Successful Handling of Open Plan

by Jeanne Barnes - Home Editor of The News / October 27, 1958

A small house dsigned on the so-called open plan offers as great a challenge to decorating sill as a large on with many rooms.

For in a small area must be accommodated sufficient seating space, comfortable viewing of TV, conversation or reading groups and dining space.

Such a problem, successfully handled, is found in the home of the C. C. Kirkpatricks, 8612 Rolling Rock Lane, in the Lakeland Hills area off Northwest Highway. It was solved by Miss Joyce K. Winn, AID, of Anderson’s Studio.

The first steps in decorating the living-dining area were to paint all of the walls and ceiling a pale celadon green and carpet the area in an oatmeal textured wool. Matching green silk gauze draperies cover the two large and one small windows in the area.

A walnut and cane, four panel screen divides the kitchen also painted green, from the dining area. The dining room is furnished in Duncan Phyfe-styled mahogany with and embroidered effect fabric in peacock and white covering the chair seats.

The West wall of the living room, actually the front wall of the house facing the street is brick, forming an interesting textured background for the 3-cushion beige sofa. Above the sofa hangs a horizontal painting of Gothic court figures in processional. It is done in gold, black, and persimmon color.

A pair of square tables, on either side of the sofa and a square-topped cigarette table under the window provide an unusually large amount of table space. One of the square tables has a travertine inset top and a cane bottom shelf, which gives an interesting texture contrast.

The TV is placed against the storage wall between the living room and kitchen, facing the sofa. At right angles to the sofa is a low, square lounge chair covered in peacock and olive on white print. Facing the sofa is a peacock upholstered walnut chair and its mate sits at the end of the long walnut table by the window.

Behind the chair, against the wall, is a mahogany record cabinet. Above it hangs a group of colorful Spanish city paintings in wide white frames. Facing the front door is an unusual 4-foot-high teak placque to which peacock enamel on copper disks are attached and at the top, an electric clock with copper face.

The house has an unusual bathroom, one unit opening from the hall, the other from the master bedroom; the two are joined by a tub area. In the opening from the hall, folding wood doors conceal laundry equipment. The whole area is carpeted in yellow cotton.

Photograph: Living Room Styled with Simplicity, by Nowell Ward, 1958 - Highland Meadows Preservation Foundation