January 25, 1931

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 Boxhagen house.

Modern Materials Produce Simplified Modernistic Design
The Sturdy Elevation Makes Imposing Front
Brick and Stucco Walls, Massive Chimney, Heavy Front Door and Distinctive Windows Bring Appreciation of Unusual

New materials enable architects and builders to accomplish results today that would have been impossible of construction in former generations when the principles of building were founded entirely on masonry and timber. The progress of building during the past decade or two has obliterated practically every precedent in the use of materials and enabled architects to go beyond the everyday utilitarian requirements of providing a place merely to live or work.

The style of architecture shown in today's house, which is classes as simplified modernistic or contemporary, has for some time been applied to office, utility and commercial buildings. The basis of this new style is really a new application of old materials combined with modern machine-age materials and their assembly in rectangular, hexagonal and octagonal lines, which has been found equally applicable to residences.

There is appeal in the plan shown today. The sturdy brick and stucco walls and the massive chimney combined with the imposing front elevation and heavy front door bring a swift appreciation of the unusual.

The spacious living room, with its double exposure, has an attractive layout that permits a decorative layout that permits a decorative stairway at one end, a cheery fireplace at the other. The wide plastered archway leading to the dining room, which is connected with the sun room by French doors, permits of the entire length of the house being used as one room if desired.

In addition to all this is the conveniently arranged kitchen closely connected and yet entirely separated from both the dining room and breakfast nook. But perhaps even more attractive is the arrangement of the upstairs. Here are found three bedrooms averaging more thatn the usual sized sleeping rooms found in houses of this dimension and each one has plenty of closet room. Another attractive feature is the large canvas-covered deck which is so easily reached from the upstairs hallway.

Following is a decorative and furnishing scheme which might well be applied to this home which would be in keeping with the style of architecture and the layout of the house:

Living room: Woodwork is to be stained walnut and given a waxen finish; walls to be painted in a soft shade of sand; floor covering, deep blue Wilton; glass curtains, ecru French marquisette; over-draperies deep blue ground cretonne with floral design in rich shade of yellow, orange, amethyst, green and a touch of dull rose; furniture, sofa, covered in denim and equipped with a slip covering of striped sunfast material in colors to harmonize with the drapery fabric; wing chair in dark rose ground chintz; gateleg table approximately 30 inches across the top; spinet desk with three-tier hanging shelf above it - single Windsor chair; pair of small end tables; armchair with seat and back in taupe ground tapestry (the seams being piped with blue velvet); wrought iron bridge lamp with black base and shade of yellow ground flowered chintz, bound top and bottom with plain parchment yellow; small lamp for end tables to have yellow bases and paper shades decorated with old-time flower prints; over-mantel decorations to be an etching in a walnut frame; each end of matnel to have a brass candelbrum; and enter to have bronze and marble decorative jar or box; electric fixtures to be equipped with shades of plain parment.

Dining room: Woodwork like that in the living room; walls, tinted a pale shade of yellow; floor covering, beige Wilton; glass curtains, like those in the living room; over-draperies, yellow ground chintz or cretonne trimmed with bands of plain blue chintz or Stateen; furniture, walnut, and to consist of oblong extension table, five singel chairs and one armchair, buffet and serving table. The chairs may be covered with blue and gold armure; and the electric fixtures equipped with shades to match those in the living room.

Sun room: Decorated in Saxon green; glass curtains, gold voile; floor covering, black and cream marbeled linoleum; furniture, orange trimmed with black, cushions covered in green ground cretonne. The furniture may consist of settee, two armchairs, one single chair, small table and circular table about 30 inches in diameter.

Kitchen: Woodwork, medium blue, trimmed with a touch of black; walls, yellow; floor covering, black and cream checked linoleum; curtains yellow organdie trimmed with blue binding; furniture, blue trimmed with black.

The bedrooms can be finished in any color schemes that will harmonize with the downstairs and appearl to the fancey of the occupants.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.