Frank Lloyd Wright was one of the most influential architects of the 20th century. His organic, prairie-style buildings integrated indoor and outdoor spaces and embraced simplicity in design. One stunning example of a home inspired by Wright’s principles has gotten a beautiful refresh and is now ready to welcome guests.
An Overview of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Architectural Style
Frank Lloyd Wright is renowned as one of America’s most iconic architects. He designed over 1000 structures, including houses, museums, churches, skyscrapers, and hotels. Wright pioneered the prairie school style of architecture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Some key features of Wright’s prairie-style buildings include:
- Horizontal lines: Wright emphasized clean, horizontal lines to reflect the flatness of the American prairie landscape. Roofs, windows, and exterior trim often have strong horizontal orientation.
- Integration of indoor and outdoor spaces: Wright blurred the distinction between interior rooms and exterior spaces by using overhanging roofs, lines of ribbon windows, terraces, and courtyards. There is a seamless flow between indoor and outdoor areas.
- Natural materials: Wright favored locally-sourced, natural building materials like wood, brick, concrete, and stone. The materials gave the structures an organic appearance and harmonized them with the surrounding environment.
- Simplicity and restraint: Wright’s designs were minimalist with an emphasis on geometry and eliminating unnecessary ornamentation. Form follows function in his buildings.
- Cantilevers: Wright frequently used cantilevers, which are horizontal projections like balconies supported only at one end. This allowed him to open up interior spaces and accentuate horizontal lines.
Wright believed architecture should derive from nature and reflect the landscape in which it was built. His prairie-style creations became icons of modern American architecture. Though Wright passed in 1959, his vision lives on in beautiful homes across the country.
The remarkable A Frank Lloyd Wright-Inspired House
Nestled in the rugged hills of Carmel, California lies an extraordinary home inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s principles of organic architecture. This stunning 4-bedroom, 3.5-bathroom house embodies the harmonious interplay of indoor and outdoor living that defined Wright’s work.
Crafted with natural materials
True to Wright’s philosophy, the home utilizes wood, stone, concrete, and glass to create a structure in unity with the wooded environment. Redwood ceilings and cedar walls blend effortlessly into the surrounding forest. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame live oak trees and affords panoramic valley views. Paved patios and covered terraces extend the living space outdoors. Even the furniture follows Wright’s vision with pieces of stone and wood.
Seamless indoor-outdoor flow
One of the home’s most dramatic features is the seamless connection between indoor rooms and outdoor patios. Wright’s signature overhangs and lines of ribbon windows blur the boundary between interior and exterior. The great room’s 20-foot glass pocket door completely opens to unite the main living area with a broad terrace and infinity-edge lap pool. The outdoor areas provide an extra 3,000 sq. ft. of living space to enjoy the wooded seclusion.
Emphasis on horizontal lines
The home’s strong horizontal orientation reflects Wright’s prairie-style principles. The elongated great room exemplifies this with its exposed wood beam ceiling and redwood cladding on the 20-foot high wall behind the seating area. The lines of the pool terrace and patio continue the horizontal dimension. Even the pattern of the stone flooring stresses the low, flat lines that Wright favored.
Restraint and geometric simplicity
In keeping with the architect’s emphasis on simplicity, the home’s design is an exercise in restraint. Its geometric forms are uncomplicated without ornamentation. For instance, the home’s exterior is a simple composition of interlocking rectangles with floor-to-ceiling windows and doors. Inside, the spaces feature clean modernist lines. The great room’s ceiling removes any complexity with basic squares and rectangles of redwood.
Innovative cantilevered roof
One of the most innovative elements is the cantilevered roof above the great room patio. This projecting overhang covers the terrace while maintaining horizontal lines and continuous indoor/outdoor space, just as Wright often did with his cantilevers. It provides shade and shelter without columns that would disrupt the seamless transition between rooms.
