Assessment & Planning
An Opportunity
The opportunity to own the Curtis and Lillian Meyer House first came in 1999 when Michigan-born, Doug LaBrecque’s singing career was in full swing after appearing in the legendary musicals Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables, and the original Broadway cast of Harold Prince’s celebrated revival of Showboat. With a thriving symphony soloist career and a home base in New York, Doug embarked on a new commitment to preserve this prime example of Usonian architecture.
After four years and a few missed chances, The Meyer House became Doug’s very own restoration project in 2003.
ASSESSING THE CURRENT STATE
Though the “bones” of the house were strong, the home needed serious work. Brown latex paint covered all of the exterior Honduran mahogany, the radiant heat flooring was inoperable and covered with glued down wall to wall carpet, the original built in sofa banquette had been removed and the house had suffered significant mold and mildew damage. In addition, a shoddy roof repair job by a former owner was of serious concern and there was a significant structural deflection on the second story. Undeterred, the first phase began.
“We began by assessing the state of the building from basement to roof to determine what was salvageable. While the structure was intact and in relatively solid condition, massive repairs and material replacement were necessary. Moisture had warped and discolored some of the interior wood, and all of the window frames and doors had lost their seal and were utterly inefficient. The original dining room banquette cushions and fabrics were beyond repair, and the floors and walls needed to be stripped and refinished.”
- Owner, Doug LaBrecque
None of this unique restoration was possible without the help of specialty builders and architects familiar with Frank Lloyd Wright’s aesthetic and extraordinarily specific directives. LaBrecque first contacted Lawrence R. Brink, a Frank Lloyd Wright specialist who had apprenticed with Wright in the 1950’s at Taliesin.
After a 3 day scholar trip to Taliesin, and the help of Brink, Doug was able to gather all of the original blueprints and drawings. The team dove in with Brink’s expertise in FLW restorations and LaBrecque’s eye for detail.