Beauty in the home is of two kinds, architectural and decorative. They are supplementary, and neither can be successful without the other. Rugs, lamps, furniture, pictures—these are decorative elements. Much can be done with them to make a room homelike; but to make a room truly restful it is necessary to have, also, good architectural details to form a background or setting for the decorative features. These architectural details are, in the main, articles of woodwork.
Naturally, the best source of information on the design of interior woodwork is the architectural profession. It was for that reason that the Curtis Companies sought the help of Trowbridge & Ackerman, a firm of architects nationally known for their work in interior details. They re-designed the entire line of Curtis Woodwork, giving it the benefit of their knowledge of design. The Curtis Companies give to it their six decades’ experience in the construction of good woodwork. By manufacturing it in quantities, the Curtis Companies are now able to supply the builder with woodwork of architectural character at less cost than made-to-order woodwork of indifferent design and ordinary quality.
The use of standardized forms produced in quantities does not mean in any sense the sacrifice of individuality, because there are many designs from which to choose. Individuality, as one writer puts it, is nothing more than “the best expression of one’s sense of beauty and the fitness of things, and when it is guided by the laws of harmony and proportion, the result is usually one of great charm, convenience and comfort.”
On the following pages, each of the important rooms in the average house is considered separately. These pages are commended to your careful consideration, for you will find in them many suggestions that will help you to build comfort, convenience and beauty into your home—and this means restful rooms.
Where First Impressions Count
The exterior of every house, however simple or elaborate, is nothing more than a wall punctured with openings. If it is well proportioned, and if the openings are well spaced and well proportioned, it will create a favorable impression.
Windows having small panes with the division bars between them painted white make interesting openings. Curtis sash are ovolo-molded to match the molding of the doors and woodwork on the interior. Check rails are rabbeted, and so resist seven times as much wind pressure as ordinary check rails.