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This Chimney and Fireplace Reflect Coziness

December 22, 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 Moreland house.
Convenient Home Life All Space is Utilized
Every Room and Opening so arranged as to Get Most Comfort and Beauty Out of Home

By Edith B. Crumb
The open fireplace is constantly and rapidly coming back into flavor with the American home owner. There is something about the coziness and warmth of the open fireside that appeals to the heart of nearly everyone. Toasting one's self in front of an open log fire in the long, cold winter evenings is a luxury that can be enjoyed by most any family nowadays.

There is a sentimental, decorative and practical advantage derived from the installation of an efficient and well-proportioned fireplace. Sentimental, because many of the happiest hours of a family are spent in gatherings before the open fire. Decorative, because in these days of beautiful homes no living room really seems complete unless it had a pretty fireplace that has a mantel for holding vases and other decorations. And practical, because in early spring and late fall a fireplace provides sufficient heat for the cool evenings, and in winter it becomes a welcome supplement to the regular heating equipment.

The home shown today is practically built around the fireplace with every room and opening so arranged as to derive the most beauty and comfort out of this feature, even the broad high chimney immediately suggests to the passerby that here is a home that has a cheery, warm, inviting living room and the windows indicate that the other rooms are equally as pleasant.

This home is so laid out that it will be convenient and home like and every inch of space can be utilized. The entrance hall has a closet for wraps. The living room is twelve and one half feet wide and seventeen and one half feet long, and connected with it is the sun room that is eight by ten feet. There is a nice size dining room, a kitchen with all the modern conveniences and bath and three...

... printed men with large floral design in henna, greenish blue, yellow and black, furniture, sofa in greenish blue mohair, extra pillows for same to be covered n henna jape satin, easy chair in beige ground, fire side chair in striped linen frieze greenish blue predominating armchair with needlepoint black and set, secretary single chair for same, wrought iron bridge lamp with accordion pleated glazed chintz shade, pair of end tables to be used with sofa, pair of Italian pottery lamps with parchment, shades trimmed with greenish blue bands edged in black, ornamental mirror with crystal frame, brass candelabra to be used at ends of mantel, fan shaped greenish blue crystal vase for center of mantel, electric fixtures to be equipped with shades or shields of ecru chiffon over pale gold taffeta, trimmed with greenish blue silk braid.

French doors between living room and sun nook to be equipped with shirred panels of the glass curtain material, hung from first bar from the top.

Sun Nook: Woodwork and walls, same as those in the living room windows treated with gold theatrical gauze curtains trimmed with bands of henna and greenish blue linen, floor covering, henna flat weave rug, furniture, wicker, enameled greenish blue with cushions covered in Roman striped sunfast material; the furniture may consist of settee, oval table, armchair, single chair and bridge lamp.

archway between living room and dining room to be hung with double faced porters of sunfast wool rep, greenish blue on living room side, and violet on dining room side.

Dining room: Woodwork, in living room, walls, two tone striped paper in beige floor covering black and gold all over small repeat design with black border, glass curtains like those in living room, over draperies, violet and gold silk rep, Furniture, walnut William and Mary design consisting of oblong extension table, four single chairs, two armchairs tall chest and serving table, chairs to be covered in violet and gold satin striped armor.
French doors from dining room to terrace to be treated with shirred panels of glass curtains materials hung so as to cover the glass entirely.

Kitchen: Medium green and tan tile pattern linoleum for floor covering woodwork enameled medium green, walls enameled light sand curtains, green and white plaid tissue gingham, trimmed with rick rack braid, furniture, enameled trimmed with green.
Bedroom over living room: Woodwork, silver grey, walls, coral, and silver striped paper. Floor covering gray and coral small all over pattern and coral small all over pattern Wilton, glass curtains, cream French marquisette, over draperies, coral ground cretonne with floral pattern in turquois, gray, sand. Green yellow and a touch of black, furniture, grey enamel trimmed with coral, and to consist of double bed, chiffonier, dresser bench upholstered chair covered in the drapery cretonne, bedspread, coral silk rep, trimmed with pleating of apple green, electric fixtures to be treated with shades of coral taffeta over which may be pleated gray chiffon with shades of coral taffeta over which may be pleated gray chiffon and trimmed with coral silk braid.
Bedroom and Dining Room: Woodwork, old ivory, wall paper, ivory ground with stripes composted of small sprays of flowers in blue, rose, yellow and green, floor covering rose glass curtains, like first bedroom, over draperies rose amure, furniture, ivory trimmed with rose lines, and to consist of twin beds, right table, chest of drawers, dressing table, bench and upholstered chairs in denim with slip cover of rose ground cretonne, bedspread cream marquisette over rose Stateen, electric fixtures to have shades of ecru chiffon over rose taffeta and trimmed with simple rose braid.

Bedroom over kitchen: Woodwork, apple green. Paper, cream ground well covered with quaint chintz design in rose, lavender, yellow, green and a touch of black, floor covering oval rag rugs in colors to harmonize with paper, glass curtains, like other two bedrooms over draperies, lavender organdie, ruffled, furniture to be mahogany and consist of single bed, dresser, dressing table, hung with lavender organdie skirt trimmed with green bench covered in green ground glazed chintz. Windsor rocker bedspread lavender linen trimmed with green linen shirred bands, electric fixtures to be equipped with shades of lavender taffeta lined with pale rose, trimmed with green silk braid.

Bathroom: Woodwork cream, walls, shell pink, window shade, glazed chintz, cream ground with pattern in rose, blue green and a touch of black, curtains, pale blue organized bound with rose.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.

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