Moonlight Drive, Brays Oaks, Houston, Texas

A house on Moonlight Drive in the Houston neighborhood of Brays Oaks is a Southern/Modern Ranch hybrid. Access to the main entrance is up five or six steps to a covered front porch, then through double doors with large windows covered by Roman shades that can be lowered when the Houston sun is too strong.

The foyer is a light and airy expanse that features blonde wood flooring with white baseboards, white walls with white crown molding, and a white tray ceiling with recessed lighting and a four-light hanging pendant light in a lantern style with gold toned open metalwork. An interior designer might suggest a console table or bench against one wall with a large painting or mirror above it. A cased doorway divides the foyer from a hallway with ornate double doors on each side. One of these doorways opens to a half-bathroom with blonde hardwood flooring, white wainscoting with white baseboards and white cap molding, and upper walls covered with powder blue wallpaper with a white, lacy-looking floral pattern. White crown molding gives an elegant finish to the walls. A gold-toned pendant light with ornately curved open metalwork and four candle-style lights is suspended from the ceiling. A small, white, commode-style vanity has a white marble countertop and backsplash, and an oval undermount sink, with brushed nickel faucet and handles.  A Moorish arched mirror with wide beveled edges hangs above the vanity. An interior designer will probably choose to keep the bathroom uncluttered with a rug that enhances the colors and pattern on the wallpaper and a small plant or vase of flowers on the vanity.

Another cased doorway at the end of the hall leads to the living room of an open floorplan area. The living room has blonde hardwood flooring, white walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling with white crown molding. Lighting is recessed. A five-blade ceiling fan with ornate gold metal motor casing is mounted over the living area. The back wall of the living area has two sets of wood and glass double doors, with Roman shades, that open to the covered back patio. Hardwood flooring, neutral palette, and connection to the outdoors make this room compatible with many interior design styles.

The living room flows seamlessly to the dining room. This is a long, narrow area between the living room and the kitchen, with blonde hardwood flooring, white walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling with white crown molding. The back wall of the space is taken up with wood and glass double doors that open to the covered back patio. There is ample space for a dining table and 6-8 chairs in the middle of the space, and room for a small hutch or cabinet against the front wall.

The dining room flows unimpeded into the kitchen. This room has blonde hardwood flooring, white walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling with white crown molding and recessed lighting. The backsplash is white painted brick. Wall-to-wall cabinetry is wood painted slate blue, with stainless steel cupboard handles and drawer pulls. The cabinets form an L-shape with a turn to the front wall of the room. A refrigerator cabinet against the front wall is painted slate blue. Countertops are white marble. A stainless steel, six-burner gas range is installed in the middle of the cabinet. The backsplash behind the stove features bright mosaic tile artwork depicting a bowl of fruit. The shorter back wall has white cabinetry with stainless steel cupboard handles and drawer pulls. The countertop and backsplash are white marble. A stainless-steel dishwasher and a white undermount, single basin farmhouse sink with built-in drainboard are installed in this section of cabinetry. The sink faucet is a thick, stainless steel, high arc model with a pull-down sprayer. A large window above the sink overlooks the covered back patio. There is a work island separating the kitchen from the dining room. It's white wood with stainless steel cupboard handles and drawer pulls, a built-in microwave niche, and a white marble countertop. The countertop overhangs on the dining room side of the island to form a breakfast counter with room for three tall stools. Two silver toned metal pendant lights are suspended over the island. They are an open lantern design with six candlestick lights. An interior designer can choose from modern, elegant, or rustic design styles to customize the kitchen to the owner's preference.

A dry bar is in a small hallway just off the kitchen. The walls in the hallway are white with white baseboards. The ceiling is white, and the floor is blonde hardwood. The upper cabinetry is white and consists of three cupboards with stainless steel door pulls. Bright under cabinet lighting add a layer of task lighting, making it easier to mix and pour drinks. The lower cabinetry is white and consists of a wire rack, a drawer with a silver handle above a cupboard with silver door pulls, and a stainless-steel beverage refrigerator. The countertop is white marble, and the backsplash is textured, stacked-stone tiles.

