Wright in Grand Rapids Michigan

Architectural post so feel free to scroll past if it’s not of interest to you. Of course it’s a day trip to see one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpieces. One that has been restored to museum quality so definitely worth the trip. The Meyer May House built in 1908 for Meyer and Sophie May. The house was purchased by Steelcase in 1985 and impressively restored down to every detail including furniture, rugs, art glass and gardens. And the tours are free! Thank you Steelcase. Best to make a reservation as they only do tours certain days and times.

I’m not alone in my love for Wright so found two fellow volunteers to make the just over 3 hour drive from Chicago to Grand Rapids, Michigan. Of course we made a reservation for the 1PM tour and luckily remembered that Michigan is on East Coast time so had to leave an hour earlier to get there on time. We arrived at 11:30 so plenty of time to get a bite of lunch. Wealthy St was recommended to us as a good area with cute shops and restaurants. Yes not a typo - Wealthy St. A really great area where the architecture reminded us so much of Oak Park with many homes clearly built in the 1890’s. We decided to try The Winchester and it exceeded our expectations. A great menu making it hard to decide what to order. We ended up with an order of deviled eggs, a chicken Caesar wrap, fries, and then a heavenly dish of Parisian gnocchi with sugar snap peas and asparagus. Shared them all and so delicious.

I had read about another important home from the studio of Wright just two blocks from our planned destination - the David Amberg House commissioned in 1910 and lead architect Marion Mahoney. She was the first licensed female architect in Illinois and a key figure in Wrights studio in Oak Park. Sophie May was the daughter of David Amberg so clearly they were influenced by their daughter’s home being built. The Amberg House is privately owned and from what I read beautifully restored by the current owner. They have made the servants quarters into an AirBNB so that is a good idea for my next visit. The Amberg House is just two blocks from the Meyer May House so we stopped on our way to see it from the outside.

Like the typical Prairie House the front not clearly determined but after walking around the corner lot we all agreed this is technically the front with the signature understated quite private entrance.

I absolutely loved this beautiful detailed artwork on the peaked roofline. Mahoney was a very talented architect and artist. She did the lions share of the drawings for Wright in his studio but because of the time and women not getting the credit they deserved it is more recently that her efforts and accomplishments are being acknowledged.

Now on to the Meyer May House. Definitely a Prairie House commissioned in 1908 and completed in 1910. Meyer May owned a large and very successful department store in Grand Rapids. His father had started the store and upon his passing at a fairly young age Meyer took over and made it even a more notable establishment. No expense was spared in building this large very modern home.

The house had just two owners when purchased by a couple in 1940 who owned it for the next 45 years. The husband passed away and the house was in serious decline. Steelcase had a relationship with Wright dating back to the SE Johnson Headquarters in Racine Wisconsin from 1937, and being based in Grand Rapids Michigan felt they needed to step in and save and restore this beautiful piece of architecture. So they purchased it in 1985 and paid for a meticulous restoration of every single detail possible. Some furniture existed but luckily there were photographs and the original drawings to help the talented experts recreate these amazing and beautiful works of art. To say we were all blown away is an understatement. They had a wonderful 30 minute video before we went into the house showing some of the restoration work. They had discovered even samples of the fabrics used to weave the carpets to use to make the rugs - unbelievable. George Mann Niedecken - an interior decorator from Milwaukee Wisconsin partnered with Wright in the latter half of his Prairie period on the interiors - rugs, furniture etc. There was a gorgeous Niedecken mural painted on a support wall between the living and dining area that was delicately restored. I loved it so much I brought home a coffee mug with this design😂

The dining room furniture is very similar to what was created for Robie House based on the original high backed chairs he built for his own home creating “a room within a room.” I’m very obsessed with this dining room concept. I took at least 15 pictures of it from every angle but I think this is my favorite.

Does this picture really even need words?

Wright used iridescent glass over metal for the mortar of the fireplace. We might be ruining the picture by standing in front of it but proof we were there. I look like a giant! Molly and Polly need to stand on their tip toes😂

Here is their daughter’s room. I wish I had art glass windows all around my bedroom and my own private sleeping porch for hot nights.

Another amazing area in the living room. That’s a wooden gramophone and gorgeous built in bookshelves with the original books the Meyers had which Steelcase had hand bound just as they were when purchased.

Of course a hidden entrance as in a Prairie home you must take the path of discovery to gain entry.

The beautiful gardens also recreated.

I don’t think I’ve ever been to Grand Rapids but it’s worth a visit. The locals asked if we were also going to go to the Meijer Sculpture Gardens Park and we had never heard of it. We looked it up online and boy did we feel stupid. Apparently one of the best sculpture gardens in the country😱Another trip will be planned for it I’m sure. All in all a super fun day and probably best three huge fans of Wright went together because I’m not sure a less interested person would have been able to tolerate our exuberance over every detail that we got to see. The staff at Meyer May was wonderful and when we told them we were all volunteers at the home and studio in Oak Park they treated us like royalty. There was even a mention of us being from the Mother Ship which really made us laugh.

Big shoutout to Steelcase! They have never said what the whole project cost as they consider it a gift to the city of Grand Rapids and it would be in poor taste to say what the gift cost. Very classy and much appreciated🩷

Thanks for letting me share my day with you.😊

My mug😂