(MONEY Magazine) – In 1954 Martha Wakefield, along with designer Theodore van Fossen and builder Richard Wakefield, created Rush Creek, a community in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio inspired by the architecture of Frank Lloyd Wright. All 49 homes adhere to Wright's organic design concepts, which include conforming to the terrain and blending interior and exterior spaces. Rush Creek's heavily wooded, hilly land was not bulldozed for the construction, so the homes have irregular floor plans--each one is different. Building materials like redwood and cypress were chosen to match the surroundings. Floor-to-ceiling windows draw light into the rooms. Many homes have built-in furniture such as desks, wardrobes and even sofas.

Rush Creek homes don't go on the market often (many original owners have never moved), and when they do, they command a 38% premium over nearby homes of similar size, says local realtor Brian Kemp. But for those homeowners who fall in love with these idiosyncratic houses, like Celia and Scott Conlon, both 39, they're worth the price.

Two years ago the Conlons, eager to try their hand at a nearby fixer-upper, sold the Rush Creek home they'd lived in since 1996. Though they enjoyed renovating (Scott is an architect, Celia a banker), they missed Rush Creek. So last fall, they asked a former neighbor to "keep her ear to the ground," says Celia. When the neighbor called days later to say a resident was retiring and might want to sell, the Conlons didn't let the opportunity pass. They sold their house for $252,000, breaking even after spending $55,000 on renovations and paying a realtor's fee, and bought a new Rush Creek home for $280,000. The couple moved in with sons Ryan, 12, and John, 9, this April. A former owner, however, had removed much of the distinctive detail, so the Conlons plan to spend as much as $80,000 "re-Rush Creeking" their home, says Celia. "We don't view real estate as an investment. This was an emotional decision, not financial." --CYBELE WEISSER