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DEMONSTRATION OF BETTER. HOMES »» October 9 to 14.1922
A Plan
for
Qommunity Organization
Of
Better Homes in America
fffemonstration IV°ek
October gth to 1/f.th, 1922
The future history of America will be shaped in large
measure by the character of its homes. If we continue to be a
home-loving people we shall have the strength that comes only
from a virile family life. This means that our homes must be
attractive, comfortable, convenient, wholesome. They must
keep pace with the progress made outside the home. Realiza¬
tion of this has crystallized into a national civic campaign for
Better Homes in America endorsed and encouraged by Fed¬
eral and State officials and by prominent men in public life as
set forth in this Plan Book.
T HE following plan has been prepared to give practical help
to citizens of any community organizing for a Better Homes in
America Demonstration Week, October 9th to 14th, 1922.
The Campaign in each community centers about a Better Home
—completely equipped, furnished and decorated, in accordance with
approved modern practice, and placed on exhibition during Demon¬
stration Week.
Better Homes exhibitions have already been held, but now
for the first time a national organization, endorsed and supported
by the President of the United States and other Federal and State
[ 11 ]
officials, is prepared to give practical help to every community wish¬
ing to share in the Better Homes in America movement.
The community which exhibits a Better Home during Demon¬
stration Week will be given a powerful impetus for good. Every
civic interest, every business and industry will be favorably affected.
A Better Homes demonstration is a stimulus to better living, civic
pride and community morale. It encourages thrift and industry.
It develops a higher standard of taste. It means a better com¬
munity in every way. This has been proved by the experience of
many communities which have held successful exhibitions. They
have ranged from cities as large as Cleveland, Milwaukee, Colum¬
bus, Kansas City and Dayton to villages of a few hundred popula¬
tion. In every case where the demonstration has been properly
organized lasting benefits have followed.
Follow the Plan
The National Advisory Council of Better Homes in America,
through its Bureau of Information, has made a thorough investiga¬
tion of previous exhibitions of this character.
This investigation has shown clearly that when the local organ¬
izations proceed in the right way a Better Homes demonstration
may easily be made a great success. Causes of trouble as well as
of success have been analyzed to bring out the methods that should
be avoided. The Advisory Council, therefore, is in a position to
recommend plans that have stood the test of practical experience.
With Federal and State governments endorsing and encourag¬
ing this Plan of educating the people to Better Homes in America,
the conduct of local demonstrations is given tremendous impetus
and support. And with the suggestions and the Plan for conducting
such demonstrations herewith presented, any community may con¬
fidently undertake the production of a Better Homes Exhibition
during Demonstration Week, October 9th to 14th, 1922.
A comparatively few energetic and capable women, with the
support of local civic organizations, can effectively put into practice
the ideas and plans with which they will be supplied by the Bureau
of Information. The expense of a Better Home demonstration
need not be great; in some communities it may be kept as low as
$25.00. Builders, merchants and prominent citizens will combine
to supply the Model Better Home, and to furnish it. Civic or¬
ganizations and newspapers will cooperate to interest the public.
The most successful demonstrations have been so managed as
to impress upon visitors that they were not selfish enterprises, in¬
tended to help special interests, particular firms or individuals.
They have been so conducted as to benefit every line of business
[ 12 ]
and to help the community as a whole. Neither the name of the
builder or owner of the home exhibited, nor the name of any person
or business firm furnishing any portion of the exhibit, is permitted
to be displayed.
The motive behind the demonstration is primarily educational.
How to Form a General Committee for Better
Homes Demonstration Week
A Better Homes Demonstration should be organized and di¬
rected by a disinterested group of prominent women, working from
motives of public service. This group should be formed of a
Chairman and a General Committee of from four to seven mem¬
bers, depending upon the size of the community.
Each member of the General Committee is Chairman of one or
more sub-committees as outlined later in this Plan.
The Chairman of the General Committee is appointed through
the National Advisory Council of Better Homes in America. She
appoints the members of the local General Committee. They in
turn appoint the members of the Sub-committees. In the case of
the Sub-committees it is particularly important that appointments
should be made with the knowledge and approval of the local civic
and commercial interests whose co-operation is desired. Detailed
suggestions for procedure are outlined later.
The duties of the members of the General Committee fit natur¬
ally into the following arrangement of Sub-committees with a mem¬
ber of the General Committee as Chairman of each Sub-committee:
(1) Sub-committee on Advertising and Publicity.
(2) Sub-committee on Selection of Demonstration Home.
(3) Sub-committee on Equipment of Demonstration Home.
(4) Sub-committee on Furnishing and Decorating.
(5) Sub-committee on Reception of Visitors and Management
of Home.
(6) Sub-committee on Program of Events.
(7) Sub-committee on Budget for Demonstration Week.
Where the size of the community makes it desirable to have a
General Committee of only four members, some such distribution
of the Sub-committees as this is recommended:
(1) Chairman (a member of the General Committee) heading
(a) Sub-committee on Advertising and Publicity; and
(b) Sub-committee on Progress of Events.
(2) Chairman (a member of the General Committee) heading
(a) Sub-committee on Equipment of Demonstration
Home; and
[ 13 ]
(b) Sub-committee on Furnishing and Decorating.
(3) Chairman (a member of the General Committee) heading
(a) Sub-committee on Selection of Demonstration Home;
and
(b) Sub-committee. on Reception of Visitors and Man¬
agement of Home.
(4) Chairman (a member of the General Committee) heading
(a) Sub-committee on Budget for Demonstration Week.
How To Secure Patrons for Better Homes
Demonstration; Full Co-operation of
All Focal Interests Essential
Following the organization of the General Committee, the first
duty of its Chairman should be the arrangement for meetings of
the Committee—or its individual members—with the various City
Officials, and Civic and Commercial Organizations in the com¬
munity, to explain the Plan for a Better Homes Demonstration and
to secure their endorsement and active support.
Those endorsing and supporting the Demonstration may be
known as Patrons and should comprise the following:
The Mayor
Commissioner of Education
(or Superintendent of Public
School)
Publishers or Owners of Local
Newspapers
Presidents of Important Wom¬
en’s Clubs
President of Chamber of Com¬
merce
Agricultural Home Bureau, etc.
President of Real Estate Board
President of Rotary Club
President of Kiwanis Club
Presidents of Building & Loan
Associations.
Presidents of other Business or
Trade Associations related to
the Home Building and
Furnishing Industries.
Churches should also be asked to support the movement.
Additional Patrons may properly be selected from prominent
citizens of the community, who are noted for their public spirit
and are not included in the above list.
The two essentials for a successful Better Homes in America
Demonstration are genuine co-operation from all local civic,
financial, commercial and educational interests, and full and ex¬
tensive publicity through the local newspapers. From the young¬
est boy or girl scout to bank president, business man, school teacher,
minister, manufacturer and city official, everybody in a community
should have a real personal interest in the Demonstration. When
[ 14 ]
the benefits of a successful Better Homes Demonstration are once
understood this interest is readily aroused.
Investigation of successful exhibitions in Kansas City, Indian¬
apolis, Cleveland and elsewhere proved conclusively that the co¬
operation of all local interests was the biggest single factor of
success.
How to Form Sub-Co?nmittees
It is important to appoint as Chairman of each Sub-committee
a member of the General Committee who is particularly fitted to
the specific work assigned to her Sub-committee. The special abili¬
ties of the members of the General Committee should be taken into
careful consideration and so used in the arrangement of the Sub¬
committees as to secure the best and quickest results.
The formation of Sub-committees is necessary not only to di¬
vide the work effectively, but also to arouse the interest and co¬
operation of the various local interests directly affected by home
building and home betterment. All the local business groups—
furniture dealers, hardware dealers, wall-paper and paint dealers,
electrical dealers, real estate dealers, etc.—should be interviewed
and asked to nominate a representative from each group to serve
on the appropriate Sub-committee. In this way the appearance of
favoring special interests will be avoided and the fullest co-opera¬
tion secured.
