Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1955-09-08
Interiors With Ideas
Huge Bird Gage Loom Focal Points
OF Wbsaton Functional Lining Room


around five-foot bird cage and
a hand loom, is one of the most
striking things about the Cecil
Cullander home at 11704 College
View Avenue, Wheaton.
Mrs. Cullander says that her
decorating scheme was not plan
ned, but grew up around items
used by the family. The bird cage
was built when their family of
finches reached six, and the Cul-
landers felt that they needed
more room.
So they had a cage built five
feet long, four feet wide and four
feet deep. Now the finch popula-
ton is down to three, but the Cal
landers are in the market for
more. The cage is attached to the
wall, next to the fireplace. Heat
from the fireplace doesn't harm
the birds, though, Mrs. Cullander
said.
The loom, a 39-inch model, was
acquired after Mrs. Cullander
took a course in weaving while
awaiting the birth of her first
child. She made such things as
place mats, ties and stoles, and
hopes to find the time to make
rugs for the living room.
Another unusual piece of living
room furniture is a leather
covered butterfly chair The Cul-
landers bought the frame for the
chair, then discovered that a
leather cover could be bought for
500. So they bought a half cow
hide for S18, cut it out themselves
and had it stitched.
Authentic Navajo rugs add to
the rustic theme of the living
room.
The WindoW.Wall of the living
room looks out on a triangular
concrete terrace, surrounded by a
brick wall. The Cullanders had
the concrete for the terrace
poured, but built the walls them
selves - it was the first attempt
at bricklaying for both Mrs. Cul-
lander and her husband, who is
a psychiatrist
At the point of the triangle,
the wall forms rectangle which
is filled with water and used as
wading pool for the Culfander
children. Mrs. Cullander can sit
at her loom and watch them
splash around through the
window.
When they leveled the back
yard to build the wall around the
terrace, they had loads of left
over dirt, and nowhere to dump
it. So they raised the level of the
front yard, carefully taking up
the sod and then replacing it.
Even with the large terrace,
there is still plenty of romping
room in the Cullander yard. And |
they need romping room because
the family dog stands about
three feet high and weighs 80
pounds. His name is Bo-Bo, and |
he's French sheepdog - and as
friendly as a cocker spaniel.
He and the children - Chris.
topher, Z; Eric, 5; Martha, 2; and
Nicholas, ) months - get along
beautifully. Bo-Bo's one quirk is
that he loves to chase motor.
cycles, and the cycle riders often
have to stop their machines so
that he won't knock them over.
In the backyard, Mrs. Cul.
lander built the children a log
cabin, which they use as a play.
house. The yard also houses a
white rabbit and his hutch, and
a pair of breeding turtle doves.
DR.. Cullander bought the doves
for his office, but they made SO
much noise in the mating season
that he had to bring them home.
So they had a large cage built,
only to discover that it was too
big to get through the door of
the house.
After checking with the 700
and being assured that the birds
could stand the weather, they
established the dove family out.
side. Bo.Bo and the children do
their best TO project thano from