Ohio home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright on the market

The Louis Penfield House in Willoughby Hills

WILLOUGHBY HILLS, Ohio — A house on the market that’s small by today’s standards and has just one full bathroom is certain to attract a lot of attention.

The Louis Penfield House in Willoughby Hills has the distinction of being designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

The house, which was commissioned by a high school art teacher and remains in the Penfield family, is being sold along with 18 acres and two other houses on the property for $1.7 million.

Paul Penfield said it’s time for someone else to have the opportunity of owning the unique home.

His late father commissioned Mr. Wright to design the home.

“The thing about Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the many things, is that no one ever had a contract with him. It was all done on a handshake,” Paul Penfield told The News-Herald in Willoughby. “It was all verbal.

“He never really got around to telling you ‘yes’ or ‘no’ until the plans arrived in the mail,” Mr. Penfield said.

The 1955 house has 1,800 square of living space and three bedrooms.

It has an open design with lofted ceilings and tall windows that allow those sitting on the living room’s unique bank bench to feel surrounded by nature.

Mr. Penfield and his wife do not live in the house where he grew up. They now rent it to visitors for $275 a night during the week and for $300 on the weekends.

He remembers that when it was built, strangers would show up to see Mr. Wright’s creation.

“He had such a cult following,” he said. “All I knew is there was a house that was going to be built.”