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The first home late American architect Frank Lloyd Wright ever built in Indiana and one of just two he designed in South Bend has just hit the market for $1.175 million.
The K.C. DeRhodes House residence, built in 1906, is hailed as “the only true Prairie residence in the state” and represents Wright’s early architectural vision. That vision included Wright’s signature horizontal lines, overhanging eaves and a symmetrical layout, according to the property’s listing description.
Listing agents Steve Bizzaro and Gabrielle Iams of Howard Hanna SB Real Estate are representing the property.
Although named for local industrialist K.C. DeRhodes, it was his wife Laura DeRhodes, who championed the project in the beginning of Wright’s career.
“It was at the beginning of his career,” Bizzaro told Realtor.com. “At the time, his office was in Chicago, so he would ride the train down here during the construction. It wasn’t just a design. It was hands-on for Mr. Wright.”
Inside, the 3,000-square-foot home contains five bedrooms and 3.5 bedrooms, including a primary suite with art glass windows wrapped around the room. A welcoming reception hall, living room, formal dining room and updated kitchen grace the main hall.
Notably, the home features 65 original art glass window, Wright-designed built-ins and lighting and meticulously restored woodwork. Much of that restoration is thanks to previous stewards Suzanne and Tom Miller, who purchased the home in 1978.
According to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, they used blueprints found in the attic, historical photos and physical evidence discovered during the restoration to renovate the home to Wright’s original vision. In 2021, those efforts earned the Millers the Wright Spirit Award from the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy — an award that recognizes individuals who preserve Wright’s legacy.
“They did all the work in re-creating and putting the house back into its original condition,” Bizzaro told Realtor.com. “The woodwork had been painted [over], so they painstakingly stripped the paint.”
The current owners, who purchased the home in 2022, invested $400,000 in updates, including renovated bathrooms, a new kitchen and an electric vehicle charger.
To preserve its legacy, prospective buyers must review and acknowledge the Frank Lloyd Wright Building Conservancy Preservation & Conservation Easement, Furniture Preservation Lease, and License to Encroach, before any showings.
“This is more than just a home — it’s a living piece of art, history, and design legacy,” Bizzaro said.
