Braeswood Place, Houston, Texas
Bellefontaine St, Braeswood Place, Houston, Texas
A house on Bellefontaine Street in the Houston suburb of Braeswood Place is screened by tall saw palmetto trees that enhance its Mediterranean architecture. The enhancements continue inside the house.
The main entrance to the house is through a dark Juliette single, full arch door with the upper three-quarters consisting of a crackled glass window with intricate wrought iron scrollwork. The door opens to an impressive foyer with a vaulted ceiling, light tan marble tile flooring, and white walls. Lighting is recessed. A graceful, curved staircase with white painted risers and polished wood treads leads to the upper floor of the house. The staircase features custom made wrought iron railings, balusters and safety gate with ornate scrollwork. Above the staircase is a circular tray ceiling painted gold with white trim, giving the illusion, when looking up from the foyer, of the interior of a dome. A twenty-light bronze chandelier with frosted glass shades and hanging crystals is suspended from the center of the ceiling. A large arched niche to the left of the staircase has recessed lighting installed to highlight the decorative item displayed there. The open floorplan allows for a seamless flow from the foyer to the adjoining rooms.
On the left side of the foyer, a wide cased doorway opens to the home office. The walls are white with white baseboards, the floor is light tan marble tile, and the ceiling is white with white crown molding, recessed lighting, and an ornate, gold painted ceiling medallion in the center. A gold, single ring chandelier encircled with crystals is suspended from the center of the medallion. Natural light enters the room through a double French door with a fixed, arched transom window above it. The doors open to the front lawn. The natural materials, natural light, arched window, neutral color palette and connection to the outdoors make this room compatible with many interior design styles.
Next to the office, an intricately scrolled iron gate provides entry to a dry bar. The floor is light tan marble tile and the walls are white. The countertop on the bar is light brown granite. Below the bar, a beverage refrigerator and an ice maker are installed. A roomy wine rack is mounted above the bar.
Next to the dry bar, a white painted door hides a half-bathroom with tan marble tile floor, white walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling. A small black vanity has a white marble countertop with a square, undermount sink. The faucet is matte black metal. A small square window high on the wall allows natural light into the room. An interior designer will add layers of textiles, plants and artwork to adapt the room to one of many design styles that work with the room's elements.
The foyer flows into the living room, which has a tan marble floor, white walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling with white crown molding. The lighting is recessed. One side of the room contains a breakfast counter set into a wide, arched pass-through window that separates the living room from the kitchen. The countertop is light brown granite, and there is enough room for three tall stools. The focal point of the living room is the fireplace with its cream-colored cast stone surround, hearth, mantel and overmantel. The surround features ornately scrolled stone corbels. The overmantel reaches the ceiling in a graceful arch. The hearth is slightly raised. The firebox is modern with a realistic looking gas log. The wall next to the fireplace features tall windows and a French door opening to a covered patio. An interior designer has a lot to work with in this room, as the natural materials, neutral palette, abundant natural light and connection to the outdoors make it compatible with a multitude of design styles.
The living room flows smoothly into the breakfast nook with tan marble tile flooring, white walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling with recessed lighting. This space is surrounded by a five-window bow window and has room for a small dinette set with seating for four. The view from the bow window includes both the covered patio and the backyard swimming pool. A silver, single ring chandelier encircled by crystals, like the chandelier in the home office, is suspended over the center of the room. A small hallway off the breakfast nook provides access to the back door, as well as the door to the garage.
The breakfast nook flows into the kitchen, a large room with tan marble tile floor, white walls, and a white ceiling with white crown molding and recessed lighting. The cabinetry is dark-stained wood with raised pane doors, decorative molding and under cabinet lighting. Countertops are light brown marble; the backsplash is cream colored brick. A white framed, mullioned window above the sink overlooks the side yard and allows natural light into the room. An island in the center of the kitchen has wood cupboards and a marble countertop matching the rest of the kitchen. One side of the island has a seating area with room for two tall stools under the counter. An oval, silver ring chandelier encircled with crystals is suspended over the kitchen island. Appliances are stainless steel and include a refrigerator, a dishwasher, two stacked wall mounted ovens, a built-in microwave, and a gas cooktop installed on the island countertop. The sink is stainless steel, double basin, undermount and the faucet is high arc, stainless steel with a pull-down sprayer. A small pantry is accessible directly from the kitchen. A small hallway connecting the kitchen to the dining room also allows access to a large pantry.
The dining room has tan marble flooring, white walls with white baseboards, and a white tray ceiling with recessed lights installed in the corners and an ornate ceiling medallion with gilded raised sections in the center. A gold, oval ring chandelier encircled by crystals is suspended from the center of the medallion. A large, arched window overlooks the front lawn and floods the room with natural light. The room is large enough to hold a dining table with seating for at least eight.
