Evening star., 1940-06-15
Modernizing Magic
Can Work Wonders
InAginq House
Bathroom Transformed
By Carpentry and
Paint CoIor,Scheme

Minor miracles can be worked in
every room of an aging house
through undermining magic with
the very practical assistance of car
pentry and color, and no room can
show better results from such reno
waiting than the bathroom.
To take a specific instance, there's
the case of the bathroom that was
not as young as it used to be. A
darkly-stained wainscot of vertical
boarding extended around the base
of the four walls. Upper walls and
ceiling were an unpleasant shade of
tan and the well-worn linoleum on
the floor echoed the same tone. Out
standing eyesore in the room was an
outmoded old tub, elevated to un-
due height by four dubious feet.
The tub was further disiigured by
the makeshift shower which reared
its ungraceful head above the tub
and helped to support an oval track
from which shower curtain hung
The tub was f1anked by an ill-pro-
portioned wicker hamper at one end
and necessary plumbing" at the
other.
Beneath an old-style medicine
cabinet was an old-style wash basin
both inadequately lighted by a
fixture suspended from the ceiling
on chain. This was so placed
that you stood in your own light
when you faced the mirror. In the
wall opposite the tub were two WIN
dows and between them stood an
old-fashioned radiator. The door,
way to the hall broke into the fourth
wall
Family Combines Forces.
Inasmuch as the family which be-
longed with the bathroom was ham
pered by insufficient funds, 1t was
necessary at the offset to give up any
idea Of replacing the plumbing fix
lures or the linoleum. The men of
the family were handy with tools
and the women were interested in
the paint and color angle, so they
combined forces and went to work
First of all, they undertook
minor structural alteration which
made drastic change in the rooms
appearance. A f1oor-to- o-ceiling par
tition with three arches cut in it
was placed about 3 feet from the
bathtub wall The largest arch
framed the tub. At each end of
the tub-at right angles to the par
tition-panels were placed, thus
making an alcove around the tub.
The addition of a step-running the
length of the tub alcove-concealed
the legs of the tub and gave it more
modern proportions. The further
addition of vertical board, extend
ing from the step up to a point be-
meath the curving edge of the tub
furthered the modern appearance.
Into the second arch-where the
wicker hamper had formerly stood
a cupboard was built for the stor-
age of towels. In the bottom of
this cupboard, hamper was con-
structed, The third arch made the
necessary plumbing" less con-
spicuous.
Build Dressing Table.
The Tool-Wielding Committee,
thoroughly enthused by this time,
then proceeded to inclose the base
of the old-fashioned washstand and
to build dressing table into the
center of the window wall. This
concealed the awkward radiator, but
did not interfere with the radiation
of heat.
The Paint and Color Committee
In making their plans had studied
the principles of paint styling-the
new art of making the most of things
with color. They also had followed
the most recent report of the Coun-
Gil for Paint Styling. This report,
based on a national survey of new
homes and decorators display
rooms, showed them the types of
color treatments most favored by
the public these days.
From the report, they learned that
the color treatment for bath rooms
foremost in favor currently is Have
all walls and the ceiling ir the same
color. AS for the trim-it should be
lighter than-or the same tone as
the walls, but different in color.
Applying these findings to their own
bathroom, they enamele, the CELL
ing and all four walls (including the
wainscot) in a soft, light-refecting
periWinkle blue. Window frames and
sashes, also the door and door frame,