The Purcell-Cutts House in Minneapolis, MN was built in 1913 for William Gray Purcell and his family and was designed by William Gray Purcell & George Elmslie. The Purcell-Cutts House is located in Minneapolis, Minnesota by Lake of the Isles.
William Purcell wanted to design and build a home for his family, but he did not like or want the traditional home, which he felt were all just square boxes. He felt these "square boxes" were boring and left little to the imagination. Purcell knew what he wanted in his mind, but wasn't sure how to go about building and designing it. He wanted little nooks and cranies in the home as well as lots of windows and no two walls the same size. He wanted each room to be different then the room before so the same things didn't have to do in the same room all the time. He has his friend and business partner, George Elmslie, help him bring his dream to life.
His house, built with Prairie School architecture, was such a success that it was considered a masterpiece. The house is centered around the hearth and proves that rooms don't always have to be square to be unique, warm and inviting. In 1974, this home was listed with the National Register of Historic Places. Since it was built, it has been thoroughly restored. Anyone interested in seeing this beautiful home can go on the many tours that take place on the second weekend of each month. If you have an questions, you can contact the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, who now own the home.
