Without a doubt the Willey House kitchen is the most important room in the house. It is in this house that Wright first adapted his thinking to understand designing for the needs of the middle class, and in this room the first open plan kitchen. The concept of a kitchen plainly visible from the living/dining room was a shocking development and a direct response to Nancy Willey’s responsibilities as supportive role as host and entertainer to her husband Malcolm who was climbing the academic ladder at the University of Minnesota. The open kitchen has long since become the most commonplace feature of modern, casual living, but it originated here. The only problem was that the original Willey House kitchen has undergone a total remodel in the 1970s. Using vintage photos, Wright’s plans and the salvaged parts of the cabinet carcasses that were fortunately saved in the garage, the kitchen was returned to its original glory.