It may be well to stress here that the Chairman of the General
Committee should not become immersed in the details of the Sub¬
committees’ work. She establishes a point of contact and a clearing
house for all Sub-committees and directs the Better Homes Demon¬
stration as a whole, but not in detail. Neither should the Chairman
of a Sub-committee attempt to enter into details of the work of
other Sub-committees not under her direction. The Chairman of
each Sub-committee is responsible to the Chairman of the General
Committee, and to her alone.
Suggestions for the formation and activities of the various
Sub-committees are given in the following:
/—How to Form Sub-Committee on Budget for
Demonstration IVzek
A member of the General Committee is the Chairman.
This Sub-committee should be made up of prominent citizens,
representing both the financial and mercantile interests of the com¬
munity. It would be appropriate to secure a Bank Cashier, who is
accustomed to keeping accurate records of receipts and expenses,
[ 15 ]
to act as Vice-chairman of the Sub-committee. He may also act
as Treasurer of the General Committee. This committee should
have charge not only of the securing of the modest expense fund
necessary for Demonstration Week, but also of the recording of
facts and figures regarding the operation of the Demonstration
Home, and the results obtained. Such a record will be exceedingly
useful to the local General Committee as well as the National Ad¬
visory Council. Accurate figures on the local Better Homes Demon¬
strations will be invaluable in continuing the Better Homes in
America Campaign, and arrangements have been made for prizes
to be given to those Committees submitting the best reports and
records of successful demonstrations.
Suggestions for the Sub-Committee
There will be certain general expenses incurred in conducting a Better
Homes Demonstration. These general expenses may range from $25 to $500
or more, depending upon the size of the committee and the extensiveness and
completeness of the Demonstration.
Some of the items of expense which may be incurred are: insurance of
borrowed property; special advertising in the form of street signs, window
cards and posters; printing; prizes for contests; lecturers, and, possibly, special
forms of entertainment.
In many communities where Demonstrations have been held, the small
contributions necessary have been readily volunteered by the various organ¬
izations, business firms or individuals directly interested in the financing and
furnishing of homes. Contributions may be secured from bankers, stores,
public utilities, real estate dealers, building material dealers, insurance men,
etc. The amounts contributed by the various interests should be carefullly
apportioned and only a sufficient sum collected to pay the actual expenses of
the Demonstration.
In Dayton and other cities it was found that volunteer contributions were
readily made by manufacturers of, or dealers in, trade-marked articles, such as
pianos, vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, electrical equipment, etc. As these
articles, because of the trade name affixed, received special advertising in the
Demonstration Home, it was considered proper to accept contributions from
the dealers. The selection of trade-marked articles which may be shown in
a Demonstration Home should be made in a disinterested manner by the Sub¬
committee on Equipment.
2—How to Form Sub-Committee on Advertising
and Publicity
A member of the General Committee is Chairman.
The success of the Demonstration rests largely upon the
thoroughness with which this Committee does its work. It should,
therefore, be composed of all of the Publishers or Advertising Man¬
agers of local Newspapers, and the Advertising Managers of De-
[161
partment Stores and other large business houses. The fullest co¬
operation should be secured from all the local publishing and ad¬
vertising interests.
Local newspapers will gladly aid a Better Homes Demonstra¬
tion, for such an exhibition presents unusual opportunities for sell¬
ing advertising space to local merchants. In some of the cities
where Demonstrations have been held, the newspapers have brought
out large special editions carrying a great amount of local adver¬
tising, and filled with interesting and instructive reading matter
regarding home building and home betterment.
Suggestions for the Sub-Committee
The campaign publicity should commence with an announcement of the
organization of the General Committee and the selection of Patrons. It should
be continued, in advance of the opening of the Demonstration Home, by the
use of reading matter descriptive of home planning, furnishing, decoration
and equipment.
The local newspapers should co-operate with the Sub-committee in seeing
that advertisements of exhibitors during the demonstration week do net men¬
tion the fact that the advertiser is an exhibitor. This, of course, should not
preclude the general advertising of goeds suitable for the equipment or furnish¬
ing of Better Homes. This regulation is in line with the non-commercial policy
of the campaign, and merchants will readily understand its fairness.
This Sub-committee should provide painted signs announcing the location
of the Exhibition Home. These signs should be placed at neighboring street
intersections. Signs in the form of arrow pointers should be tacked on tele¬
phone poles in all parts of the city pointing in the direction of the Demonstra¬
tion Home and announcing its exact location.
Automobile Pesters or Banners for the cars of the members of the Com¬
mittee may be furnished by local sign painters or printers.
The Committee should also see that show cards advertising the Demon¬
stration are properly distributed and displayed in store windows and that
posters are put up in suitable public places.
Show cards, posters and stickers bearing the imprint of the Better Homes
in America campaign, with space left for local announcements, may be ob¬
tained by application to the Bureau of Information, The Delineator, 223
Spring Street, New York City, Secretary, Mrs. William Brown Meloney.
A circular descriptive of the show cards, posters and stickers may also
be obtained through the Bureau of Information, which has arranged tO' have
this advertising display matter prepared for the use of local Committees. It
is strongly recommended that these posters and cards be used in order to
standardize the various local Demonstrations.
The stickers should be widely distributed among local merchants for use
on city mail during the week preceding and the week of the campaign.
Small electrotypes of the Better Homes in America campaign insignia,
or trade-mark, may be obtained through the Bureau of Information for use on
printed matter and in newspapers. They are shown in the circular descriptive
of the advertising display material.
[17 1
j—How to Form Sub-Committee on Selection of
Demonstration Home
A member of the General Committee is Chairman.
The selection of the home to be used for the Demonstration
should be made by a disinterested committee. Experience has shown
that this is the only satisfactory method, as all personal interests
are thus eliminated and criticism avoided.
Previous experience also indicates that this Sub-committee, with
a member of the General Committee as Chairman, of course, should
be composed of the President of the local Real Estate Board (if
there is one in the community), a representative of the Chamber
of Commerce or Merchants Association, a representative architect,
and a representative of the Building Material Dealers. Here again
is illustrated the importance of securing the full co-operation of the
various groups of business men directly affected by home building
and owning. These groups should be interviewed and each group
asked to appoint its representative on this committee. When the
National campaign for Better Homes in America } and the Plan
as outlined here, have been clearly explained to these interests, a Sub¬
committee for selecting the Demonstration Home may be organized,
which will act disinterestedly and effectively.
Suggestions for the Sub-Committee
The three cardinal principles to be observed in the selection of a Demon¬
stration Home are: first, situation with respect to accessibility and nearness
to street car lines; second, type of architecture; and third, cost.
A Demonstration Home should be situated within a reasonable distance of
the business section of a community, and it should not be more than four blocks
from the nearest street car line. In a city where the Demonstration Home
was selected some eight blocks from the car line and upon a hill, the attendance
was disappointingly small. The Demonstration Heme should not be situated in
the outskirts of a community. This was found to be a disadvantage in a city
where a Demonstration Home was selected in a new, partially developed
suburb, some distance from the city limits.
An extreme type of architecture should be avoided in a Demonstration
Home.
With respect to the cost of the home selected, it has been shown in a num¬
ber of cities that a house priced slightly above the average cost of homes in the
community attracted the larger number of visitors. The public apparently
likes to visit a home costing more than the average, because of a desire to see
and admire better things. Demonstration Homes, therefore, may range in
price from $5,000 to $15,000, including the land, but not including the
furnishings and equipment.
Other essentials of an ideal home for demonstration purposes are fully out¬
lined in an article prepared by direction of Secretary of Commerce Hoover and
included in this Plan Book on pages 7 and 8.
