A Residential Resort

complete with private lake
River Oaks, Houston

A large estate with extensive frontage on Houston's Buffalo Bayou, this home had undergone previous transformations, obscuring much of its 1950's modern roots.   Chelsea first worked with the new owners to extensively update and reconfigure the interiors.   Then the real fun began.   The "backyard" featured a remarkable three-level swimming pool, with islands, waterfalls, and live oaks.   But beyond this lovely oasis, the bayou's flood plain offered a tangled landscape with little visual appeal.   To the side, a pair of tennis courts filled the remainder of the open space with concrete and not much else.   Working with landscape architect George Porcher, Chelsea created a private outdoor pleasure retreat, complete with a large party pavilion for entertaining, and a new, man-made lake with fountains and lush landscaping.  Another view of the pavilion appears in the lower right hand corner of a Time magazine article about the client.