The 2026 Home Issue: Midcentury Marvels
Frank Lloyd Wright is revered as a great American architect to pioneer midcentury modern style in affordable family homes, and much of his impact lies right in our backyard. Decades after his death, discover how the design movement remains relevant.
by Julia Lombardo, Lynne Thompson, Kristen Hampshire | Mar. 2, 2026 | 5:00 AM
Photographed by Suzuran Photography
RiverRock Brings Frank Lloyd Wright’s Final Home Design to Life in Willoughby Hills
Daughter-mother duo Sarah and Debbie Dykstra and a team of local architects took on a historic challenge: building the final residential design commission from the famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Tucked into its landscape, RiverRock's streamlined, single-story layout features quintessential attributes of Wright’s famous Usonian homes. The building opened to the public with a ribbon cutting on Feb. 28, 2025.
Find out how the construction team stayed true to the blueprint while adapting to modern needs. >>
Before RiverRock, Willoughby Hills Had the Louis Penfield House
Located on the same property as RiverRock, the Louis Penfield House in Willoughby Hills is one of only three Frank Lloyd Wright-built homes in Ohio that is open to the public. Built in 1955, the home is unique for its two-floor design, 12-foot ceilings, and open-concept kitchen and living space, all designed to accommodate Louis Penfield’s 6-foot-8 stature. Despite being less compressed and more spread out than most of Wright’s Usonian projects, the home still upholds the same design principles for its deep connections to nature.
Discover how else the Louis Penfield House stands out from RiverRock. >>
Local Designers and Educators Define Midcentury Modern
Modernism is rooted in the late-19th-century industrial revolution, when materials like reinforced concrete, steel and glass became plentiful and mass migration to the cities spurred the development of building up, not out, in the form of skyscrapers. Color generally was limited to accents in expanses of black, white and gray, but the addition of wood and stone in the 1930s and 1940s made modernism more approachable. The crowd-favorite design movement has a long and complex history, according to industry experts.
How To Bring Midcentury Modern Into Your Cleveland Home
Start with a statement piece. Shop secondhand. Be cautious with sofas. Inject a shot of modern or midcentury modern style into your decor like a pro by following the dos and don’ts offered by local interior-design professionals.
6 Locally Sourced Products To Start Your Midcentury Modern Mood Board
From rare finds to handmade classics, find inspiration in a carefully curated mix suited for distinct modern living. Desks, decor and cabinets all embody the movement, provided by sellers across the Cleveland area like Homestead Furniture, Rook Modern and Sweet Modern.
