DOI article:
Wainwright, Shirley B.: On the decoration & furnishing of small rooms
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41870#0027
ON THE DECORATION AND FURNISHING OF SMALL ROOMS
reasonable prices, has been illustrated from
time to time in the pages of The Studio
Year-Book.
From the point of view of expense the main
problem inequipping ahomeatthe present
time is centred in the actual furniture. One
of the obstacles in the way of a solution is
undoubtedly the arbitrary influence of tra-
dition already referred to. It is strong in
the individual and almost equally evident
among manufacturers and business houses.
If successful results are to be obtained the
difficulties must be faced from an unpre-
judiced point of view, and the actual con-
ditions and requirements of the present
time studied without reference to the tra-
ditions of the past. Consider, for example,
the modern bedroom in the small house.
Very little reflection would convince most
people that the “ bedroom suite com-
plete,” as supplied by the shops, does not
meet our present needs. Nowadays, when
almost every house or flat is provided with a properly equipped bathroom,
readily accessible to all the household, the need for a washstand largely
disappears. One finds that in house after house the bathroom is used by
all the inmates for their ablutions as a matter of course. As the average
washstand, withitsaggressive toilet-set,is aneyesore,entirely spoiling the
effect of any room, and its use occasions considerable unnecessary labour,
while it occupies valuable space in the room, what purpose is there in in-
stalling one ? It may be desirable, perhaps, to have a stand of some sort
available for the use of visitors or in case of sickness, but it need not be the
clumsy object perpetuated in the shops. The illustrations onpage i 3 show
a simple piece of furniture for this purpose, which can be closed up when
not in use, its appearance being neat and inoffensive.
Next let us consider the wardrobe ; the accommodation it provides as a
rule is inadequate, or else its huge, ugly bulk overpowers everything else
in the room. The cost, moreover, of such a piece is heavy. There is every
reason, therefore, to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itselr
of introducing fittings of the type that has already been considered at some
length. To supplement the hanging-space thus provided a certain amount
of drawer accommodation will be necessary. This might be provided in
the shape of a chest of drawers, acting as a dressing-table, with a simple
lS
A USEFUL HANGING-CUPBOARD FOR HALL
OR BEDROOM (PAGES 14 AND 2l)
reasonable prices, has been illustrated from
time to time in the pages of The Studio
Year-Book.
From the point of view of expense the main
problem inequipping ahomeatthe present
time is centred in the actual furniture. One
of the obstacles in the way of a solution is
undoubtedly the arbitrary influence of tra-
dition already referred to. It is strong in
the individual and almost equally evident
among manufacturers and business houses.
If successful results are to be obtained the
difficulties must be faced from an unpre-
judiced point of view, and the actual con-
ditions and requirements of the present
time studied without reference to the tra-
ditions of the past. Consider, for example,
the modern bedroom in the small house.
Very little reflection would convince most
people that the “ bedroom suite com-
plete,” as supplied by the shops, does not
meet our present needs. Nowadays, when
almost every house or flat is provided with a properly equipped bathroom,
readily accessible to all the household, the need for a washstand largely
disappears. One finds that in house after house the bathroom is used by
all the inmates for their ablutions as a matter of course. As the average
washstand, withitsaggressive toilet-set,is aneyesore,entirely spoiling the
effect of any room, and its use occasions considerable unnecessary labour,
while it occupies valuable space in the room, what purpose is there in in-
stalling one ? It may be desirable, perhaps, to have a stand of some sort
available for the use of visitors or in case of sickness, but it need not be the
clumsy object perpetuated in the shops. The illustrations onpage i 3 show
a simple piece of furniture for this purpose, which can be closed up when
not in use, its appearance being neat and inoffensive.
Next let us consider the wardrobe ; the accommodation it provides as a
rule is inadequate, or else its huge, ugly bulk overpowers everything else
in the room. The cost, moreover, of such a piece is heavy. There is every
reason, therefore, to take advantage of any opportunity that presents itselr
of introducing fittings of the type that has already been considered at some
length. To supplement the hanging-space thus provided a certain amount
of drawer accommodation will be necessary. This might be provided in
the shape of a chest of drawers, acting as a dressing-table, with a simple
lS
A USEFUL HANGING-CUPBOARD FOR HALL
OR BEDROOM (PAGES 14 AND 2l)