Evening Star Newspaper, September 25, 1930, Page 51

FAMOUS PERIOD DESIGNS GRACE PRESIDENT’S HOME Controversy Once Raged Over Dominant Note of Furniture—Mrs. Coolidge Favored Early American Motif. are vitally interested in his hme as has the President. And PROBABLY no man in the country has as many neighbors who perhaps, despite the cordial welcome accorded his guests, both at the White House and at the camp on the Rapidan, few neighbors know less abot a “home” than the one which Herbert Hoover occupied in March, 1929, 130 years after it was completed. While the formal rooms on the first floor are open to the public every day from 10 o'clock in the morning until 2 in the afternoon, the presidential apartments on the second floor are guarded care- fully. The semi-public rooms are used exclusively for large social affairs and state functions. They were redecorated in 1902 during the Roosevelt regime in the ornate French Empire style. Few Can View Prized Pieces. Washingtonians probably know more about other famous resi- dences in the city than they do about the White House. Guides-on sightseeing tours talk glibly about the home of Secretary Andrew Mellon. But the White House, housing a man who must be guarded as carefully as the President of a powerful Nation can be, will ever remain unknown to vast numbers. Widely varied are the furnishings gathered together under the great roof on Pennsylvania avenue. Nearly every period of the Na- tion's development, and some which preceded the beginnings of our Government, are to be found there. Those who have inspected the furnishings are divided in their opinion. Some like it; some do not. Charles F. McKim was chosen to do over the formal rooms by President Roosevelt. He chose the French style, on the ground that it would have been the inevitable choice of George Washington had he selected the furnishings for the building he planned. It was the mode coming into popularity at century. Critics have declared the late| Georgian styles which were so popular in colonial days, or the earlier American designs of New England, would have been far more appropriate than the more lavish empire furniture which adorns the east and red rooms, and which also decorated the green room until the New Eng- land First Lady, Mrs. Calvin Coolidge, refurnished it in the early American style. Occasion- ally Congress appropriates $30,000 or so to do over the state apart- ments, but there is an annual $5,000 available for refurnishing, $3,280 for repairs and alterations and nearly $2,000 for equipment. President Roosevelt ardently cham- pioned McKim's cause, but the debate never dies out. Each school of fur- nishing and decoration has its defend- ers, and advisers who are called in quite occasionally often find their ex- perienced opinions disputed. Mrs. Hoover has made no public pronounce- ment of her views, but certain pieces from the Palo Alto estate adorn the ‘White House rooms, also personal things brought to the Executive Mansion from the S street home where the Hoovers lived when the President was Secretary ©of Commerce. Perhaps the outstanding contribution of the Hoover administration to White House ings is the recently ac- quired 16-piece suite of office furniture now in the executive offices, Furniture manufacturers presented this handsome group of pleces, reputed to have cost $6,000, to President Hoover its the renovation which 1 the Christmas Eve fire. Mrs. Hoover was the first to correct an erroneous report to the effect that she ‘was the donor. Desk of Intricate Design. ‘The plece de resistance of this hand- gome suite is an elegant desk, 84 inches long, made from carefully ‘wood, picked for beauty and grain. It s in intricate tooled design, with hand- wrought bronze trimmings, bulging drawer fronts and back panels, and carrying decorative detall worked by the artisans of the industry. Edward Pranklin Taber, authority on furniture for the office, and Stuart Clingman, recognized as one of the leading contemporary household furni- ture designers, collaborated in planning the suite. Michigan burl maple ‘of dark brown hue was selected because it lent itself to development of a handsome antique finish, giving the appearance of a well Colonial suite. The general color scheme in the tapestry coveripgs for chairs is green and tan, with a of the brighter Autumn shades of dull red and gold being used. Other pieces comprised in the suite include several chairs covered in rich fabrics, & pair of beautiful book cabi- nets and several occasional tables. American Pleces Sought. ‘This matter of gifts brings up mem- ory of the fact that Mrs. Coolidge caused Congress to enact a bill per- mitting the