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 distinct approach to proportion, materials, light, structure, and the relationship between a home and its surroundings. Together, they have helped shape the way designers and homeowners understand the places in which we live.

For Nicholas Preston, studying these masterworks is an ongoing part of refining the design process. Their value lies not in imitation, but in understanding the timeless principles that allow exceptional homes to endure. Each residence offers lessons in composition, spatial organization, functionality, craftsmanship, and the careful balance between beauty and practicality.

Photographs reveal the character and atmosphere of these remarkable homes, while the accompanying plans, elevations, and sections provide a deeper understanding of how they were designed. Floor plans illustrate the organization of spaces and patterns of movement. Elevations reveal proportion, composition, and material relationships, while sections help explain structure, changes in level, and the connection between each home and its site. Presented together, the drawings and photographs allow each residence to be appreciated not only as a beautiful home, but as a carefully resolved work of residential design.

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 in new ways to create homes that are personal, enduring, and thoughtfully designed around the people who will live in them.

The homes and drawings 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.

Falling Water

1491 Mill Run Rd, Mill Run, PA 15464

Built in 1936 for Edgar J. Kaufmann and his wife Liliane

Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright

The Farnsworth House

14520 River Rd, Plano, IL 60545

Built in 1951 for Edith Farnsworth

Architect: Ludwig Mies van der Rohe

The Robie House

5757 S Woodlawn Ave, Chicago, IL 60637

Built in 1909 for Frederick C. Robie

Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright

  • Front Picture

    Perspective 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

    Image Credit Link
  • 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

    Image Credit Link
  • 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

    Image Credit Link
  • 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

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  • 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

    Image Credit Link

The Hagan House (Kentuck Knob)

723 Kentuck Rd, Dunbar, PA 15431

Built in 1956 for I.N. and Bernardine Hagan

Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright

The Ennis House

2655 Glendower Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Built in 1924 for Charles Ennis and his wife Mabel

Architect: Frank Lloyd Wright

The Eames House

203 Chautauqua Blvd, Pacific Palisades, CA 90272

Construction Date: 1949

Architect: Homeowners Charles and Ray Eames