CLARK RENDALL STUDIO

The Stillman House in Litchfield, CT is one of three modern homes designed by Marcel Breuer in the 1950’s. In response to these homes being built, the conservative white people of Litchfield actually banned further use of the modern building style, as to not conflict with other colonial and Greek revival homes in the area. The interiors combine minimal geometric architectural forms with natural finishes and sensible modern furniture.

Photos by Ben Schnall from Marcel Breuer Digital Archive

The Gargarin House in Litchfield, Connecticut, designed by Marcel Breuer in 1957, masterfully combines colors and materials in an expansive open plan. The warm wood tones harmonize with the terra cotta brick and leather sling back chairs in the living room, while in the kitchen, contrasting blue glass is used as a backsplash. Vast fieldstone walls can be seen inside and out, integrating the structure with the serene natural setting.

Photos by Madonna Phillips Group

The Robinson House in Williamstown, MA, was designed by Marcel Breuer in 1948. The open floor plan, panoramic windows, and generous use of natural stone are all trademarks of the designers quintessentially modern style.

Photos by Cohen White Associates

The historic Gropius House in Lincoln, Massachusetts, designed by Walter Gropius, served as the primary residence for the architect and his family while he was teaching at Harvard. They came to the US after three years in London, where they originally moved to flee the Nazi regime. This style of quintessential Bauhaus design is rarely seen outside Germany.

“One must build for the human being, that he might rediscover in the architectural construction the joys of self-fulfillment in a whole that extends and completes him. Even the furnishings should lose their individuality by blending in with the architectural ensemble.” – Eileen Gray

For Villa E-1027, Eileen Gray designed not only the interiors, but the entire building, including some of the furniture. Built between 1926 and 1929 as a vacation home for the designer and her family, a great deal of thought and care was put into both the function and appearance of every aspect this avant-garde modernist gem.

After Gray left the house, Le Corbusier took up residence, and without her permission, vandalized many of the walls with his own murals. After his death, the site remained in disrepair for many years, but has recently undergone restoration.

Photos by Manuel Bougot

Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona served as Frank Lloyd Wright’s summer home, studio, and school. The diagonal lines in the building structure and furniture reflect the horizon line of the mountainous landscape. Warm desert hues of red and orange are used throughout the interior and exterior. The step pyramid and other architectural motifs pay respect to the design traditions of ancient civilizations in Mexico, Arizona’s neighbor to the south.

Photos by Brian Guido

Frank Lloyd Wright designed Taliesin to sit atop a hill where he once played as a child in Spring Green, Wisconsin. The estate served as a home, studio, and school for the architect and his students. The warm tones of the sandstone and oak are reflected in the furniture, accented with contrasting blue rugs and accessories. The rough hewn stones connect the interiors with the surrounding landscape, while the panoramic windows bathe the space in natural sunlight.

Photos by Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation