This incredible River Oaks home is an important part of Houston’s rich history and was among the many outstanding homes that defined the area’s true elegance in the beginning and still today. The home, impeccably renovated, maintains its timeless charm and is available for sale.

Just as important to describe the many attributes of the home is to offer a brief look at the origins of River Oaks. Houstonian Laura Sakowitz Sweeney, a veteran Realtor with John Daugherty, Realtors, talks about the interesting beginning of River Oaks, which was the time this home was constructed.

In 1924, the Hogg brothers purchased the initial 180-acre residential subdivision adjoining the newly formed River Oaks Country Club. Through careful community planning, creative advertising, and architectural and landscape design, the River Oaks Corp. presented River Oaks not just as a neighborhood, but as a way of life. The developers chose accomplished architects John F. Staub, Birdsall Briscoe and Joseph W. Northrop Jr. to design several speculative homes based on historic American concepts.

By the 1930s, River Oaks realized its potential to become the elite neighborhood of Houston. It was during this time Staub was approached by General Crude Oil Co. President George S. Heyer and his wife Jane to build an expansive estate to house their collection of 18th century English antiques. The result of their vision is this elegant home, which was designed and constructed between 1935 and 1937.

The main house is of Georgian and Regency origin with a cubic composition and exterior ironwork inspired by a home in Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. Within the home, Sweeney said, the fine interior materials used in construction such as the marble and parquet floors in the reception rooms gave the Heyer house a material likeness to Staub’s grand houses previously created on nearby Lazy Lane. In addition, Heyer insisted the home be fireproof. As a result, the floor and roof structures are reinforced with concrete and steel, while the walls are equipped with hollow tile.

Landscape architects C.C. Fleming and Albert E. Sheppard made full use of the depth of the combined corner double lot by installing an allee of oaks to frame the symmetrically composed grounds. The oaks lead to a swimming pool at the southern end of the property. The result of careful planning and effortless execution create a sense of wealth and power.

Although the main house has been renovated in recent years, the estate still retains its original charm and elegance. The interiors have been updated by Mario Buatta of New York City. The hand-painted murals and finishes adorning its interior walls were created by Robert Jackson. The plans for the house and gardens have been submitted as part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. as examples of excellent design.

On approximately 1.2 acres, the home includes a total of 7,968 square feet, five bedrooms, six full baths and three half-baths. Other highlights include a wine cellar, guest rooms with en-suite baths, a play room, a mahogany library, a gourmet kitchen and garden room.