Architectural Inspiration
Learning From the World's Great Homes
Exceptional homes are rarely the result of chance. They are the product of thoughtful design, careful craftsmanship, and a deep understanding of the principles that have shaped residential architecture for generations.
The homes featured here represent some of the most influential residential designs ever created. Each demonstrates a unique approach to proportion, materials, light, structure, and the relationship between architecture and its surroundings. Together, they have helped shape the way designers and homeowners think about the places we call home.
For Nicholas Preston, studying these masterworks is an ongoing part of the design process. Their value lies not in imitation, but in understanding the timeless principles that make exceptional homes endure. Every project offers lessons in composition, detailing, functionality, and the careful balance between beauty and practicality.
At Preston Design, inspiration is never about recreating another designer's work. It is about continually refining the craft, learning from history, and applying those lessons to create homes that are authentic to each client, thoughtfully designed for the way they live, and built to stand the test of time.
The homes below are presented as educational studies celebrating some of history's most significant residential designs and the visionaries who created them. Their enduring influence serves as a reminder that exceptional homes are defined not by a particular style, but by timeless design, exceptional detail, and an unwavering commitment to quality.
Throughout Nicholas' academic journey, several residences have left a lasting impression with their remarkable and awe-inspiring designs. These residences, captured in the images below, represent the pinnacle of architectural excellence and serve as enduring reminders of the visionary architects who have shaped the course of architectural history.
Falling Water
1491 Mill Run Rd, Mill Run, PA 15464
Built in 1936 for Edgar J. Kaufmann and his wife Liliane
Designed By Frank Lloyd Wright
-
![Modern house built into a hillside with large concrete balconies, stone walls, and large windows surrounded by trees and a waterfall feature.]()
Below The Falls
Image Credit: www.dailyartmagazine.com
-
![Modern house built on rocks and waterfall in a lush forest of green trees.]()
Downstream
Image Credit: Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation
-
![Architectural line drawing of a modern multi-story house on a hillside with a waterfall feature below and large windows.]()
Front Elevation
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Architectural drawing of a modern house built into a hillside with stone and concrete walls, multiple levels, and large windows, also featuring a waterfall at the bottom right.]()
Falls Elevation
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Architectural drawing of modern house with stone and concrete exterior, large glass windows, multiple levels, set on a hillside.]()
Driveway Approach Elevation
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Architectural blueprint of a building with a swimming pool, foundation bays, boiler room, and live cellar, along with contour lines indicating terrain elevation.]()
Basement and Foundation
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Architectural floor plan of a house with rooms labeled as living room, kitchen, bathroom, bedroom, and outdoor patios, along with measurements and landscape features.]()
First Floor
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Architectural blueprint of a house with multiple terraces, bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, stairs, and a bear run outdoor area.]()
Second Floor
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Architectural floor plan of a building with labeled rooms including study, bath, gallery, terrace, and an alcove, along with outdoor features such as a heated canopy, deck, and bear run surrounding the property.]()
Third Floor
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Interior view of a modern home with a glass enclosed balcony area, visible staircase leading down, decorative stone wall on the left, and large windows overlooking a garden with trees.]()
River Stair Sliding Hatch
Image Credit: Andrew Pielage
www.apizm.com
-
![A modern house built on a rocky hillside surrounded by trees with orange and green leaves, featuring large glass windows and a waterfall in the foreground, with fog in the background.]()
Below The Falls in Autumn
Image Credit: Andrew Pielage
www.apizm.com
The Farnsworth House
14520 River Rd, Plano, IL 60545
Built in 1951 for Edith Farnsworth
Designed By Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
-
![Modern house with large glass windows and a flat roof surrounded by trees and grassy area during dusk.]()
Entry Approach
Image Credit: www.archinect.com
-
![A modern white house with a screened porch is set in a forest with trees shedding autumn leaves in shades of yellow, orange, and brown.]()
Autumn Photo
Image Credit: www.metalocus.es
-
