bernard swartz house

We stayed here after Xmas 2014 - as a family of 6. We were thrilled to stay in the house, but it does have it's quirks. The house was easy to find and get to - finding the key in the dark was a little tricky but by meticulously following directions we found it and let ourselves in. They house design is fabulous, with many ceiling heights giving the authentic FLW experience. We set about installing ourselves in the 3 (small) upstairs and one downstairs (large) bedrooms. Beds were comfy, and the location was quiet. There were 2 fireplaces in the open living room/den combination. Unfortunately the larger fireplace was off limits due to some needed repairs, but the smaller fireplace was fully functional, with a good supply of wood on the porch. Good thing as we went through a lot of wood over the time we were there. In part for the pleasure of the open fire and in part because of need. The house boasts the original in-floor heating - which was about 70 years old, and was sorely tested by the fridged temperatures outside. We had read reviews about packing warm clothes - so to some extent we had come prepared, but honestly parts of the house were very cold as evidenced by the frost on the inside of some bedroom windows in the morning. Yes there were 3 or perhaps 4 electric oil radiators, but putting these on at anything over minimum blew the fuses, and in fact when we tried to run one in the library area it blew the fuse to the modem.... so the kids got good at resetting the breakers on command.The house has everything needed for a stay, dishes, cutlery, pots and pans, the low ceiling dining room was interesting and had a nice feel to it - the double height kitchen was unusual but functional. One strange thing was the fact that while the whole house pretty much has concrete floors, the kitchen was carpeted, which seemed unhygenic... Also when we were there there was a new cleaning lady and she had rushed things such that putting on a pot of water to boil for tea filled the kitchen with smoke as some previous person had boiled milk and it had boiled over on to the sauce under the heating element....We loved our stay, and you will too if you are flexible - you are staying in a very pretty cabin - it will not be warm, the electric system is outdated, the bathrooms are small but functional, but the space is fabulous. The internet worked well and there were lots of FLW books to read, along with vintage Life magazines. One night we watched a PBS FLW video - fun for the whole family.A word of warning - there did not seem to be much in the way of fine dining in the general area pretty much fast food, and divy bars, the supermarket was pretty basic too, so we would recommend sourcing all you food and wine needs from home or failing that nearby Milwaukee. Likewise be prepared to entertain each other. If you can I would recommend a spring or fall visit - I think midwinter temperatures are a little hard to deal with, and mid summer might be hot and or buggy.Overall though a great experience and if you can stay for longer than 2 nights you should. You really need to wake up early enough to get the sunrise casting shadows on the brick fireplace and if you have a cloudy dawn you will miss this amazing show.I think this house is also listed under "Frank Lloyd Wright designed Usonian Masterpiece" but leaving a review there would have been a lot more hassle asking me to sign in with dates, and verification etc, and there were no other reviews there... - so I left my review here instead.So by all means go, pack for a cabin and have a good time

Very much enjoyed our stay in here in early April 2014. Even though it snowed and there was freezing rain during our visit we felt very comfortable. Yes, the master bedroom can get chilly -- but we found the heaters to be helpful. Pack a couple sweaters and you'll be fine. The fireplace was a big highlight. It does help to open the back door when lighting the flame for about 10 minutes. The wood was somewhat damp, but we got it going after a while and greatly enjoyed it. Wifi worked well, and the kitchen was well stocked. Loved the view of the river and marsh -- tons of birds in the area. The master bedroom bed was amazing. We've stayed in 5 Wright homes and this certainly had the most comfortable bed. The hot water does take a little bit to kick in -- but we found that to be okay. You aren't staying at the Marriott. This is a one of a kind home. Also enjoyed the TV for renting DVDs at the Redbox in town. BTW: there's not much in town, but we went to get away from it all, read books, watch movies and cook relaxing dinners. It was perfect for that. Would love to have known more about the Schwartz family. A one pager or reference to a book would add a lot.

Classic Wright features, innovative floor heating, 1936, beautiful warm Cyprus wood, brick inside, carport. Too much flat roofing!

Enjoyed our stay but the weather was extremely cold and the radiant heat was not up to par. We could never get the temperature above 65. Also, the fireplaces, while quite unique (and necessary), were essentially non functional as the draw/flues did not work well. Lastly, the electrical system was inadequate and the circuit breakers tripped frequently. Maybe might expectations were too high!

