Going Wildgrove: W2 Studio’s Modern Midcentury Blends With Nature in Lakeshore Hills

Wildgrove Ave. is one of those eclectic streets in a unique subdivision of Lakewood called Lakeshore Hills. That topography has attracted the attention of architects and builders who love a challenge, so there are some very interesting homes here.

Located between Gason Ave. and Winstead Drive, Lakeshore Hills is one of the leafiest sections of Lakewood, with beautiful, enormous old-growth trees. It appears there has been great success in building without endangering many trees, and indeed in building to incorporate them into the designs.

What impresses me more than anything is when builders keep the natural surroundings intact.

Some of the best new construction has been built on the footprints of original 1950s homes. W2 Studio designed this Modern Midcentury-style home on Wildgrove Ave., which pays homage to the movement’s core years with sensitivity and consideration for life in this decade.

Following the tenets of the Midcentury Modern style, W2 Studio designed the Wildgrove house with clean lines, geometric shapes, and organic materials.

“One thing you see in original Midcentury homes is a simple structure, either rectangular or ‘L’ shaped,” said Ryan Williams, who is co-owner of W2 Studio with wife Melissa. “It was a simple footprint and easy to rework. With all these trees around the site, we did not want to scrape and start over and modify the footprint unless it was minimal.”

The Story Behind W2 Studio

W2 Studio began in 1997 as Melissa Williams Design Build and grew and grew, which meant Ryan’s moonlighting for his wife rapidly became a full-time gig.

The company evolved again when their daughter was born, and now Ryan has taken the reins. However, Melissa still keeps a hand in, and you can see her influence. I immediately recognized a Japanese air to this Wildwood residence and was not at all surprised to find that Melissa grew up in Japan, so the quality of space was instilled early on.

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Influence

The most striking element of the facade is the two-story wood screening. It shields the staircase behind the carport and an outdoor deck above it. The carport is another nod to Midcentury design, especially Frank Lloyd Wright, who I bet you didn’t know, created the carport.

Wright is known as the father of the Midcentury Modern movement, but few know he is the genius behind the carport concept. He realized before anyone what we all know now. Garages are clutter collectors. He often said, “A car is not a horse, and it doesn’t need a barn.” 

Wright started to incorporate the carport as an architectural feature of his designs. Other influential architects, such as Richard Neutra and Ray Kappe, followed suit and fortunately, we continue to see that influence in the designs of a new generation of architects and builders.

We’re Wild About the Wildgrove Pool House

Recently, Ryan had the opportunity to add an 870-square-foot guest house to the property, which has turned this Wildgrove Modern Midcentury into a lovely family compound.

“It began as a pool house and evolved,” Ryan said. “It went from an outdoor kitchen to a covered one, then enclosed, and then why not add a bathroom? After that, it was clear a bedroom was a great idea. The whole corner opens up, and it’s a fun space.”

I feel like Wright would be pleased at how well his legacy is enduring as well as evolving because, although architecture, out of necessity reflects technology and societal needs, good design is never out of style.

Allie Beth Allman’s Cliff Kessler has 7151 Wildgrove Ave. available for $2.45 million.