Houston Symphony League Bay Area

16th Annual Home Tour

A Day by the Bay

Click Here to Order Tickets On-Line

April 1-2, 2017 (Noon - 5:00 PM)

Tour of five homes in the Clear Lake Area

 

The Houston Symphony League Bay Area’s 16th Annual Day by the Bay Home Tour is Saturday and Sunday, April 1-2, from noon - 5 pm both days. Tickets are $20 online or at the doors of the homes or at the following merchants:

  Adelaide's (14870 Space Center Blvd, Houston)
  Annette’s Emporium (501 E. Main St., League City)
  Arlan's (4614 NASA Rd. 1, Seabrook)
  Butler Longhorn Museum  (1220 Coryell Street, League City)
  Casanova's Downfall (4630 NASA Pkwy, Seabrook)
  Clothes Horse Boutique (809 E. Main Street, League City)
  Craved Creations (812 E. Main Street, League City)
  League City Chamber of Commerce (319 E. Galveston Street, Ste. B, League City)
  Nassau Postal (957 E. NASA Pkwy, Houston)
  Upper Bay Frame and Gallery (2450 E. Main Street, League City)
  Vintage Revival (18073 Upper Bay Road, Ste. B, Nassau Bay)
 

A pre-tour party will be held on Friday, March 31 with tickets at $75/person— each ticket includes the pre-tour party and all the homes. There are five homes on the tour.

The Houston Symphony League Bay Area’s Home Tour offers diversity in style, era of design, and décor from a home that was built of wood salvaged from the 1900 hurricane to one that has 10,000 sq. ft. facing Galveston Bay. The tour includes a home in Bay Oaks, in Seabrook facing the water, Kemah on the water, and two properties in the Historic District of League City, including the Butler Longhorn Museum.


 

Pre-tour Party Home (2011 Sea Cove Court, Nassau Bay)

A pre-tour party will kick-off the home tour on Friday, March 31 (6:30 pm-8:30 pm).  Tickets are $75 per person, which includes the tour. 

The story of this home is the story of Nassau Bay – perseverance and vision in the rebuilding after Hurricane Ike in 2008. This home, which the current owners have occupied since 1988, was built in 1965. Thirty-six inches of water destroyed the first floor in Hurricane Ike. Through a partial FEMA grant, this house has been raised ten feet, as have more than thirty homes in Nassau Bay. Originally brick in structure on the outside, the owners decided to stucco over the brick and paint the house a uniform color. An elevator in the rear of the home helps visitors who can’t negotiate the stately stairs to the new front door.

The interior of this home provides the perfect setting for the HSLBA Pre-tour Party. The white, cream and chocolate palate throughout the house complements the sleek and inviting contemporary style. With beautiful Nassau Bay accessible via a canal in the back yard, the owner’s love of seashells and seashell motifs is a perfect unifying theme for this lovely home.


 

Tour Homes

(Click on Address to see map, click on picture to enlarge photograph)

 

#1 Bay Oaks (14823 Tumbling Falls Court, Houston): This stately Georgian/colonial home in Bay Oaks has been totally updated inside and out. The brand new gray stone walkway coordinates beautifully with the slate gray shutters against white painted brick.

This home was built in 1989 and is a beautiful showcase for the homeowner’s art collection which numbers 67 works. Highlights include several paintings from travel to Guatemala, original oil paintings by San Antonio artists and a 19th century drawing of the Brooklyn Bridge. With light pouring in from the many windows, the art is showcased all over the home. Treasured family antiques combine effortlessly with modern pieces. The master bathroom is a “must see” with its whimsical nod to Hollywood Regency style.

Homeowner's father's immigration entry papers to Ellis Island will be on display.  One of the homeowners is an artist and her artistic eye is seen in the color palate of the entire house. Each room is unique, yet all flow together seamlessly and invite comfort. The Home Tour is delighted to be in Bay Oaks this year.

