Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-21
GEORGIAN HOUSE
TREND REPORTED
Williamsburg Restoration Is
Given Credit for GROWING
Demand.

A growing demand for Georgian and
modern" houses is reported by Travis
6. Walsh, president of the Cleveland
Chapter Of the American Institute Of
Architects, IN survey of trends in
architectural design and in home deco
ration. The interest in Georgian de-
sign has been stimulated to new
heights by the Williamsburg Va.)
restorations sponsored by John D.
Rockefeller, Mr. Walsh declares.
People regard the Georgian style.
the simplicity and grace of which is
in key with the present movement. as
essentially American" he says. "Vari-
Gus branches of American Colonial as
we'll as the original English version are
popular. This is not strange when
you have at hand a style which is
peculiarly adapted to the climate in
which :. is placed.
Our forebears found out long ago
that heavy SHOWS we're best resisted
with a pitched roof. The need for
maximum sunlight during the long
winter months brought about demands
Ava AlDSl al " AAlOoW SpdSlll6. anu 1dStUI .
Of economy inspired a simplicity Of
design and a sparing use of detail
which gives solution at once indi-
genous to the locality.
Furniture Reflects Trend.
When home builders desire the So
called modern house. nothing else will
suffice. The chief characteristics of
modern house is that it is functional
and direct. The tried and true prin-
ciples of design must be invoked in
any style. and a house presents itself
as simple mass comprising void
and solids skillfully arranged"
Furniture demands everywhere re-
feet the trend toward Georgian archi-
lecture, Mr. Walsh continues. Prob
ably it would be easier at the present
time to assemble consistently period
house in the Georgian style than any
other, for within the last few months
there has come on the market food
of Georgian household accessories
They include china and glass. textiles.
knickknacks and many revivals of fine
old silver design. The lamps are
especially successful. The best of them
are copies of museum collections.
antique jars and vases.
The tendency to combine Georgian
furniture with Chinese accessories.
particularly with Chinese hangings and
paintings. is still strong. The more
esoteric decorators, hunting the 'un-
obvious prefer to combine Georgian
with the corresponding French period
This probably takes too much knowl-
edge and skill to ever become popular
Boycott Denied.
THE latest development in modern
design has. until recently, been its
combination with the Japanese. How
much the Sino-Japanese situation will
affect this is hard to say. but dealers
in japanese art deny roundly the
existence of consumer boycott
The association of japanese and
modern. artistically speaking. is GER
tainlv hopeful one. Much japanese
furniture is ideally adapted to the
modern house and japanese print COL
ors seem to be IN growing favor The
Comolnatlon is IN keeping with the
present growth of the modern away
from crudity and harsh colors toward
softer lines and more subtle decor
generally"
Hundreds of industries will benefit
by an upturn in building, which will
mean a boom in general merchandise,
for new homes must have new fittings,
Mr.. Walsh points out.
New England, New York. Pennsyl-
vania and the South and Southwest.
he adds, will influence architectural
styles in the building movement which
lies ahead, and which will be discussed
in all its phases by the Nations
architects at the SEVENTEEN conven-
ton Of the American Institute OF
Architects in New Orleans, April l9
to %.