[181
The builder or owner of the Home selected should be willing to loan it
to the General Committee for the Demonstration Week, without charge. He
should also be willing to landscape the grounds, decorate the walls and carry
all insurance and damage risks. This has been gladly done by builders in
Syracuse, Cleveland, Milwaukee, Kansas City and elsewhere. There is no
better selling method for homes than that of putting on display a completely
furnished and equipped home.
If the entire plan of campaign is explained to the builder or owner of a
suitable home, and the advantages of indirect selling methods are pointed out
to him, his co-operaticn will be readily secured.
The name of the builder or owner is not to be displayed on the Demon¬
stration Home in any manner, shape or form, nor is his name to be carried
in any of the advertising during the campaign.
This will do away with all appearance of favoritism in the choice of the
house to be used. It is proper, however, to insert a reading notice in the news¬
papers announcing the selection of the Demonstration Home and giving the
name of the owner or builder. No further reference should be made to him
in any of the advertising matter during Demonstration Week, though the
attendants in the home may properly give his name to any person inquiring
for it.
/f—How to Form Sub-Committee on Fquipment
of Demonstration Home
A member of the General Committee is Chairman.
The selection and installation of all practicable labor-saving
devices and appliances in the Demonstration Home is left to
this Sub-committee. It should be composed of representatives of
dealers in home equipment, architects, builders, and, if possible, a
Home Demonstration agent of the Agricultural Department. (See
announcement of special co-operation of Department of Agriculture
by Secretary Wallace on page 9).
Suggestions for Sub-Committee
On pages 47-49 will be found a statement of the best modern
practise in the equipment of a home permitting the most efficient
and economical housekeeping.
It is probable that many communities will be unable to equip
the Demonstration Home completely, in accordance with the stand¬
ards laid down. So far as practicable these suggestions should be
followed, but local conditions and the stock of equipment carried by
local dealers may require some modifications in detail.
5 -_ How to Form Sub-Committee on Furnishing
and Decorating
A member of the General Committee is Chairman.
[191
In the selection of this Sub-committee the greatest care must be
taken to secure the co-operation of all the business firms and in¬
dividuals concerned in the furnishing and decorating of homes.
Each group—furniture dealers, hardware dealers, paint and wall¬
paper dealers, department stores (if any), decorators (if any),
art and book stores—should be interviewed on this important sub¬
ject and asked to appoint representatives to serve on this Sub¬
committee.
Suggestions for Sub-Committee
In order to maintain the non-commercial aspect of Demonstration Week,
no exhibitor’s name should be displayed on any article shown in the Demon¬
stration Home. No price tags should be permitted on any article. In this way
all appearance of commercialism is avoided. This feature will appeal to the
fair and broad-minded merchant and will secure the enthusiastic support of
all the merchants in the community, no matter how small their business may be.
The attendants at the Home, in response to inquiries as to where certain
articles may be secured, should be instructed to reply that they may be had
from the inquirer’s own dealer or from any dealer in the city.
In Dayton this non-commercial plan was wonderfully successful.
In communities where suitable furnishings and decorations are not obtain¬
able from the local stores they may be borrowed from public spirited citizens,
who have such articles as are adapted to the scheme of decoration and furnish¬
ing. For the guidance of the Sub-committee, which may not include expert
decorators or furnishers as members, practical suggestions on good furnishing
and decorating have been s-t forth on pages 30-42 of this Plan Book. These
suggestions will undoubtedly prove helpful in assembling the furnishings and
decorations for a Demonstration Home. If more detailed information is re¬
quired, write to the Bureau of Information, The Delineator, 223 Spring Street,
New York City, Secretary, Mrs. William Brown Meloney.
In all cases the basement of the Demonstration Home should be very care¬
fully arranged, equipped and prepared for exhibition.
The furnishing of the Demonstration Home should include well-selected,
standard home literature and reference books, properly arranged in book-cases
or on shelves. A printed list of this selected library may be supplied for dis¬
tribution to the visitors.
6—How to Form Sub-Committee on Management
and Reception
A member of the General Committee is Chairman.
The members of this Sub-committee should be selected for their
ability to manage the Demonstration Home and to receive and
care for the visitors. It may be composed of representatives of
the various women’s organizations in the city.
In order to insure the keeping of accurate records of attendance,
one or more bank tellers should be members of the Sub-committee
This Sub-committee is to provide the attendants at the Demon-
[201
stration Home and to handle the visitors in such a way as to avoid
confusion and damage. It should also keep an accurate record of
attendance, of interesting inquiries and the general results. It should
report in detail to the Budget Committee, so that the General Com¬
mittee may have an opportunity to compete for the prizes offered
for the best report of a successful Demonstration.
Suggestions for the Sub-Committee
During the hours of exhibition the Demonstration Home should be in
charge of a capable woman of suitable personality. This may be a volunteer,
or a paid worker, for the entire week, or several volunteer workers may under¬
take the management of the Home, having definite days of attendance assigned
to them.
The hours of exhibition should be from i :oo to 10:00 p.m. continuously.
It has been found in exhibitions that the home need not be kept open during
the morning hours. During this period it may be cleaned and placed in readi¬
ness for visitors.
An attendant for the bedrooms and two' attendants for the first floor—one
in the hall or living room and the other in the dining room and kitchen—will
be required to direct and control the visitors and to keep the house in perfect
order during the exhibition hours. These attendants may be club or commit¬
tee members who volunteer their services for certain days in the week.
It has been noted in several exhibitions that visitors usually congregate at
certain hours in the afternoon and evening, and frequently overcrowd upon
the lawns. It is necessary, therefore, to erect light guard rails along the side¬
walk leading from the street to the house. And it may sometimes be necessary
to have an outside attendant who will keep the visitors in an orderly line of en¬
trance. This is work that may very well be performed by Boy Scouts.
During times of congestion visitors should be taken through the house in
groups not to exceed fifteen in number. They should be conducted through the
rooms in an orderly manner by the attendants. In some cases it has been found
advisable to send the visitors to the second floor first, so that they may depart
through the kitchen after inspecting the first floor and basement. Girl Scouts
may be used for conducting the visitors through the home.
A careful check on the attendance at the Demonstration Home should be
kept. This can best be done by assigning a Boy or Girl Scout to count the visi¬
tors as they enter the home and keep an accurate tally, which should be re¬
ported to the manager in charge. In some cities it has been found that a list
of visitors to the home may be readily obtained by having them register upon a
numbered card, which can be used for a drawing contest—a prize being
awarded to the lucky number. In smaller communities where the attendance
will not be large at any one time the names of visitors may be kept in a
small register or list book.
y _ How to Form Sub-Committee on Program of
Events
A member of the General Committee is Chairman.
This Sub-committee should be composed of persons who are
[211
particularly capable in arranging programs of entertainment, and
may be selected from members of the Board of Education, School
Principals and Teachers, Theatrical and Moving Picture Managers,
Community and Song Leaders, etc.
The Following Events Are Suggested
1— Sermons, Addresses and Sunday School talks in all churches on the
Sunday preceding the opening of the exhibition.
2— Color slides relating to home owning, home management, home furnish¬
ing and decoration to be shown in moving picture houses.
3— Four-Minute Talks on thrift, home owning, home financing, home fur¬
nishing, home decoration, etc., in all moving picture houses.
4— Block Parties in front of the Demonstration Home. Lights for the
block party may be supplied from the headlights and searchlights of
automobiles properly arranged.
5— Window Dressing Contests for hardware merchants, house furnishing
merchants, department stores, etc.
6— Erection of Miniature Home, suitable for a girl’s playhouse, on Public
Square—this playhouse may be given as first prize to the girl of school
age writing the best essay on “Why You Should Own Your Home.”
7— Showing special Better Homes films in all moving picture houses. (See
special announcement on page 24.)
8— Prizes for the best example of a Model Kitchen in the community.
9— Cooking Demonstrations by Home Demonstration Agent, or some well-
known local cook, High School or Normal School student.
