November 23, 1928

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

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A Beauty in the Home column describing decorating a living room, kitchen and breakfast nook.

Beauty in the Home
By Edith B. Crumb
This department seek to give assistance to all who are interested in beautifying their home 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 in this department as often as they wish, but to limit each letter to three questions. State your questions clearly, write only on one side of each paper, enclosing a self-address, stamped envelope and will be published for the benefit of all homemakers, but names and addresses will not be made public.

A well balanced living room is one which lends dignity to a house and in the accompanying illustration from the American Home is shown a portion of a room which is very attractive.
The fire place being used, of course, as the center of interest has grouped about it those pieces which make for comfort and lend an air of hospitality.

The sofa, being medium sizes, at the left of the fire place, is balanced by a wing chair and small table at the right.
On each side of the fire place is a console on which is placed a lamp with umbrella shaped shade and decorative finial.
The woodwork and walls of this room have been finished in and deep cream and the floor covering si jade green. The covering of the sofa is in jade green and lilac satin and more striped material and the wing chair is covered in lilac velvet.
The extra pillows on the sofa are covered in lilac ground brocade and the lamp shades are of pongee colored taffeta over amber taffeta trimmed with fringe to match the outer covering.

The over mantel treatment is simple but effective, the center of the shelf having a low decorative box which does not interfere with a full view of the painting and each end of the shelf has a jade green pottery vase.

Yellow and Chinese Red
Dear Decorating Department: I am having a new house and wish you would help me with the kitchen and breakfast nook. The only color I do not care for is green.

There are two casement windows, one over the sink and one in the breakfast nook. I would like help as to the curtain material and color color and painted wall, breakfast furniture (which is a gate leg table and ladderback chairs) There are little built in shelves open across the corners in the breakfast nook.
Also please suggest color for linoleum.
Mrs. M.S.

The floor covering in the kitchen may be black and cream checked linoleum and the walls may be finished in butter yellow.
For the curtains select Chinese red and white gingham in inch and a half checked design and finish the furniture in Chinese red trimmed with black.

The interior of the little built in shelves may be finished in Chinese red.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.