Sometimes you just feel privileged. And staying here was just that. We had 2 astonishing nights here in May 2013. The experience is different to having a tour of a FLW home, in that you experience the home as compared to seeing the home. You end up knowing what it really is like to live in a house designed by one of architecture’s greats.The home is not large- I reckon in the region of 2000 sq ft. The emphasis is as always on the light, expanse, and division in the space. It works superbly. The bedrooms- aside from the main- are small, and the kitchen by today’s standards tiny. Oddly enough it was highly practical, and the lack of space no hindrance. The concrete, glass and wood combined throughout to provide delightful angles, shadows, and patterns that left one in awe.The setting is suburban, and though on a large plot the neighbours are very visible, but not so much as to distract from the overall experience. The setting, view of the river, and peace is stunning.This was a special experience.

I have toured many Frank Lloyd Wright homes, and find them fascinating. The experience of staying in a home designed by Wright, a home that is only on its third owners is a privilege and experience I will not soon forget. The Schwartz House has been well maintained and should be looked to as a role model for how other of Wright's homes could be saved and utilized for generations to come. The beds are comfortable, the appliances work and the current owners have provided tv and wifi to make it even more comfortable for those of us who rely on such modern conveniences. The Schwartz is a fun base from which to explore Two Rivers and the surrounding area. The secret is out, and their calendar fills up quickly, so book early.

Our family enjoyed the tour of Still Bend very much. The owner Michael and his wife were very informative. The house has been well maintained and the owners are investing even more into restoration. They have visitors from all over the world doing overnights in the home.

I stayed at this architectural masterpiece in mid-July with my family (wife and 3 kids under 11) and another couple. Ever since my wife and I toured Cedar Rock in Quasqueton, IA, we have been FLW enthusiasts. Our children fell in love with the Schwartz House from the moment we opened the front door. While the home is dated and in need of a professional restorationist's advice, you cannot ignore the genius that is reflected in the design. The furnishings were dated, but comfortable enough. The owners were very helpful and the library of FLW books was great. We brought our boat to do some skiing on Lake Michigan, and I wish we had taken the time to just spend a day at the house. Our only regret (which we realized right away) is only spending two nights. We are already planning a week long trip next year. Note: this should be moved to vacation rentals.

My wife and I stayed here to celebrate our anniversary with a few friends. The house was amazingly beautiful. The tall ceilings in the great room, kitchen, and master bath allowed outside light to enter through wooden cutout patterns on the windows. The great room was very spacious and well designed with heated floors. Also has a split hearth with plenty of room to stretch out while watching TV or listening to music.The master bedroom was large and had a full bathroom. The other three bedrooms are relatively small, but suitable for sleeping. Our group spent most of our time in the great room, kitchen, and dining area anyway. The house is located on a large riverfront lot with two patios. Also has a stairway down to the river. I must take exception to the first reviewer who commented on the shabbiness of the furniture. Although the furniture had dated colors, it was clean, comfortable, and in good condition. The "retro" colors grew on our group and reminded us of the Brady Bunch house. The decorating was somewhat kiitschy, but delightful. My wife and I were thrilled to find fresh cut flowers waiting on the dining room table. Special thanks to the owners for their thoughtfulness.The owners have gone out of their way to equip the house with useful amenities including Wi-Fi, LCD TV, stereo, CD's, DVD's, washer/dryer, gas grill, cooking utensils, clean towels, board games, and books about Frank Lloyd Wright. We thoroughly enjoyed our stay and would highly recommend to others.

As a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright, I was extremely excited for the opportunity to spend a few nights under the roof of a FLW home, and the Swartz House itself was everything I imagined it would be - astonishing attention to detail, amazing Morning and evening light shows, and a pervasive sense of the man who designed it. It was a pleasure just to sit and absorb the history of this simple yet profound piece of American architecture. There was, however, if not displeasure at least disappointment in many of the home's accessories: the furnishings were shabby, lumpy, beyond time-worn and not at all what I expected in a two-night minimum, expensive accommodation. I get that the sectional might have been original to the previous owners, but seriously, have a comfortable, clean replica made! Throughout our stay, I just kept thinking how much more fabulous the house - and the experience - could have been if the attention to detail apparent in the design and construction of the house would have carried thru to everything else.Bring a camera and tripod - the place is most photogenic at day break and dusk, walking shoes to explore the delightful neighborhood, and a peaceful attitude. There's a fully functional kitchen, but we found several local places that delivered so really didn't test it out. There's also a washer and dryer, which really came in handy!This was a great chance to live in history, and one I'd surely take advantage of again!