:Meyer May House

The Meyer May House was commissioned in 1908 by Meyer S. May, president of May's clothing store in Grand Rapids, and his wife Sophie. The house's appearance stands in contrast to the Victorian houses typical of the period and the Heritage Hill neighborhood.{{cite web|last1=Nagengast|first1=Kate|title=Meyer May House is a Standout in its Heritage Hill Neighborhood|url=http://www.mlive.com/homeandgarden/index.ssf/2009/09/meyer_may_house_is_a_standout.html|website=MLive|publisher=Mlive|access-date=January 18, 2017|date=September 6, 2009}}{{cite web|last1=Beers|first1=Peter|title=Meyer May House: Grand Rapids, Michigan|url=http://www.peterbeers.net/interests/flw_rt/Michigan/May_House/may_house.htm|website=Peter Beers.net|access-date=January 18, 2017}}

Meyer May House is stylistically typical of Wright's Prairie houses, a two-story, T-plan constructed of pale brick, with Ludowici-tiled hip roofs and long broad eaves, art glass windows and skylights.Caroline Knight, Frank Lloyd Wright, p. 88, Parragon; 2004. The first floor windows are tucked under the eaves and raised from ground level, providing both privacy and providing light to the staircase and second floor gallery.

Wright carefully sited the house to allow maximum southern exposure for the living room windows and skylights and to create a spacious yard for the perennial gardens.{{cite web|last1=Bogner|first1=Erika|title=The Meyer May House: Art Through Nature and Line|url=http://erikabogner.com/2011/11/the-meyer-may-house-art-through-nature-and-line/|website=Erika Bogner|access-date=January 18, 2017}} Leaded and colored glass accented doors and casement windows open out to terraces and gardens with garden walls and planters incorporated into the design.{{cite web|title=Meyer and Sophie May House|url=http://www.michiganmodern.org/buildings/meyer-and-sophie-may-house|website=Michigan Modern|access-date=January 18, 2017}}

Inside, wood grills hide the radiators, iridescent strips of gold art glass were placed in the horizontal grout lines of both brick fireplaces. A pastel mural of hollyhocks created by George Mann Niedecken is featured on a dividing wall between the living room and dining room. The mural had been painted over, but has since been restored.{{cite web|title=Meyer May House|url=http://franklloydwrightsites.com/michigan/meyermay/may.html|website=Frank Lloyd Wright Sites|access-date=January 18, 2017}} Niedecken also supervised and coordinated the home's interior, which was completed in 1910.{{cite web|title=Meyer S. May House|url=http://flwright.org/researchexplore/wrightbuildings/meyermayhouse|website=Frank Lloyd Wright Trust|access-date=January 18, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Meyer May Chronology|url=http://meyermayhouse.steelcase.com/meyer-may-chronology/|website=Meyer May House}}

In 1922, two bedrooms were added upstairs, as were servants' quarters on the ground floor. May died in 1936 and the house remained empty for six years, not selling until 1942. Sold again in 1945, carports and additional entrances were added, and the bedroom additions were rented out.

The Meyer May House was placed on the Michigan State Register of Historic Sites in 1986 and is also part of the Heritage Hill Historic District.{{cite web|title=20 Most Beautiful Frank Lloyd Wright Houses|url=http://historylists.org/architecture/20-most-beautiful-frank-lloyd-wright-houses.html|website=History Lists|access-date=January 18, 2017}} The Heritage Hill district was listed in 1971 on both the National Register of Historic Places.{{cite web|title=A Neighborhood That Almost Wasn't|url=http://www.heritagehillweb.org/about/history/|website=Heritage Hill Association|access-date=January 18, 2017}}

File:Meyer May House, west side, 2009.JPG

Steelcase, an international office furniture company founded and headquartered in Grand Rapids, purchased the house in 1985.{{cite web|title=The Meyer May House Restoration|url=http://meyermayhouse.steelcase.com/the-meyer-may-house-restoration/|website=Meyer May House|access-date=January 18, 2017}}

Before restoration began, extensive research into the home's original 1909 state was conducted through personal interviews, historic photos, original drawings and documents, and publications about Wright.{{cite web|last1=Logan|first1=Thomas|title=The Meyer May House|url=http://www.historygrandrapids.org/photoessay/4523/the-meyer-may-house|website=History Grand Rapids|publisher=Grand Rapids Historical Commission|access-date=January 18, 2017|date=May 13, 2014}} During this restoration, the 1922 addition was removed, all the plaster ceilings were replaced, the roof was rebuilt, the Niedecken mural was restored, more than 100 windows and skylights were repaired, and an enclosed veranda was opened up. New roof tiles were produced by the original 1909 manufacturer and the landscaping was restored to its original design.{{cite news |last1=Nesmith |first1=Lynn |title=Wright House Restored Meticulously and Magnificently |work=Architecture |date=May 1989}}

Restoration began in 1986 and the house opened for visitor tours in 1987. The house is one of the most completely restored of Wright's Prairie residences.{{cite web|last1=Rumery|first1=John|title=Civic-Minded Companies: Grand Rapids Businesses Focus on Hiring Veterans, Restoring History & More|url=http://www.rapidgrowthmedia.com/features/10016-civic-minded-companies-in-Grand-Rapids.aspx|website=Rapid Growth|access-date=January 18, 2017|date=October 6, 2016}}

Rooms in the restored house are furnished with a mixture of original pieces, reproductions of original pieces, and similar Arts and Crafts style items from the period.{{cite web|last1=Stampfler|first1=Dianna|title=Opening the Door to Wright Homes in Michigan|url=http://promotemichigan.com/opening-door-wright-homes-michigan|website=Promote Michigan|access-date=January 18, 2017}} Carpets were also woven according to Wright's designs and colors.

Meyer May House opened to the public in 1987. Tours are offered Tuesdays & Thursdays from 10 to 1 and on Sundays from 1 to 4. Admission is free.{{cite web|title=Tour the Meyer May House|url=http://meyermayhouse.steelcase.com/tour-the-meyer-may-house/|website=Meyer May House|access-date=January 18, 2017}}

File:David M. Amberg House, 2009.JPG

The David M. Amberg House was completed in 1910. This house is not a complete Wright design, as he was preoccupied and traveling in Europe at the time. In 1909, Wright turned the project over to Marion Mahony and Herman von Holst for completion.{{cite web|title=David M. and Hattie Amberg House|url=http://www.michiganmodern.org/buildings/david-m-and-hattie-amberg-house|website=Modern Michigan|access-date=January 18, 2017}}

• List of Frank Lloyd Wright works

{{Reflist}}

• {{Cite Wright Companion}} (S.148)

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• [http://meyermayhouse.steelcase.com/ Official Site]
• [http://www.peterbeers.net/interests/flw_rt/Michigan/May_House/may_house.htm Meyer May House]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20140604215218/http://www.franklloydwright.org/ Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation]
• [http://www.wrightplus.org Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust]
• [http://www.arcaid.co.uk/search.php?inc=quickSearch&search=meyer+may&refcheckbox= Photos on Arcaid]

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Category:Frank Lloyd Wright buildings

Category:Historic district contributing properties in Michigan

Category:Historic house museums in Michigan

Category:Houses completed in 1909

Category:Houses in Kent County, Michigan

Category:Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Michigan

Category:Marion Mahony Griffin

Category:Museums in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Grand Rapids, Michigan