After working under Frank Lloyd Wright on the Guggenheim Museum in the 1940s, Dennis Blair spent decades designing dozens of elegant, modernist homes around the greater Chicago area.

Yet, according to listing agent Lou Zucaro of Baird & Warner, the house that the late architect regarded as his magnum opus was completed fairly early on in his career—the 1959 Schell House.

Located an hour outside Chicago near the historic village of Long Grove, Blair's pavilion-style stunner recently hit the market for $1,200,000.

Crafted to enhance the idyllic landscape of native prairie and ancient woodland, the four-bedroom, three-bath home is defined by massive walls of glass, split-face granite, and cedar.

Further blurring the boundary between indoors and out are the cantilevered master suite and outdoor decks which, coupled with the overhanging flat roofs, make the low-slung residence appear to float above the landscape.

The midcentury home has also been sensitively updated. In 1999, the Schells invited Blair back to renovate the 3,874-square-foot home, a process that included rebuilding the roof with insulation, skylights, and recessed lighting, as well as swapping out single-pane glass for insulated glazing to optimize four-season enjoyment of the outdoors.

When the home was passed on to the current owners John and Dave, Blair also offered design assistance on other modern improvements to the home, most notably in the addition of the Jorge Pensi-designed Poggenpohl +MODO kitchen.

Shop the Look

“As somebody who has been in many modern homes, it’s no exaggeration when I say that this is one of the most spectacular I’ve spent time in,” says listing agent Lou. “There are surprises and beauty everywhere.”

3338 Prairie Wind Road, Long Grove, IL is now being listed by Lou Zucaro of Baird & Warner for $1,200,000. See the full listing here.

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