Enwilde is an incredible 1950s MCM home in Illinois, in a wooded area just west of Chicago. The home’s most recent owner, Dr. Patricia Santucci, donated the home to the organization she has worked with for 45 years, the National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders (ANAD) The proceeds from the home’s sale will go to the organization, which provides free services for those suffering from eating disorders.
Enwilde History
The home’s story begins in the 1950s with Trowbridge, who hired Frank Lloyd Wright to design the home in the western suburbs of Chicago. Due to disagreements, Frank Lloyd Wright terminated the relationship. The actual architect remains unknown, but the home bears many Usonian hallmarks such as an absence of square rooms in favor of trapezoids and other geometric shapes. Cypress ceilings, bluestone floors, several brick walls, ample windows create contrast and a beautiful earthy feel. The four-bedroom home contains many wood screens, and sits on a serene wooded property.
Enwilde for Sale
While the home has changed hands a few times, this is the first time the home is up for public sale.
We sat down with Dr. Patricia Santucci to find out more about this incredible story.
Dr. Santucci describes what it was like to live at Enwilde and what she loved most about it. “My husband and I were two busy physicians with kids, so we were looking for somewhere peaceful and to contain the kids. It was great–the kids could fish in the stream, in the morning you could see deer. The kids could rollerblade around the house. I never really had to decorate; the outside was really the inside. Every window led to a view, and you could see the changing seasons. I never had to bother my husband to change the wallpaper or paint. It was a very convenient, comfortable house to live in. I’m going to miss it terribly.”
They loved the home so much, it wasn’t a thought to sell—until Dr. Santucci’s husband passed away in April. Meanwhile, Dr. Santucci was heavily involved in her work as a medical officer with ANAD. “We do a lot of good work, but we could do more with funds,” so the idea to sell the home to ANAD so that its sale could fund ANAD’s work. The organization provides free support in the forms of peer support groups and mentorship programs for those suffering or recovering from eating disorders, a disorder that is more wide-ranging in effect than many realize, Dr. Santucci says. “It affects people from ages 8 to 80, spanning a huge population. We just can’t keep up with it,” she says.
To learn more about the organization or how to get involved, visit ANAD.org. To learn more about Enwilde, speak with Lou Zucaro at Modern Illinois. And of course, to see more fantastic MCM architecture, read on about homes such as the Edith Farnsworth house and be sure to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more Atomic Ranch articles and ideas!
