December 14, 1928

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

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A column from the Interior Decoration Department home series describing the Flanders house.

On Somerset Avenue Near Grosse Pointe
This House Was Built From Plans Prepared for the News by Detroit Architects Small House Bureau
By Edith B. Crumb
A touch of English combined with straight line Colonial make this an ideal home, both architecturally and in arrangement. There is just sufficient oddity of façade to distinguish it in the community as a resident of rare beauty.

This is distinctly a house to live in. The downstairs is arranged with an eye to more sense of space than a house of this size can usually acquire. This is the type of home that gets prettier the more everyone dress it up. The addition of awnings, little fir trees, window boxes and gay curtains will all add their quota of beauty.

The four windows across the from and the two on the side of the living room provide an abundance of light. The dining room is equally well provided with openings. In fact the entire layout is such a that there is not a dark or dull room in the whole house.
One the second floor are three large bedrooms, all well lighted and ventilated with ample closet room. Stairway to the attic provides a delightful place for the children's play room or for the storage space.

The plans for this house were produced by the Detroit Architects Small Homes Bureau who have cooperated with the Detroit News Home Building Service since kits inception six years ago. During this time homes to the value of over fifteen million have been built either directly or indirectly from places included in this service.

This house was constructed by a locate building firm and is now completed and ready to be shown to anyone who is interested in a home of this size and quality. It is located at 3586 Somerset avenue, one half block north of Mack avenue in the Gross Pointe and evening until Christmas Eve.

Here is a description of the decoration scheme which was used in the house and also suggestions as to how it could be furnished in keeping with the interior arrangement.

Living room and hall: Woodwork walnut finish, walls, rough plaster, surface finished in a rich parchment color, floor covering, fawn Wilton, window treatment, draw...

...trimmed top and bottom with gold braid.

Front bedroom right: Woodwork ivory, walls, rose, glass curtains like those in the other bedroom, over draperies, light green ground flowered chintz floor covering, light green Wiltons in small sizes, furniture light green and to consist of full sized bed, chiffonier, dresser with separate over mirror, small table and upholstered chair with slip covering of the drapery material bedspread, cream or white marquisette with a light green dot over rose Stateen, dresser covers, the same, electrical fixtures to be of rose chiffon over taffeta of the same color, trimmed top and bottom with light green moir' ribbon binding.

Rear Bedroom: Woodwork, ivory walls, light blue, glass curtains, like those in the other bedrooms, over draperies, ivory ground warp print with floral design in blue, rose, lavender, yellow and green, trimmed with knife pleated ruffles of blue chintz, floor covering, plain blue rugs, furniture walnut and consist of full sized bed, dresser, small desk, single chair, with slip covering of the drapery material, bedspread, blue and white cross bar novelty, material, dresser cover, blue linen trimmed with cream lace edging, electrical fixtures to be equipped with small pattern chintz shades, trimmed at the top and bottom with plain blue bands.

Bath Room: Tile, green and white walls, light orange, curtains, light orange organdie bound with plain green taffeta.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.