Serving Larchmont Village, Hancock Park, and the Greater Wilshire neighborhoods of Los Angeles since 2011.

Buzz Worthy Real Estate: Restored Lloyd Wright Home in Wilshire Park

The William Weber House at 3923 West 9th Street, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and his son Lloyd Wright, is back on the market and will be open for broker viewing on Tuesday. (photo courtesy of Stephan Cohen)

When this historic landmark home – designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and finished by his son, Lloyd, for client William Weber in 1920 – came on the market just over a year ago, Stephan Cohen was the second person to see it. Cohen told the Buzz, he felt like he had found the dream house for his family.

Over the past year, Cohen set about a careful, thoughtful restoration with the idea that he would live there with his wife and daughter. He did most of the work himself. Though he’s not a trained carpenter or designer, Cohen works professionally with artisans and designers, and knew exactly how he wanted to restore the home at 3923 West 9th Street, in the Wilshire Park HPOZ.

But since Cohen purchased the house, circumstances have changed for his family, so he has put the three bedroom, two bathroom home back on the market. He is the listing agent and is hosting a brokers open today from 11a.m – 2 p.m.  Cohen can be reached at (323) 697 7955, the property is also listed on Zillow.

Living room of the Weber House, recently renovated and now on the market. (photo courtesy of Stephan Cohen)
Built in desk in the living room of the William Weber house. (photo courtesy of Stephan Cohen)

We met with Cohen earlier this week and got a tour of the renovated home, which we last wrote about before Cohen bought it. The home, a historic monument complete with Mills Act tax credit,  was mostly intact but badly needed restoration.

Cohen refinished the original beech wood floors in the living and dining rooms, carefully repairing patches that had been done haphazardly. All the wood work, a significant feature of the house, has been restored or replaced with Honduran Mahogany, to match the original materials.

Cohen also completely renovated the kitchen, designing wood cabinets to match the original cabinets in the dining room. He installed Stainless Steel appliances, soapstone counters and an apron sink,  all of which perfectly match the period of the house. And there are original Wright light fixtures, produced by the Wright Foundation, as well as reproduction fixtures and cabinet hardware.

The first floor bedroom/study features three reproduction light fixtures Cohen sourced from the Wright Foundation. (photo courtesy of Stephan Cohen)

Cohen stayed true to the original floor plan which, it turns out, differed a bit from some of the drawings given to him by the previous owner.  Cohen speculates that some of the drawings were from an earlier iteration of the house’s design. There are small differences, but for the most part,  the house remains as the Wrights constructed it in 1921. Where Cohen made changes, like adding a second sink to the second floor bathroom, he did it carefully and tastefully, preserving the authenticity and architectural integrity of the house.

In short, the William Weber House is a rare example of Wright’s prairie style houses in Los Angeles, surrounded by similar period homes protect by the Wilshire Park HPOZ . A true original, now lovingly restored and ready for the next century.

Renovated Kitchen in the William Weber House designed by Lloyd Wright (photo courtesy of Stephan Cohen)
Dining Room with original cabinets and view into new kitchen cabinets designed by Cohen
Owner Stephan Cohen described how he restored the dining room cabinet and reproduced the leaded glass cabinet design in the kitchen.
Cohen sourced period latches for the cabinets and wall plates for the outlets and switches.
Kitchen pantry cabinet designed by Cohen and constructed of Honduran Mahogany to match the original cabinet. The floor is unstained white oak, which Cohen selected to match the original Beech wood in the adjoining rooms.
Cohen restored the bathroom cabinets and installed a new sink, styled appropriately to the period of the house. (photo courtesy of Stephan Cohen)
Original drawings of the Weber House carry Frank Lloyd Wright’s signature. The elder Wright started the home, but left to work on the Imperial Hotel in Japan, so his son, Lloyd, finished the house. (photo courtesy of Stephan Cohen)
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Patricia Lombard
Patricia Lombard
Patricia Lombard is the publisher of the Larchmont Buzz. Patty lives with her family in Fremont Place. She has been active in neighborhood issues since moving here in 1989. Her pictorial history, "Larchmont" for Arcadia Press is available at Chevalier's Books.

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