December 15, 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 Oliver house.

The Beneficial Influence of the Home Will Reflect on Those Living in This Type of House
By Edith B. Crumb
Home making as an occupation is engaged in by a far greater number of persons that any other, as a science it involves a wider and more diversified knowledge, as an art it goes deep into the well springs of human life, of beauty, of culture, of happiness and a measure of our civilization. But to derive in full measure the beneficial influence that home making exerts on our lives the home must reflect the aspiration of those who dwell within.

Good architecture survives contemporary building styles just as the painting of the old masters lose none of their value with the advent of the modernist schools. The skilled architect plans the general scheme for his hose on the basic principles that have been established and recognized as being fundamentally correct and then fashions that exterior and the neglect to conform to the type of architecture which he desires to represent.

All six shapes, styles, and kind of small houses are being built in American today. But it is apparent that each one shows an effort to recreate some type of standard architecture. The real beauty of our city streets and country road sides that the architecture of the homes varies. If one drove for hours along a road and saw nothing but old Colonial houses their beauty would soon became monotonous.

The home pictured today has the characteristics of English architecture with a number of changes, innovations, and applications that might be classed as American. These have been brought about by the demands for comfort, convenience and better living condition.

This house is on frame construction with Indiana limestone, four inches thick all around on the first floor. The exterior of the second floor is stained with the exception of the iron gable which is with English timber trim.

The living room is ideal and much larger than found in the usual house of this size. The dining room and kitchen are in. The three bedrooms are with separate over mirror, dressing table with skirt, of blue organdie over blue Stateen, Martha Washington sewing table, Windsor armchair and small footstool covered in cross stitch needlepoint, covers for chest of drawers and dressing table to be of cream or white linen finished with a narrow crocheted edge bedspread, patchwork quilt in blue and white, electrical fixtures to be equipped with small flowered chintz shades.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.