The second floor of the house contains the primary suite, three secondary bedrooms, and a laundry room. A loft area is located at the top of the curved staircase. It has three arched windows covered with plantation shutters overlooking the front lawn. A built-in desk sits in a corner near the windows, hidden behind a small, curved wall. The desktop is light brown marble over a white cabinet containing drawers and cupboards. White open shelves are mounted above the desk. An interior designer might turn the loft space into a seating area, a homework area, or a library.
The upstairs rooms circle around the staircase. Directly off the loft is secondary bedroom #1, which has white walls with white baseboards, a white ceiling with white crown molding, and plush carpeting in a neutral shade. The lighting is recessed, augmented by a ceiling fan/light fixture combination. One wall of the room is taken up with three sets of double doors. Two sets of doors are white painted wood and open to closets. These closet doors flank double French doors with plantation shutters that open to a private covered balcony with a graceful iron railing. The balcony is partially shielded by two of the four palmetto trees in front of the house. An interior designer will probably choose a design style that highlights the French doors and balcony railing. This bedroom shares a bathroom with secondary bedroom #2.
Both bedrooms connect directly to the part of the bathroom that contains the vanity. This room has large, white marble tile flooring, white walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling with white crown molding. The vanity is a long, white painted wood cabinet with many drawers and cupboards. The countertop is thick, white marble with brown veining. Dual rectangular, undermount sinks have stainless steel faucets and handles. A large, rectangular mirror mounted horizontally fills the wall behind the vanity. Identical black metal, three-light vanity lights with frosted glass, fluted shades are mounted to the mirror above each sink. A door located in the wall opposite the vanity leads to the inner bathroom containing the toilet and shower. The floor in this room is large, with white marble tile which also covers the bottom half of the walls. The upper half of the walls are white. The ceiling is white with recessed lighting installed. Floor-to-ceiling, white painted storage cupboards are built into the wall immediately to the left of the door. The toilet is in the corner next to the storage cupboards. Across from the storage cupboards, clear glass doors enclose a white marble walk-in shower featuring a built-in marble bench, and Calcutta gold, hexagonal, marble tiles covering the shower floor and ceiling. A small window with plantation shutters is placed high on the wall between the toilet and the shower and overlooks the side yard. The natural materials and neutral color palette in this shared bathroom make it compatible with many interior design styles with the addition of layered textiles, plants, and artwork.
The door from the bathroom to secondary bedroom #2 is directly opposite the door from the other connecting bedroom. The main entrance is through a door off the upstairs hall. This room has white walls with white baseboards, a white ceiling with white crown molding, and plush designer carpeting in a neutral beige shade. Two windows on one wall are covered with plantation shutters and overlook the side yard of the house. There is a walk-in closet directly opposite the door to the shared bathroom. Lighting is supplied by a light fixture attached to a ceiling fan, as well as recessed lights in the ceiling. An interior designer may choose to emphasize the cozy comfort of this bedroom.
The laundry room is located off the hallway just outside the main entrance to secondary bedroom #2. It features cream-colored stone flooring, white walls, and a white ceiling. White cabinetry, both upper and lower, encircles the room, with space left under upper cabinets to install an elevated washing machine and clothes dryer. The lower cabinet along one wall is topped with a black granite countertop and backsplash. A stainless steel, drop-in sink is installed in one end of the countertop along with a stainless steel, spring spout faucet.
Exiting the laundry room and following the hallway as it circles to the left around the staircase leads to secondary bedroom #3. Slightly larger than the other secondary bedrooms, this room features white walls with white baseboards, a white ceiling with white crown molding, and the same plush, designer carpeting in neutral beige as the other two bedrooms. Two large windows on one wall are covered with plantation shutters and overlook the side yard of the house. Lighting is recessed with the addition of a ceiling fan/light fixture combination.
The ensuite bathroom features white walls with white baseboards, a white ceiling with white crown molding, and light brown marble tile flooring. The vanity is white with a light brown marble countertop and backsplash, an oval undermount sink, and gold-toned faucet and handles. A white floor-to-ceiling cupboard is built into the wall at one end of the vanity. All cupboard and drawer pulls are black metal. The bathtub/shower combination has light brown marble tile walls with a decorative design in black mosaic tile. The ceiling is black mosaic tile, and the faucet and associated hardware is black metal. The handheld showerhead is black metal. The clear glass sliding door has a black metal handle. An interior designer would probably choose a design style for this room that enhances the warmth exuded by the brown shade of the marble tile and countertop. At the far end of the bathroom, a door opens to a walk-in closet.
The area just outside secondary bedroom #3 holds two closets. Turning left out of the bedroom and left again at the main hallway leads to the primary suite. The master bedroom is large, light, and airy. The walls are white with white baseboards, and the floor is covered with plush, designer carpet in a neutral beige shade. The tray ceiling is white with recessed lights and wireless speakers installed. An eight-light brass chandelier with frosted glass shades and hanging crystals is suspended from the center of the ceiling. One wall has two large windows flanking a set of double French doors that open to a long balcony overlooking the backyard swimming pool. White, wooden double doors open to a dressing area with a small closet and a walk-in closet. On the other side of this dressing area is the entrance to the ensuite bathroom.
