Prairie Style Home Unites Past and Present: Pillars House Walk

Word at the Pillars House Walk was that Carol and Derek Metcalf’s Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home on North Stone Avenue in La Grange Park took three years to design.

And it shows.

Every element of the four-year-old home is thoughtfully considered, from the wood detail on the airy 12-foot ceilings in the sitting rooms to the slim vertical drawers for storing spices in the kitchen.

The Metcalfs used poplar for all the wood molding and paneling, while thin bamboo slats cover each floor, making for a seamless transition from one room to the next.

Paintings by the Metcalf’s son, a graphic designer, hang throughout the home, giving it a personal touch and further unifying the space. 

The custom kitchen features artfully disguised appliances, including a refrigerator and dishwasher covered with the same poplar paneling seen elsewhere in the home.

Family comes first for the Metcalfs, who host their children and grandchildren each Sunday for dinner. They can even see their daughter’s home from the second floor. The basement is fully equipped for playtime with the grandkids, boasting air hockey, pool and ping-pong tables. As for the grown-ups, they can unwind by taking advantage of the wine cellar. 

While the bright, spacious home owes much to modern design, the Metcalf’s include nods to the past in their décor. Though they tore down an old home to build their dream house, a piece of it still survives in the form of an American flag they found in the teardown’s attic.

The flag hangs from a basement wall, connecting past to present and serving as a tribute to the uniquely American history embodied in a Prairie Style home.