The Edward R. Hills House, often referred to as the Hills-DeCaro House, is a striking example of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie style architecture, located in the historic Oak Park neighborhood just west of Chicago. This building is highly notable not as an original design, but as a dramatic 1906 remodeling of an 1883 Stick style Victorian home. Wright’s transformation was so complete that he essentially “engulfed” the original structure, reorienting it on its lot and applying his signature horizontal stucco and wood trim aesthetic, creating a landmark that bridges two distinct phases of his career.
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Preservation and Management
The dual name, Hills-DeCaro House, is a testament to its remarkable preservation story. Following decades of alterations after Wright’s initial remodel, the house was purchased by Tom and Irene DeCaro in 1975 for restoration. Unfortunately, a catastrophic fire devastated the structure during the restoration in 1976, destroying the second and third floors. The DeCaros, with the aid of architect John Tilton, undertook a painstaking reconstruction using Wright’s original drawings, successfully returning the house to its 1906 appearance. In recognition of their dedicated work in saving the architectural landmark, the Oak Park Landmarks Commission officially added the DeCaro name in 1977. Today, the house remains a private residence.
Plan Your Visit
Location of the Hills-DeCaro House
The Hills-DeCaro House is located at 313 Forest Avenue, Oak Park, Illinois. It is situated just a short walk from Wright’s own Home and Studio and the historic Frank Lloyd Wright district, which boasts the largest collection of his buildings in the world. Visitors can easily appreciate the home’s striking façade from the public sidewalk.
Tours
The Hills-DeCaro House is a private residence and is not typically open for interior tours.
However, the house is a key stop on the self-guided architectural walking tours of Oak Park, allowing visitors to appreciate the exterior details, the broad cantilevered eaves, and the horizontal Prairie expression. It is sometimes included in special events like the annual Wright Plus housewalk which is organized by the Frank Lloyd Wright Trust.
Hotels near Oak Park
- Cambria Hotel Chicago Loop – Theatre District (8 miles from Oak Park)
- Carleton of Oak Park
- Crowne Plaza Chicago O’Hare Hotel & Conference Center (7.6 miles from Oak Park)
- Harvey House Bed & Breakfast (Oak Park)
- Kimpton Gray Hotel Chicago (7.9 miles from Oak Park)
- Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago (8.4 miles from Oak Park)
House Features & Background
Commissioned by Nathan Moore, a wealthy neighbor and client of Wright (for his own home next door), the remodel was intended as a wedding gift for his daughter, Mary, and her husband, attorney Edward R. Hills. Wright’s design was heavily influenced by his trip to Japan around that time, blending the low, sheltering lines of the Prairie style with Asian-inspired forms, notably in the distinctive tiered, dual-pitched hip roof and deep eaves. (The roof lines are similar to that of the George Smith house in Oak Park.) The design incorporates a beautiful stucco exterior contrasted with dark wood trim and features a massive Roman brick fireplace that dominates the main living space.
The interior, which was meticulously recreated after the 1976 fire, is a pure Prairie School environment, featuring ample oak trim, built-in shelving, and original or replicated art glass. The horizontal emphasis created by Wright’s additions completely transformed the original vertical Victorian structure, making it one of the most comprehensive and important “second schemes” of his career. Its position among the highest concentration of Wright homes in the world makes it a mandatory stop for any architecture enthusiast visiting Oak Park.
Additional Resources & Inspired Products
Find unique products, books, and gifts inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s legacy at our Amazon storefront: Wright at Home!
- The Oak Park Studio of Frank Lloyd Wright (Chicago Architecture and Urbanism)
- Hometown Architect: The Complete Buildings of Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park And River Forest, Illinois
- Illinois’ Frank Lloyd Wright Trail
