The driveway entrance to 3 Longbow Lane makes one wonder if they are about to drive into the woods or to a house. The mansion is hidden behind trees and a limestone wall, providing privacy and seclusion.
The Liedtke family built the home in 1967 in a Colonial Mexican Modern architectural style, a “fusion of Spanish, Mexican, and mid-century architecture,” according to listing agent Ruthie Newberry Porterfield. The home’s entrance is breathtaking, with a double-height antique carved wood front door hinting at the wonders hidden behind it. The other side of the door is adorne with carved lead and copper plate panels.
God is in the details, and nowhere is this more apparent than in this Houston home. On doors and cabinets, vintage brass olive knuckle hinges shine. The mesquite flooring in the study reclaims from a Mexican church. Beams and a chevron-laid ceiling grace the dining room. Which also has mesquite-pegged plank floors. These are just a few ideas that went into designing this home.
The home, listed for $7,900,000, has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms spread across 7,732 square feet. In a city where fireplaces aren’t often require. This home not only has multiple fireplaces. But each one is a work of art in its own right. The whitewashed brick fireplace in the family room is the pièce de résistance. The fireplace stretches to the shed ceiling and is inspire by an old silver mine smokestack in Mexico. A wrought iron staircase wraps around the fireplace, emphasizing its circular shape and providing access to the second-floor gallery.
When wandering around this house, one should always look up. Most of the ceilings given special attention, especially in the pool house. Where bóveda ceilings hover. The vault brick ceilings are built by bóvederas from Mexico. Artisans who know how to make a brick ceiling without any support. The pool house enters through a wall of sliding glass doors, where the main room greets visitors with seating, dining areas, and a bar. Each side has two changing rooms, each with its bóveda and full bathroom.
The two circular pools outside add to the uniqueness of this home. One is shallow, while the other is deep, and an underwater tunnel connects them. When the novelty of swimming wears off, it’s easy to forget you’re in the heart of Houston, between Memorial Drive and the banks of Buffalo Bayou, as you wander the 3.32 acres surrounding the house. If you’re lucky, you’ll come across the hidden sculpture garden with life-size stone figures.