A doorway on the other side of the dry bar provides access to the laundry room. This is a bright, roomy space with blue and white ceramic tile flooring in a fleur-de-lis inspired encaustic pattern. The walls and ceiling are very pale slate color with white crown molding. Recessed lights are set into the ceiling. A large window overlooking the front lawn is framed with white crown molding and covered with gray Roman shade. Wall-to-wall white, Shaker style cabinetry is built into one wall. The upper cupboards have stainless steel door pulls and bright under cabinet lighting. The base cabinets have stainless steel drawer handles and door pulls. The countertop is white quartz. A rectangular undermount sink and stainless steel, high arc, spring spout faucet with pull-down sprayer are installed in the center of the countertop. The backsplash is gray and white textured, stacked stone tile. A stainless-steel refrigerator fits into the corner near the window. The full-size washer and gas dryer are located beneath a window covered with a gray Roman shade and overlooking the driveway, on the wall across from the sink. The washer and dryer are nestled between white, Shaker style base cabinets with stainless steel cupboard door pulls, and white quartz countertops. Upper cupboards are white, Shaker style with stainless steel door pulls and under cabinet lighting. The backsplash is gray and white textured, stacked stone tile. An interior designer might add a bit of warmth to the room with a planter under the front window and some well-placed, whimsical art.

The primary suite is located off the living room. The master bedroom features blonde hardwood flooring, pale brown walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling with white crown molding. A ceiling fan is mounted over the middle of the room. Two windows on one wall provide a view of the large backyard. A white painted wood and glass door on another wall allows access to the covered patio. The lighting is recessed.

A door leads from the master bedroom to the ensuite bathroom. This room has cream-colored walls with white baseboards, a cream-colored ceiling with white crown molding, and cream-colored tile with a repeating floral pattern in light brown and slate blue. One corner of the room holds a vanity painted the same color as the walls. It has a cream-colored marble countertop with light brown veining, and a rectangular undermount sink. The cabinet contains several drawers and an under-sink cupboard with stainless steel hardware. The backsplash is mosaic tile in shades of cream and brown. A gold-framed, shaped rectangular mirror with curves on the corners is mounted horizontally above the vanity. A five-light linear vanity light is installed above the mirror. A window with a light brown Roman shade is next to the vanity. The toilet is located beneath the window. The bathroom has another vanity with a solid countertop (no sink) of cream-colored marble with brown veining. This vanity sits in front of the large walk-in shower which has large, cream-colored tile walls with some of the floral patterned, cream, slate, and brown floor tiles mounted on the wall as a decorative motif. Cream-colored mosaic tiles make up the shower floor. The shower features recessed lighting, both fixed and handheld, stainless steel shower heads, and stainless-steel safety bars. The shower is enclosed with clear glass. An interior designer will probably choose a design style that enhances the Mediterranean influences in the bathroom.

The door leads from the bathroom to the large walk-in closet. The flooring in the closet is the same cream-colored tile with brown and slate floral design in a repeating pattern. The walls and ceiling are white, and the lighting is recessed. A white, double-sided dresser is built into the center of the closet. Hanger rods with shelves above them are installed at varying heights on all walls.

There are two secondary bedrooms. Secondary bedroom #1 has blonde hardwood flooring, white walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling with white crown molding. A window on one wall allows natural light into the room. Secondary bedroom #2 has blonde hardwood flooring, white walls with white baseboards, and a white ceiling with white crown molding. A silver or chrome, six arm, drum chandelier with hanging crystals is mounted in the center of the ceiling. A window with a blue Roman shade overlooks the front lawn. The two bedrooms are connected by a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, with matching, private dressing areas opening to opposite sides of the bathroom, which holds the bathtub/shower and toilet. The dressing areas have white, hexagonal tile flooring, white ceilings, and walls painted with wide, white and slate blue stripes. The vanity cabinet is white with stainless steel hardware, and a white marble countertop with slate colored veining. The sink is undermounted, oval, with a stainless-steel faucet and handles. A white-framed, shaped rectangular mirror with curved corners is hung vertically above the sink. A modern white pendant light is suspended above the mirror.

This house on Moonlight Drive in the Houston neighborhood of Brays Oaks has a unique layout with flexible spaces, and multiple points of connection to the outdoors. With the help of an interior designer, this house can be customized to the needs of the owner.