The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-09-10

house all during its renovation
under the auspices of the magazine
Child Life. The remodeling has
gone forward under the personal
supervision of Miss E. Evalyn Grum-
bine, assistant publisher of the
magazine.
Miss Grumbine's idea was to
prove that all homes that have fall
en- behind the needs of modern
youngsters can be made over eco
nomically and satisfactorily. Plenty
of light, sunshine and closet space
are three essentials now supplied
which were missing before.
The frame house, originally of
middle-weStern architecture at its
worst, was too tall and too narrow,
so the top was slanted back to take
away from the height and to give
an illusion of increased width.
The front porch was built up and
arched in order to produce a mod
ern appearance and also to insure
additional safety for small children.
An Illuminated house number that
never turns off is another improve
ment.
The original woodwork was old
oak finish and heavy-looking. This
was changed throughout to a cheer
full ivory enamel. The lights all
we're high in the ceiling and incon-
venient for reading or work.
Lamps suitable for each room and
the pursuits of the occupants have
been installed. The staircase was
modernized by changing the lower
three steps, putting in new rails and
repainting stairs and banisters.
The old china closet in the din
ing room which projected into the
space under the staircase has been
torn out. This space was closed
up and a door was added to make
an attractive closet with low hooks
for children's wraps, and built-in
boxes for their toys, balls and hats.
Miss Grumbine believes that this
change will result in a new orderli-
ness among the younger members
of the household.
Another change that the children
hailed with JOY was the transforma-
ton of a cluttered old-fashioned
basement into a recreation room
with a sectional bookcase that once
was in the library, a reflector floor
lamp for playing games at night,
and a studio couch, magazine rack
and wall map.
The old shelves and bins we're
taken away, fiber board was used to
cover the walls. and aluminium paint
was put on the pipes. Nothing was
added. The place was simply
cleared out and painted.
All the bedrooms have been re-
done in early American because that
is a sturdy. decorative period. Vene-
tan blinds are used with simple
curtains. The closets have special
shelves to provide plenty of room
for possessions that once we're stuffed
away in inadequate corners.
The boys bedroom particularly
had never had Sufnclent drawer
space. It was full of hand-me-
down furniture, heavy and dark
looking. The drawers we're hard for
a child to open All that is changed
by the addition of a spacious chest.
The wallpapers are washable
throughout and are in non-fading
colors The rugs are deep-textured
but durable. and easy to clean so
that the housekeeper need not spend
time warning her family to be
careful.
In the formerly funereal living
room, now gay and airy. the old
style mantel was replaced by
modern fireplace of good design.
Doorways have been lowered and
arched.
New lighting fixtures and new
electrical outlets were put in. Vene-
tan blinds and Quaker lace cur
tsins are placed at the windows. and
the heavy. old-fashioned, haphaz-
ardly-bought furniture was replaced
with pieces in a lighter eighteenth
century style.