There are closets, and then there are closets. If this three-story, 3,000-square-foot space looks familiar, it's because you've seen it featured in major media outlets, from " Good Morning America" to right here on realtor.com.
And now, if your own storage options are currently lacking, you can score this amazing closet -- along with the glamorous, 17,315-square-foot mansion attached to it. It's a relative bargain if you're ready to bid. The home is headed to the auction block on July 30, with a reserve (starting price) of only $5 million. While the home has bounced on and off the market since 2014, when it was listed for nearly $13 million, the closet alone might be worth the reserve price.
"We've decided to downsize our home, but that doesn't necessarily mean the closet," says owner Theresa Roemer, explaining why she and her husband, Lamar, are moving out of their dream home. "Since it's just the two of us here, and we've had several years of entertaining and throwing fundraisers, we decided it was finally time to get serious about selling. We only use the first floor and the closet anyway," she says.
They aren't exactly sure of the vision for their next home, but one thing is certain: The closet they build will be equally spectacular. "I will never not have a big closet. It's just who I am," says Roemer, an entrepreneur who has owned fitness centers, created a line of fitness wear, and even won a national body building title at the age of 40.
"I need a massive closet to contain over 30 years of collections," Roemer adds. Her closet is packed with vintage purses, jewelry from her travels, and her most prized pieces -- her first Louis Vuitton handbag and her first signed pair of Christian Louboutin heels, which are on museum-level display.
While we're enamored with her closet and its contents, we wondered if there was a male equivalent somewhere in the house for her husband, an accomplished geologist in the oil and gas industry.
"That would be his geode collection, which is on display throughout the house," says Roemer, noting that a 14-foot amethyst is the crown jewel of the collection.
However, it's the closet that gleams brightest. Roemer has actually held fundraisers in the space, which features a floating staircase, retail display lighting, state-of-the-art sound system, vanity station, and custom Champagne bar.
"All the women who come over gravitate to the closet anyway. They grab a glass of Champagne, and up they go. It's where they all want to be when they come over," she says.
The rest of the residence is guest-friendly as well. Located in an elite enclave bordering a golf course near Houston, it has nine bedrooms, 10 bathrooms, and three half-baths.
Some of the home's opulent features include a Swarovski crystal chandelier in the two-story foyer, wine lounge, home theater, sleek chef's kitchen, as well as a catering kitchen with commercial-grade appliances.
Outside, you'll find stone waterfalls, fire pits, an entertainment lounge with wet bar and summer kitchen, and a lavish cabana.
So why would the owners take a chance on letting all this luxury go at auction for $5 million? "I'm a licensed Realtor, and I know the game," says Roemer. "We tried to sell it the traditional way, but the luxury market is going toward auctions. They're very big in the U.S. right now, but they've been popular in Europe for centuries. I know that once the bidders get here and see the place, there will be a bidding war."
Trayor Lesnock, president and founder of Platinum Luxury Auctions, agrees. He explains the property had difficulty finding a buyer because it's hard to pin a comparable value on this one-of-a-kind home.
"There's nothing like it anywhere else in the world. A relatively low reserve price gets the attention of prospective buyers. Once they actually see the property, they understand its true value and it becomes emotional, then the bidding war begins," Lesnock says.
Lesnock adds that while the closet is beyond anything he's ever seen, he is also impressed with the two kitchens and the luxury design features, which were inspired by the Wynn resort in Las Vegas. We'll find out if buyers are equally impressed on July 30, when the bidding begins. We'll keep you posted.