Breuer began designing a house for the advertising executive, Edmond Witalis in 1948. Preliminary sketches reveal a two-story house with a slightly sloped roof and a cantilevered porch with angled roof and supports. The final version of the design had a flat-roof for both the house and the porch. The upper story was clad in vertical cypress siding, while the lower, partially submerged level was constructed of painted concrete block. The lower level contained the workshop, laundry and storage. One of Breuer's signature staircases, with steel railing and floating treads, led up to the open plan living-dining area. Breuer placed the bedrooms at the other end of the floor and the kitchen in the middle. The house was completed in 1951. In early 1952, Breuer brought the matter of overdue bills to the American Arbitration Association, but eventually settled the matter with Witalis privately.