Real Estate

Frank Lloyd Wright Home to Hit the Market at $2.4M (PHOTOS)

Frank Lloyd Wright's first independent commission, the William Winslow House in River Forest, is expected to hit the market Dec. 16. Look at these amazing photos.

By Charlotte Eriksen, Patch.com



"Take good care of the house."

That's what Frank Lloyd Wright wrote to a former owner of the William Winslow House, 515 Auvergne Pl. in River Forest, Wright's first independent commission, when he signed the sketch that still hangs in the first-floor library. 

After over 120 years, the home's pristine condition is a reflection of the owners' commitments to following Wright's direction. 

The Winslow House will hit the market Dec. 16 for the first time since 1958, when Bill and June Walker purchased the home to raise their family. The asking price will be $2.4 million. 

------------

Keep up with Niles news: Sign up for our free email newsletter, then like us on Facebook (help us reach 700 likes!) for a slightly different take.

------------

Peter Walker, who was 4 years old when he moved into the house, has been prepping the home since his mother died in April. 

Wright designed the house for William Winslow, a craftsman whose notable work includes the rounded corner entry way on the Carson Pirie Scott building in Chicago, the elevator grills in Wright's Rookery Building, and the metal fabrications in his own home. 

The 5,036-square-foot house has five bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms. The property also includes a soon-to-be three-car garage with a one-bedroom apartment, and a third-floor bonus room. 

With nooks and benches in almost every room, the home was "built for entertaining," said Walker, recalling his parents' routine parties for up to 200 people. 

While everything about the house—the music room, the original floor plan, Winslow's wall sconces—is remarkable, Walker is still most amazed by Wright's vision when he stands outside his childhood home. 

"When you stand in front of it, you think, 'My God, 1893—are you kidding me?'

"Nothing on the planet Earth looked like this at the time—nothing," Walker said. "...How in the world that came out of his (Frank Lloyd Wright's) head is beyond me... And he pulled out all the stops."

Find out more about the Winslow House here.

Interested in local real estate?Subscribe to Patch's new newsletter to be the first to know about open houses, new listings and more.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here