![Minimalist living room with large floor-to-ceiling windows showing a lush green yard, wooden cabinets on the left, a brown leather daybed on a white rug, and two brown chairs with metal frames.]()
Living Area Looking To Bedroom
Image Credit: www.metalocus.es
-
![Floor plan drawing of a house showing upper and lower terraces, living area, office, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, mechanical core, fireplace, wardrobe,stairs, and surrounding grass areas with detailed measurements.]()
Floor Plan
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Modern open living space with large glass windows showing green outdoor scenery, a wooden dining table with white dishes, a tall potted plant, and lounge chairs near the windows.]()
Dining, Sitting and Entrance
Image Credit: www.dezeen.com
-
![Architectural line drawing of a modern house with labels for upper and lower terraces and a central utility shaft.]()
Rear Elevation
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Living room with large sliding glass doors leading to outdoor space, a light-colored area rug, a low white coffee table with books and flowers, a modern gray sofa with brown and rust pillows, a built-in wood wall unit, and two rattan chairs.]()
Living Area Looking To Entrance
Image Credit: www.dezeen.com
-
![Line drawing of a modern house with upper and lower terraces.]()
Front Elevation
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Kitchen with wood cabinets, white drawers, stove, kettle, sink, and large sliding glass door opening to a green backyard.]()
Kitchen
Image Credit: www.dezeen.com
-
![Sunlit interior room with large glass sliding doors, beige floor and curtains, and two mid-century modern lounge chairs with cushions. Potted plants are between the chairs, with an outdoor view of trees and a patio.]()
Sitting Area
Image Credit: www.dezeen.com
The Robie House
5757 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60637
Built in 1909 for Frederick C. Robie
Designed By Frank Lloyd Wright
-
![Front Picture]()
Perspetive From Street Corner
The meticulously crafted walls ascending from the lawn, paired with the elegant cantilevered roof and thoughtfully placed planter boxes, infuse this home with a profound sense of groundedness and purpose.
Image Credit: www.house-nerd-com
-
![Black and white photo of a mid-century modern house with multiple levels, flat roofs, and large windows, surrounded by trees in a neighborhood.]()
Historic Photo Before Tree Growth
Image Credit: www.wrightsjapan1905.org
-
![Architectural floor plan of a building with rooms labeled billiard room, playroom, garage, and areas designated for conjectural restoration.]()
Ground Level Floor Plan
Note FLW’s ability to break down the corners and limit the use of continuous wall surfaces. Windows were used as a filler between structural components and never shown as a standalone element.
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Detailed architectural floor plan of a house, showing rooms labeled as living room, dining room, guest room, kitchen, and servants' quarters, with stairs and structural details.]()
Second Floor Plan
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![A spacious, empty room with large windows on both sides, a red sofa, a small wooden table, and a wooden bench. The ceiling has intricate wood paneling with lighting fixtures, and sunlight streams through the windows, casting shadows on the carpeted floor.]()
Billiard Room
Image Credit: www.teachingbydesign.org
-
![A modern mid-century house with brick walls, flat roofs, and large windows, surrounded by trees and a sidewalk in the foreground.]()
Exterior Corner View
Image Credit: www.ofhouses.com
-
![Black and white photo of a modern brick house with a flat roof, large windows, and a prominent overhanging awning. There is a large tree in the foreground on the right and a decorative stone and brick low wall with a fountain or planter attached in front.]()
Planter and Cantilever
Image Credit: www.ofhouses.com
-
![A black-and-white photo of a large, modern house with multiple levels and flat roofs, surrounded by trees. The house is set back from the street with a sidewalk and a lawn in front.]()
Across the Street
Image Credit: www.ofhouses.com
-
![Black and white photo of a modern multi-story stone building with large windows, surrounded by trees and bushes, on a city street.]()
Front Facade
Image Credit: www.ofhouses.com
-
![A black and white photograph of a modern, multi-story residential building with large windows, surrounded by trees and bushes. The building is set back from the street, with a sidewalk and a street sign visible in the foreground. A person is walking on the sidewalk, and a car is parked on the street.]()
Carriage Approach
Image Credit: www.ofhouses.com
-
![Black and white photo of a mid-century modern house with flat rooflines, large windows, brick and concrete exterior, and cars parked in front.]()
Corner Photo
Image Credit: www.ofhouses.com
-
![A black and white photograph of a modern multi-story building with a flat roof, brick exterior, and overhanging eaves, surrounded by trees and bushes.]()
Entrance Cantilever
Image Credit: www.ofhouses.com
The Hagan House (Kentuck Knob)
723 Kentuck Rd, Dunbar, PA 15431
Built in 1956 for I.N. and Bernardine Hagan
