Note: The content of this post is taken from a 1928 book called "Building With Assurance." It was a combination picture book and articles about how to get the best home possible for the money, what the latest home features were, etc.
By Rose Angell
until recently Department Editor of Woman's World
"A Book of Verses underneath the bough,
A jug of Wine, a loaf of Bread, and Thou
Beside me, singing in the Wilderness,
Ah! Wilderness were Paradise enow."
Omar
IN EVERY clime, at all times, the innermost heart of man and maid cries out for a home —"the place where we rest."
To most of us at some period in our lives comes the opportunity for planning a Home the beloved and sacred spot which will be our shelter—and another's—from the cares of the outside world, where we can gain strength and purpose to carry us through our tomorrows.
None of Life's pleasures will bring us purer, simpler joy than this, the task of planning surroundings that will be at once beautiful, simple and convenient: beautiful with grace of
style and attractiveness of material; simple with lines that rest and charm the eye; convenient in that they are designed to save effort, strength and labor, by conforming to an ideal of true efficiency.
The first question to be decided is the style of home we prefer. Then the amount we can profitably spend thereon must be definitely fixed. Do we prefer a neat, compact two-story
house, or a one-story residence in more rambling style? Does the Dutch type, with mansard roof, appeal to us, or the pure Colonial, with its tall white pillars? Do we prefer a quaint California bungalow, or a villa in composite modern design? The decision is an important one, and the question of suitability to our chosen building site must not be forgotten.
The general plan of our future home once settled, the stability and worth of the framework insured by choice of a competent architect, the construction vouched for by a reliable contractor, and ourselves fully assured of getting just what we specify from a dealer of good reputation whom we know we can trust, most of us will happen on the discovery that four-fifths of the beauty of our Home depends upon the woodwork.
Think of the numerous items which are comprehended under that unassuming term "millwork," and how much of the appearance of our Home will depend upon its artistry and worth! There is the portico, the entrance, the porches, the doors, the windows, the colonnades, the cozy corners, the stairways, the enduring furniture—in fact, everything which makes a real Home out of a mere shell of frame work and girders. And each of these details must be chosen harmoniously and well.
The Entrance
In planning the ideal Home, first let us consider the shape and style of
the entrance—that feature which gives the arriving guests their first impression. A beautiful
doorway speaks its welcome and tells its own tale of the hospitality within.
Everyone is familiar with the imposing type of entrance characteristic of Colonial days; the pediment-and-portico style typical of Southern architecture, where tall pillars reaching to the height of the second story support a substantial entablature with angled roof, the whole forming a practical covered way before the front door.
While the Colonial portico is perhaps too dominating for the smaller home, one of the leading fashions of today is no less Colonial in its inception. Perhaps we should say "Greek," for some of the most beautiful and simple doorways of Colonial times are purely Hellenic in form and type.
The supporting columns of the porticos conform strictly to the ideals of those Greek architects who gave us graceful columns with their simple Doric, scrolled Ionic, and elaborately carved Corinthian capitals. Those perfect proportions the eye of man has found impossible of improvement to this day.
The Tuscan column, a plain rounded pillar, is very popular and is typical of the mingled simplicity and strength which won for the ancient Roman the empire of his world.
Where pillars are used, it is well to remember that their proportions must be architecturally correct and the skillful designer of millwork will always take this point into consideration.
The simple, white painted, panelled Colonial door was most often surmounted by a semicircular transom, known as a "fanlight" or "sunburst," with the panes sometimes leaded in quite intricate designs. Then glass panels were not seen as often as they arc today, and side lights were rare.
Today, with our ever-increasing love of all outdoors, the more light we get, the better we like it. In some instances the upper half of the door consists of a single clear sheet of glass, while the lower half is wood panelled, thus giving us a view of the flowers and foliage which greet us from our own dooryard, as well as furnishing a very practical means of lighting the hallway, which sometimes proved a difficult problem.
Other doors are patterned after those which look over gardens, the woodwork is merely a frame holding in place transparent panes of crystal.
The Vestibule
Where the doorway leads into a room instead of directly into the hall, a vestibule is almost indispensable, especially in those parts of the country where overshoes, fur coats and umbrellas are necessities for a part of the year at least. With a low built-in hall seat on one side, its hinged top opening on a convenient receptacle for rubbers, overshoes, roller skates, (and what not!), and above this a convenient mirror set into a panel of the wall, opposite an umbrella stand and a row of pegs for caps and sweaters, and with a wire mat and an inexpensive rug on the floor, your vestibule will be furnished.
