A stunning, possibly iconic property is on the market for the more affluent amongst you – The Harriet and Randall Fawcett Residence by Frank Lloyd Wright near Los Banos, California.
Designed in 1954, but not actually completed until 1961, The Harriet and Randall Fawcett Residence straddles somewhere between modernist and midcentury, but is also unmistakably a Frank Lloyd Wright building, complete with numerous original features from the famed architect. If that's not enough, the house is also sold with original plans for some features that were never completed. Yes, you can build a few new ones yourself.
But let's focus on what is offered in complete form. Covering 3,800 square feet, the house offers up a concrete slab floor, cinder black and mahogany walls, mahogany windows, doors, trim and interior cabinetry, six bedrooms, four and a half bathrooms, a dining room, living room, pantry, two fireplaces (including a walk-in living room fireplace), three-car carport, a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed swimming pool, a Japanese garden and an eight-acre walnut orchard. Oh yes, there's also a Robert Beharka-designed outbuilding (or studio) with bath, shower and fireplace.
Words can say so much, but images say much more. You can see many of them at the official site, where you can also lodge a bid to buy. That price? $2,395,000 – which is around £1.4 million. If you've got that to spare, we can think of few better ways to spend it.
Having been to a few parties in this home and even staying there overnight, I can assure you this is one magnificent property.
Although the flat farm land surrounding the house is not the most scenic, it does have a desert-like appeal of subtle beauty which is an acquired taste.
The house has an aura of refined taste and the fine details are worth the time to notice and appreciate. That old orange shag carpet in the pic? Don’t be fooled. It is 100% wool and timeless.
The back yard is a combination of privacy and guest entertaining accomodation.
With the possible exception of 3 weeks in winter, this home is a heart-throb.