President to accept early American pieces of genuine documented history. The appeal for contributions was not especially gratifying. Puppies, wrist watches and cowboy hats were forthcoming in large quantities, but gratuitous donation of heirlooms, ‘whether because of intrinsic value or family assoclations, have not over- whelmed the White House. One gift presented to Roosevelt is & gold piano, said to be worth $15,000. Given by a manufacturer, it is distin- guished by a carved American eagle/ ©of massive proportions and & painting | on the inside cover executed by Thomas | wing. Until the forceful Roosevelt headed the Nation the White House was both office and home for Presidents. Second- selected | the beginning of the nineteenth MISS DIX LAUDS AMERICAN HOME Famous Writer and Adviser Will Give Radio Talk Dur- ing Style Show. HERE is no place like a well furnished, attractively arranged home, ard it need not be a palace to create the proper atmosphere for ideal living, in the opinion of Dorothy Dix, writer and authority on the home, who has spent more than 30 years of study on the subject. “Our American homes will ever be the foundation of our lives. Whether ‘we live in apartment houses or in .arge, spacious dwellings, we will make them places of beauty, restfulness and de- light,” said Miss Dix at the time she was asked to give a nation-wide radio talk in conngction with the National Home Furnishings Style Show, Septem- ber 26 to October 4. To Give Radio Address. “It is with great delight that I have accepted the invitation to talk over the radio in the near future for the Na- tional Home Furnishings Style Show. It is the first event of this kind ever attempted on such a large scale, and the furniture industry is to be con- gratulated for this noble undertaking. “Women today are more style and design conscious in home furnishings than ever before. As a matter of fact, it is the women of America who set the vogue in home furnishings. Designers "Viymxthl, in the building of character and | explained. for large furniture manufacturing con- | cerns, I am told, are constantly seeking | information from the womep of the | Nation, the buyers of their products, | when preparing their designs for future | showing. “The National Style Show itself was | an idea formed when the industry be- | came alert to the knowledge women | have on home furnishings. This is & | great tribute to the American woman, the manager of our homes, where fam- ily life abounds amid cheerful and at- tractive surroundings.” Homes Build Character. Beautiful homes, Miss Dix said, y such an important part in the minds of appreciation for the nicer things in life. “Youth is the imj ive age,” she “In the decisions we make, | the ideas we form on life, the formation of character—everything is molded in our minds and bodies in the home in early life. Mothers know this, and that {is one of the reasons why mother ar- | ranges the home in the most attractive, | comfortable and cheerful manner.” a Early_Was.hing_ton | Recalled as Place | Of Courtly Mode |Furniture Was Simple but Dignified, Charming in | Line and Proportion. Early Washington was & courtly place. story chambers included office head- Those were the days of snuff boxes, quarters, and living space was cramped for a family of the extensive propor- tions of the Roosevelts, only rooms being available. ‘were living there the executive offices were bullt on the west terrace. Since they have been enlarged several times, and today there is room for 12 bed rooms, dressing rooms and parlors, as ‘well as the private library of the Presi- dent on the second floor. Silver Chandelier Noted. | wigs, sprigged musiins and s dignity of !nl%ion:l feeling, which has never been seven | equaled since. Dring the time | °% Kermit and Quentin and Princess Alice| The leisured courtliness was the out- growth of a new prosperity following | trying and arduous years of ploneering. | Georgian architecture with beautiful doorways survives today, and George- town is particularly rich in these gems. Furniture was simple but dignified, | charming in line and proportion. | George Washington, who was 80 | economical as to set down the fact that i 6,000 12-penny nails were used in the The first floor drawing rooms remain| congtryction of one of his corn cribs, s they were. goom is paneled in oak. with ta) Early . “The room is lighted by a famous o eadie siver chandelier and side|Ficd Martha Dandsh Drackets. There are at least five formal state gton knows, are brilliantly ceremonis slt.h official seating in order of rank. .gn the same dining room are held the formal dinner parties in which Presi- gnt and Mrs. Hoover