#2 Seabrook (2909 Seargent, Seabrook): Lush oleander and tropical landscaping line the driveway of this house. Spectacular views of Clear Lake abound from every floor of this 3 story home built in 1984 by its current owner. The views of nature complement beautifully chosen art pieces inside the house, chosen from the owners’ travels and in support of local artists. The owner custom faux finished each room of the house with a special touch and added custom furniture pieces to enhance the space for the style of each room. Originally the style of the home was contemporary with redwood siding and flat roof. After travel to Italy and falling in love with more of the Tuscan feel, the owners completely renovated the exterior in 2003 to reflect more of this Tuscan feeling.

The art collection is well chosen and fits the elegant yet whimsical theme of this house. Besides the beautiful faux finishes on the walls, a bronze statue from Florence, Italy, beautiful oriental carpets, a bronze eagle, a bronze tall ship, and a horse painted by a grandson are treasured pieces.

The well-chosen design, with two offices on the ground floor, a family room and a poker room, the mezzanine with custom bar overlooking Clear Lake, the main floor with a beautiful master bedroom and dining room ready for large family gatherings, and the third floor with a 2 bedroom guest suite is practical, elegant and invites the beautiful outdoors in. Each level has an entrance to the ever-inviting outdoors, where the extended family spends a lot of their time together. You will not want to miss seeing this home for ideas for your own.

#3 Kemah (1225 Kipp Ave, Kemah): This beautiful home with Galveston Bay in the backyard is reminiscent of New England with its East Coast style inside and out. White cedar shingles were shipped from Nantucket for the exterior of the home and then painted taupe for an elegant style. The architect and interior designer owners designed and custom built this home in 2001 as their weekend home. It was designed to be a fun family gathering place. This home was featured in Southern Living magazines in 2006 and 2007 and has received awards from ASID and the Greater Houston Builder’s Association.

After Hurricane Ike, the homeowners decided to make this their permanent home and have since made two additions to the home. The main floor combines the elegance of a traditional English country home with nautical features. The upstairs has balconies and views of Galveston Bay and the Kemah Boardwalk.
 
The extensive back porch is inviting with rockers for relaxing and enjoying the pool and the gorgeous view. Wooden lobster traps and buoys from Maine are used as outdoor features. Adirondack chairs are placed by the waterfront for viewing sailboats on the Bay.

The couple’s golf cart is a fun way they enjoy the charming coastal City of Kemah which has just under 2,000 residents but 4 million visitors a year.

 
 

#4 League City Historic District (721 3rd St, League City): This charming 1905 Victorian home is a true labor of love! When the owners heard that the home of the wife’s great grandfather was going to be demolished, they undertook the herculean task of moving this home to the current location. Although the move was only a few blocks, League City’s beautiful trees caused the route to the new location to be quite long and the second floor had to be removed and reattached.

The home was built with wood reclaimed from at least 20 different houses destroyed in the 1900 Galveston Hurricane. The wood arrived by water from Galveston all the way up to League City. The floors are original and are of heart pine, a wood that is now extinct. The end wall of the kitchen is completely original—same “paint” color. Stairs were dangerous and people often fell, so they were reconfigured for safety. Modern function and comfort are beautifully married with original Victorian structure.

#5 League City (1220 Coryell St, League City): The Butler Longhorn Museum highlights the story of Texas Longhorn Cattle and has western art and artifacts. The previous home of Walter Hall, it was bought by the city of League City and opened to the public in 2009.

In the early 20th century, Texas Longhorns were on the verge of extinction. In the 1920s, buffalo outnumbered Longhorns. Through the efforts of Milby Butler, for whom the museum is named, and 5 other breeders the breed was saved and is thriving today. Butler Longhorns are the most prevalent breed currently. The museum tells this story and shows the history of League City which developed around the Butler Ranch and Cattle Station. The ranch dates to the antebellum period and had 55,000 acres stretching into Galveston and Friendswood. It is rumored that John Wayne didn’t know how to ride a horse, and that Milby Butler taught him how when the Butler Longhorns were used in the making of the film “The Alamo”.

The Home Tour is honored to be partnering with the Butler Museum and Home Tour participants will have free admission to the museum during the tour. Family, friends and donations support this testament to the people who molded and developed the economy of our area.