Frank Lloyd Wright Farmhouse

Frank Lloyd Wright Farmhouse
The airy living room and adjacent dining area both have relaxing views of the grounds, and are decorated with Wright-designed furniture. Courtesy of Crosby Doe
Bill Lindsey
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Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1955, this unique home is situated on a 76-acre parcel in California’s Central Valley. The 4,041-square-foot, seven-bedroom, six-bath residence was built in 1961 by Buck Fawcett, a college football star who enrolled in Wright’s architecture courses at Stanford University in the 1940s.

The location is unusual for one of Wright’s designs: a farm homesteaded by Fawcett’s father to which Fawcett returned when his father’s health declined, forsaking his selection by the Chicago Bears in the 1944 NFL draft.

Wright's signature interior and exterior design elements make this a very elegant, yet family-friendly farmhouse. (Courtesy of Crosby Doe)
Wright's signature interior and exterior design elements make this a very elegant, yet family-friendly farmhouse. Courtesy of Crosby Doe

The home was sold by the Fawcetts in 2012, at which time the new owners consulted with Wright’s grandson, Eric Lloyd Wright, and completely renovated the residence and grounds. The home was subsequently awarded a 2019 Preservation Design Award by the California Preservation Foundation.

The home's warm, wood-paneled bedrooms feature large windows and glass walls that open to provide unobstructed views of and access to the pool and garden. (Courtesy of Crosby Doe)
The home's warm, wood-paneled bedrooms feature large windows and glass walls that open to provide unobstructed views of and access to the pool and garden. Courtesy of Crosby Doe

With privacy provided by means of a massive metal gate, the flat-roofed main residence showcases clean, elegant elements including a horizontal roofline and exterior concrete blocks with copper accents. Generous use of expansive windows in the bedrooms and glass walls in the common areas provide a panoramic view of the property’s pool and extensive landscaping, as well as the adjacent farm areas and the mountains in the distance.

The wood-lined interior features numerous examples of built-in and freestanding furniture designed by Wright. The living room is exceptionally airy, with an impressive 12-foot fireplace for chilly evenings adjacent to an integral seating area, plus recessed lighting, custom millwork, and a bank of horizontal windows above the walls of glass, which can be opened.

The master bedroom's bathroom features a dual vanity, an oversized walk-in shower, tile flooring, and gleaming woodwork. (Courtesy of Crosby Doe)
The master bedroom's bathroom features a dual vanity, an oversized walk-in shower, tile flooring, and gleaming woodwork. Courtesy of Crosby Doe

The kitchen is equipped with stainless steel appliances, a large food prep island, and oversized marble countertops. The home’s bedrooms all have wood-and-marble-accented bathrooms, as well as unobstructed views afforded by large windows and glass walls that open for easy access to the pool, koi pond, Japanese garden, detached workshop, and guest quarters.

The roomy kitchen is equipped with stainless steel appliances, decorative woodwork, a large food preparation island, and oversized marble countertops. (Courtesy of Crosby Doe)
The roomy kitchen is equipped with stainless steel appliances, decorative woodwork, a large food preparation island, and oversized marble countertops. Courtesy of Crosby Doe

Located a two-hour drive from San Francisco, the bulk of the property’s acreage is currently under lease to an alfalfa producer.

The home's wood-framed glass walls can be opened to allow in cooling breezes. Tile floors, recessed lighting, and wood paneling provide a warm ambiance. (Courtesy of Crosby Doe)
The home's wood-framed glass walls can be opened to allow in cooling breezes. Tile floors, recessed lighting, and wood paneling provide a warm ambiance. Courtesy of Crosby Doe

Central Valley Farm Los Banos, California $4.25 million

7 bedrooms, 6 baths 4,041 square feet 76 acres

Key Features

Frank Lloyd Wright design Wright-designed furniture Koi pond, pool, and guest quarters

Agent

Crosby Doe Associates Crosby Doe ToptenRealEsateDeals.com
The home is shaded by a canopy of mature trees, and is designed to blend in seamlessly with the landscaping. (Courtesy of Crosby Doe)
The home is shaded by a canopy of mature trees, and is designed to blend in seamlessly with the landscaping. Courtesy of Crosby Doe
The home's office features freestanding and built-in furniture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as a great view of the surrounding countryside. (Courtesy of Crosby Doe)
The home's office features freestanding and built-in furniture designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as a great view of the surrounding countryside. Courtesy of Crosby Doe
The home features glass walls that can be opened to enjoy the manicured landscaping as well as views of the adjacent farmlands and distant mountains. (Courtesy of Crosby Doe)
The home features glass walls that can be opened to enjoy the manicured landscaping as well as views of the adjacent farmlands and distant mountains. Courtesy of Crosby Doe
A tranquil koi pond is a central element of the home's extensive landscaping. (Courtesy of Crosby Doe)
A tranquil koi pond is a central element of the home's extensive landscaping. Courtesy of Crosby Doe
Bill Lindsey
Bill Lindsey
Author
Bill Lindsey is an award-winning writer based in South Florida. He covers real estate, automobiles, timepieces, boats, and travel topics.
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