December 31, 1929

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

Detroit, Michigan, United States

A portion of a Beauty in the Home column describing a "warm" living room and advice on painting a bathroom.

Beauty in the Home
A glance at a fireplace equipped in the manner of the older times gives us more appreciation of our present day conveniences and comforts, and at the same time it is also very interesting to realize the contrast of the times.

In the illustration is shown a fireplace which not only served as the heating plant of the room but also as the kitchen stove. There is the kettle for boiling water, the pan with broiler (in the corner) the strainer, skimmer, and old iron kettle into which went to ingredients for a long, slow stewing of soup.

The bed warmer at the left of the fireplace is interesting. Into this large covered pan with a long handle were placed coals and it was then pushed around in ironing fashion between the sheets of the bed.
The bellows at the right encourages dying embers and the little foot warmer at the side of the bed warmer was a comfort to those returning from a long cold walk or ride.

It must not be forgotten that it was in front of the fireplace so many of the lovely old quilts were pieced, candies were dipped and shaped and the wool for all the clothing in the family was carded and spun.
Rugs were hooked, materials dyed and such duties as required warm hands and nimble fingers were carried on near the fireplace.

In the illustration is show a portion of a room in a remodeled house, and it is easily seen that although there is a touch of restoration, yet the charm of the old equipment is still evident.

Bath Room Color Scheme
Will you please help me make my bathroom more cherry? It is small. Five by six feet with one window facing south. What color shall I paint the upper walls and also the lower. What kind of curtains shall I use? The floor is terrazzo. What color rugs?
Mrs. C.Y

The lower part of the walls and all of the woodwork in your bathroom may be finished in a light shade of blue green, and the upper parts of the walls and ceiling may be in a delicate apricot.
For the curtains use apricot organdie, finished with plain hems, and the rug may be an oval braided rag mat in blue green, apricot, yellow, buff, and black.

If you wish, the roller shade for this room may be of blue green ground flowered glazed chintz.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.