Saturday shelterporn

Something has always drawn Houstonist to the neighborhood just northwest of the Contemporary Arts Museum. Perhaps it's the quietness of the neighborhood, its proximity to the Museum District, the charming homes that line its streets — or maybe it's simply the fact that we will never ever be able to afford to live there. Whatever the case may be, we were excited to find this 1923 William Ward Watkin-designed house for sale in that area — if we only had an extra $3 million lying around, we'd so be living there.

Outside, the house is nice enough; despite the Realtor's description, though, it seems more Italian-inspired to us. But whatever: The interior, skillfully renovated to give the place a modern look while retaining historic elements, is the star of the show here. Downstairs, hardwood floors, dark woodwork and lots of windows provide a warm feel that offsets the stark white walls — the perfect setting for a combination of mod and traditional furniture. The living room/den, divided by a modern black wall, leads to a loggia that overlooks the lawn; there's also an expansive gourmet kitchen with a shocking lack of stainless steel appliances. It would seem people actually can live in a kitchen where everything isn't shiny. Upstairs are the bedrooms, including what appears to be an enormous master complete with cathedral ceiling, super-modern fireplace and private terrace. A wall of windows in the media room overlooks the house's courtyard, and to round things out there's a vanishing-edge pool with a granite wall by Jesús Moroles. Not bad.

We dig this house because it is fancy, of course — but more than that, we like it because of its warmth and the way it mixes contemporary and traditional influences. Overall, it just seems to be a very livable place, and to us, that seems like the best praise a house can receive. Bedrooms: four or five. Bathrooms: four full and two half. Square feet: 5,553. Price: $3 million.