Designed By Frank Lloyd Wright
-
![A modern house with stone walls and a unique sloped roof surrounded by trees and a gravel driveway.]()
Driveway Approach
Image Credit: Gary Allman
www.breakfastinamerica.me
-
![Architectural floor plan drawing showing layouts, walls, rooms, and structures with black accents on a white background.]()
Ground Level Floor Plan
Image Credit: Pinterest
-
![Front view of a stone house entrance with a small staircase, a wood door with glass panels, and a firewood rack next to the door, with sunlight casting shadows on the stone walls.]()
Front Entrance
Image credit: Library of Congress
-
![View of a house with stone walls and a metal roof, seen from under a porch, with steps leading up to a wooden door, surrounded by trees and bushes.]()
Under The Carport
Image Credit: Gary Allman
www.breakfastinamerica.me
-
![Kitchen with stone walls, wooden cabinets, and a sloped wooden ceiling with a skylight. Countertop has kitchen appliances and utensils.]()
Kitchen View
Image Credit: Andrew Pielage
www.apizm.com
-
![A living room with large windows, wooden ceiling, and a built-in sofa against the wall lined with books. Various chairs, a coffee table, and a floor lamp are also present.]()
Living Room
Image credit: Library of Congress
-
![Black and white photo of a metal roof on a house, with trees in the background and surrounding bushes and shrubs.]()
The Roof Above
Image credit: Library of Congress
-
![A large stone retaining wall on a sloped lawn with fallen autumn leaves. The wall is built with rectangular stones and has a wooden deck or porch with a roof on top, set amidst trees.]()
View From Lower Yard
Image Credit: Gary Allman
www.breakfastinamerica.me
The Ennis House
2655 Glendower Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Built in 1924 for Charles Ennis and his wife Mabel
Designed By Frank Lloyd Wright
-
![Aerial view of a modern, large house with multiple levels and terraces, surrounded by trees and mountainous landscape in the background.]()
Aerial Photo
Image Credit: www.amt-labs.com
This custom hilltop home is comprised of over 27,000 custom concrete blocks built atop a concrete platform.
-
![Aerial view of a modern multi-story building with geometric design, surrounded by trees and hilly terrain.]()
Aerial Photo 2
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![A large, modern beige building with a textured and patterned facade, multiple levels, and rectangular windows under a clear blue sky, with greenery at the base of the building.]()
Front Facade From Below
Image Credit: www.franklloydwrightsites.com
-
![Architectural floor plan of a house with a large outdoor patio area on the left, a guest room, kitchen, dining and living rooms in the center, and a garden terrace with multiple rooms, including bedrooms, on the right. The house is surrounded by trees and landscape elements.]()
Floor Plan
Image Credit: www.re-thinkingthefuture.com
-
![View of a rooftop terrace overlooking a city skyline at sunset with illuminated buildings and trees.]()
Entry Court
Image Credit: www.franklloydwright.org
-
![Architectural blueprint of a multi-level building with a sloped base, featuring multiple windows, doors, and a garage, with a scale in feet and meters.]()
West Elevation (Rear)
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Interior view of a luxurious building featuring intricate stone columns, a marble floor, chandeliers, large windows with a balcony, and a sitting area with a rug.]()
Interior Hall and Living Room
Image Credit: www.franklloydwright.org
-
![Interior of a cozy dining room with a large dark wood table and cream upholstered chairs; a chandelier hangs from a wooden ceiling with exposed beams; large windows offer a view of a city skyline in the distance.]()
Dining Room
Image Credit: www.franklloydwright.org
-
![A decorative metal grille with intricate patterns, framing a view of a contemporary interior corridor with stone walls and a marble floor.]()
Entry Foyer
Image Credit: www.franklloydwright.org
-
![Modern beige stone building with geometric patterned walls, large windows, and a gated entrance, surrounded by landscaped garden and trees, under a clear blue sky.]()
Entry Court
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![Image of a decorative stone wall and an ornate metal gate, with trees on either side and a clear blue sky in the background.]()
Entry Gate and Bridge Above
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![Interior of a room with textured beige stone walls, wooden ceiling beams, a window, glass door, bookshelf, table with chairs, and a vase with flowers.]()
Breakfast Room
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![A beige building with an intricate geometric pattern, set on a hilltop with a city skyline in the background. There are trees and a clear blue sky.]()
Gate Bridge Crossing
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
The Eames House
203 Chautauqua Blvd, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272
Designed and built in 1949 by homeowners Charles and Ray Eames
-
![Modern glass house surrounded by trees with sunlight filtering through]()
Exterior Home Photo
Image Credit: Reddit
