedroom in House ! is ridiculously large for what it is. When Im a guest I have no desire to do tumbling runs across the room.
    House 1 does have a basketball thing in the backyard so I'm confused...good grandmother or parents????
    Thanks for leaving off a trio of zeros on home 's price. So cheap at $10,800.00

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  45. Hey Joni why do people who obviously think they're better than a story always have an inane need to comment???
    Low self esteem or inflated ego...heck maybe its case of one washing the other???

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  46. I have no idea who these homes belong to I think #1 is the daughter...It has a more youthful contemporary feel. I've seen some of the shots on house #2 but can't remember when or where...I'd say it's the mom's home....Let us know soon... Fay

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  47. I think I'd have told Covington to "bugger off." :)

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  48. well, personally I like the interior of house #1 the best. Cleaner, more youthful yet sophisticated. I want to think the daughter has house #1 but part of me wonders if it's a trick. (smile) Your own questions make me curious! Hope you're doing well,
    -s

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  49. Ok. I've changed my mind. I just went back to the photos. I really only like the guest room, foyer and living room of #1. The office in that one feels familar. Did these people live in a penthouse off Kirby before? BL?? If so, I now think mom has house 1. I really don't like the cold kitchen (and, as they say, the kitchen is the heart. hmmm.) As for 2, I only personally liked a couple of rooms. I tend to go for simple. The beach girl in me.....Ok, enough. I think I'm obessing now...

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  50. Oh, good heavens! This might be one good reason NOT to look at blogs!
    It can be depressing, you know?

    Those grounds are to die for!
    An oval bar and a library in the pool house!! Pardon me, I'm trying to close my gaping mouth!

    Susan
    P.S. "Loverly" blog, Joni!

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  51. I'm a Fort Worth Gal, but my guess is that Mom lives in house #1 and daughter in house #2. After just three clicks of the mouse I was able to see if I was right or wrong. I found their names, addresses and family history - amazing what you can find on the internet.

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  52. By the way - stumbled upon your blog a couple of months ago and absolutly love it! Thanks so much for all the beauty!

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  53. First of all, I heart number two and those oak trees (sigh)

    Secondly, for the person who hearts Mario Buatta, there's a fun youtube clip of him and Charlotte Moss at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEeaNPsVXqE

    And Joni, you totally rock. This really made this Richmond, Virginia gal homesick for Houston!

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  54. Logically it would appear that #1 is the daughter and #2 is the mother but I suspect this is a trick question so I'll just have to wait and see.

    Tricia - Avolli

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  55. I'm going to say #2 is the daughter's and #1 is the Mom's.

    House #2 seems very "done", as in very much a decorator's house rather than an owners house. I can imagine the wife scratching her head over that pool pavilion and finally saying, "whatever". The room just does not feel functional.

    While house #1 has a much newer feel overall I thought the decorating reflected for more of the owners personality and personal possessions.

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  56. I will gladly move into either home... I hope this is a GIVEAWAY... sign me up for it!
    FAB FAB FAB!!!

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  57. a real man LIKES sleeping in a feminine bedroom! I once saw an article by Jim Belushi and it showed his bedroom and it was pale pink (the walls). When the young Angelica Huston was the girlfriend of Jack Nicholson her entire house was pink, inside and out! And he was CRAAAZY about her. Years ago, I was inside the bedroom of the social secretary of the French Embassy in Washington DC - it was feminine to the max! She said a man wants to feel invited in to a woman's boudoir! Read The Frenchwoman's bedroom - a book you will love! AND last but not least, what man does not look wonderful in a pink oxford cloth shirt. I rest my case. And by the way, I think the house with the portrait belongs to the mother but I could be wrong; can't wait to see the answer!

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  58. Ok...I'll give it a try. First house mother, second daughter. Some sort of politician or Boxer (??).

    My super sluething kept looking at that ballroom with the neopolitan ice cream ceiling and the collected art and articles. Seemed collected through MANY years (thus guessing it is the mothers home)

    Give us the story, Lady.

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  59. Mother is house #1, Daughter is house #2... can't wait to find out!

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  60. We almost bought the Staub home in the early Nineties.It could have been had for a little over 1.5 million.(What a return in just 17 years)The entry is actually small - a Staub trademark to put the visitor immediately at ease. The stunning and enormous windows in the living room and dining room are double hung and open completely to the terrace - in lieu of French doors.The basement runs the length of the house with a full height ceiling.Staub used fireproof tiles between all the walls - a novelty at that time. And in the 90's the charming breakfast room off the dining room (the door to the left of the Adam mantle)was done in reclaimed 18th century English oak paneling. Dark - but with a yummy rich patina.I do hope it's been saved. I do know the daughter - and her mother who used to live on the Boulevard. Great posting! Brought back memories! Thank you. (And I did go on to buy an even older home in the neighborhood)

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  61. Fun post. I was a visitor at House #2 just a few weeks ago. It is stunningly well done. Even though I am not a fan of chintz, I have to appreciate the quality of the design, materials, and the execution. My only quibble was that there is soo much furniture, too much, I think. It will take the movers weeks to pack up this place. It is one of Staub's best remaining homes (and the price is a bargain) and the grounds are some of the best in Houston; perfection. Obviously, I know the answer so I won't spoil it for anyone. Thanks again for your great blog.

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  62. Beautiful post!! I just love you! I think #1 is the daughter and #2 is the mom...I can't guess who lives there and I want to know. Are you going to reveal the answer soon? lol

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  63. I say # 1 is daughter"s and #2 is mother's.

    Now either post the ansewer or send me an e-mail.

    Thanks!

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  64. I am sure #1 is the mom's and #2 is the daughter's. But I do see the taste connection between the two. I used to love the whole English house look, but now it just feels like too much to look at in any one room. It's probably just that we are all so busy and on overload that we can't process such busy rooms anymore.

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  65. Hi - Interesting post... I do know that the daughter has bought a larger house in the same area - ??? on why the mother is selling!

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  66. I'm still dying to know...which house was the mother's and which the daughter's. Did you ever reveal it? Have the houses sold?
    Absolutely LOVE your blog!

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  67. hi! the mother's house was #1. I think hers sold but the daughter's didn't last time I checked. it might have by now though. i probably should check into that!!!

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  68. My favorite Buatta quote: "When I give talks, I always ask a man in the audience, “What color is your bedroom, sir?” And he usually has to ask his wife. So if you are a woman and you want a pink bedroom, then you should have a pink bedroom...." Mario Buatta

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  69. House #1 was originally owned by former Houston mayor Bob Lanier and his wife Elyse. House #2 has been extensively redecorated and is on the market asking $8 million.

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