The original FLW home is now part of the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust established in 1974.
Let’s just put it right out there.
I’ve never been a big fan of the Prairie Style of architecture; conforming to one design aesthetic, from structure to style, from rooftop to windows to walls, carpet to furniture to dinnerware feels more socialistic than democratic. In fact, for years I wasn’t really a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright.
It has always been a challenge separating the brash, outspoken, self-serving man from the architectural genius. By his own admission Wright professed, "Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change."
Okay, so I didn’t hold back; but there is still more Wright than wrong when it comes to the 20th century’s most influential architect. And what do you know; I’m willing to share my thoughts (the good, the bad, and the ugly) on the matter. Right here, right now.
Happens every time I tour one of FLW’s homes, in this case his own home in Oak Park, Illinois; I come away with a deeper appreciation for the man’s genius despite the man's personal shortcomings. I promise to try to stick to the genius qualities.
I’ve never been a big fan of the Prairie Style of architecture; conforming to one design aesthetic, from structure to style, from rooftop to windows to walls, carpet to furniture to dinnerware feels more socialistic than democratic. In fact, for years I wasn’t really a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright.
It has always been a challenge separating the brash, outspoken, self-serving man from the architectural genius. By his own admission Wright professed, "Early in life I had to choose between honest arrogance and hypocritical humility. I chose the former and have seen no reason to change."
Okay, so I didn’t hold back; but there is still more Wright than wrong when it comes to the 20th century’s most influential architect. And what do you know; I’m willing to share my thoughts (the good, the bad, and the ugly) on the matter. Right here, right now.
Happens every time I tour one of FLW’s homes, in this case his own home in Oak Park, Illinois; I come away with a deeper appreciation for the man’s genius despite the man's personal shortcomings. I promise to try to stick to the genius qualities.
Wright was brilliant at melding wood and stone and mortar into a space that enhanced and elevated the human experience (a trip to Fallingwater several years ago sold me on the man’s genius), despite the fact that experience often came with a few leaks or cracks or both, minor details for the architectural virtuoso seemingly compelled to push the limits of the latest technologies in an effort to show off his unsurpassed talents.
The artistic iconoclast was single minded in his struggle to overcome any obstacle that might prevent his vision from being realized. The romantic Wright often managed to convince his clients to throw away their belongings in favor of the simplicity he promoted (apparently it took Liliane Kaufman, mistress of the FLW’s famed Fallingwater design, three years to overcome her misgivings about living with the reality of FLW’s vision of an uncluttered cantilevered weekend home straddling a waterfall), all the while cajoling said clients to spend more money than they had ever intended on the house of their dreams. The original estimate for building Fallingwater was $35,000. The final cost for the home and guest house was $155,000. Never mind 70 years later restoration of the structural issues befitting designs on the leading edge of technology ran $11.5 million.
Holy hunk of change. But I digress.
Today’s post is all about FLW’s Oak Park home. No leaks or cracks that I could tell; then again both home and studio were restored, beginning in 1974, two years after the home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, fifteen years after the death of FLW. The thirteen year project cost a mere $3.5 million, pittance in comparison to Fallingwater's restoration.
The artistic iconoclast was single minded in his struggle to overcome any obstacle that might prevent his vision from being realized. The romantic Wright often managed to convince his clients to throw away their belongings in favor of the simplicity he promoted (apparently it took Liliane Kaufman, mistress of the FLW’s famed Fallingwater design, three years to overcome her misgivings about living with the reality of FLW’s vision of an uncluttered cantilevered weekend home straddling a waterfall), all the while cajoling said clients to spend more money than they had ever intended on the house of their dreams. The original estimate for building Fallingwater was $35,000. The final cost for the home and guest house was $155,000. Never mind 70 years later restoration of the structural issues befitting designs on the leading edge of technology ran $11.5 million.
Holy hunk of change. But I digress.
Today’s post is all about FLW’s Oak Park home. No leaks or cracks that I could tell; then again both home and studio were restored, beginning in 1974, two years after the home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, fifteen years after the death of FLW. The thirteen year project cost a mere $3.5 million, pittance in comparison to Fallingwater's restoration.
 The small foyer nonetheless had a grand feeling about it beginning with the beautiful and spacious front door. |  Love the moulding and millwork along the ceiling. |
In 1889, the design of FLW’s Oak Park home was revolutionary. The visionary had taken the box that had been part of the domestic landscape and opened up the cramped, cluttered, fragmented and inflexible floor plan in ways never before envisioned. His consistent use of natural materials produced a homogeneous visual richness, a radical departure from the classic ornate Victorian homes in vogue.
“What was the matter with the kind of house I found on the prairie?” he asked. “Just for a beginning, let’s say that house lied about everything. It had no sense of Unity . . . To take any one of those so-called ‘homes’ away would have improved the landscape and cleared the atmosphere . . . My first feeling therefore had been a yearning for simplicity.”
