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The Contemporary Conventional Home in 1958

This type of home is best exemplified by the average real estate dealer’s offering in a city or suburban development.  House is usually pretty new, though it may need some repairs.  Designed for efficient modern life, although rooms are likely to be small and boxlike compared with older houses.  Many electrical gadgets to reduce the . . . → Read More: The Contemporary Conventional Home in 1958

You Have Taste-Develop Confidence In It

Whether you believe it or not–and whether you like it or not–you have taste.  You may prefer chocolate ice cream to vanilla, a vacation at the seashore to one in the mountains, or fluffy ruffles to severe pleats–and everyone has a favorite color.  So you have taste, but do you have confidence in it?  Perhaps . . . → Read More: You Have Taste-Develop Confidence In It

Bear Rug, Optional

{The ultimate romantic getaway is right at home…}

 

  Photo credits (all from Flickr.com): Upper left: Better Homes & Gardens, January, 1951; SaltyCotton Upper right: Household Magazine, 1952; SaltyCotton Mid-left: Better Homes and Gardens, 1961; Vintage Goodness Mid-center: Fireplace; t conway Mid-right: Better Homes and Gardens, 1961: Vintage Goodness Lower left: Better Homes . . . → Read More: Bear Rug, Optional

1961 Built-In Home Office

Better Homes and Gardens, 1961 – Built-in Office; Image courtesy of VintageGoodness on Flickr.com

I’ve been attacking paperwork all weekend.  The Mister and I have been wondering if the advent of computers has actually made life more complex rather than simple.

My grandparents had a built-in desk . . . → Read More: 1961 Built-In Home Office

Vintage Shiny-Brite Tree Ornaments

When you think of vintage tree ornaments, there is a good chance that you are seeing Shiny-Brite ornaments in your mind.  The Shiny-Brite company produced the most popular tree ornaments throughout the 1940s and 1950s.

According to Wikipedia, Max Eckardt started “Shiny-Bright” in 1937 with an eye toward mass production.  Prior to 1937, he had . . . → Read More: Vintage Shiny-Brite Tree Ornaments

Her Taste Is All In Her Mouth

This post is part of an ongoing series on home decorating using Decorating Liveable Homes written by Elizabeth Burris-Meyer and published in 1937 by Prentice-Hall.

A room which has been decorated with good taste gives an impression of dignity and restraint…Good taste in decoration has nothing to do with expense; it is the outward expression . . . → Read More: Her Taste Is All In Her Mouth

Background Doesn't Mean Invisible

This post is part of an ongoing series on home decorating using Decorating Liveable Homes written by Elizabeth Burris-Meyer and published in 1937 by Prentice-Hall.

Planning the decoration of a room, then, means the working out, first, of suitable and pleasing color schemes and texture for the room background; second, the selection and arrangement of . . . → Read More: Background Doesn’t Mean Invisible

The Rumpus Room

This post is part of an ongoing series on home decorating using Decorating Liveable Homes written by Elizabeth Burris-Meyer and published in 1937 by Prentice-Hall.

A recreation room (also known as a rec room, rumpus room, or ruckus room) is a room used for a variety of purposes, such as parties, games and other everyday . . . → Read More: The Rumpus Room

The New Rage: Actually Using The Kitchen For, Get This, Cooking!

This post is part of an ongoing series on home decorating using Decorating Liveable Homes written by Elizabeth Burris-Meyer and published in 1937 by Prentice-Hall.

There was a charm about the glowing stove with the cat on the mat under the oven, the dimity curtains and the cuckoo clock, which differs greatly from the modern . . . → Read More: The New Rage: Actually Using The Kitchen For, Get This, Cooking!

Entertaining in the Powder Room

This post is part of an ongoing series on home decorating using Decorating Liveable Homes written by Elizabeth Burris-Meyer and published in 1937 by Prentice-Hall.

The powder room can also serve as a room in which the young people may entertain occasionally. ~ Elizabeth Burris-Meyer

Canon towel advertisement, McCall's Magazine, 1959; Image courtesy of . . . → Read More: Entertaining in the Powder Room