The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-05-29

II was a well-known minister of the
Gospel who frequently said, when looking
al a pretentiOus new house: There must be
something unsound morally about a
man who would build anything so ugly as
that" His friends were used TO his ex
cathedra statements, and simply thought
this a great exaggeration, but reflection
forced them TO admit there was much of
truth in it. When the minister built
home for himself the result justified his
theory for while ii cost only a moderate
sum it was one of the most attractive and
most convenient houses of its time. The
process was simple enough. The minister
employed a competent architect, gave him
a list of requirements and some suggestions
and went his way serenely. Ills choice of
architect was fortunate. Therein lay the
wisdom of the minister. He knew whom
to trust.
The minister's wife had less confidence
and more personal preferences. She con-
fined her suggestions to the inside of the
house and left upon it the imprint of her
charming personality. One of her require
ments was a decided innovation. She want
ed an inside finish-door and window casing
surDase and dOors-which were absolutely
plain, without holdings, corner blocks or
other breaks i'm the surface of the wood
This was nearly twenty years ago. when
elaborate interior finish was the rule Her
request was so decided an innovation that
the architect demurred. and when this
failed to move her from her purpose he
entered decided objections, but to no end.
The minister was busy saving souls and
ministering TO the poor, and the architect
submitted. When the house was completed
he admitted frankly that the mistress there
Of had been right and that the plain wood
work was refined elegant and artistic as
well easily cared for. This latter had
been the main consideration in the eyes Of
the housekeeper
NOT A STUPID MAN.
The architect was not a stupid man, as
go, and saw many of the possibilities
of this simple form of woodwork. With
the concrete example before him he rec
ognized that a door and window casing
should not be feature of a room. 1t was
put there, in the first place, to cover the
juncture OF the door OF window frame
and the plasterng. 1t was originally
wholly and aggressively funetional. 1t is
a rule in architecture that decoration
should be placed only upon constructive
or functional parts of a structure. This
rule is one which should have no eXcep-
tions but il does not mean that all struc-
tural or functional parts OF a building
should be decorated. Decoration is placed
upon a part of a building to emphasize it,
and emphasis should not be employed
often, and then discreetly. 1t is sef-evi-
dent that some places are more appropri-
ately brought into prominence than others.
In room door and window castings should
sink into the background rather than be
made noticeable by decoration. They
should form setting for more important
parts. In entering room there are other
features which should attract the attention
and to which the rest of the room should
be suoServient. Otherwise, the mind be-
comes confused and wearied. The art of
architecture is dependent as largely upon
the skill with which the feature to be deco
rated is selected as upon the character of
the decoration placed thereon.
Simplicity in interior woodwork grows
more popular with each succeeding year.
Not only are castings and baseboards left
undecorated. but doors are simple. very
successful and popular door is made with
out sinking the panels. In truth. there are
no panels as ordinarily understood. but
simply a suggestion made by outlining the
form with a very delicate molding-usually
a bead molding. This door is exceedingly
substantial in appearance and reality, and
is entirely relieved from any suggestion of
factory construction by the charming little
molding mentioned. There is nothing more
decorative than the grain of beautiful
wood, but il is decoration which is never
obtrusive. Simple woodwork, however.
calls for good workmanship. No bem-
ishes left by either carpenter or him who
finishes with oil or varnish can be covered
from view. For this reason it is not an in
expensive finish.
The exposure of ceiling rafters is an in
heritance from the middle ages. In the