Though Frank Lloyd Wright passed decades ago, this home allows his vision to live on. Its harmony with nature through local materials, fluid indoor-outdoor connection, horizontal orientation, simplified geometry, and cantilevered roofs pay tribute to one of history’s greatest architects.
Behind the Scenes: The Restoration Process
To ready this special property for vacation rentals, the owners brought in expert craftsman and restoration specialists to update various elements of the home. Meticulous attention to detail went into enhancing the Wright-inspired residence while preserving its mid-century modern charm.
Upgrading the kitchen
The kitchen received a full remodel to install modern appliances while keeping to the home’s minimalist aesthetic. The team added a spacious JennAir refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher, and a six-burner Wolf range for a cook’s delight. New Shaker-style cabinetry provides plentiful storage. A stunning of slab of sapphire blue granite tops the 10-foot working island.
Refinishing the stone floors
Stone flooring throughout the home was honed and sealed to restore its natural luster. The stone restoration experts repaired any cracks or chips in the surface to leave it flawless. The newly refinished floors better showcase the horizontal striations in the stone that reflect Wright’s emphasis on low, flat lines.
Enhancing the bedrooms
The four bedrooms were updated with Tempur-Pedic mattresses and luxury linens to ensure maximum rest and relaxation. Built-in cabinetry maximizes the storage space. The rooms feature Wright’s signature ribbon windows and doors that perfectly frame the tranquil wooded views.
Upgrading bathrooms
In the four bathrooms, the team installed new Waterworks fixtures, basins, showers, and bathtubs. New tile-work now graces the bathroom walls and floors. Every modern convenience is available, from heated floors to towel warmers.
Improving lighting
To create a stunning visual impact at night, the team added LED lighting along the entry pathway and accent lighting in the living spaces and bedrooms. Outdoor lighting illuminates garden paths and highlights architectural features. The lighting enhances the home’s geometric forms.
Outdoor upgrades
The outdoor space received plenty of attention as well. Craftsmen resurfaced the lap pool and hot tub, and all new outdoor furniture and chaise lounges now grace the patios and decks. A large Lynx grill expands the outdoor cooking options.
The restoration ensured this Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired gem offers the utmost in comfort, beauty, and modern luxury while staying true to its harmonious mid-century roots. It’s now ready to welcome guests to experience a legendary architect’s vision.
Vacation Rental Details: What Guests Can Expect
This extraordinary home is available for vacation rentals, giving guests a chance to temporarily live within an icon of American architecture.
The Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired residence can accommodate up to 10 guests with its 4 bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. Nestled on over 5 acres, it provides a serene retreat in the Santa Lucia Preserve while offering easy access to Carmel-by-the-Sea and Monterey.
Here are some details prospective renters can look forward to:
Great room
The spacious great room lies at the heart of the home with its 30-foot ceilings and walls of windows that immerse you in nature. Guests can cozy up by the natural stone fireplace or entertain at the elegant dining table.
Gourmet kitchen
Foodies will delight in the newly renovated kitchen. Guests can whip up feasts in the well-appointed kitchen and serve them al fresco from the dining bar facing the pool and patios.
Bedrooms
The home offers four bedrooms with luxury mattresses and linens for restful sleep. Two suites include gas fireplaces and private patios. The lavish master suite features walk-in closets, spa-like bath, and sliding doors to a secluded patio.
Spa bathrooms
Throughout the bathrooms, guests can indulge in deep soaking tubs, walk-in showers, and double vanities. Heated floors and towel racks pamper on cool mornings. Natural light floods in from Wright’s signature ribbon windows.
Pool terrace
Guests can swim laps in the infinity pool or soak muscles in the hot tub on the expansive multi-level pool terrace. Lounge chairs line the pool for sunbathing with a book. The cantilevered roof provides shade for al fresco dining at the patio table.
Outdoor activities
The forested five-acre estate allows opportunities for stargazing, hiking, and communing with nature. Guests can relax on one of the many secluded patios each morning with a cup of coffee.