10— Singing by Choir or Quartette on porch of Demonstration Home each
evening at about 7130 and 8 :oo o’clock.
11— (a) Guessing contest as to how many visitors enter Demonstration
Home.
11— (b)Prize for best essay by a boy on Home Owning.
(c) Prize for best essay by a girl on Home Equipment or Furnishing.
(d) Prize for best landscape design for Small Home by High School
or Art student.
12— Radio Program at Demonstration Home, or elsewhere in the city.
13— Lectures on Home Equipment, Decoration or Furnishing by experts, in
local auditorium. It has been found that admission to these lectures
may be charged, to help defray the expense of lecturers.
Lecture Courses and Lectures
Lectures on Home Building, Furnishing, Decoration and allied
subjects have been found to attract large audiences in cities where
they have been given under the auspices of local organizations. Un¬
doubtedly many communities co-operating in the Better Homes in
America Demonstration Week, October 9th to 14th, will desire to
include in their program of events lectures on Better Homes
subjects.
[ 22 ]
Better Homes in ^America
bureau of Information
The 'Delineator
223 Spring Street , New York City
Secretary , Mrs. WILLIAM BROWN MELONEY
HE Bureau of Information has been established to support
and co-ordinate the work of local Better Homes in America
committees.
Additional copies of this Plan Book may be obtained from the
Bureau of Information.
Other data and material will be supplied as indicated in the
Plan Book.
Bulletins will be sent out from time to time to keep local com¬
mittees posted on the national development of the Better Homes
in America campaign.
In the following pages of the Plan Book are special articles
prepared by governmental and other authorities on various phases
of home building, equipment, decorating, sanitation, etc. The
Bureau of Information will either answer inquiries in regard to any
of these special articles or, when necessary, will refer the questions
to the authors of the articles.
[23 1
Motion Picture Producers & Distributors of America, Inc.
522 Fifth Avenue
New York City
Witx II.Hays
, PRESIDENT
Courti.and Smith telephone
SECRETARY VANOCRBILT 2110
July 19, 1922
Mrs. W. B. Meloney,
233 Spring Street,
New York City.
My dear Mrs. Meloney:
I am immensely interested in the Better Homes
Campaign. This is something that the motion picture indus¬
try should be interested in and I am sure that they will want
to be.
I would like to help you to have available for
your Better Homes week, October 9-14, pictures that would
show clearly just what the modern home should be.
I am glad that the Better Homes Council has
had such an encouraging response from the governors of
the various states and from the women of this country.
Certainly it is a matter to which all of us should give
our very best. It will have an enduring influence on the
lives of our people and it is one of the most creditable
movements that I know of.
I have a little home in Sullivan, Indiana, that
we are most anxious to equip in just exactly the best way,
and I am as much interested as any one could be in learning
how this should be done, so I am looking forward to October
9-14 with much interest.
With best wishes always, I am.
Sincerely yours.
[24 1
Essentials for Demonstration Home
Suggestions on Buildings and Grounds
By John Ihlder
DIRECTOR, HOUSING CONDITIONS, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF THE
UNITED STATES
D IFFERENT parts of the country have quite distinct types of
one-family dwellings. The best, unquestionably, is the de¬
tached house with adequate yard space on all four sides; the house
which gets sun and air no matter which way it faces or what the
direction of the prevailing breeze; the house whose yard makes it
possible for the family, and especially for the children, to live much
in the open. But, though this is the best type, it may prove imprac¬
ticable for people of moderate means in communities where past
practice has resulted in crowding the land to such an extent that
group or row houses have become the standard.
Whatever the type of house, however, there are certain funda¬
mentals of an essentially good house. The exhibition house should,
as far as possible, embody these fundamentals as given below.
Open Space Belonging to the House
If the house is of the detached type (open on all four sides) it
should have a lot wide enough to permit fifteen feet of yard space on
each side. Then it is protected from any danger of side windows
being darkened and air cut off by any building which is per¬
missible in a one-family house residence district (see Zoning and
What it Means to the Home). Where there are no zoning regula¬
tions to give protection, even fifteen feet of side yard will not pre¬
vent injury from a tall apartment house or commercial building.
Under no circumstances should the demonstration house, if of
the detached type, have less than ten feet of side yard. If no de¬
tached house with ten feet or more (preferably fifteen feet or a little
more) of side yard can be secured, then seek a house of another type.
Next in order of excellence is the semi-detached house (twin—
two houses side by side with a party wall). The single side yard of
this house should be fifteen feet wide and never less than ten feet.
[ 25 ]
Next in order is the group house, or the row house. The row
house may be a perfectly good house if it is wide enough in pro¬
portion to its depth so that there may be adequate open spaces before
every window, and if it is so planned as to take full advantage of
these open spaces. Moreover a row of houses may be so designed—
perhaps as one unit so far as the front elevation is concerned—that
they will be very attractive in appearance. A wide, row house (18
to 20 feet or more), properly planned, is much better to live in
than a detached or a semi-detached house whose side yards are so
narrow that they do not give adequate light and air to middle
rooms.
The really good house is bright and airy. Consequently the
demonstration house should be set back from the street and its
front yard should be deep enough not only to assure privacy from
the street, but also to permit at least a well sodded grass plot.
The rear yard will, of course, extend across the whole lot. Or
the rear yard may be ioo feet deep. But in this connection, it is
necessary to bear in mind that a yard may be too large as well as
too small. It must fit in with the house, and some account must be
taken of the probable habits of its occupants. A family which has
no servants, and in which the breadwinner works long hours away
from home, may find a large yard a burden unless some member is
an enthusiastic gardener. Lacking this gardener the back of a deep
yard is likely to become a dump-heap.
The House Itself
Given adequate open space as described above there are certain
essentials in the house itself.
Construction
A house is, or should be, an investment. Therefore it should be
honestly constructed. One of the most important lessons for the
home buyer to learn is that the initial cost of a house is not its full
cost. It pays well to spend a little more on purchase price if,
thereby, repair bills and maintenance costs are kept down. And it
pays not only in dollars and cents but in satisfaction as well, for the
house that soon begins to go to pieces, that soon looks shabby, is
quite the opposite of a “joy forever.”
Consequently the demonstration house should be well built, and
one of the most valuable parts of the demonstration should lie
in pointing out by suitable placards its structural excellencies. Has
[261
the ground immediately outside the walls been drained so that water
will not lie against these walls and gradually soak into them? Is
the cellar well drained and dry; well lighted and ventilated? Is the
foundation well built? Are the beams and joists heavy enough and
of good material? Are the floors and woodwork of good material,
well seasoned, and of good workmanship? Is the hardware (locks,
hinges, lighting fixtures, etc.) strong enough to stand usage? Are
the outside walls of good material—if of brick, of good quality with
good quality mortar; if of frame, of good lumber, well seasoned and
well painted with three coats of paint? What kind of sheathing is
used? Is wood well seasoned? Is the roofing of a material adapted
to the climate and of good quality? What material is used for
flashing?
Recently there has been some discussion of the heat-retaining
quality of walls. It is advocated that openings which permit circu¬
lation of cold air between outer and inner walls shall be filled. This
adds but little to the cost of building and in cold climates reduces
materially the coal bill. Incidentally it also aids both in reducing
the fire hazard and in rat proofing. For the latter, care must be
taken that there are no unscreened openings through foundation
walls into a cellar, and that all openings from the cellar to the space
between outer and inner walls of stories above shall be filled with
rat-proof material.
Much attention is now being given to standardizing the parts
of a house, both to reduce initial cost and to make replacement
easier and less expensive. Are the doors, windows and other parts
of the demonstration house of standard stock sizes?
