Frank Lloyd Wright’s Louis Penfield House

Wendy Klepcyk
May 18, 2022
2 min read

Updated: Oct 7

Arriving at the home you are first stopped at the gate which clearly announces that you have arrived somewhere special. It sets the stage for your experience.

Wright situated the house to face the Chagrin River so you actually see the rear of the home as you enter the property.

Wright liked to hide entrances. Can you spot the front door?

The door is to the left of our beautiful Architect, Sarah. It perfectly blends into the vertical glass windows at the foyer and stairwell.

The vertical articulation is unusual for Wright. He is known for his long horizontal lines that define his Prairie Style architecture. Louis Penfield was 6’-8” tall and the house was designed with that in mind.

The steps become a sculptural element floating in space.

The narrow entry releases into the tall great room, making it feel evem more expansive.

Wright keeps the vertical motif in the great room with narrow floor to ceiling glass windows and doors.

He plays the vertical elements off the horizontal elements of the built-in bench seating and wood shelving.

The transition from the seating to the built-in storage and counters, which continues past the fireplace and then becomes a galley kitchen.

The kitchen elegantly blends into its environment.

Built-n phone nook and custom designed chair under the stairs.

Utilitarian spaces such as this powder room are given consideration but not much space.

Heading upstairs, they aren’t much wider than Sarah!

There are three bedrooms on the second floor, all with built-in furniture. Two are similar in design and size. The third is a bit tight but manages to squeeze a single bed and built-in desk into the space.

Built-in desk. Noticw how all the trim around the windows matches up perfectly with the trim on the walls and ceiling and defines the shelving over the bed as well.