August 27, 1932

Detroit News Quilt History Project; Michigan State University Museum; Susan Salser

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A portion of a Beauty in the Home column discussing furniture suitable for a living or bedroom and the Flying Clouds quilt pattern leaflet.

Beauty in the Home

by Edith B. Crumb
This department seeks to give assistance to all who are interested in beautifying their homes and will be glad to answer questions pertaining to interior decoration. In order to serve all who, seek advice promptly no more than three problems will be discussed in any one reply. Readers are invited to write to this department as often as they wish, but to limit each letter to three questions. State your question clearly, write on only one side of the paper, enclosing a self-addressed, stamped envelope, and address Beauty in the Home Department, Detroit News. Letters with their answers will be published for the benefit of all homemakers, but names and addresses will not be made public.

In the accompanying illustration is shown a room which might be part of a bedroom or living room for there are no pieces of furniture which might not be used in either.

For the small apartment which has no bedroom, the scheme as shown here would be ideal, for the central piece of furniture among those shown - the chest, is a decorative feature for the living room and, at the same time, practical, for it may be used for the keeping of linens and clothes, thus taking away from the tiny dressing room the horror of having boxes to take care of these things where they are difficult to arrange and unhandy to use.

In these apartments there is not so much expected in the way of a dignified scheme, for a light gay note is much more charming, not so expensive to create and satisfying to the eye.

One might select a soft tint of peach for the walls and woodwork of a room such as this and for the floor covering medium blue green would be striking.

The glass curtains may be of white or cream organdie finished with narrow fluted frills of the same and made to hang straight to the sill instead of being tied back. This style is pleasing if the frills are very narrow only.

For the over-draperies peach ground glazed chintz with bouquet design in lilac, orange and jade green would be effective, these being lined with peach sateen, made to reach to the floor and trimmed with pleated ruffles of blue green glazed chintz to match the color of the rug.

A flat valance scalloped across the bottom and also trimmed across the bottom with blue grean pleated ruffles may be the overhead finish for the windows, straight bands of the flowered material being used for the tie-backs.

A light rust may be brought out in the coverings for some of the furniture, such as an easy chair and stool to match, and if there is a sofa or day bed it may be equipped with a slip cover of material to match the draperies, this being piped with blue green chintz.

The blue green tone may be used for the finish of metal sconces for lamps and wall brackets.

It is wise to remember that a chest of drawers is a very good investment for it is a piece that always adds beauty to a home and is so versatile that, it may be used in living room, dining room, hall or bedroom with equal charm.

New Housekeeper.
I am about to start housekeeping but I am at a loss as to what kind of goods are best and most inexpensive for draperies. Please tell me of some nice materials for the living room. I have two double windows and will require two pairs of draperies and the color I want is old rose.

Is it the latest thing now not to use valances with the draperies?

I have two small, high windows over the fireplace. Should I get draperies for those or use curtains alone close to the window or hang them away as I would those at the large window?
Mrs. P. M.

If you wish to make your own draperies, and it is not so very difficult, Mrs. M., you will find some very attractive glazed chintz at 50c a yard. These may be of flowered chintz, but if you prefer plain material, old rose chintz without any design would be very attractive and is being used in the smartest rooms right now. These may be lined with sateen and trimmed with pleating ruffles or tassel fringe.

Valances are in good taste now in spite of the fact that you see many windows without them; and if you think they would improve your room, you should certainly hang them.

The small windows at the sides of the fireplace may have glass curtains only of material to match trim used on the large windows and these may be put on rods top and bottom right next to the glass.

Flying Couds, New Quilt Pattern
THERE have been so many requests for another quilt pattern that we have picked and what we think quilt-makers will find very interesting. It is called, “Flying Clouds” and is made of three different materials, and is very simple but fascinating to put together.

These are the days when it is pleasant to while away the leisure hours with a bit of sewing that is easy to work out and may be put aside or picked quickly without danger of “losing one’s place” as one might do with knitting or crocheting.

A quilt block takes up very little space and may be carried about in one’s purse, so that it may be added to when there is any time to pass.

The leaflet containing the pattern and directions for this quilting is waiting for you and all that you have to do is send your request for it accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope to the Beauty in the Home Department, The Detroit News; or if you wish you may have it free of charge by calling at the Detroit News Public Service Bureau in the Majestic Building or The General Motors Building.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.