The Louis Penfield House — Hotel in Willoughby Hills

Just returned home from a weekend at the Penfield house. It is one of only a handful of Frank Lloyd Wright houses that are available for rent, so if you have any interest in Wright's architecture, this is definitely worth a stay!||||The house is one of Wright's "Usonian" houses, designed for middle class people rather than the wealthy. It is consequently fairly small, although the entire 3-bedroom house is rented to only one renter at a time. It is not a B&B, but it has a well equipped kitchen that you can use to prepare meals (although there is no oven). The bedrooms are comfortable but small, and can accommodate only up to 5 people, with two double beds and one twin bed. On the main floor, the narrow entry hall opens into a larger living/dining area, and the design of the house with its huge windows makes this space appear to flow into the outside, giving the appearance of a much larger space.||||The property is quite large (I believe I read 30 acres) and the house is surrounded by woods, so it is quite private. The scenic Chagrin River is a short walk from the main house, and the woods have an abundance of wildlife. Also on the property is the ruins of Mr. Penfield's art studio. (Only the stone walls remain.)||||Although the house itself was renovated about 10-20 years ago, it is in need of a little upkeep--for instance, the front door cannot be locked (except for a flimsy ceiling bolt) and the knob/handle on one of the under-counter refrigerators threatens to fall off. In spite of this, I give the house and property a 5-dot rating, simply for the fact that it gives you the opportunity to literally live inside a...

If this is your thing then this works for you!

Rooms: Sleeping quarters are small and reminiscent of elementary school summer camp bunked rooms. Beds are hard. SERVICE: House is stocked with extra towels, cleaning supply, washer/dryer, microwave, iron board, cooking pots/utensils, cups, cooking spices in kitchen cupboard etc for your convenience. Wifi code available if you need to tap into 5G!

Location: Don't miss it when driving up to the property which isn't noticeable if coming at night. It's gated with a code to get on property that sits in the woods. Awesome for you nature lovers.

If you're more than 200lbs and wide you can't get upstairs to the bedrooms. You will have to sleep downstairs in the living room couch, per the extreme narrowness of the constructed stairs and the narrow door frames of each room.

This place is nothing luxurious ,this historical house is for those who like the rugged outdoors and want to cross of your list in being in a historical house. Away from the city if you need time away, grocery store near by if you need to. Definitely come with people you don't mind being stuck with because there's nothing to do besides who and what you bring in this house.

In synopsis this is an expensive...

I highly recommend staying at the Penfield House to those who appreciate Frank Lloyd Wright’s work. This house is a true masterpiece – and beautifully restored. It is an extremely rare opportunity to stay in a piece of architectural history. Please keep in mind that Mr. Penfield was very tall and lean, and Mr. Wright designed this home for him. Meaning, that the stairs and hallways are narrow, and the largest size beds are full’s. As a previous review noted, if you are a very large person, staying here may be a challenge. People were leaner decades ago. The property is full of gorgeous wooded views and the nearby river is a one-minute walk. You will see many deer and chipmunks. Sadly, at times, you can hear the nearby highway, depending on the direction of the wind. The owner/caretaker lives in a nearby house (and is very accommodating), but this in no way disrupts the wonderful feeling of being in quiet solitude with nature. The Penfield House will give followers of Wright the ability to experience first-hand the Prairie Style – the feeling that you are outside and immersed in nature while actually still...