Frank Lloyd Wright Smith House

"This is one of the lesser-known Flank Lloyd Wright houses, but it is just as worth a visit! I did the one-hour house tour on July 2nd and it was led by Elena, who is a fantastic guide with a lot of knowledge about the house. Whereas at many other house tours visitors aren’t allowed to sit on or even touch the furniture, I loved how we began by sitting on the long sofa (which was surprisingly comfortable!) to listen to the background spiel. It’s quite amazing to learn how an ordinary schoolteacher couple saved up to afford Wright’s fees and ended up with this masterpiece. The house itself has many features characteristic of Wright’s design and has so many beautiful artworks to marvel at. One hour passed by way too quickly – I found that there wasn’t enough time to visit the bedrooms of the house, so if I could make a suggestion to the tour, it would be nice to make that part less rushed. We did have time after the tour to walk around the grounds, which is beautiful (and we saw deer!). I would also recommend arriving 15-30min before the tour begins to explore the grounds, especially if you have to head elsewhere right after the tour. You will find it worthwhile – a visit to the house is incomplete without going a full circle around the exterior! And the neighbourhood is beautiful too – worth a drive through!"

"Interesting Frank Lloyd Wright house built by local teachers, now part of Cranbrook collection. Docent did a great job telling story!"

"I was thrilled to receive an invitation from Mrs. Smith, a middle-class school teacher and client of Frank Lloyd Wright, to visit The Smith Residence, one of Wright's famous homes named after a comet surname. As a lover of architecture, I couldn't wait to see the home designed by such a renowned architect. The house was small in scale, in line with Wright's philosophy of creating spaces that were proportionate to human size, rather than conforming to the market's demands for larger furniture and fittings. Despite its size, the home was filled with intricate details and unique features that showcased Wright's signature style. Mrs. Smith, the gracious host, went out of her way to arrange a field trip for our public school, which was not a common occurrence in those days. Mrs. Mayne, the teacher who accompanied us, was dressed in ton sur ton, a fashion trend that was not popular at the time, but she pulled it off with effortless style. Her vibrant personality and go-getter attitude made the field trip a memorable experience for all of us. As we explored the home, Mrs. Smith shared interesting anecdotes about her collaboration with Frank Lloyd Wright and the inspiration behind the design. The use of natural materials and the integration of the outdoors into the interior of the home were some of the key features that stood out to me. Overall, the visit to The Smith Residence was an unforgettable experience. It was a privilege to witness the genius of Frank Lloyd Wright's designs and to learn from Mrs. Smith's passion for architecture. I left the home feeling inspired and grateful for the opportunity to have been a part of this unique field trip."

"The tour was exceptional, our guide was very knowledgeable and a great presenter. Interesting story behind the family, and the way the build came together. Beautiful scene, and Wright's architecture makes the most of it as usual."

"FLLW Prairie house. Needs work. Quiet, serene in a beautiful valley. I would love to do volunteer work on this house. Outdoor light fixtures still in position, require upgrades. Original gate, details, red signature tile could have been a later addition (cracked), original interior furniture. Awesome place to visit."