Light and Vzntilation
Every room must have adequate window areas giving upon
wide outdoor spaces. An interior room, or one poorly lighted from
a narrow court, or receiving its only light from a wide porch, may not
impress the visitor, who sees it only when the house is new and the
room artificially lighted, but it does in time impress the family who
inhabit it. Row houses are best when they are only two rooms deep
from front to rear. If, however, an extension is built upon the rear
of a row house, the court on one side of this extension, from which
middle rooms are lighted, should be at least six feet wide for a two-
story dwelling and seven feet for a three-story dwelling. If there is
a front porch on a row house it should not extend clear across the
front, darkening every window of the front ground-floor room, but
should extend only part way, leaving one window free. This also
adds to the value of the porch by giving it greater privacy, but of
[ 27 ]
course it necessitates a house at least 18 feet wide, if the porch is to
be large enough to use as an outdoor sitting room for the whole
family in warm weather.
So far as practicable, each room should have at least two win¬
dows, and corner rooms should have windows in two walls.
The rooms should be planned so that they may be opened into
each other and the breeze permitted to sweep through.
Privacy
While the family is a unit, and a function of the house is to
symbolize and emphasize family unity, there should, nevertheless,
be provision for some individual privacy. The most elementary pro¬
vision, of course, is that there be at least three bedrooms—on the
assumption that the normal family will contain both boys and girls.
Consequently the demonstration house must contain not less than
three bedrooms. But beyond this, the grouping of rooms possible
in a two-story house (bedrooms and bath on the second floor, com¬
mon living rooms on the first floor) as against a one-story house,
adds greatly to privacy. At the same time the two-story house is
nearly always the more economical both to build and to operate,
while one flight of stairs does not add appreciably to the house¬
wife’s work. With the kitchen, dining room, living room and a
lavatory on the ground floor there is comparatively little need of
running up and downstairs, even when there are young children
in the family. A third story, an upstairs sitting room, no ground
floor lavatory, do add appreciably to the amount of stair climbing.
Stair climbing is reduced by having the laundry on the
same floor as the kitchen instead of in the basement or cellar.
Though it is the scene of greatest activity only one or two days a
week, it is often used at other times, and often in connection with
kitchen work. On the score that the number of steps is thereby
reduced, laundry tubs may be placed in the kitchen; but against this
must be balanced the annoyance, or worse, that comes from having
the kitchen full of steam and all cluttered up with clothes in process
of washing when meals must be prepared. Because of this many
women prefer a separate laundry in an ell or extension opening off
the kitchen. From the latitude of Philad'' 1 ~ 1 ' ! '' -'mth, this extension
may be of light construction without danger of pipes freezing except
in the coldest weather; and it is a simple matter to install a cut-off,
so that these pipes may be emptied when not in use.
Sanitation
There should be a fully equipped bathroom on the bedroom
floor and a toilet—preferably a wash bowl also—on the ground
[ 28 ]
floor. A toilet in the cellar is only a half-way measure. It does give
an added convenience of very real value, especially when there are
servants; but it is usually less accessible than the upstairs bathroom
and, unless the cellar is unusually well lighted and ventilated—unless
it is heated and unless its floor is high enough above the sewer to
provide for the necessary slope of the soil pipe—it is very likely to
become a nuisance. A sewer-connected toilet in the yard is only a
step above the old-time privy vault. It is inaccessible in bad weather;
after dark it is public; and it is likely to freeze.
Suggestion for Furnishing and Decorat¬
ing the Demonstration Home
Prepared by the Bureau of Information
C HANGING an empty house into a furnished, restful place
of beauty is no less a task than transforming a piece of paper
into a lovely picture. In one sense, interior decoration is a creative
art. It is true that decorators, or persons furnishing houses, do not
weave their own hangings, build their own furniture, or design their
own wall-paper, but they select the things they require from shops,
where they have been designed by others, and choose in such a way
as to make a beautiful and harmonious whole.
Persons who must furnish a house for the occupancy of a family
face four distinct problems: first, they must see that the things se¬
lected suit the house in size, coloring, and style; second, that the
pieces selected are harmonious with each other, and that they are
comfortable and well-made; third, that they suit the requirements
of the family; and fourth, that they fit the family purse.
Backgrounds
The first requisite of a house is that it be restful; therefore, it is
wise to use wall coverings that are plain in effect. Plain paints or
tints, and wall-papers of a cloudy, all-over pattern, make the best
backgrounds.
When a room faces north, the best colors to use are the yellows,
which might range from a cream color to a deep pumpkin yellow.
In rooms that face south, it is possible to use light grays, which
might range to a deep putty color; though it is possible in sunny
rooms to use almost any color except those which might fade easily.
The best way to treat rooms which have wide doorways con¬
necting them with other rooms is to have the walls of both rooms
alike, preferably in some plain color.
Floor Coverings
Rugs and floor coverings should be several shades darker than
the walls, and be either in plain colors or have a small or indefinite
all-over design. Where walls are plain, the latter type of carpet
should be used. When walls have on them any figured covering,
plain carpet should be used.
[ 30 ]
Hangings
The hangings for rooms which have plain wall coverings could
be striped or figured, but in rooms where there is a figured wall cov¬
ering, the hangings should be in plain colors, taking the color scheme
for these from the dominating color note in walls and carpet.
Furnishings
A good rule to follow in choosing furnishings is to avoid any¬
thing which strikes you as elaborate, or prominent. If a piece of
furniture, carpet, or curtain material stands out in a shop, you may
be quite certain that it will be even more noticeable in a house.
A house can only be considered properly furnished when
it meets the real needs of the occupants. Comfortable chairs, sofas,
and beds, good tables, and soft carpets, make up the most impor¬
tant objects, and these should be the best that the family can af¬
ford. No definite rule can be applied to the arrangement of the fur¬
niture, but balance and wall space should be considered first. Where
a single opening is placed in the center of the wall, or like openings
at equal distances, the wall spaces will be in balance; in the case of
unequal openings, the wall spaces will be out of balance.
At balanced wall spaces, place pieces of furniture of relative
size and contour. These may be tables, chairs, sofas, and pictures.
Leave the more intimate and personal furniture, such as favorite
chairs, sewing table, and foot stool, for a grouping at one side or in
the center of the room. Lay all carpets and rugs parallel with the
longest sides of the room.
In a room with unbalanced wall spaces, place against the long¬
est spaces the largest pieces of furniture—the piano, the bookcase,
the davenport—grouping perhaps a table, mirror, and chair against
a smaller and opposite wall space. This permits the comfortable
chairs, tables, lamps, and pottery to relieve the stiffness, allowing
them to be grouped in the center of the room.
Do not indulge in too many pictures, but select a few of interest
and good quality. These few should be hung on a level with the
average eye. Small pictures should be hung somewhat lower.
Do not invest in many ornaments. A few bits of colored pot¬
tery, or some brass ware, is all that is required to strike a lively
note. Place these so that they will balance other objects arranged
on the same mantel or bookshelf. For example, a pair of brass
candlesticks placed at either end of a mantel, with a pottery bowl,
clock, or ornament in the center, strikes a balance. Never have a
large jar on a small table or stand, or small ornaments on a large
[311
table. A good thing to remember is that ornaments decrease in
value as they increase in number.
In the following pages will be found suggestive lists of articles
which the rooms in a Better Home might contain. For further as¬
sistance and more detail, write the Bureau of Information.
Suggestions for Furnishing the Hall
The first impression of a house and its occupants comes as one
enters through the front door into the hall. Thus, nowhere in the
entire house is it more important to strike the right keynote in fur-
HALL
A Modern Colonial Hall of good proportions and design,
with the simple but necessary furnishings for convenience
and welcome.
nishing and decoration. If there is no closet in the hall for wraps
and umbrellas, it will be necessary to have in some obscure corner
a wooden strip painted the same color as the woodwork, in which
[ 32 ]
are solid brass hooks, placed low enough so that the young members
of the family can reach them. Also, for umbrellas, provide a plain
pottery jar which will harmonize with the color scheme of walls
and carpets.
