Monday, October 01, 2007

Wandering In Western New York

Our intrepid explorer sets out, steering wheel in one hand, map in the other and wends her way southwest along the Seaway Trail. She is just beginning to mutter about Mapquest, when, around the next bend flashes a sign. No. Our heroine is not speeding. It came up suddenly, that’s all. She comes to an opening in the hedgerow and deftly executes a u-turn. Long time readers will recall she is a dab hand at the u-turns. The sign declares in elegant letters that this is Graycliff, proving once again, for those of little faith, that she can indeed read a map. Even if she does sometimes find it necessary to turn it upside down in order to get her bearings.





Graycliff is the summer home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright for his friends Isabelle R. & Darwin D. Martin. They don't live there any more. Nobody does. It is on the National Register of Historic Places and our intrepid explorer has applied steely eyed determination to the task of finding it. She is very happy to have succeeded.


Dawdling a little, so as not to be caught in the middle of the chattering tour group, she gazes up at the window above the entrance.





"Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your golden hair," she silently cries, but Rapunzel doesn't reply. Must be working furiously on her knitting......




Our heroine pauses in the doorway, glancing back before stepping inside. Such a lovely view. She imagines for a moment that she is Isabelle, long deceased mistress of Graycliff, and Jeeves has just dropped her off at the front door......A tour guide comes and breaks the spell, urging her to keep up with the group.





"Oh, Oh!" Here we are, on the inside, at the top of the stairs. Turns out Rapunzel was never even there.....




....which really is a pity. These rooms are so full of light. She wouldn't even have needed her glasses.





That Frank , he had the right idea, bringing the outdoors in.





Washing dishes must have been painless with flowers like these crowding the window by the kitchen sink......




When the dishes were done you could take a stroll in the back garden. Nice how the windows reflect the lake. And turning away from the house you have this view before you.





You'd think Isabelle would have been happy as a clam. But, by all reports, she was not. Our heroine was. Happy as a clam that is, to have found her way out here. Loath to drive back to the city too soon, she went trespassing on private beaches, studiously ignoring signs that proclaimed them as such. The rich can have their mansions, but she'll growl at them if they tell her she can't walk along the shore. Nobody did. She had a lovely time, our intrepid explorer.


12 comments:

Tanya Brown said...

Thank you for this. The architecture and grounds look spectacular. I think I could live there. Just imagine all of the space for books!

Here's to adventure!

meggie said...

Thank you for taking us to this lovely house with you.
And, why should the seashore be just for the rich! Glad you enjoyed it.

Wanderlust Scarlett said...

That is so very beautiful, had no idea it existed. Thank you for the tour, I enjoyed it immensely!!

Scarlett & Viaggiatore

Stomper Girl said...

What a fabulous house. Thanks for the tour.

I turn my maps upside down too.

riseoutofme said...

Most really intelligent, creative people turn their maps upside down .... gives a whole new perspective ......

Birdydownunder said...

now that Rise definitely is top of my list.
What a lovely outing. Such a pity the house isn't lived in. Beautiful everything. Did you have a picnic.

thailandchani said...

Geeeez! I would like to live in that house! Looks like just the kind of place to make a peaceful home.

Beautiful pictures! :)


Peace,

~Chani
http://thailandgal.blogspot.com

Ali Honey said...

Delightful place. I have seen on TV a house built by him - not sure if it is the same one; that had a waterfall inside?

Anonymous said...

My Pete is insanely jealous that you have been there. It is every architect's dream!

molly said...

The house you're thinking of, Ali, is Fallingwater in Pennsylvania. I've never been but would like to see it some day. The web site is www.fallingwater.org.

Life's not fair Tracey. I'm sure your Pete would appreciate all the architural details much better than I....

molly said...

....tect....!

Molly said...

Beautiful, I could live there, but work is here in Indiana. Plus, being directionally challenged, I would never find the place.