The Washington times., 1936-03-16
Convenient
For a Big
Family
Bv WILMA LAVILLE

Here are some grand Ideas
cleaned from stories of what
other people are doing with
their houses. With spring but
a step away, and houses look
ing rather drab after hard
winter, we can take a leaf
from the books of people who
have already refurbished, and
start right away removing
signs of winter.
Every family can find good use
for a second living room. With the
popularity of home entertainment,
which has grown considerably in
recent years, many home-owners
are turning any possible space into
another gathering place for the
| family.
Easements, attics, large halls or
unused guest rooms are being con-
verted to practical use. Funds for
this purpose may be obtained un.
der the modernization credit plan
of the Federal Housing Admins
tration. The Housing AdminiStra-
ton lends no money but funds are
advanced by banks or other pri-
vate financial institutions which
hold a contract of insurance
with it.
Much has been said and writ
ten about the type of apartment
known as a recreation room for
basement or attic, but if this seems
too frivolous for your family's taste
there is no reason why an ordi
nary living room cannot be created
in either of these places. The mar
ket is flooded with materials with
which rooms Of this type may be
easily constructed.
One home-owner, whose family's
inclinationS ran to bridge, mo
nopoly and other such games, built
a living room in a corner of the
basement of his home. It was
completely shut off from the fur
mace and laundry tubs and coulc'
be reached directly from the out
side or from the kitchen stairs.
Paneled Effect
Fire-reSistant composition boarG
was used for the walls and cell
ing, completely hiding pipes and
other cellar equipment. A compo-
Sition covering was also laid over
the basement cement floor and a
fireplace was built, with book
cases on either side. The cellar
windows, high up in the walls,
were finished in an attractive
manner. The entire house was
air-conditioned.
The general effect was a pan
eled room in the early American
manner. Furnishings were bought
with the family's own funds and
were in keeping with the char.
acter of the room. A large table
holds a lamp and magazines, and
offers space for game Of soil
taire or mothers new dress pat
terms.
Comfortable chairs with read
ing lamps and convenient tables
with attractive accessories COM
pleted the rooms furnishings.
The occupant Of a city apart
ment who had a long, narrow
hall difficult to decorate, called
upon her hobby photography.
To make the scene more reals
tic, a shelf was built at the top
of the wainscoting and flower
pots were set along the railing"
Indirect lighting was hidden in
two pillars, which carried out the
open porch effect.
Color Ensemble
Many modern interiors depend
for their decorative serene on a
blend of color rather than a con-
trast. Especially with the new
honey-colored and other light
woods that are used so extensively
J in present-day furniture manutac-
ture, walls of as near the same
shade as possible are being used.
One very smart Western apart
ment had rugs, furniture and walls
Of the same shade of beige. Up
holstery, lamps and other acces-
SorieS in the room were brown,
white and blue. Use Of one light
color for the background tends to
make a small room look larger.
While the purchase of furniture
Is ineligible under the terms Of
the modernization credit plan,
built-in furniture may be installed
or rooms decorated with funds OBJ
tained through private financial
institutions which hold a contract
of insurance with the Federal
Housing Administration.