December 01, 1929

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 Santa Clara house.

Floor Plan Different from the Usual Layout
Provides for Large Living Room with Fireplace on One Side and Windows in Three Directions
A home is the most important investment of a lifetime, for the majority of people, as well it should be for a home is more than a mere shelter from the elements. It becomes the actual part of the life of the family that dwells within and is unquestionably the strongest single contributing factor in molding character and forming habits which influence people from childhood on throughout their lives.

Because homes have the influence they do upon the human beings who live in them there are three items of paramount importance that should be taken into consideration in planning them- livability, attractiveness, and valuation. Then it must be borne in mind that a home is built for permanence. Therefore, all factors that of into its construction with caution in order that the home may reflect good architecture. And the exterior has individual lines that give it sufficient character to stand out attractively in any block of residences.

To home lovers who enjoys a real living room this plan should particularly appeal. Here is a living room 12 feet wide and 23 feet long with a fireplace right in the center of the lengthwise space. Two windows in front, four on the side and double French doors at the rear, leading on to a cement terrace insure ideal light and cheerfulness.

The dining room is well placed from points of convenience and pleasantness, and certainly a pleasant dining room is conductive to good health. Beyond the dining rooms is the kitchen and this is part of the house that will probably appeal strongest to most of the housewives because it is so much larger and has so many more little conveniences than the average...

the finish and decorations that are in the house and also a plan that might be carried out in furnishing a home in this character:

Living Room: Woodwork, walnut, finish, walls, rough plaster in rich parchment tone, floor covering, wilton in a cedar share, glass curtains, ecru silk and wool casement cloth made no travers, over draperies, cedar and gold damask, furniture sofa covered in blue green velvet, extra pillows for this being covered in gold ground brocade. Easy chair with covering or natural colored linen with Crewel embroidery, secretary carved back chair to be used with this, this chair to be equipped with seat cushion of velvet to match that of the sofa armchair with seat and back covered in needlepoint, easy chair covered in black ground tapestry, octagonal table approximately 30 inches across the top , bronze bridge lamp with shade of beige chiffon over gold taffeta trimmed top and bottom with blue green velvet binding, pair of small tables, lamps for these to have basses of Italian pottery and shades painted with designs to match.

Dining room: Walls, woodwork, and glass curtains like those in the living room, floor covering plain blue green wilton, over draperies, apricot ground printed linen with design in blue, green, orange, lilac and a touch of rose, furniture, walnut, and to consist of oblong extension table buffest, serving table, five single chairs and one armchair to be covered in blue green moir' and satin striped material.

Kitchen: upper walls and ceiling, ivory, lower walls, white, baseboard and chair rail grey edges with green floor covering tile pattern linoleum in shares of green kitchen cabinets metal painted green.

Breakfast room: upper walls and ceiling, ivory, lower walls, stripped in a pale parchment shade, woodwork, apricot trimmed with green, furniture, green trimmed with black:

Bedroom over living room: front: woodwork, white enamel: walls stippled in shaded effect in apricot, floor covering French blue Wiltons in small sizes, glass curtains, cream French marquisette over draperies, French blue ground chintz or cretonne with floral design, furniture, walnut and to consist of twin beds, chest of drawers with separate over mirror dressing table, night stand, single chair and upholstered chair with slip covering of the drapery material , bedspreads, French blue moir', covers for chest, and dressing table, apricot handkerchief linen trimmed with cream lace edging, draperies lilac silk broadcloth trimmed with knife pleated ruffles of light green silk broadcloth, furniture sized bed, chiffon robe, dressing table, bedside table, single chair and upholstered chair with slip covering of light green ground flowered chintz piped with lilac Stateen bedspread in the same combination of material as the draperies, covers for chiffon robe, dressing table and bed side table, to be made of light green linen with hemstitched borders.

Bedroom over dining room: Woodwork, white enamel walls, stippled in shaded effects in pale yellow, floor covering, light green Wiltons in small size, glass curtains, like those in the other bedrooms, over draperies light green ground flowered chintz, furniture, walnut and to consist of full sized bed chest of drawers, dresser with separate over mirror, small table, single chair and upholstered chair with slip covering of striped cotton material in yellow, green and rose, bedspread, light yellow linen of heavy quality trimmed with flounced and applied of the drapery material.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.