delight. These t» LContinued on Second Page.), _ tries and heads of big game. lish Tudor furniture of gen-| erous and massive proportions predomi- dinners each Winter and an occa- | ang gatin, jace and brocade, with fonal additional official function for| with ;ono}ed ‘Suests from forelgn fields. The | pr| her neck and in her ears; Wi @inners to Cabinet, to the Vice Presi- @ent, Speaker of the House, Diplomatic | Corps and Supreme Court, as all Wash- o e e Gty hocked at prices as the ball room. The state dmm”‘vould have been s P! It is hung| charged today for Colonial furniture. | Money went further in those days, and Colonial furniture’s value increases with e ron fie Pather of his Country mar. er of - inring D8 e, widow o!hl‘).l':l:l according to 8 ric bride was attired in silk arls .uthz bridegroom appeared in blue and silver | trimmea. with® scarlet, and with gold buckles at his knees and on his shoes. Such was the dignity and beaut which pervaded the local ne. Elegant, animated and aristocratic for Martha Washington; solid, sturdy and substan- tial for her husband was furniture at Mount Vernon. It s visit | Parke Custis, sketch, “The tday o any jover of Ape furnijure, _ desk, hg znfilling gtaf' THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1930. “The family is the unit of American life and the home is the sanctuary of moral inspiration and American spirit. The true conception of America is not a country of 122,000,000 people but a nation of 23,000,000 families living in 23,000,000 homes.” The Red Room, illustrated in the upper pw&l:, It is in the ornate The State Dining Room (lower), where many informal dinner parties a: large room, which has tapestried walls and paneled woodwork. direction of President Roosevelt. is one of the formal nch Empire style. St lors of the White House, damask covers the walls. staged, has early English furnishings, solid, sturdy, dignified and appropriate to the —Herbert Hoover. It was redecorated in 1902 by Charles F. McKim at the (Underwood Photo.) (Harris & Ewing Photo.) Budget Experts Estimate Cost of Adequately Furnishing Three Main Rooms of Washington Home Averages $1,085 UST what does an average Wash- ington home look like? Just how are the average living room, dining room and bed room furnished? About what does it cost the ‘typlcal Washington family to furnish the three main rooms? Representatives of this newspaper undertook to survey the fleld and learned from a canvass of homes and the stores which furnished them what a typical Washington home looks like and what it costs. There are at least three upholstered pleces in the average Washington living room, and a bare majority of these are “three-piece suites.” The rapidly in- creasing tendency is to choose daven- ports and two additional chairs which, while not matching, harmonize with the sofa in design and color. Easy chairs are divided between the Cogs- well, pull-up and massive armchair type. Mohair Leads One Field. Mohair, probably the longest-lived fabric, is the choice for upholstering material, with tapestry not far behind. The older pleces were vari-colored in tne newly-furnished homes, the daven- port is in & plain color. The average cost of the three pieces is $150 to $200. In 2 per cent of the homes the cost was less than $80; in 5 per cent the cost was greater than $325. In addition to the upholstered pieces at least two other chairs are used—for desk, for telephone, for cards and for occasional visitors. The average cost of these chairs would be $17.50. There are on an average three tables in the living_room, library or console type, averagipg $35; end tables, averaging $15; occasional tables, averaging $20. There are three lamps, table, floor and bridge types, $12.50, $18 and $15. ‘The average li room harbors & ke i » Spinet. or kneg- hole, the average cost being $40. The local home also usually contains radio and $100 is the cross-section a erage price lfnd for set, tubes an cabinet installed. Average Rug Prices. The floor coverings vary with the styles of the homes furnished. Axmin- sters and Wiltons, together with plain broadloom carpeting are the leaders. An average price for the living room would be $98.50, although Orientals, domestic patterns in sheen type Orlentai finish, braided, hook and rag rugs are also much used and have been obtained at prices much lower as well as much higher than the average. A figure of $150 might have been the average if some of the homes in the suryey had not been content to go rugless. It would be impossible to compute the cost. of art objects and decorative acces- sorles. To some persons these were CONSIDER RUGS IN RELATION TO OTHER HOME FURNISHINGS Expert