On the hall table have a card tray—brass if the hardware is
brass—silver if the hardware is nickel or iron—and a medium¬
sized pottery vase in crackle ware, or some natural color. A hall
lantern or scones would be in harmony with these furnishings, and
have decorative value.
A Suggested Color Scheme for the Hall
Walls —Ivory paper or paint.
Woodwork —Paint—dull finish.
Floors —Hardwood—Stained antique oak, finished with wax or
varnish.
Floors —Softwood—Painted a deep yellow, or gray, or stained
to represent hardwood.
Floors —Linoleum—In a tile pattern of black and white, pro¬
vided the living room is not directly connected with the hall; in such
case use only plain brown, grey, or Jaspe linoleum.
Below is a Suggested List of Furnishings Which
the Hall Might Contain
A table —Of oak, mahogany, or walnut, either drop-leaf, gate-
leg, or console.
A mirror —Gilt, or to match the wood in the table, Early Amer¬
ican or English.
A straight chair or two —With or without rush seats, enameled
black, with stencil design, or to match the wood of the tables.
A low-boy —Of mahogany or walnut, with drawers for gloves,
string, etc.
A large chest —Of oak or brass-trimmed mahogany, for over¬
shoes, etc.
One or two rugs —May be Oriental in blues, browns, tans or
black; or wool braided, in blues, browns, tans or black; or Wilton,
in blues, browns, tans or black; or Axminster, in blues, browns, tans
or black.
A cocoa mat placed at front door.
The Living Room
As the living room is the gathering place for family and friends,
it may well be considered the most important room in the house.
[33]
It should take its keynote for decoration from the hall. If there is
a wide doorway connecting the living room with the hall, the color
scheme should be the same. As the living room serves as library
also, open book shelves, painted the same as the woodwork, are
essential, and more substantial than book cases.
The first requisite of such a room is that it shall be restful.
Avoid using rocking chairs. Use little bric-a-brac. Nothing which
does not contribute to the necessity and beauty of the room should
be allowed.
Tan or ivory is good in a room which is inclined to be dark, or
gray and gray-green in a room inclined to be bright.
A Suggested Color Scheme for Living Room
Walls —Ivory, cream or gray—paper or paint.
Woodwork —Ivory paint—dull finish.
Floors —Hardwood—Stained antique oak with wax or varnish
finish.
Floors —Softwood—Painted a deep yellow or gray, or stained
to represent hardwoods.
A Suggested List of Furnishings for Living Room
Table —Drop-leaf—in mahogany, weathered oak, or walnut;
Gateleg—in mahogany, weathered oak, or walnut; Modern Chip¬
pendale—mahogany, weathered oak, or walnut, or Sheraton type of
table.
Sofa —Upholstered in either sage green or brown upholsterer’s
velvet; blue, yellow, mauve satin or taffeta sofa cushions.
Armchair —Overstuffed chair in indefinite striped upholsterer’s
velvet in sage green; satin cushion in corn color.
Armchair —Back and seat upholstered in brown like sofa—arms
of mahogany.
Desk —A reproduction of a Sheraton, Hepplewhite, or Early
English Desk.
Chair —Rush bottom—same wood as desk, or in dull black or
sage green dull enamel, conventional stencil design.
Wicker chair —Of brown or natural wicker, with printed linen
cushions in floral pattern.
Tilt table for cards or tea —Mahogany or walnut.
Fireplace (If any)—A wood-box or basket; andirons and fire
screen, hearth brush and tongs.
A Reading Lamp —Sage green or black pottery base; an old
gold colored paper shade, fluted or plain, top and bottom bound with
sage green tape ribbon, or guimpe.
[ 34 ]
A Clock —In simple, plain design of wood, antique gilt, or
leather.
Footstool —Small ottoman, covered in black and yellow needle¬
work, or velvet same as sofa (brown).
Waste paper basket —Small black wicker next to desk.
Decorative Accessories —Green vase, gold luster bowl, mauve
pottery piece; Desk appointments in dull brass, bronze, or leather;
Book-ends—Library Shears. Match box and ash tray on table in
brass or bronze.
Carpet —One large or several small Orientals, or a Wilton,
Axminster, or velvet in two tone of brown or tan, or in plain colors.
Glass curtains —Cream, marquisette, cheese-cloth, or scrim,
made plain.
Overdraperies —(If desired)—Can be either printed linen,
same as cushion in wicker chair, lined with sage green sateen, or
brown or sage green poplin, silk damask or sunfast.
Chairs —If the room is large enough, one or two chairs, chosen
to correspond with those already in the room, may be added.
Room
The dining room should be one of the most cheerful and in¬
spiring rooms of the house. It is the place where the family gathers
to enjoy meals together, and nothing insures a better start than
having breakfast in a bright, cheerful room.
If the dining room and living room are connected by wide door¬
ways, have the walls of both rooms alike. If they are connected by
a small door, the walls may be in some light cloudy landscape paper,
or in a small allover pattern in light cream, buff, gray, tan, or putty
color. Because there is so much blue china, persons feel that they
want blue dining rooms. This is a mistake, as blue used in large
quantities in either walls, china, or hanging absorbs the light and
makes a room gloomy. Do not display china or glassware in a
so-called china closet. A built-in corner cupboard, or a small mahog¬
any or rosewood cabinet, which might hold rare bits of pottery and
china, is permissible. It is far better to use the pantry shelves for
china than to crowd it into a china closet.
It is best to use a rug with small figures. The hangings should
be in plain colors, taken from the predominating colors in the wall
covering; or if the walls are the same as the living room, the hang¬
ings should be chosen from the predominating color in the living
room. This will bring the rooms into perfect harmony, without
having them just alike.
[ 35 ]
Suggested Color Scheme for Dining Room
Walls —Ivory or cream, if closely connected with living room.
A cloudy landscape, crepe, or cartridge paper in buffs, pale grays,
fawn, or cream if closed off from living room.
DINING ROOM
This well-proportion dining room with its plain walls and figured floor cover¬
ing has a square mahogany table and eight chairs of the Georgian period.
W oodwork —Ivory.
Floors — Hardwood —Stained antique oak, with wax or varnish
finish.
Floors — Softwood —Painted a deep yellow or gray, or covered
in plain brown, gray, or Jaspe linoleum.
Suggestea List of Furniture for Dining Room
Table —Round or square extension, or drop-leaf— six legs—in
mahogany, walnut, weathered oak, or painted black, gray, or coco.
Might be reproduction of Hepplewhite, Sheraton, or Georgian
period. A glass, silver, or pottery bowl, containing flowers, on
the table; plain ecru linen doilies.
Chairs—8 chairs—Mahogany—Damask seats, Hepplewhite
backs. Walnut—English linen seats, Sheraton backs. Weathered
[361
Oak—Velvet seats, Queen Anne backs. Painted—Rush seats, or
wooden seats, Windsor or straight backs.
Sideboard —Low, broad, after Hepplewhite or Sheraton, a
Welsh dresser with Windsor chairs. (Here keep either a few
good pieces of silver with candlesticks on either end, or a large
pottery bowl filled with fruit in the center, and candlesticks to match
the bowl placed at either end, or some bits of red or yellow glass,
but do not combine all three. Do not use delicate lace runners or
doilies. Plain linen, or heavy real filet is far more effective. Dis¬
play no cut glass or hand-painted china.)
Mirror or Mellow, dark-toned painting —Framed in antique
gilt or to correspond with the wood of the furniture selected, and
hung on level with the eye, directly in the center and over the side¬
board.
Serving Table —To correspond with other furniture selected,
and placed as near the kitchen door as possible.
Here keep two or four silver or glass candlesticks which are
used on the table at night, also a silver, mahogany, or wicker tray.
Mirror —Queen Anne type—over serving table—especially if
serving table is between two windows, it gives effect of space.
Muffin stand —Especially for maidless house—of mahogany,
walnut, or painted to correspond with furniture selected.
