January 19, 1930

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 Melvindale house.

Should Fit Style and Type of Community
Proximately of Schools, Churches, Transportation and Retail District Muse Be Considered
By Edith B. Crumb

Interior Decoration Department
With the increasing American tendency for families to move from one part of a city to another, or from one city to another, in pursuance of opportunity or to facilitate their working or living conditions, the question of whether their home will be readily salable is an important factor.

The proximity of school, churches, transportation a retail mercantile district and other factors which must be relied upon certainly should be taken into consideration. But in addition to this one should study the type and style of house that fits the community and the architecture that is prevalent at the time the house is constructed.

Perhaps the most apparent characteristic of the English home is the sharp roof lines which are accentuated by the irregular paneling and exterior trim. This type of architecture has come down the ages and therefore has gone through the test which has eliminated about all the objections that anyone can bring up.

There is a charm that is dignified about the house that is shown today and yet at the same time it is informal, creating qualities which lend a true home like atmosphere.

The leaded glass windows throughout give an air of distinction. They are so arranged that the rooms will all be well supplied with daylight without the sacrifice of wall space, a combination not to be overlooked by a householder.
A large fireplace on the front of the house is a decorative feature and the same time an indication that the living room will be one of warmth and cheer.

The grand entrance at the side has a French door instead of the ordinary type, thus making it possible to sue this for a side auto entrance. From this entrance one may go direct to either the first floor hall or the recreation room in the basement.
Opening from the kitchen to the back porch is also a door of the French type which means that there is a cheery, bright kitchen.
Because of the difficulty often encountered with the curtaining of groups of casement windows the end windows of the groups may be made stationary, only the center ones opening in, thus avoiding interference between the cloth and windows.
The various rooms may be carried our along various lines, but...

The woodwork in the hall is to be in the light walnut shade, rubbed down to a piano finished in a light shade of caf' au laut with just a suggestion of an antiqued effect in the decorative border next to the ceiling being lighter than the walls.
The floor covering may be an Oriental rug in dark rich shades of wine red, old blue and a touch of dull gold, and the glass curtains of silk and wool casement cloth.

The stair runner may be of Chenille or Wilton in plain red to match the shade in the Oriental rug.

Living room: Woodwork and walls to be like those in the hall, floor covering beige Wilton or Chenille, glass curtains ecru silk and wool casement cloth, made to draw over draperies, natural colored linen with Jacobean design embroidered in wool in blue green, copper, yellow, rose and black these to be made long enough to reach to the floor, lined, interlined and trimmed with wool fringe, and hung from a wrought iron pole.

The furniture in this room may consist of a sofa covered in blue green jape red, extra pillows for this being covered n Roman striped taffeta in blue green, copper, yellow, and black, easy chair in covering of copper velvet, wing chair covered in the drapery, material with seams piped in blue green linen.

A secretary circular table with bulbous base, single chair with carved back and seat of cross stitch tapestry, pair of end tables, small odd table to be used at side of wing chair, wrought iron bridge lamp with mica shade, table lamp with copper base and shade of plain parchment with a yellow cast trimmed top and bottom with bands of blue green edged in black, pair of small lamps for the end tables which will be used in combination of the sofa, may have bases of dull yellow pottery and shades of beige chiffon over yellow taffeta trimmed top and bottom with beige silk braid.

Dining Room: Woodwork and walls to be like those in the living room, glass curtains, also the same, and the over draperies of blue green group printed linen in a conventional design. The floor covering may be of plain blue green Wilton or Chenille.
The furniture may be walnut or oak and consist of refectory table, five single chairs, one arm chair (the seats being equipped with pads of blue green and gold antique velvet) largest chest for buffet and smaller one for serving table. The electric fixtures may be equipped with shades to match those int living room.

Sun Reading Room: This room has built in book shelves and has groups of casement windows to harmonize with those in the rest of the house. The walls may be in finished parchment color, the glass curtains of material to match those in the dining room and the over draperies of copper ground glazed chintz. The furniture may be finished in blue green trimmed with a touch of gold and black, the covering being of striped sunfast material in blue green, copper, yellow, also black, and practical yet low and black and practical yet attractive furnishing for this room may consist of a gateloeg table, love seat, arm chair, and a couple of small foot stools covering in black ground flowered tapestry.

Kitchen and Breakfast Room: Woodwork light green, tile walls, white and black vase, walls, ivory, curtains light orange trimmed with green binding or rick rack braid, floor covering, black and cream checked linoleum, furniture light orange trimmed with black.

Second Floor: Room over hall. This room has two unique features, one being that of built in dressing table with triple mirror and the other a door leading to a small space into which a sewing machine may be rolled when not desired, thus offering the opportunity for creating of a delightful dressing room. The woodwork may be light walnut or ivory and the walls treated with ivory ground paper with a rose polka dot floor covering, soft rose Wilton, glass curtains, cream French marquisette, over draperies, light rose and gold changeable taffeta, dressing table being draped ...

..striped material with brocaded floral design upholstered chair with covering of rose ground flowed chintz, bench to be used with dressing table to be covered with material to match the chaise with material to match the chaise lounge, small table, arm chair with seat and back covered in rose and satin moir' striped material, dressing table to have pair of tall, slender lamps with shades of beige chiffon over taffeta of the same color trimmed top and bottom with cream pleated Chantilly lace, twisted French blue satin ribbon and a bouquet of French ribbon flowers.

Master Bedroom: Walls, peach floor covering, turquoise blue Wilton, glass curtains cream French marquisette, over draperies, peach ground glazes chintz with basket, wreath and ribbon design in turquoise blue taffeta, furniture, walnut with just a touch of dull gold brought out in the carvings. Twin beds, a chest of drawers with separate over mirror (hung with turquoise blue cords) dressing table, small table, to be used between the beds, single chair and upholstered chair with coverings of the drapery material, bed spreads, turquoise blue and gold changeable taffeta.

Bath room: Peach tile, walls...

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.