The floor of this room is covered with large cream-colored marble tiles framed by strips of cream-colored mosaic tile. The walls are white with white baseboards, and the ceiling is white with white crown molding. Recessed lighting is installed in the ceiling. There are two vanities flanking a corner whirlpool bathtub. Both vanities are white with ornate bronze, square cupboard and drawer pulls, pale tan marble countertops and backsplashes, oval undermount sinks, and dark bronze faucets and handles. One vanity is smaller than the other. It has an unframed beveled mirror mounted above it and a three-light bronze vanity light with frosted glass shades attached to the mirror. The other vanity includes a seating space on one end. The frameless, beveled mirror above this vanity is larger and has two vanity lights (identical to the one over the smaller vanity) attached. The whirlpool tub is nestled in a corner with windows above it on both walls. One window overlooks the balcony, and the other overlooks the backyard and swimming pool. The bathtub is built-in with a white painted wood surround with frame molding, matching the vanity cupboards, topped by a tan marble ledge. The bathtub backsplash is white marble tile. The faucet and handles are dark bronze. A walk-in shower across from the smaller vanity has white marble walls with mosaic tile decorative embellishment, and a marble built-in bench. You can see a fixed shower head and a handheld shower head, both dark bronze, with separate dark bronze handles and a dark bronze safety bar. The door and half-walls are clear glass with black framing and a black door handle. The natural materials, neutral color palette and natural light in this bathroom make it compatible with many interior design styles that value these features.
At the far end of the bathroom, a door opens to a spacious walk-in closet. Both walk-in closets in the primary suite contain multiple hanger rods at varying heights, built-in drawers, shelving and cubbies. Both are carpeted with plush, designer carpeting in a neutral beige shade. One of the closets has a full-length mirror and a safe.
This home on Bellefontaine Street in the Houston suburb of Braeswood Place is warm and welcoming, with light-filled rooms, elegant details, and connections to the outdoors.
Nestled within the outstretched arms of Houston’s 610 loop lies the Super Neighborhood of Braeswood Place containing the subdivisions of Ayrshire, Braes Heights, Braes Manor, Braes Oaks, Braes Terrace, Emerald Forest and Southern Oaks. Developed after World War II, the subdivisions were united under a neighborhood association chartered in 1951.
In 1988, a Braeswood Place resident was murdered in her home by a group of robbers from nearby Link Valley, a crime-riddled area filled with drug dealers and prostitution. This led to the Braeswood community banding together to pressure local government to clean up Link Valley which was accomplished in 1989. In the 1990s, a group of residents initiated the purchase of the dilapidated buildings in Link Valley and formed the Stella Link Redevelopment Association. The old buildings were torn down and the Stella Link Park community service corridor was created. Contained within the corridor are a community center, a public park, a public library, a YMCA and a senior citizens facility.
Braeswood residents continue to foster a sense of community with the formation of neighborhood groups that appeal to various interests. There is a Home and Garden Club, a Book Club, a Wellness Club, a Mom’s Club, a community garden and several scout troops.
The McGovern-Stella Link Branch of the The Houston Public Library system is conveniently located on Stella Link Road and serves the Braeswood Place community. Aside from lending books, the library offers a variety of classes and hosts events for all ages.
Houston Independent School District serves the subdivisions of Braeswood Park. Elementary school students north of Brays Bayou are zoned to Twain Elementary School while those south of the bayou are zoned to Longfellow Elementary School. All middle school students are zoned to Pershing Middle School but may apply to Pin Oak Middle School. High School students who reside east of Stella Link are zoned to Lamar High School. Those who live west of Stella Link or south of Brays Bayou are zoned to Bellaire High School. Students in K-8 who are interested in STEM curriculum and/or Spanish language classes may enroll in The Rice School which specializes in those subjects.
Braeswood Place enjoys easy access to shopping. Braes Heights Shopping Center offers shops for everyday purchases: a pharmacy, grocery store, pet supply store and jewelry store, as well as services such as a gym, salon and barbershop. There are also restaurants featuring, Chinese food, Mexican food, sandwiches and sushi.
Vanderbilt Square also offers shops and services for everyday needs, including a clinic, grocery store, bookstore and dog bakery, as well as restaurants.
Three parks are located within Braeswood. Karl Young Park is a small neighborhood park with a pavilion that can be rented, a large children’s playground, tennis courts, and walking/running track among other amenities. Helen’s Park offers quiet paths and serene landscaping to encourage thoughtful reflection. John P. McGovern Campus Park provides a large, new playground for children, expanded bathrooms, shade trees for daytime play and ample lighting for evening events.