Road Trip: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Smith House

Welcome to the next stop in our new Road Trip series, where we explore homes and spaces that inspire us across the country. Next up: Frank Lloyd Wright’s Smith House in Bloomfield Township, Michigan. 

While visiting the Detroit metro area, Janelle and Robert spent time at the Cranbrook School & Museum, which stewards the home. Unfortunately, the house was closed the day they were in town, but they went there anyway to marvel through the windows. “Frank Lloyd Wright’s Smith house was a super inspiring site to see, and we didn’t even get to go inside,” says Janelle.

Built in 1949, the Smith House is a perfect example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Usonian style—simple, practical, and deeply connected to nature. Designed for school teachers Mary and Melvyn Smith, the home reflects Wright’s vision of creating beautiful, functional spaces for everyday living. 

“The Smith home feels expansive with its linear L shape and horizontal wood-planked ceiling,” describes Janelle. She continues, “As a resident of California, the 1600 square foot home sounds pretty substantial to me!” With its clean lines, open layout, and big windows that bring the outdoors in, the house feels like it’s part of the landscape. Local materials like red tidewater cypress and brick give it a warm, natural vibe, while Wright’s attention to detail makes every inch feel intentional.

“The most special thing about this home is that the furniture and decor inside are all original to how the Smiths left it. It is truly a time capsule.” The Smith’s great collection of mid-century craft and art is so monumental that it mirrors the significance of the home's architecture. The collection consists of fiber tapestries, handwoven pillows, brutalist metal sculptures, wood sculptures, and a massive amount of ceramics throughout the home. The home and its contents are a perfect view into the mid-century arts and craft movement.

The Smith House is more than just a house—it’s a piece of architectural history that captures Wright’s genius in a way that’s still inspiring today. If you’d like to visit, tours are conducted from May through November, and reservations are required in advance.