February 15, 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 Eureka house.

A Brick Veneer Bungalow That Is Home-Like in Every Way
Open to Public For Inspection Today
Located at 8559 Roselawn, One-Half Block South of Joy and Midway Between Livernois and Oakman Boulevard

Here is a well planned and convenienty arranged bungalow that should be satisfactory to the most painstaking home owner. It is the result of a long period of studious thought by the designers and every detail from basement to roof has been so carefully planned that there seems to be little that could be added in a house of this size and one selling at this price. The specifications call for a grade of material that is used in buildings much more costly.

The front elevation is attractive with its broken lines and extended corners which gives an appearance of additional width. In the layout shown herewith only the finishing of the first floor rooms have been considered, but there is sufficient space on the second floor for one large bedroom or two small bedrooms, in addition to a bath and two storage rooms.

The builders extend the option of finished one bedroom on the second floor or installing an electric stove and electric refridgeration at the buidling price which they quote. A one-car frame garage and ribbon drive is also included in the price.

There is considerable that can be said in praise of this week's house for it is one that will lend itself graciously to accomodations for the family of four to eight. There is no greater compliment for a house than it is home-like, and this one seems to meet that standard.

The exterior walls are face brick all around on the first floor and the entire front elevation, while the balance of the second floor walls are stained shingles. The first floor has steel casements and windows with brick sills and marble stools. The first floor is trimmed in gumwood with oveal cornered casings, while the electric fireplace is trimmed with stone and has a stone mantle, with oval cornered casings, while the electric fireplace is trimmed with stone and has a stone mantle.

The living room has sufficient wall space to allow of a rearrangement of the furniture. A plastered arch leads to the dining room. There is a drop cove ceiling in both these rooms. The walls are sand finished, painted and stippled with delicate colorings.

But perhaps the most desirable feature is the kitchen layout. There is an abundance of built-in cupboard space, over, around and under the sink which has two long tile drain boards with the tile back and apron.

The bedrooms are not over size but are proportionate to the rest of the house. One has a cedar closet and the other a cedar chest. The bath room has tile floor and base, and the recessed tub with overhead shower has tile six feet high.

This home is located at 8559 Roselawn avenue, one-half block south of Joy rad. Roselawn begins at Tireman avenue and runs north. It is three blocks west of Central and four blocks east of Wisconsin, about half way between Livernois and Oakman boulevard.

The home will be open all day for the inspection of those who may be interested in this type of bungalow and are desirous of seeing all the modern conveniences and grade of materials which are being put into homes this year.

The following description is of the rooms whcih are decorated according to plans laid out by the Interior Decoration Department, the furnishings which are mentioned as harmonious being suggested by the same:

Living room: Woodwork, walnut; walls, finished in stippled ivory with a very faint cast of rose and green; floor covering, plain medium green Wilton made large enough to reach to the base-board all around; glass curtains, ecru casement cloth; over-draperies, green ground cretonne with design in mulberry, gold, blue and a touch of rose; furniture, sofa covered in beige ground tapestry, with seams piped in green velvet; eacy chair in denim with slip covering of drapery material piped in mulberry Stateen; armchair with seat and back covered in mulberry damask; secretary, single chair for this to have seat of gold ground brocade; nest of tables; occasional table; table lamp with yellow pottery base and parchment shade; bridge lamp with shade of parchment shade; bridge lamp with shade of parchement and decoration of colored bands; over-mantel decoration to be mirror with wrought iron frame; each end of mantel to have Italian pottery jar for decoration.

Dining room: Woodwork, walls, floor covering and glass curtains like those in the living room; over-draperies to be made of gold ground flowered chintz trimmed with plated ruffles of plain green chintz; furniture, walnut and to consist of oblong extension table; five single chairs, one armchair, buffet and serving table; chair seats to be covered in mulberry velvet.

Kitchen: Woodwork, light green; walls, yellow; floor covering, black and cream checked linoleum; curtains - may be either red and white checked gingham or plain yellow organdie; furniture (there is room for table and chairs in recesss) may be either red trimmed with black or yellow trimmed with black, depending upon the selection of curtains.

Front Bedroom: Woodwork, ivory; walls, orchid; glass curtains, cream French marquisette; over-draperies, jade green ground flowered chintz scalloped and bound with orchid; floor covering, plain jade green Wilton in small sizes; furniture, jade green and to consist of full-sized bed, chest of drawers, dressing table with skirt to match draperies, stool covered in same; over-mirror with jig-saw frame to be placed over dressing table; bedspread to match the draperies.

It is interesting to note that in the closet off from this bedroom there is a built-in cedar chest.

Rear Bedroom: Woodwork and walls, light green, This being southwest room, there could be more ideal color selection of four-poster bed, chest of drawers with separate over-mirror; spinet desk, three-tier book-shelf; ladderback single chair; glass curtains, like those in the other bedroom; over-draperies, apricot ground flowered chintz trimmed with ruffles of light green chintz; these being caught back over green glass drapery pins; bedspread, unbleached muslin with candlewicking design in green. This bedroom has a cedar closet adjoining it.

Second Floor Bedroom: Woodwork and walls, peach; glass curtains, like those in the first floor bedrooms; over-draperies, powder blue ground cretonne made to hang straight to the floor from a painted cornice board; floor covering, plain powder blue Wilton rugs in small sizes; furniture, maple and to consist of Jenny Lind bed, chest of drawers, dresser with separate over-mirror , small bedside table, wing chair with slip covering of the drapery material, single Windsor chair with rush seat; bedspread to be a patchwork quilt in powder blue and peach.

Bath room: Lower walls and woodwork, white tile with black tile border; upper walls and ceiling, orchid to match front bedroom; glass curtains, white French marquisette bound in orchid taffeta.

Courtesy of The Detroit News Archives.