Perhaps the most astonishing — and most unknown — creation of American designer Russel Wright is his home and studio in the Hudson River Valley. Wright’s revolutionary innovations for the modern American way of life — most notably his American Modern dinnerware — made him a household name from the late 1930s through the early 1960s. Today, however, he is virtually unknown to anyone under the age of 60.

Wright, who lived from 1904 to 1976, was at the forefront of a movement that began in the early 20th century, when artists and architects started applying modern design concepts not only to buildings, but to everyday objects like appliances and furniture. This approach developed into the occupation of industrial designer, and Wright, who had worked as a set designer and sculptor, quickly became a leader in design for mass-market production. In the United States, this movement had the added focus of seeking a new national style, no longer borrowed from Europe. For the first time, good design would be totally American and available to the general public.