Nest of Tables —Small, square, of either mahogany, walnut, or
black lacquer, to be kept in a corner and used for tea parties,
functions, etc.
Rug—Large Oriental —In blues, yellows, browns, or old rose
and black; Wilton—in blues, yellows, brown, or old rose, and
black; Axminster—in blues, yellows, browns, or old rose, and black;
Chenille or velvet, in plain colors.
Curtains —Glass curtains to match living room, in either mar¬
quisette, cheese cloth, or scrim, made plain.
Overdraperies —If desired, can be either like the living room, if
rooms are in close proximity, or taken from the predominating color
note of living room hangings if these are figured.
With a cloudy or landscape paper, use plain poplin, rep, or
sunfast, in warm tans, sage green, with bands of black or orange,
or both, across the bottom; this would give character to the room.
Uniformity in furniture chosen —Be sure in choosing your furni¬
ture that uniformity is observed as to period, wood, and type. For
example, if a Sheraton sideboard in mahogany is selected, then the
entire furniture of the dining room should be of the Sheraton type
in mahogany.
[ 37 ]
Bedrooms
The first requisite in furnishing a bedroom is that it appears
crisp and clean. The walls, light in color, must be restful and
simple in design. The woodwork should be white, if possible.
Painted furniture is very popular for a bedroom because of its
dainty appearance, but dull-finished mahogany or walnut in four post
or Colonial design, with rag, braided, or hooked rugs, makes a
charming bedroom.
Place the bed where the sleeper will not be subject to strong
light or cross drafts (see page 27 for proper ventilation). A
dressing table is fashionable, but not as practical as a chest of
drawers with mirror above. A full-length mirror installed in a
closet door, or hung in a narrow wall space, is a very decided
adjunct. Be sure to place the dressing table or chest of drawers
where the light is not reflected from an opposite window. To
secure a good view, the light should be directed upon the person to
be reflected, and not upon the mirror.
Avoid placing the furniture all on one side of the room. If pos¬
sible, intermingle high and low pieces to secure a proper balance.
If one bed is used, be sure to place beside it a table on which should
be a lamp, telephone, and small water bottle and glass. If two
beds are used, place this table between the two beds.
If the walls are plain in color, figured draperies and bedspreads
can be used. If the walls have on them a small design, plain ma¬
terials for these purposes should be used.
Suggested Color Scheme for Bedroom
Walls —Corn colored cross-bar paper.
Woodwork —White, dull finish, paint.
Floors- — Hardwood —Stained antique oak, with wax or varnish
finish.
Floors — Softwood —Painted a deep yellow, or covered in plain
brown, tan, or Jaspe linoleum.
Suggested List of Furnishings for the Bedroom
Bed —Full size, or twin beds—In mahogany, walnut, ivory
paint, or enamel. Box or wire springs. Mattress and pillows.
Bedspreads and bureau covers may be made of unbleached
muslin, bound with wide bands of plain yellow, blue, and brown,
these colors overlapping each other, or plain white swiss, dimity,
or Marseilles.
One high-boy, or high chest of drawers for man—In mahogany,
[38]
walnut, or painted. This piece should conform with or match other
furniture in room. Brushes, comb, box for odds and ends, clothes
brush.
Mirror —Hung flat against the wall—in same wood as high-boy.
One Dressing Table —or low chest of drawers—for lady—with
mirror hung over the chest of drawers. May be in mahogany, wal¬
nut, or painted. With toilet articles in silver or tortoise shell, or
ivory; pin cushion, scent bottles. The mirror may be of Queen Anne
type in antique gilt, to correspond with woods used in room.
Two straight back chairs —In mahogany, walnut, or painted,
with plain wood, rush, or caned seats.
Natural wicker arm chair —Sturdy type placed near window,
with cushions of chintz or sateen to match the bedspreads.
Small flat-top desk and chair —In either mahogany, walnut, or
painted, to correspond with furniture.
Supply with note paper, silver or brass ink-well, and blue
feather pen.
Small Sewing Table —Of Martha Washington design, or a
Colonial type, in mahogany or rosewood. Place on it small lamp
with base of wood, in brown or tan porcelain, and having a shade
of blue silk lined with tan silk.
A Chest —In either cedar, mahogany, or cretonne—covered,
and placed under a window or in a corner for storage of summer
or winter clothes.
Rugs —Oriental in black, blues, or yellows, plain brown or tan
carpet, made into a large rug, or wool braided, hooked, or heavy
rag rugs, in black, blues, tans, browns.
Small rugs should be placed near the bed, dressing table, and
high-boy.
Curtains —Glass curtains of scrim, marquisette, or cheese-cloth,
to correspond with those of living room and dining room.
Draperies —Draperies of either cretonne or muslin to match
bedspreads, with bands of yellow, blue and brown sateen to corre¬
spond with bedspreads.
Bedroom for Either Boys or Girls
It has been proven that furnishings and color produce either de¬
sirable or disastrous effects upon the sensitive minds of children.
As all children’s rooms are usually a combination of bedroom, play
room, and study, it is well to keep in mind colors, design, arrange¬
ment, and practicality for all purposes.
To most children, a spotty or too often repeated design is dis¬
tracting. Blues and violets soothe, while reds, yellows, and some¬
times greens are exciting and stimulating colors.
[39]
We so often send our children to study and amuse themselves in
their room, but have we done our share in providing them with the
comforts and necessities that will assist them to produce better
school work?
Boys —With no frills, light fabrics, or woodwork for them to
soil and mar, their rooms still may be made interesting—even beau¬
tiful—but convenience and masculinity should be kept foremost in
mind.
Girls —A girl’s room, on the other hand, should be dainty,
bright, and frivolous. Her personality, even at a very tender age,
will clearly be disclosed by the way she cares for her room. There
is no need of a great expenditure of money in buying furniture or
hangings for a girl’s room. Some of the cheaper fabrics and
simplest furniture will make the most charming room.
BOYS' ROOMS
A Suggested Color Scheme
Walls —Buff-colored paint, or tinted walls.
Woodwork —Stained mission oak or walnut.
Floors —Hardwood floor, strips of coco matting, or wool-
braided rugs. Softwood—a large square of linoleum.
Suggested List of Furnishings
Bed —Something of the day bed type.
Bedspread of blue denim, with stitched bands of yellow sateen
at edge.
Chest of Drawers —Painted buff or brown, or walnut or mission
oak.
A Mirror —Antique gilt, or of wood to match chest of drawers,
hung low.
A Desk —Of the craftsman type, with stool or bench to match.
Two Wooden Chairs —Either painted or of mission oak.
A Table —Low, plain wooden table, of walnut, or stained to
match the woodwork.
One Comfortable Chair —Brown wicker, or the Windsor type.
A Lamp —Of the student type, or on a bracket, securely fastened
on the wall.
A Tie Rack —Hung near chest of drawers.
One or two shelves —Tor books, trophies, etc. Made of plain
wood, stained to match the woodwork of a plain bookcase of mis¬
sion oak.
Curtains —Of blue denim, with stitched bands of sateen at edge
—hung straight.
[401
GIRLS' ROOMS
A Suggested Color Scheme
JValls —Papered in a soft gray-rose, allover design paper.
Woodwork —Cream paint.
Floor —Hardwood—Rag rugs, with rose stripes or a gray
chenille carpet. Softwood—Battleship gray paint, with rag rugs or
rose chenille carpet.
Suggested List oj Furnishings
Bed — Single —Painted ivory or cream— four post, or with some
low, simple headboard.
Bedspread of rose dotted swiss, with wide ruffle.
A Dressing Table —To match bed, with rose colored sateen
mats—bound in pale-gray with drawers.
A Large Box —For waists, etc. Covered in rose and gray cre¬
tonne.
A Desk —To correspond with painted furniture; a gray blotter
and rose colored pen.