Finds Modern Housewives Selecting Floor Cover- ings as Part of Decoration Plan. UGS and carpets can no longer be considered without regard to the furnishings of the room, according to Miss Helen Townsend Barton, authority on home furnishings, who today discussed the National ¥ .me Furnishings Ftyle Show here September 26 to October 4. “The time has passed,” Miss Barton said, “when women bought a rug solely because they liked it and did not think of it as part of the decoration scheme of the room in which it was to go. ‘Women now realize that infinitely more satisfylng results may be obtained by the selection of just the right rug. New Styles Described. “There is a great demand now for highly decorative rugs. For a long time we have been using the plain, neutral tone carpets, but for a large room we preciate the color ich can be intro- through the figured pets. Even in unfi 1o for livellex solors ning from cerise and spring green to rich orange and deep lavenders are now available. “The heavy Old English styles now s0 popular demand the rich subdued tones of dull reds; the equally popular eighteenth century designs are most h'fipflv used on rugs of light and deli- cate colors. Rugs for Large Rooms. “For the spacious room the figured designs are appropriate. Rugs and cal pets which are strongly marked wi patterns in bold and vigorous colors find their place in the large room where somewhat massive and sturdy furniture is used. They make the correct back- ground for heavily carved pieces of Spanish, Itallan or Jacobean furniture. “Solid colors, small all-over patterns, or indistinct, delicate designs are the best selection for the small room where furniture of light and graceful lines is used. The delicacy of the furniture re- quires a floor covering in keeping with it. Added zest may be secured in the room where the plain tone carpet is used by P‘”m. on it several small rugs, carefully selected to heighten the decorative scheme of the Xe0m/” . hEBSG of bis fellow more of import than furniture; to many they were unessential. But if $80 were allowed for hanging bookcases, waste- paper baskets, table runners and pic- tures and pottery, the average living room in the city would cost $600. The average dining room furniture | consists of eight pleces, costing between $150 and $175. The reason for the low- ness of the price is the frequency with which apartment dinettes are furnished with a table and four chairs. Of the total, 11.3 per cent cost less than $100; 16 per cent less than $125. On the other hand, 6.3 per cent cost from $225 to $250; 6.5 per cent cost from $250 to $275; 10.8 per cent cost more than $300. Data on Bed Room. ‘That Washington folks appreciate the value of restful sleep is evident in the average bed room. The typical bed room contains double bed, dresser, chest and vanity. Nearly as many homes had twin beds as those with double beds. About $175 would be the average price pald for these pleces, with another $25 at least thrown in for mattress and springs. Many homes spent $82 for these last items. A bench for dressing table, a boudoir chair and an extra mirror were like- wise to be found in the average bed room, adding about $25. Four-plece bed room suites varied in price from $60 to more than $325, 20 per cent costing less than $100, 22 per cent costing more than $250. Kitchens Not Surveyed. Since many renters’ homes were con- sidered in the survey, it would be unfair to list kitchen furnishings, since in some tables, stoves and refrigerators are fur- nished; in others the only necessary equipment appeared to be a can opener. In addition to the personal and deco- rative items, draperies were noted in most homes, in addition to window cur- tains. The oost of window decoration would probably run about $35 per room. Thus, spending $635 for living room, $210 for dining room and $235 for bed room, it will cost the newly wed $1,085 if he wan furnish a three-room apartment as well and as adequately as cluzens, Home Furnishings $2,000,000,000 FURNITURE INDUSTRY OPENS DISPLAY Local Merchants Join in National Program for Week of Special Demonstration Starting Tomorrow. MERICA'S $2,000,000,000 furniture industry will embark tomor« row upon one of the strangest crusades in mercantile history. It will begin an eight-day demonstration. Here, as in 600 other cities throughout the land, retail dealers, for the first time in many cases, will try to show women how to make their homes more attractive, instead of trying only to sell them merchandise. A national home furnishing style show, held in leading stores of the city in which home equipment is sold, will last through October 4. Planned Particularly for