Tim,
I don't recall that quote exactly, but I took it as him describing one of his clients, less extravagent houses. Nor do I think satisfying your ownself in design is the easiest thing to do, since we have so many influences we like and have to narrow it to one. I trust you and the wife have tried to redecorate your house, or you do the landscaping at least once, eh?
Slightly OT but I recall one of those college design field trips to FLW's first house in Wisconsin. It had some ornamentation, etc. but I couldn't help but notice that somehow, he had aligned the second floor bathroom right over the dining room and a big ugly cast iron pipe came down right next to the dinner table.....like many of us, he learned there are some practicalities to design in any field.
And, as your Dad said often, you have to get the basics right for it to be a good design. I do see a lot designs of all types that don't function well, but which are highly ornamental and attractive. Or, form follows function and anything else is just a bonus.