Nearby attractions
The home lies close to downtown Carmel’s shops and restaurants as well as famous Monterey Bay attractions like the Aquarium. Exploring the Peninsula offers wine-tasting, coastal drives down Hwy 1, and quaint Carmel Village.
Renting this home lets guests immerse themselves in a legendary architect’s vision. The harmonious blend of nature and design makes this an unforgettable vacation retreat.
Architectural Highlights of the Home
This Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home remains faithful to the famed architect’s philosophies through various standout architectural features. Here is a closer look at some of the elements that make this house a tribute to Wright’s principles.
Cantilevered Roof
One of the home’s most striking features is the cantilevered roof that overhangs the pool terrace and filtering shade over the patio dining area. In his buildings, Wright embraced cantilevers to provide shelter from the elements while maintaining an indoor-outdoor connection. This roof’s cantilever allows enjoying the terrace without visually obstructing columns. The cantilever maintains Wright’s cherished horizontal lines.
Ribbon Windows
Throughout the home, Wright’s signature ribbon windows tie the interior elegantly to the outside. Bands of floor-to-ceiling glass run along walls to frame live oaks, valley vistas, and the endless sky. The ribbons of windows almost blur the distinction between rooms and nature. Their horizontal lines reinforce the prairie-style ethos.
Exposed Wood Beam Ceiling
The great room’s exposed beam ceiling exemplifies Wright’s fondness for natural materials and emphasis on horizontality in structural elements. The simple geometric wood squares lining the 20-foot ceiling maintain visual serenity. The redwood beams draw the eye outward toward the forest beyond the glass walls.
Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Flow
One of Wright’s most famous innovations was seamlessly integrating indoor and outdoor spaces. This home comes alive through walls of sliding glass doors that fully open the great room and bedrooms to patios and decks. The 20-foot pocket door in the great room essentially pushes the wall away, fusing the living space with the pool terrace.
Minimalist Design
In keeping with Wright’s “less is more” approach, the home embodies simplicity and restraint. The architecture lacks ornamentation and instead finds visual interest through the materials and geometric forms. For instance, the intersecting rectangles of the exterior walls and floor-to-ceiling glass achieve elegance through their purity of line and shape.
Native Landscaping
Wright believed in designing in harmony with the surrounding landscape. This home’s wooded five-acre lot uses native Monterey pines, California live oaks, succulents, and wild grasses to create a seamless flow between residence and environment. The indigenous plants reflect Wright’s organic ideal.
With its cantilevered roofs, ribbon windows, simple yet striking geometries, native plants, and easy indoor-outdoor flow, the home stays true to Wright’s pioneering vision. The principles that revolutionized American architecture permeate every thoughtfully designed detail.
The Unique Layout: How Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ideas Shaped the Floor Plan
The floor plan of this special vacation home exemplifies Frank Lloyd Wright’s gift for making indoor and outdoor spaces merge seamlessly. The layout carries visitors gracefully through different living spaces, continually linking interiors with the surrounding forest and views.
Here is a closer look at how Wright’s philosophies shaped the layout:
Great room
The expansive 30-foot great room lies at the heart of the home. Glass pocket doors here entirely slide away to bring the patio and pool terrace into the same space as the living area. Wright blended indoor and outdoor areas to immerse people in the landscape.
Ribbon windows
Wright’s signature ribbon windows open up the bedrooms and common areas to the tranquil woods. The long horizontal bands of glass heighten the connection to nature from any room’s vantage point.
Overhangs
The cantilevered roof over the patio allows outdoor living without disrupting visual flow between inside and outside. Overhangs like this were one of Wright’s trademarks for unifying spaces.
Open floor plan
With limited partitions between the kitchen, dining, and living spaces, the main living zone flows openly like Wright’s buildings. The open concept brings a feeling of freedom.
Geometry
The home’s basic geometry of interlocking rectangles reinforces Wright’s fondness for simplicity, minimalism, and horizontal lines in his floorplans. Form and function work elegantly here.
