As a Wisconsin native, Frank Lloyd Wright influenced my understanding of innovative American architecture. He was innovative, creative and compelling. He also was an arrogant dictator with beliefs mirroring Ayn Rand’s overly individualistic (selfish) worldview but applied to the built environment. FLW is part of the reason Robert Moses destroyed NYC and Troy narrowly avoided a highway crushing the life from the city. He is suburbia and his roofs leak.
However, our understanding of 19th century buildings in the 20th century is very different from 70-80 years ago. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps illustrate the decline of neighborhoods like mine. Redlining sped their decline as banks wouldn’t loan the money needed to keep buildings alive. Style changed and ornamentation fell from fashion for plain and restrained style. Vinyl siding. Carpet over hardwood. Some love it—I find it lacks a sense of humor and is conformist. Shiplap is the devil (fight me). Open concept is pandemic hell.
This mid-century shift created a modern envelope in my fussy victorian palace. The kitchen ceiling dropped from 11’ to 9’. Greek key window trim was ripped away for a soffit with ceiling to floor curtains hiding stained glass windows. Abandoned curtain rods stretched across the walls in the living room keeping elegant trim veiled behind more curtains. To their credit, the teal, kelly green and baby blue colors were bold and I have a soft spot.
Naturally, I’m horrified and extremely judgey about these choices. They are not to my taste*. But intellectually I understand the desire to reject the old for the new. We get bored. We have mixed emotions about the past and purging the old is a type of therapy.
I’m also not recreating 1886. I want to be strategic. The missing history returns in trim, proportion, floor plan and salvage. The 19th century inspires the library and office. But extremely personal touches—wallpaper, color and decor are here while I am here. The liminal space of the kitchen will always be one that changes with technology and use.
*Midwest translation: Fucking horrible