All About Design

Today we entered the world of Frank Lloyd Wright when we visited his first house in Oak Park, a suburb of Chicago. We enjoyed a walking tour of the neighborhood which features many houses designed by his students and contemporaries.








I tried to mentally capture the images inside the Wright house because photos were not allowed. He enforced a certain simplicity and functionality throughout the house. One room flowed into the next, separated only by a movable curtain. The walls were either natural colors of paint or linen. He was always conscious of where the light could come in and enhance a space. I was impressed with the way he placed a grand piano under the stairs leading to the playroom and then figured out how to make the stairs collapse temporarily so as not to interfere with the sound of the piano. He used equally impressive architectural design in his studio where there were no internal supports, but instead everything was hung by chains from the ceiling in the octagonal structure.

I came away with a love of Wright’s talent and a distaste for this man who would leave his wife and 6 children to run off with a wealthy woman. Maybe I was better off not knowing so much about this architectural legend.


After our visit to Oak Park, we drove over to Wicker Park, where we ate lunch in a funky cafe and looked at clothing we couldn’t afford. It was indeed a day for “just looking.”


Tonight we’re off to see “The Secret Life of Bees.”



Meanwhile, my husband has arrived in town and we’re gearing up for Zelda’s big affair tomorrow. It’s not just everyday someone you know turns 100!