Frank Lloyd Wright dismissed his Oak Park residence as "a youthful experiment best covered in ivy." His neighbors regarded it as "that funny house with a tree growing through it," said Donald Kalec, a restoration architect. Yet that Oak Park residence has become an international tourist attraction honoring the master architect.

A new DVD explores how Wright redesigned the home many times as his family grew. The once-modest cottage grew to more than 6,000 square feet.

The 60-minute documentary includes interviews with experts such as Eric Lloyd Wright, an architect and Frank Lloyd Wright's grandson. Eric recalls working at the site of Fallingwater, delaying urgent work on the important Guggenheim Museum commission. His grandfather insisted that the Fallingwater work proceed, putting the lucrative Guggenheim project at risk. Eric asked his grandfather how he could delay a pressing matter like the Guggenheim. His grandfather replied: "Take care of the luxuries, and the necessities will take care of themselves."

Other Wright masterpieces are shown, too, including the Coonley House, the Arthur Heurtley House, the Robie House, Taliesin Wisconsin, Taliesin West and the Darwin Martin House.

Cultural historian Tim Samuelson noted how Wright, in the early part of his career, quickly grew restless working as a draftsman for Adler and Sullivan. Wright "resented being a pencil in Adler's hands," Samuelson said.

The DVD is $25. A two-disc special edition, with an interactive tour, is $35.

In the 1970s, David Wright, the son of Frank Lloyd Wright, was instrumental in advising the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust in its restoration of the Home and Studio in west suburban Oak Park. In years past, he described how music was an important part of his childhood as well as that of his siblings. He explained how children would often sing while their mother, Catherine Tobin, played the piano. Frank Lloyd Wright, who was taught to play the piano by his father, was known to improvise from time to time as well. A bust of Beethoven, Wright's favorite composer, was displayed in the home.

Anne Wright-Levi, great-granddaughter of the master architect, is donating a 1913 Steinway Model O baby grand piano, which FLW purchased for his family, to the Oak Park museum.

Since the 1970s restoration, the back of a period piano has hung from an iron strap located above the back staircase, thus exposing only the keyboard and the two front legs to the playroom -- as Wright designed it in 1895. The piano was tucked into a recess in such a way that it took up minimal floor space and the entire back end hung out of the room.

The Steinway piano that's being donated has been in the Wright family for 85 years. The piano made a cross-country trip from Arizona in a climate-controlled truck, specialized for transporting pianos. Arriving safely in the Chicago area, it was taken to a piano restorer, who replaced some of the non-original parts with period Steinway pieces.

"The return of the piano to the playroom is another addition to the integrity of the museum," said Joan Mercuri, president of the Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust. In the DVD, Mercuri noted how she frequently changes her mind about which is her favorite spot in the FLW home.

"The piano needs to go back to where it came from, it belongs where it came from," said Anne Wright-Levi.

Details:www.ShopWright.org or visit the museum shop at 951 Chicago Ave., Oak Park.

Memories of growing up in a bungalow and tales of famed bungalow homeowners (such as Mayor Richard J. Daley) are being sought for a new book. The Historic Chicago Bungalow Association also hopes to highlight neighborhood history with its new book, Tales from the Bungalow Belt.

Bungalows, built between 1910 and 1940, encompass about one-third of the city's single-family housing stock.

Daley, the father of the current Chicago mayor, bought his bungalow in Bridgeport nearly 20 years before he was first elected mayor in 1955. He raised his family there for the rest of his life.

Homeowners are encouraged to include two or three original photographs when submitting their story. Include your name, address and contact information. The deadline for stories is Oct. 6. Stories and photos can be sent electronically by e-mailing bungalow@chicagobungalow.org. If photographs are submitted electronically, please send high resolution (1MB or larger) JPEG files. Nominations and photos can also be mailed to: Historic Chicago Bungalow Association, Tales from the Bungalow Belt, 1 N. La Salle, 12th floor, Chicago, IL 60602.

The book and best stories will be presented at the fourth annual Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Bungalow Awards, to be held on Nov. 10 at the Harold Washington Library.

Details:(312) 642-9900; www.chicagobungalow.org.