The famed architect wasn’t one to hold back either!
Wright redefined the fixed solid core as open space, a modern space in which one room simply flowed into another, a space this 21st century homeowner tends to take for granted 100+ years after his revolutionary design.
“What was the matter with the kind of house I found on the prairie?” he asked. “Just for a beginning, let’s say that house lied about everything. It had no sense of Unity . . . To take any one of those so-called ‘homes’ away would have improved the landscape and cleared the atmosphere . . . My first feeling therefore had been a yearning for simplicity.”
The famed architect wasn’t one to hold back either!
Wright redefined the fixed solid core as open space, a modern space in which one room simply flowed into another, a space this 21st century homeowner tends to take for granted 100+ years after his revolutionary design.
Had to be some tall orders that came out of this kitchen!
He let small spaces flow around corners; made portions of his kitchen visible from the dining room;
The hearth in the living room was full of surprises, this window into the dining room one quite delightful.
made portions of the dining room visible from the living room. Sounds just like home! Well, my old home before downsizing. I no longer have a formal living room or dining room to speak of. LOVE MY SMALL SPACE!
Truth is Life was a Lloyd family motto Wright adopted from his mother's family.
The entire first floor of Wright’s Oak Park home was built around a central chimney core that offered a fireplace in each of the original downstairs rooms – living room, kitchen and dining room.
 Yep, thank FLW for that sunny bay window you love. |  Nothing says FLW more than his unique glass designs. |
Wright didn’t build a wall only to turn around and punch a few holes in it for windows. He built walls to only sill height, than rested the windows in structural courses above the wall.
Remember, electricity was just beginning to shed light on those otherwise dark domestic spaces called home at the turn of the century; 1930 to be more precise. All those revolutionary windows literally brought Wright and his followers out of the dark ages.
Remember, electricity was just beginning to shed light on those otherwise dark domestic spaces called home at the turn of the century; 1930 to be more precise. All those revolutionary windows literally brought Wright and his followers out of the dark ages.
 This half of one large upstairs bedroom partitioned via a 6' high wall to accommodate Wright's growing family included an entire wall of built-ins. |  Of course FLW would utilize the space under the stairs! |
Built-ins were another FLW favorite for freeing up space and making an otherwise narrow space work like a wider one. The design master utilized every nook and cranny available.
An indoor bathroom was a luxury in 1889. Very modern; and very Zen!
My favorite nook was the alcove above the bathroom sink. The sunny spot was a study in serenity, the perfect solution for an otherwise dark closet of a bathroom (all the dark board and batten oak paneling didn't help matters), a bathroom FLW shared with his wife and six children.
Holy hygiene, that’s a long line of people standing in the way of taking care of business.
Holy hygiene, that’s a long line of people standing in the way of taking care of business.
 The opulent private sanctum of the master bedroom included murals showing wide arches of sky. |  Easiest way to make a small room feel large - offer an expansive view of the attic! |
In 1895, with six children filling the small house to the rafters (and what beautiful rafters they were), an addition was in order. The highlight of that addition was the large barrel-vaulted playroom, a structural tour de force guaranteed to bring out the child in everyone. This child felt giddy with delight within the confines of this magnificent room.
The mural of the fisherman and the genie were inspired by a tale from the Arabian Nights.
Even the hallway leading to the delightful room hinted at the magic that awaited.
FLW certainly knew the art of anticipation.
Eighteen feet of vertical space made the playroom feel like a gymnasium. Low windows lining the walls (they were the perfect height for kids) undoubtedly created the feeling of winter garden during the long, cold months when the children were restricted to indoor play.
No restrictions when it came to a sense of wonder, curiosity, imagination.
No restrictions when it came to a sense of wonder, curiosity, imagination.
 So much beauty; so little time to explore. |  I bet the neighborhood kids all clamored for play dates at FLW's house. |
The windows and ceiling grill were aglow with classic FLW geometric patterns that fostered a belief in the beauty of mathematics (well, that’s how this former math teacher saw it). Despite the vast expanse of the room, it still felt cozy.
Easy to understand why all of FLW's children played musical instruments given all this inspiration.
A loft opposite the fireplace wall provided more space for imaginations to run wild. A piano and a wall of books offered further options for all those imaginations.
Wright photo courtesy of New York World-Telegram & Sun staff photographer, Al Ravenna.
It was in this room I felt the man measured up to the genius. Of course, who am I to judge. Just saying! Every detail highlighted Wright’s sensitivity to his children and their development; the simple beauty and order, as well as the vast space.
Wright was always about beauty and simplicity. Indeed, there is much to be said when it comes to focusing on those truths. Wright said it best with this quote.
“The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life.”
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Wright was always about beauty and simplicity. Indeed, there is much to be said when it comes to focusing on those truths. Wright said it best with this quote.
“The longer I live the more beautiful life becomes. If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life.”
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