Midcentury home by Frank Lloyd Wright apprentice asks $265K

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Location: Racine, Wisconsin

Price: $265,500

Who knew Racine, Wisconsin, was such a hotbed of (affordable) midcentury modern design? In addition to this John Randall McDonald treasure with a “scotch and music” room is another impeccably restored home that has come on the market in what is often rated the most affordable place to live in the world.

This 1949 residence was designed by Edgar Tafel in the Usonian style, as Tafel was an apprentice of Frank Lloyd Wright from 1932 to 1941, for Louis Hamilton, one half the namesake of home appliance manufacturer Hamilton Beach. (Hamilton was hired by the company’s founder as the advertising manager.)

Since then, the low-profile house has been carefully brought back to its original design by the current owner. The three-bedroom features two and half baths, a dynamic floorplan measuring 2,456 square feet, and original cypress wood throughout making up the built-in furniture including shelving, cabinetry, dressers and closets.

Anchoring the dwelling is great room with large glass expanses, high beamed ceilings, a brick hearth, and clerestory windows. This space flows into a dining area, which leads into a kitchen.

The private spaces are set in a wing that can be closed off from the main home, and the bedrooms there are spacious and incorporate lower ceilings to establish a sense of intimacy and quiet. The quaint bathrooms boast original tiling and even a built-in vanity in what was Mrs. Hamilton’s powder room.

Floors remain carpeted, as in the original design, and a basement, two-car garage, and enclosed back porch round out the space. The property also features fresh landscaping with heritage trees, preserving the time-capsule aspect of this special home, and comes with the option to apply for registration as a historic site. Located at 4001 Haven Avenue, it’s offered at $265,500.

Courtesy of Shorewest Realtors