Two Chairs —One of natural wicker with cushions of rose
sateen, and one of wood to correspond with painted furniture, caned
seat.
A Sewing Table —Of mahogany or cherry.
A Lamp —China base with a shade of silk, dotted swiss, or
rose-colored paper.
7 "he Nursery
The ideal nursery is also a play room. It should, as nearly as
possible, meet the ideals of the child’s own world. In that room
are received early impressions which are never forgotten, and which
have a lasting influence on the adult life.
Don’t bedeck the cribs, beds, or curtains with ribbons and laces,
and expect your child to be happy. The “don’ts” and “be carefuls’’
make children irritable and unhappy. Choose the room with a
thought to sunlight, and be sure it has outside blinds which will
darken the room without keeping out the air.
The floor should be bare with the exception of one rug near the
bed, or should be covered with a good grade of plain linoleum.
The walls and woodwork should be painted, if possible, a cream
or light gray. Some fairy tale friezes are attractive, and afford
opportunities of introducing color, but, if used, should not be placed
too high on the wall—about three-quarters of the way up from the
[ 41 ]
floor is a reasonable height. Child-study has taught that many and
oft-repeated designs and subjects become meaningless, especially to
older children.
The furniture in the nursery should be practical. Painted furni¬
ture and wicker chairs are attractive. A comfortable winged or
overstuffed chair for the grown-ups is essential. Low shelves and
cupboards, built for toys and books, are necessary if the room is
to be kept neat and tidy. A stationary blackboard, and a large
box for books and cherished belongings, are very welcome additions.
A Suggested Color Scheme for the Nursery
Walls —A soft, misty, gray paint, tint, or plain paper.
Woodwork —A dull white.
Floors —Plain hardwood, with a rag or braided rug in sapphire
blue—or softwood, entirely covered in taupe Jaspe linoleum.
Below Is a Suggested List of Furnishings Which
the Nursery Might Contain
A Crib —White iron or wood, on ball bearing casters.
Bedspread of yellow and white seersucker, or a silky yellow
sunfast.
A Tall Chest of Drawers —Painted cream or white, with plenty
of drawers.
Table —Low nursery table or tall one which has had its legs cut.
Two Chairs —Low, with wooden seats, and painted to match
the furniture.
A Desk —Flat top with plenty of paper and pencils.
Waste Paper Basket —White or natural wicker.
One Large Fireside Chair —With slip cover of blue and yellow
striped linen.
Glass Curtains —Of best quality of cream colored cheesecloth,
bound in yellow tape.
Overdraperies (If desired)-—Of primrose yellow silk, or sun-
fast, or striped yellow and blue linen to match slip cover.
Clothes Rack —Low wooden rack, painted white, with at least
four hooks.
Closet —Should have a low pole on which could be hung plenty
of hangers. Also a shelf about 6 inches from the floor for shoes, etc.
Large Cushions for the floor—One each of blue, yellow, nile
green and orange.
Color Scheme —If you desire another color scheme, such as blue-
and-white, or pink-and-white, write for information.
[42]
Model Kitchen
Prepared by the Home Economics Bureau of the Depart¬
ment of Agriculture
The first consideration in arranging kitchen equipment is to save
steps and labor. The kitchen should be clean, odorless and at¬
tractive.
Size —Not more than 120 square feet of working space for pre¬
paring food and washing dishes. More space when kitchen is used
for laundry or has dining alcove.
Ventilation —If no cross drafts are provided for, cut a transom
over back door if possible and arrange window boards to allow
ventilation through top and bottom of window. Is desirable to have
hood installed over stove to carry off drafts.
Lighting —Two or three windows desirable and a glass pane in
kitchen door. If unavailable, increase light by having very pale
walls and mirrors in dark corners. Artificial light should be from
powerful burner hung from center of ceiling. Electric light should
be indirect. Additional side lights should be added near sink and
stove, unless they receive full light.
Wall Coverings —(1) Commercial oil cloth wall covering; or
(2) good oil enamel paint. Color—Light tones. On Southern
exposure—pale gray, green or pale blue; on Northern exposure—
buff walls with a deeper buff or tan woodwork are good. For very
dark rooms—white. Avoid white in well lighted rooms because of
glare. If natural color, woodwork should have two coats of water
proof varnish; if painted, two coats of flat paint and one of enamel
paint.
Floor Coverings —If room has cement floors, provide rubber
mats before sink, stove and cabinet to avoid foot strain. Otherwise,
use linoleum slightly darker than walls and harmonizing or con¬
trasting in color; or any other surface easy to keep clean.
List of Kitchen Fixtures
The Kitchen should have the following equipment:
Range —Coal, wood, gas, oil or electric. Good hood for
ventilation is desirable. Height of all working surfaces depends
upon height of woman who will work in kitchen. All working sur¬
faces including top of range should be as near the same height as
possible. Height should be at least 32 inches, or more, if worker
is tall. A label should state this fact. If coal range is the main
one, have supplementary gas, electric or oil range. Gas range
should have stove pipe from oven.
[43]
Sink —Sink should be large enough to accommodate both a
washing and rinsing dish pan. Have large drain board on each side
with raised edge or beading. It should either slope gradually to¬
ward sink or have sloping grooves. If only one drain board is
provided, add an adjustable folding board. Bottom of sink should
be at least 32 inches from floor. Sink should be placed under or
near a window to insure coolness and view.
Cabinet —White or colored enameled metal or natural wood
finish with broad working shelf 32 inches from floor or higher ac¬
cording to height of worker. Shelves and bins for most commonly
used supplies and utensils. If a cabinet with a good work shelf is
not available an additional table near cabinet should be provided.
Tables —One or two tables, porcelain, glass, enamel, or zinc
topped. If none of these can be had, linoleum may be fitted with
waterproof cement to a wooden table. It should be at least 32
inches high. A table with drawers underneath and a swinging stool
and space for knees is good.
Cupboard —If there is no dining room pantry, a cupboard
should be added for the china; if space permits, this should be added
anyhow for less frequently used utensils and supplies.
Stool —Stool, preferably white, should be of right height to
allow sitting at table, work-shelf or sink. Add a plain chair if
space permits.
Refrigerator —A well insulated ice box, preferably white. Ice
compartment should be at side or top. Straight easily cleaned drain
pipe should attach to plumbing. If refrigerator is indoors a door
for icing from the outside is desirable.
Towel Rods —Wood or nickel with space for four or five dish
towels.
Hand Towel Rack —If only one person uses it, roller towel rack
may be installed. Otherwise, paper toweling or individual hand
towels hung on cup hooks near sink by loops on corners.
Wall Clock —Simple, with clear figures.
Housekeepers’ Rest Corner —If space permits, a comfortable
chair, footrest and small table for books and sewing should occupy
a little-used portion of the room, to permit rest and recreation
while waiting for food to cook.
Garbage Pail —Covered; with foot lever to raise cover without
stooping; fireproof trash basket.
Arrangement of Rquipment
Sink, cabinet with broad working shelf and dish cabinet (if
dishes are washed in kitchen) should be as close together as pos¬
sible without cramping passage room. Stove should be convenient
[ 44 ]
to, but slightly away from, work shelf for hot weather. An ideal
arrangement is china cupboard at right of sink, cabinet with broad
work shelf at left of sink and, in a narrow kitchen, range on oppo¬
site wall from sink across narrowest part of room; if range is far
from any broad working surface a table should be very near range.
All kitchen equipment, except range, should be as near as possible
to dining room door. If no dining room pantry with sink is pro¬
vided, kitchen sink should be near dining room door. Range with
supplementary range beside it should be so placed that full day light
will light the oven. If stove is already installed in a dark place
in exhibition house, move it into light, even though repiping and
wiring may be required. Mirrors may be hung to throw additional
light on range. If there is no good working shelf on cabinet, a table
should be near cabinet for mixing food. There will then have t c°* .•**-•«
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