The Louis Penfield House

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 being indoors.

What stands out most is the atmosphere: quiet, contemplative, and deeply human. The house and grounds are designed not to impress through excess, but to nurture daily life through proportion, light, and connection to nature. The Louis Penfield House remains a timeless example of how architecture can be both functional and poetic—an experience that lingers long after you leave.

A must stay if you are a FLW fan. My husband and I stayed at the Seth Peterson cottage in Wisconsin last year and loved experiencing the cabin. The Penfeild house is exceptionally beautiful. It has all the aspects you'd expect: compressed entry to expansive living space, the use of repeating elements, and lots of glass and indoor to outdoor ceiling and flooring to give the illusion of the house being an extension of the site. The kitchen was more friendly than most of FLW homes, and the three of us could prep meals and drinks together, side by side. Even with the summer weather, we kept the fireplace blazing to get the full experience. The halls, doors, and stairs are very narrow. The beds should be upgraded or have a 200-pound weight limit, but the linens were of good quality and comfortable. Be sure to walk the property to the river and to the new build RiverRock, a FLW design now in progress after a 65 year delay. The journals of Loius Penfield, an art teacher, are available to peruse, including a fascinating journal of letters to the FLW architects during the build.

It is one thing to visit a Frank Lloyd Wright home but a totally different experience to live in one. We were able to get a fuller understanding and appreciation of his design and functionality of his homes by staying there. The house is authentically as it was when it was constructed nearly 70 years ago. However, the beds while queen-size did have new and comfortable mattresses which made for an excellent night's sleep. The house has adequate cooking amenities and was fully equipped. The house is also equipped with WiFi. There is a very good grocery store only a few minutes drive away. The location of the house is perfect with a large wooded area. There was an abundance of wildlife that we witnessed; rabbits, raccoons, groundhogs, not to mention the deer which were magical! Our experience of staying there was everything we expected and more and I can't recommend it any higher to any Frank Lloyd Wright fan. A huge thank you to the owners of the house for providing us this awesome experience.

A hidden, Ohio gem. This is a lovely place for a quiet few days away. We visited as a couple with our only goal being to spend some quiet time together, sitting next to the fire, playing some games, enjoying food and drinks. This is the perfect place for it. If you are planning to stay more than a couple days or have more than two people, do plan to shop each day. The refrigerator space is very limited. Also, there is no oven, so don't plan to make a roast or whole chicken.

Before you stay… get an understanding of the house. This is not just any Airbnb. The house was constructed specifically for the original owners, so it’s very unique to the property and the tall slim owner. For anyone wanting to experience the uniqueness and beauty of a Frank Loyd Wright house, this is for you! We stayed with our two adult daughters and thoroughly loved the experience. We especially liked viewing the sketchbook of the original owner, who was an artist and teacher. And the staff was wonderfully responsive to any questions or needs we had. Downtown Cleveland is just a short drive away for any museums or activities you need. Restaurants and grocery store are nearby. BUT be aware that if you are a light sleeper, you will hear the highway noise. Just bring a pair of earplugs and you’ll be fine.

My family and I absolutely loved our stay at Penfield House. We are big Frank Lloyd Wright fans and have visited many projects but this was our first time staying a few nights. Penfield house is designed in the most rational, yet breathtakingly beautiful way. It has everything you need to live an inspired life perfectly thought out. We were lucky enough to meet the owners and learn more about the history of the Penfield house and their dedication to preserving it. It was lovely to hike the property near the Chagrin river and to come across the new RiverRock residence (a newly built FLLW next door) was a huge surprise! Inside Penfield house were many of Louis Penfield's journals and sketchbooks which my artist husband enjoyed. I would live in the Penfield house forever if I could, but visiting it was also a dream come true.

My partner and I had the pleasure of staying at the Penfield house for our three year anniversary earlier this winter and are still daydreaming of our stay. From the moment we arrived (with warm welcome from the owner/cleaning team) we knew we were in for a treat. This quintessential Frank Lloyd Wright home was even more beautiful + spacious than the photos. With such length + window line height balanced with the comfort of the interior, it's optimal coziness. We spent the majority of the time looking out the living room window line, accompanied by the warmth of the fireplace (it was January). As an avid cook, the kitchen had plenty to whip up a meal atop the stove (just note: no oven) + we had takeout delivered. Outside of the home, downtown Willoughby was just minutes away (we Ubered) - super charming, local vintage shopping + variety of restaurants. I'll also note we Ubered to and from the house from the airport/downtown with no problem. Ah, take me back to this special stay like nowhere else. Until next time!