Women, The national and local leaders expect the exposition to attract the women of the land as the automobile shows draw the men. In the stores most of the merchandise which has occupied the floors for months past will be removed to make way for the latest creations of the furniture designer. All appointments for the home will be shown in harmonious groups. Particular attention will be placed upon floor coverings, drpaeries, art objects and backgrounds which harmonize with the furniture. If the experiment is successful, it is considered probable that a majority of the stores in Washingtor will adopt the plan of looking after the consumer’s interest first instead of merely pushing the sale of articles, leaders assert. It is pointed out that only by sincerely attempting to make homes more attractive can the furniture store justify its existence. In the end the result will be that the stores will benefit by increased business, as the result of increased public confidence. Another drastic experiment UNCLE SAM GIVES HELP 10 BUYERS Wealth of Data Concerning Retail Goods Aids the Consumer. HOUSANDS of consumers throughout the Nation appeal for home furnishing information to Government agencies in Washington, although few residents of the city realize what help they may secure from the many departments which are provided for the purpose. The Department of Commerce, through the Bureau of Standards, the National Committee on Wood Utiliza~ tion, Textile and Specialties divisions, is one source of data. The Department of Agriculture, with its Bureau of Home Economics and Forestry Service, offers another outlet. Secretary Wilbur of the Department of the Interlor is chairman of the semi-governmental body, Better Homes in America, which maintains offices here, Tests Are Conducted. ‘The Bureau of Standards constantly is u-un'i.t.he many items which are used in home and setting up speci- fications which make it simpler for the oommmer “to )nn;‘:hn l;a u“nmnl for money. e wall paper is just one item 'hlcg is available to the public because of the work of this body. The bureau is now working on minimum standards for mirrors, and has many similar projects under way. ‘The National mmittee on Wood Utilization, of which Secretary Lamont is chairman, is now preparing a book- let, “How to Judge Furniture,” which should further eliminate blind buying. This publication will discuss in human interest fashion the elements which make for comfort, durability and utility in furniture, and will describe con- struction and the proper care of fur- niture. ‘The Textile Division is equipped to supply data on textiles used in uphol- stering and for draperies, as well as lampshades, and to give information on any fabric. The Specialties Divi- slon of the Department of Commerce supervises the many commodities which are sometimes called novelty furniture. Kitchen Arrangement. From the Bureau of Home Economics in Agriculture you can find out how to arrange your kitchen to avoid steps; can obtain information on textiles from sheets to lace curtains, This bureau is extremely interested in giving the home owner information which will eliminate the element of chance in buying. From the Forest Service you may ob- tain a booklet on “Identification of Furniture Woods.” Likewise you may determine the properties of the various woods going into furniture and built-in equipment for the home. Better Homes in America has as its purpose the elevation of public taste in homes and furnishings, with especial reference to the many economies which may be effected in intelligent purchas- ing and home management. INTEGR|TY-.IMPORTANT Modern Buyers Cannot See Furni- ture During Construction, as of 0ld. Early New England cabinet makers were wanderers, who, carrying their tools, made the furniture of the country- side, staying at the homes of their em- ployers until jobs were completed. Consequently, the furniture owner could see his future possessions in all stages of construction. ‘Today, when furniture is made to hide structural details for decorative reasons, it is imperative that the maker and seller of furniture possess one asset above all others—integrity. Feminine, but Not “Too Fussy,” Rule For Girl’s Room The keynote of the Yo\lfll girl's room is simplicity. It should be wholly un- sophisticated and reflect her own daintiness and individuality. She will want to er friends here, she will want a place to keep her school trophies, a place to study and to play. The proper background for these activities can be arra by the use of carefully selected furni- ture and decorations. Her dressing table will be essentially feminine, but not too fussy. Perha it will be a “skirted” one and, if it is, the material in the “skirt” may be duplicated in the draperies. A chest of drawers, to store away the feminine lmel n for school :;:r. m.fl' lnum ledor some er equally attractive an appro- wiate wood, taking place all over the country is the elimination of price appeal in advertising. Believing that wom- en are more interested in making their own homes more desirable places in which to live, pride in the home will be stressed rather than low prices, although Gov- ernment surveys show prices have not been lower in the past 12 years. In an effort to elevate the tone of the furniture’s charm, salesmen will forget to chirp “Cheap! Cheap!” The massed effort will be toward creation of a public opinion that an attractive home, intelligently furnished and equipped, brings jubilant and glori- ous satisfaction to the home maker. Believing that prices have dropped to rock bottom, A. P, Haake, Ph. D, man- aging director of the National Associa- tion of Furniture Manufacturers, de- clares: “Overdone sales have made the public suspicious that they will go still lower, whereas manufacturers' ices cannot go lower without smashi a large percentage of the industry. vhu: & stabilized market the public is be- ginning to buy.” Business will fixm the style show, but no pressure will be bear upon exposition vis- brought to itors to purchase. No “high-pressure” sales methods will be permitted or tol« erated, leaders of the exposition an- nounce. Information Is Keynote. Buyers and salesmen will be stationed at the various exhibits to give technical information on decoration, design and construction. ~Educational, entertain- ing and amusing features will be found in the various co-operad stores. department “‘as usual” during ‘The local furniture ane stores which are co-operating in the national event are Dulin & Martin Co., Connecticut avenue at L street; Golden- berg's, Seventh street at K; the Hecht Co, F street at Seventh; James B, Henderson, 1108 G street; House & Herrmann, Seventh street at I; Hub Furniture Co., Seventh and D streets; Lansburgh & Bros., 420 Seventh street. Julius Lansburgh Furniture Co., 909 F street; Mayer & Co., 419 Seventh street; Willlam E. Miller Furniture Co., Sev- enth and E streets southwest; W. B. Moses & Sons, Eleventh and F streets: National Furniture Co., Seventh and H streets; P. J. Nee Co., Seventh and H streets; Palais Royal, Eleventh and G streets; D, 8. Pool, Inc, 720 Eleventh street; W. & J. Sloane, 711 Twelfth street; Thompson Bros, 1220 Good Hope road southeast, and Woodward & Lothrop, Tenth, Eleventh, F and G streets. Advice Is Offered. Consumers are invited to bring their home furnishing problems to the experts for solution. Room arrangements will be worked out, color schemes decided upon, and the Washi n woman can be assured of competent assistance. Sales forces have been given especial training within the past few weeks with a view to being helpful in mlkmg improvement in home settings throug! slight changes in the present arrange- ments. Plans have been laid for the national show for the past six months. Furni- ture buyers from the city visited the manufacturers’ exhibitions at Grand Rapids, Chicago, Jamestown, N. Y., and High Point, N. C., in Midsummer to choose suitable styles for the styl show as well as to pick out merc! dise for their regular stock. During the past week carloads of the new styles have been recelved and will be revealed for the first time tomorrow. PRICES GENERALLY LOWER THAN IN 1917 Furniture Dealers Say Style Show Comes at Opportune Time for Publio. Unusual op?omum.lu are being of- fered the public today in home furni ings, both from an economic and sty) standpoint, furniture dealers of Wash- ington who are rrepuing for the Home Furnishings Style Show to be held Sep- :.emx’nber 26 to October 4 were agreed ay. ‘This is the first national style show :n’:nzed by the home furnishings in- ustry. The style show comes opportuntely for the public. The new merchandise selected at the Summer markets now is able to the public at prices which compare favorably with those before the lWorld War. In some classes they are lower. Since the peak of prices was reached in 1920 they have gradually decreased until now furniture and othier merchan« dise for the home is offered at surpris- ingly low figures. Practically everything now on display in local furniture stores represents the latest in fashion. Inventories have been low for some time, due partly to the fact that the business depression which the country has recently experienced caused mer- chants to buy cautiously and because lm a complete new line of merchants were preparing to -restock @oods for