A Houston mega-mansion built for a Saudi Arabian prince in the 1980s has hit the market, asking $19 million. The 23,800-square-foot home’s current owner — the son of the former deputy prime minister of Lebanon — has listed the home for a $1 million discount from its original $20 million price tag. If the modern 10-bedroom, 11 ½-bathroom mansion sells, it will be Houston’s most expensive residential sale on the public market in at least five years, according to Redfin data. The home was built in 1986 for Saudi Arabian Prince Abdul Faisal, the son of the late King Faisal, who ruled Saudi Arabia from 1964 to 1975. The prince traveled to Houston for commercial real estate investments and wanted a home for his travels there, the Wall Street Journal first reported. “He [the prince] was meticulous. I didn’t know him, but it is clear he just wanted them to do it right — and the quality was just amazing,” the current owner, Nijad Fares, told The Post. Fares is the son of the former deputy prime minister of Lebanon, Issam Fares. The 12-foot, double-bronze front door opens to a 60-foot polished-marble entry hall with 40-foot ceilings, according to a press release. Above a floating brass staircase hangs a multi-story crystal chandelier, which Fares and his wife bought at an antique shop in London and had reshaped to fit the house, he told The Post. “The chandelier was our first big purchase that my wife and I made when we got married,” said Fares, who said his favorite memory in the house was walking through the front doors when they brought their youngest son home after his birth. The foyer divides the main floor into two sections — the regal, formal side and the comfortable, informal side. The formal side has a palatial sitting room; a formal, 40-seat dining room; an industrial eat-in kitchen; and a 2,000-bottle wine cellar, according to the press release. The regal sitting room has polished marble floors, tray ceilings, gold-colored crown moldings and 18th-century-style furniture, photos show. “We’ve had many people here, including several mayors of Houston. It is always special,” Fares said. The informal side along the foyer has a wood-paneled library, a conference room and an open-concept media room with six built-in televisions and a casual dining area with a large skylight. “There are so many nice, private family areas [even though] we love to do events and social entertaining,” Fares said. The primary bedroom suite has dual sleeping areas, dual bathrooms and dual sitting areas, plus a gym, a sauna and several balconies. Photos show that several of the bedrooms have been decked out in Pinterest-worthy, themed children’s decor. One has a blue-striped ceiling and a landscape mural, while another bedroom’s mural depicts jungle animals driving a small, red truck. Other bedroom suites are often used by guests, Fares said. “All of the en suite bedrooms upstairs allow us to have family over,” he said. “All in all it’s just a perfect place.” Outside, the Buffalo Bayou creates a natural border at the edge of the 3.1-acre lot, which offers covered patios, a playground and a gazebo with a Benihana (hibachi) grill. “I love — love — Benihana. It’s great for entertaining. A chef comes out to cook for us. It is great fun,” Fares said. The estate’s 60-foot swimming pool has a blue-tiled, five-tier waterfall, a hot tub, a diving board and a cabana with recreation and cooking space. “The grounds are so beautiful. There are so many sitting areas outside,” Fares said. The house was first listed for $20 million in November 2018 and was relisted last week, asking $18,995,000. Compass broker Michael Mahlstedt has the listing. Fares told The Post he plans to downsize but will stay in the Houston area. “Of our four children, three have left home. That is one of the big reasons we want to downsize. They are off to school and work. The other boy is 12 years old, so soon enough, he is going to be done. But we love the city,” Fares said.
• 16 Jun, 2021