Artistic touches
Wright incorporated custom art glass, furniture, and textiles in his projects. This home honors that with built-in benches, Wright-inspired cabinetry, and custom lighting fixtures that reflect the prairie style.
Indoor-outdoor flow
On a micro level, the layout encourages flow between indoor and outdoor areas through built-in benches, window seats, and glass doors that collapse borders between rooms.
The genius of Frank Lloyd Wright’s approach to space lives on in this house. Its floorplan skillfully blurs the distinction between the manmade structure and surrounding nature, creating a feeling of unity and harmony.
Signature Interior Design Elements That Embody Wright’s Vision
Stepping inside the home, Frank Lloyd Wright’s influence shapes every detail to craft a harmonious living environment. The interior design pays homage to Wright’s principles in numerous ways:
Color palette
Wright embraced earth tones like desert reds, ochres, umbers, and terra cotta. The home’s color scheme uses a neutral palette accentuated by reddish woods and fabrics. The colors feel grounded, organic, and calming.
Tactile textures
Wright celebrated tactile, natural textures like wood, stone, and brick. Here, elements like the flagstone floors, wooden beams, and cedar-lined walls bring wonderful warmth and texture. The tactility enhances the indoor-outdoor ambiance.
Overhead lighting
Like Wright, the home avoids elaborate chandeliers and instead offers beautiful yet minimalist built-in lighting. The custom fixtures emit a gentle glowwhile maintaining visual simplicity.
Redwood ceilings
The 20-foot ceiling of redwood beams in the great room evokes the rich materials and strong geometries of Wright’s buildings. The ceiling’s lines reinforce the horizontality.
Built-in furniture
Wright designed custom furniture tailored to his spaces. This home features clever built-in benches, window seats, cabinets, and counters to maximize form and function.
Stone elements
Local Santa Lucia stone graces the fireplaces, walls, and floors as an homage to how Wright championed regional materials. The home feels rooted in place, just as Wright intended.
The interior design’s textures, colors, lighting, woods, and stone artfully extend Wright’s vision indoors. Everywhere you look, the elements create a meditative, organic setting in sync with nature’s balance.
How the Home Imparts Wright’s Philosophy of “Organic Architecture”
Frank Lloyd Wright coined the term “organic architecture” to describe structures that harmonize with human lives and the natural environment. This vacation home wholly embodies Wright’s vision of buildings that fit their setting organically:
Native materials
Wright insisted on sourcing local, natural building materials from the site’s geography. Here, native Coast Live Oaks, Santa Lucia stone, Carmel Valley soils, and Salinas River sand integrate the home seamlessly into the landscape.
Blurred boundaries
By blurring lines between indoors and outdoors through overhangs, contiguous patios, wall-sized windows and doors, the home connects occupants to the environment like Wright’s buildings. Nature permeates the space.
Textured neutral palette
Wright preferred textured, earth-toned materials and fabrics reminiscent of the surrounding terrain. The home’s color scheme and textiles echo the forested outdoors to settle the home into its wooded site.
Cantilevers
Like Wright, the home uses cantilevered roofs to open up living spaces without visible supports. The cantilevers respect the landscape’s flow rather than dominating it.
Geometric simplicity
The residence achieves beauty through the simplicity and purity of geometric forms—mainstays of Wright’s vision. Unornamented walls, ceilings, alcoves use space and shapes for visual interest.
Horizontal lines
The home accentuates strong horizontal lines in the overhangs, ribbon windows, interior beams, and exterior trim. The horizontality reflects the topography of the California coast and environs.
Garden restoration
The grounds’ restoration used native plant species from the region. The garden design helps root the home in its specific coastal habitat, as Wright’s landscapes did.
Every inch of the home derives from its particular place on the California coast. The principles of organic architecture root the spaces in the surrounding ecosystem to achieve a timeless sense of belonging. The home distills Wright’s vision of truly organic design.
Incorporating Frank Lloyd Wright’s Ideas on Interior Lighting
Frank Lloyd Wright paid meticulous attention to interior lighting in his