Of course, however convenient and well-intentioned the vestibule is but a substitute for the hall proper, and more and more are people choosing that type of house which has a hall from which the more important reception rooms radiate. Where privacy is desired, the hallway is invaluable as a means of communication between the different parts of the house, as each room may be completely shut off from the others. With small families this is perhaps unnecessary, and here the owner must exercise his or her individual taste.
The Hall
An ideal hall is one which forms an imposing unit with the staircase, that rises from it and with which it is intimately connected.
Reproductions of Colonial hallways are much in vogue at present and the combination of white enamelled panels and mahoganized rails and skirting is both striking and delightful, especially if the staircase carries out the idea, with rich red in handrail, newel post and treads, and cream white balusters, uprights and side panelling.
How many staircases appear to have been designed merely as a means of ascending to the upper story. The stairway may be (and should be) made one of the interesting features of the Home.
Three types of stairways are found practical in the modern home—the straight flight, the curved, and the platform or landing staircase.
With the first we are all familiar. The long, narrow hall seems to demand the straight Colonial flight, and for this the ideal choice is white woodwork and mahoganized handrail with slender balusters.
The curved staircase, a development of the early spiral stair, though graceful, depends for its successful treatment upon the design and proportion of the curves, which demand the skill of the most experienced handrailer.
The "platform" staircase has a charm of its own. The landing which is generally placed halfway up the flight suggests repose. If this landing can be placed beneath a window, and a window seat arranged, the effect will be heightened.
One important point to remember is that the most satisfactory stairways are built with wide treads and low risers, forming what are known as "shallow" stairs. The effort of ascending is lessened as the height of the riser decreases.
The Living Room
The living room as we know it today is essentially a product of modern American family life. It is the room where the several members of the family meet to sit, sew, read, and carry on that part of their daily intercourse which all hold in common and in its truest aspect it will reflect more or less the individuality of each member of the family. A freak room is out of place and will not attain its true end. This should be the most democratic room in the house, its message "Comfort and Cheer."
The Window Seat
Wide, low windows suggest the built-in window scat with soft, upholstered cushions, and a handy magazine stand nearby, covered with the latest magazines and books. This may be used as a resting place, or by placing the cushions and draperies in the box, (of which the window seat is merely a cover), we have the most convenient stand possible for those decorative vases of flowers, the pot or two of ferns, or one of those flowering plants, without which no homelike living room is worthy of its name.
Since the low radiator has been used, some wise folk have devised a method of making this usually unsightly object a thing of beauty by enclosing it with wooden covers and thus giving it additional usefulness as a seat.
French Doors
The average Houle will be made doubly attractive if French doors are used between all the rooms on the ground floor, with the exception of the kitchen. For the bedrooms, privacy naturally demands doors of the usual wood panel pattern.
The Mantel
The fireplace naturally will be the leading feature of every well planned living room, and on its grace and symmetry a great deal of the beauty of the room depends. Heavy fireplaces and mantels of brick, over-mantels of oak elaborately carved, and marble mantelpieces of stiff Victorian style, all have had their periods of popularity, but nothing is better suited to the pretty, modern American home than the over-mantel of wood with plain frieze and architrave and simple cornice.
For the lining of the fireplace, brick may be used, but tiling, With its polished red or yellow surfaces, its quick light reflections, has always seemed to possess charm.
The Dining Room
A style of interior decoration which has seldom been improved upon for the dining room is that in which the woodwork becomes the leading feature of the room. Here beautiful panelling suggests itself, with the wood showing the grain in all its native beauty. Much of course depends on the situation of the room and its relationship to the rest of the house. More expensive at first than wallpaper or one of the other popular finishes, in the end it will save its cost over and over again, as it is practically indestructible, and unlike any other decoration, its beauty and worth increase as the years go by.
The panelling usually covers the walls to two-thirds of their height, with a wide plate rail above. That part of the walls above the plate rail may be papered in one of the rich red or dull orange papers which form so excellent a foil for the dusky beauty of the wood.
The built-in sideboard will &ways appeal to the man or woman with a keen sense of the fitness of things. There must be plenty of drawers for the silver and table linen which are in constant use and for those precious lace-trimmed doilies and elaborate centerpieces which are not the least of every good housewife's treasures.
In its general design, the sideboard should accord with the rest of the woodwork, and material and finish, size and shape of mouldings, should be identical. Even the glass doors should be in keeping.
A clever contrivance, which will meet with the unqualified approval of the housekeeper, is a small sliding panel in the built-in buffet, or in the wall. This gives direct access to the kitchen, and is a real little labor saver.
