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Frank Lloyd Wright’s Only Ocean House Sold for a Record-Breaking $22 Million—Here’s What It Looks Like Inside

Gorgeous views ahead.

Headshot of Kelsey MulveyBy Kelsey Mulvey
flw carmel home
Matthew Millman

It's been over 60 years since Frank Lloyd Wright's passing, but the famed architect and his works are still making headlines. Not only is his final project called Circular Sun House on the market for $8.95 million, but the Wall Street Journal also reports that his Mrs. Clinton Walker House just sold for $22 million, making it the most expensive transaction for a Wright-designed home. (Prior to this sale, the Ennis House in Los Angeles held the title for $18 million.) However, this home was never officially listed, says Jessica Canning of Sotheby's International, who represented the seller.

Located on Carmel Point—an area near California's idyllic Carmel-by-the-Sea, just a few hours south of San Francisco—Wright crafted this home to look like a ship piercing through water. The Mrs. Clinton Walker House—or, as it's also known, Cabin on the Rocks—was commissioned by Pebble Beach artist Della Walker in 1945 and completed in 1952. Of course, the record-breaking price isn't the only interesting thing about this property. As Wright's only oceanfront project, this 1,400-square-foot residence offers incredible views of the Pacific Ocean, Carmel Bay, and Pebble Beach. The home's materials like cedar, concrete, glass, and caramel-tinged stone cleverly blur the line between old and new.

But, don't take our word for it: Read on for an intimate look at the most expensive Frank Lloyd Wright home to date.

1

Exterior

flw carmel home exterior
Matthew Millman

Frank Lloyd Wright employed severe angles and stacked stone to create the illusion of a boat crashing on the beach.

2

Living Area

flw carmel home living room
Matthew Millman

An open layout makes it possible to seamlessly move from lounging to enjoying dinner, without missing out on a moment of that gorgeous landscape.

3

Fireplace

flw carmel home
Matthew Millman

Very few things beat cozying next to a fireplace on a particularly cold day. This geometric hearth is the centerpiece of the living and dining area.

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4

Kitchen

flw carmel home kitchen
Matthew Millman

Old meets new in this compact kitchen, which includes vintage appliances, tomato-red countertops, and of-the-moment open shelves.

5

Bedroom

flw carmel home bedroom
Matthew Millman

With a bedroom like this—one of the home’s three private quarters—it’s impossible to wake up on the wrong side of the bed.

6

Bathroom

flw carmel home bathroom
Matthew Millman

A mix of wooden planks and stacked stone brings the Golden State’s natural beauty right into the home’s bathroom.

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7

Home Office

flw carmel homeflw carmel home office
Matthew Millman

With sweeping vistas of the water and Wright's signature prairie style, this home office certainly beats your run-of-the-mill cubicle. But, should you need to focus, you can simply draw the curtains to create some distance from that view.

8

Balcony

flw carmel home balcony
Matthew Millman

Become one with nature—literally—with the residence’s stunning wraparound balcony.

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