-
![Modern house with large black-framed windows and multicolored geometric panels, surrounded by trees and a green lawn.]()
Exterior Home Photo
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![Modern house with a black metal frame and large glass windows, surrounded by tall eucalyptus trees and green shrubs in a garden.]()
Exterior Home Photo
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![Floor plan of a multi-story building with detailed interior layouts, showing rooms, stairs, kitchen, bathrooms, and outdoor deck areas.]()
Home and Studio, First and Second Floor Plans
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![A modern house with large glass windows, surrounded by potted plants and trees, with a wooden walkway and outdoor garden area.]()
Courtyard Photo (Looking Towards Home Side)
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![Modern house with glass doors and windows, surrounded by potted plants, on a patio with brick flooring, trees in the background.]()
Courtyard Photo (Looking Towards Home Side)
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![A modern two-story house surrounded by lush greenery, with floor-to-ceiling black-framed glass windows and a brick pathway leading to the entrance.]()
Exterior Home Photo
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![Modern house surrounded by trees and greenery with a sloped lawn in the foreground.]()
Exterior Home Photo
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![Modern multi-story house with large glass windows and a landscaped garden outside, at dusk.]()
Exterior Home Photo
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![Floor plan of a two-story house showing rooms such as living room, kitchen, dining room, utility room, bedrooms, bathrooms, hallways, and a staircase.]()
Home First and Second Floor Plans
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Architectural floor plan of a two-story building with labeled rooms, including a dark room, kitchen, studio, loft, and open-to-below area.]()
Studio First and Second Floor Plans
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Living room with large windows, wooden walls, bookshelves, sofas, plants, and hanging lamps.]()
Family Room
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![Interior of a living room with large windows, a bookshelf filled with books, a hanging paper lantern, potted plants, seating area, and sunlight streaming through the windows.]()
Family Room and Dining Nook
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![A spacious living room with large floor-to-ceiling windows, greenery outside, a mix of modern and vintage furniture, a large bookshelf filled with books, and a cozy seating area with a patterned sofa, armchairs, and a coffee table decorated with flowers.]()
Family Room
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![Interior hallway with black-frosted glass sliding doors on the left, a spiral staircase with wooden steps and black support on the right, several rugs on white floor, and plants at the end of the hallway leading to an outdoor space.]()
Entry Foyer and Spiral Stair
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![View through a glass door showing a spiral staircase with black and wooden steps, a potted Monstera plant, a small black cat figurine, and a framed black-and-white abstract art piece on the wall.]()
Spiral Stair
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![A bedroom with a bed, a large window, wooden closet doors, and a colorful patterned chair next to a small wooden table.]()
Bedroom
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![Architectural elevation drawing of a two-story modern building with large windows, a central glass door, and a slanted roof.]()
Home Elevation (East)
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Architectural drawing of a modern multi-story building with glass windows and a central dark-colored square feature.]()
Studio Elevation (East)
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Architectural blueprint of a building with floor plans and elevation views, including details of doors, screens, and stairs.]()
Building Sections
Image Credit: Library of Congress
-
![Modern two-story house with large glass windows, surrounded by trees and plants in a lush garden.]()
Courtyard Photo (Looking Towards Studio Side)
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![Interior view of a modern office or studio space with high ceiling, large windows on the left, a staircase with wooden steps and metal railing leading to a mezzanine, a desk with a computer on the right, and a colorful rug on the wooden floor.]()
Studio Loft Stair
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![Interior of an office with large windows, corner desk, black chairs, and a lounge chair with ottoman, wooden flooring, and lush greenery visible outside.]()
Studio Workspace
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
-
![A high-angle view of a modern office with large windows, a white oval conference table surrounded by black chairs, bookshelves, and decorative items.]()
Studio from Above
Image Credit: www.architecture-history.org