The Breakfast Nook
Another device which is becoming more and more popular in these servantless days, is a breakfast nook, where both breakfast and luncheon may be served. In the morning, a few steps from the range take you into the delightful little alcove--just wide enough to hold a long, narrow table and two seats. What a saving of time and labor not to have to set the dining room table for the quick breakfast or for the cup of tea when the cheery neighbor steps in around four o'clock.
The breakfast nook should be bright, sunny and cheerful, or it will fail in its mission.
The Library or Den
This is distinctly the domain of the man of the house. Here, surrounded by his books and papers, he can read and smoke. He will like dark, rather plain surroundings, with a strongly contrasting note of color, and with nine men out of ten the favorite color is red. The sensible woman will leave the choice of arrangement to him whose retreat it is to be.
The Bookcase
A fireplace in the library. flanked on either side by built-in bookcases covering the entire side of the wall, is both a comfort and an adornment. A comfortable chair on each side of the hearth, well chosen lights. and the wisdom of the ages within touch of the outstretched hand. Let us house these good friends of ours safely. for when the long winter evenings come we shall find the hours spent in the library some of the happiest and most fruitful of our lives.
The Bedrooms
The cretonnes and gaily decorated chintzes which have governed bedroom styles for several years cry aloud for a background of plain white woodwork as a foil for their brilliance. Hence, for our bedrooms, white woodwork is first in favor. It has the threefold advantage of being bright, dainty in effect, and if a good enamelled finish is used, easy to keep clean.
Imagine the dainty bedroom of Milady with white woodwork, cream walls, and low cushioned window seat, patterned after the one in the living room below. It should have a large closet with built-in shelves and drawers and mirror door. Lives there a woman who won't appreciate seeing how she looks, from the tips of her shoes to a final pat or twist at her hair, before considering her toilet complete?
A carefully chosen suite of furniture in our pet period style, a couple of good rugs on the hardwood floor, and our bedroom is complete.
The Bathroom
In most homes the bathroom gets hardest usage and usually, unless it is planned with the utmost simplicity, it is difficult to keep spotlessly clean and attractive.
A way to eliminate dust-harboring corners and inaccessible floor surfaces is to have the bath built in an alcove in the wall. This removes it from the room itself and is a good way to dispose of its cumbersome presence. A plain washable curtain hanging from a bar near the ceiling will screen it from the rest of the room and give one an additional feeling of privacy.
Built-in cupboards whose tops provide plenty of table surface afford convenient room r
for soaps, shaving utensils, tooth brushes, and the various toilet accessories of each member of the family. The built-in medicine cupboard, too, may well have its place in the bathroom to hold the few simple remedies for cuts, burns, etc.
A large mirror, placed under a good light, preferably between two windows, and a small triple mirror which will fold into the wall, for use when shaving, should not be forgotten, while a wide shelf beneath the large mirror may serve as a dressing table at need.
The preferred color scheme for the bathroom is pale blue or soft green painted walls with high tiled wainscoting below, but the woodwork should be white, reflecting purity and sanitation. The bathroom de luxe may have tiling on the floor and walls, but most of us will be satisfied with a light wood floor which will form a pleasing background to the one or two small, washable rugs that harmonize with the tiled wainscoting and painted walls.
The Linen Closet
The linen closet should have many narrow shelves, set close together, so that each article may be easily found and removed without disturbing a dozen others in the search. Shallow drawers will hold the more treasured pieces and give them better protection than is needed for the sheets and towels which are in everyday use. This linen closet can be built into a convenient wall space and is correctly located near, or in, the bathroom, where fresh towels and washcloths will always he near at hand.
The Linen Chute
In conjunction with the linen closet we often find the linen chute, built in the wall and reaching to the laundry in the basement, down which the soiled clothes may be dropped and which does away with considerable work for the housewife. This chute should be set in place before the plastering is finished.
Another handy built-in cupboard is one in a spare corner near the kitchen or in the pantry to hold brooms, the carpet sweeper and cleaning mop, dustpan, etc., with a few convenient pegs for the necessary dustcloth. Let there be a place for everything and it will be easy to keep everything in its place.
The Kitchen
It is to the interest of the housekeeper that the kitchen he so arranged with a view to convenience and comfort that every hour spent therein will be a pleasant one. It is the steps that count, so plan your kitchen for what we may call "step economy."
We have in mind a kitchen which was designed for real efficiency. It is an oblong room. Along one wall is a row of windows. In the center of the other wall is a door leading to the dining room. Next to the dining room door is a narrow table (just below the sliding panel we mentioned
in our suggestions for the dining room) and beneath this table are built-indrawers which hold towels, clusters, etc.
Remember to leave space for the kitchen range. On the remaining side of the room is the built-in kitchen cabinet, with its enamelled table space and numberless shelves, all of cream painted woodwork.
