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deb_s49

Seeking FLW (Frank Lloyd Wright) design guidance- WWY do

6 years ago

I love unique architecture, and just purchased a home designed in the Frank Llyod Wright style (this one by a student of his- not his actual work) The home is is perfect condition - even the kitchen cabinets are like new. BUT-- i need to update the house and am looking for advise from those who are MCM or FLW advocates.


I will be closing on this property mid dec and would like to plan out the updates. I will post the floor plan once I can get it - PLEASE note the furniture is from the previous owner - the pics are from the real estate listing


The house has the famous red floors with radiant heat- so I will not change those. I also want to keep the wood intact as it flows throughout the house and provides a very zen feeling.


I have several areas I am seeking the help from this fantastic group- so hoping several posting in one posting is better than several separate postings


Questions-

The interior concrete wall are painted a yellowish beige- i would like to bring in a grey but worry that the grey will add to to "cool" - Any recommendations on paint color options? I will be putting in a room size area rug and pottery barn turner large leather couches and chairs.


The kitchen -while in fantastic condition, I feel needs updating and some better visual design by bringing in taller cabinets - I do not want craftsman style and do not want current day modern- i think the simplicity of mcm plain fronts in a lighter wood may be good. But can not find a good source (even inspiration pics) any suggestions?


I will be hiring an architect to design the addition of a master bath and a deck on the back- but if anyone has suggestions or pics of other FLW with additions it would be great! I am seeking interior inspiration for design finishes that retain FLW style (perhaps a tending towards Japanese?)









Comments (11)

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Yes your architect needs to be good at replicating this style for your addition IMO the kichen for sure needs a redo and I agree MCM is the way to go I think walnut doors and white quarts counters would be fitting and proably need new floors there so I would do marmoleum in a apttern with the red in it from the other floors.

    deb s thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    For paint color, if you must incorporate grey, think greige - what my mother would have called taupe - grey beige. This is SW 7541 Grecian Ivory, for example.


    Inspiration images are really important before you start to alter anything. Have an idea of the looks you love and are aiming for. Scour images of renovated MCM kitchens and see what they used. For cabinets like these you'll need a cabinet maker. These are bespoke, quarter sawn walnut cabinets made by Special Projects Division, a company run by David Hentzel in the Seattle area.


    I know you want to keep the floors, radiant heat, etc... but keep in mind you can veneer them with thin brick, for example. Or work with the existing. The thing is, floors like that are very limiting if you don't want a craftsman look.

    deb s thanked eam44
  • 6 years ago

    The interior concrete wall are painted a yellowish beige- i would like to bring in a grey but worry that the grey will add to to "cool" - Any recommendations on paint color options? I will be putting in a room size area rug and pottery barn turner large leather couches and chairs.

    Do not do gray. It does not go with the feeling of the house at all. I do like eam's suggestion of taupe.

    The kitchen -while in fantastic condition, I feel needs updating and some better visual design by bringing in taller cabinets -

    I disagree because it will destroy the horizontal line going on in the kitchen. The whole idea of the FLW homes was low to the ground and giving a horizontal (not vertical) feel.

    What I would do instead is redo the cabinets but make all the lowers wide drawers so you have more room to store stuff inside.

    I do not want craftsman style and do not want current day modern- i think the simplicity of mcm plain fronts in a lighter wood may be good. But can not find a good source (even inspiration pics) any suggestions?

    See if you can find a good KD to help you.

    I will be hiring an architect to design the addition of a master bath and a deck on the back- but if anyone has suggestions or pics of other FLW with additions it would be great! I am seeking interior inspiration for design finishes that retain FLW style (perhaps a tending towards Japanese?)

    I would repeat the finishes you already have in the house. Why try and reinvent the wheel?

    deb s thanked cpartist
  • 6 years ago

    What an awesome house! I'm not a pro by any means, but I have seen posts by some folks here with great MCM/minimalist style and maybe you can get some thoughts from them.

    I have long admired the pictures of rockybird's home. Couldn't find a pic of her kitchen but that link has one of a bedroom. I also love pipdog's kitchen!

    My boyfriend has found some wonderful items (inc. an original Eames chair - yummy) at estate sales and auctions. (He found all the chairs, table, lamp, and the squiggly decor thingy on the table in the pic below. And that's just the stuff he brought to my house.) We would LOVE a house like yours! If you have patience, you can probably find some great pieces.



    I follow this FB group: Mid Century Modern Pickers & Identification; they have a sister group for buy and sell.

    deb s thanked chicagoans
  • 6 years ago

    Thank you @Kristin Petro Interiors, Inc. - the house is located in NJ - which only has a few FLW homes - here is a video that is the next best thing to being there - see you are from Ill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWhv5uY83J8


    @eam44I will look into the using taupe which seems to be just as tricky of a color as grey


    @cpartist Thanks for your guidance on the kitchen and the lower lines - i will try to think it through with a KD


    @chicagoans Thanks for the links I will check them out


    Re use of original material for the bathroom addition- it seems the only part of the house that was renovated was the bathroom shower tile-- I am purchasing from the original owner so I will see if she has any recollection or photos of the original tile


    My last restoration was a 100yr old stone house- so the move to mcm/FLW will be another learning process

  • 6 years ago

    that house is stunning! if this was my place, I'd definitely go with a midcentury / boho vibe for decor (but keep it simple / not too cluttered). it will go well with the red floors and wood.

    if you're going with a big kitchen reno, is there any way to widen that window above the sink? if it doesn't have a good view, you could do a long skinny row of reeded glass.

    (I know this kitchen below is not even the right style, but I'm just posting it as an example for the glass.)



    deb s thanked User
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    It's not that grey is tricky, it's that it's not an MCM choice for a reason. You have a house full of warm wood tones, and MCM homes are all about the wood, usually walnut.

    I actually don't think I'd like greige in that space, I'd prefer cream, but you think you want grey, and if you can't convince yourself you don't, choose a warm grey... greige.

    All of this speculation is a little premature. Once you're in the space pick whatever color you like, experiment by painting boards and placing them near the wood. You can remember me fondly when you end up with a warm tone. It is what it is.

    Hey, any chance the window in the kitchen can... grow? It's so tiny, but I understand if you don't want to change the exterior that much.

    deb s thanked eam44
  • 6 years ago

    @eam44 and @User The window in the kitchen actually opens to the garage ( Odd !! ) I can certainly expand it and fill in with some stained glass- FLW style or something that brings in light but disguises whats behind it.

  • 6 years ago

    Oh gosh. I would not have expected that, although kitchens, when that house was built, probably held a different significance than they do now. They were meant for one person to cook "efficiently."

    deb s thanked eam44
  • 6 years ago

    You might want to check out this resource: https://www.flwright.org/researchexplore/restorationresourcecenter


    deb s thanked vpierce