5 of

You are browsing the full text of the article: Two Hundred Pounds. An Experiment in Furnishing

 

 

Click here to go back to the list of articles for Issue: Volume: 2 of Design For Today

 

Design For Today   2   1934  Page: 177
 
 Two Hundred Pounds. An Experiment in Furnishing
Footnotes:
Show House on the Bournville Estate, Weoley Hill, Birmingham
(Above). Ground and first floor plans
(Right). Exterior of the house used for this furnishing experiment
Zoom:
 100% 200% Full Size
Brightness:
Contrast:
Saturation:
 
TWO HUNDRED POUNDS

AN EXPERIMENT IN FURNISHING

By H. G. Wright

In the September issue last year we described and illustrated the Design for To-day house at Welwyn Garden City, which was furnished for us by Mrs, C, G, Tormley for £200, to demonstrate the fact that good design need not necessarily be beyond the means of the average man. The house was visited by so many people and proved so interesting to our readers, that we are illustrating here a similar house furnished for £200 by Mrs. H. G, Wright for the D.I.A. at Weoley Hill, Birmingham. Design for To-day does not, of course, necessarily sponsor every detail of Mrs. Wright9 s work, but considers the experiment, on grounds of economy and general quality, more than sufficiently interesting to warrant publication.

The house I was asked to furnish was lent to the Design & Industries Association by Weoley Hill Ltd., a public utility society responsible for the development of a portion of the Bournville Estate. It was one of their standard semi-detached houses with a large living room, dining room recess and three bedrooms, costing £675 to build. I was allowed to make a few alterations in the interior decoration and fittings, which made a considerable difference to the finished appearance. Flush doors with chromium lever handles were only fitted downstairs on account of expense. All picture rails were removed. Mr. Parkes, the architect, supplied some excellent picture hooks with oblique pins, which do not damage the walls and can be obtained from Woolworths. The walls were rough plastered in all the main rooms—this was done because it gives the distemper a pleasanter surface and does not show dirty marks so much as a flat surface—and all electric switches and plugs were fitted flush with the walls. Extra tiling was supplied in the kitchen, and slightly more expensive coloured tiles here and in the bathroom in place of the standard white tiles supplied in the other houses. The wall supporting the balusters was plastered up as far as the stairs. In the other houses, there is a wooden panel about 1 ft. deep, which tends to distract from the simplicity of the balusters. The pipes upstairs were boarded in flush with the walls, and the copper pipes in the kitchen were scratch polished and grouped together. In the bathroom the wash-basin was put against the wall instead of under the window to give a little more room and allow for the shaving mirror to be placed on the wall, and the bathside panels were enamelled to match the tiles. A square towel rail was supplied instead of the usual round ones because the towels do not slip off so easily.

My warmest thanks are due to Messrs. Weoley Hill Ltd., and especially to Mr. Parkes, the architect, for his kind help and suggestions ; also to all the local retailers who not only loaned the furniture, but in many cases obtained or made things specially for the exhibition.

SUMMARY OF COSTS

£ s. d

Living Room 81 7 4
Hall and Landing 9 6 3
Kitchen 9 2 3
Back Bedroom 39 2 1
Front Bedroom 35 16 5
Nursery 19 11 0
Bathroom and Lavatory 5 13 3
Cloakroom 0 7 6

£200 6 1

The prices shown are in every case retail.
Design For Today   2   1934  Page: 178
 
 Two Hundred Pounds. An Experiment in Furnishing
Zoom:
 100% 200% Full Size
Brightness:
Contrast:
Saturation:
 
HALL AND STAIRS

The hall being small I avoided all unnecessary furniture by turning the large cupboard under the stairs into a cloakroom. This is fitted with chromium hooks. It has quite a large window and there is room enough for a corner wash basin; trunks and suitcases can be stacked under the slope of the stairs. The walls of the hall are pale yellow distemper, the paint zinc green brush-strippled on cream. The combined hall table and trolley is chromium plated steel with wooden trays painted the same green as the woodwork. The floor is oak, oiled and wax polished. The stair carpet is grey, and the curtains pale yellow oil silk.

Selected at Messrs. Lee. Lonvland & Co. Ltd.

£ s. d.

Hall Curtains in Oil Silk, made and fitted 17 6
Landing Curtains, made and fitted 17 6
Grey Hair-cord Carpeting, fitted 2 11 6
Chromium Rods and Beak Eyes 1 7 6
Under Felts 3 0
1 Fibre Mat 6 9
1 Green and Chromium Trolley 2 2 0
1 Mirror 12 6
3 Chromium hooks at 2s. 6d. each 7 6
Selected at Messrs. H. Ward, Bournville
2 Opaque glass fittings, at 4s. each 8 0

£9 13 9

LIVING ROOM

This room is large, and an excellent shape. The walls are biscuit pink, the ceiling a paler pink, and the paint a pinkish grey stippled on cream. The curtains have a pale cement grey ground with brick red and green stripes. The carpet is grey hair cord, and the furnishing fabrics brick red. I was allowed to choose the fireplace, but the amount I could spend was limited and I had to have a standard shape. The tiles are brick red, and the mantel and fender waxed oak. The fender is lined with copper. The book case was made to fit between the door and window, and is painted grey. The dining recess, which could be curtained off, has an excellent serving hatch and a radiator heated by the Ideal boiler in the kitchen.

The dining chairs were originally, I believe, designed by Ernest Gimson; they have ladder backs and rush seats. The easy chairs have Parker Knoll springing. The wall bureau, not seen in the photograph, is in the recess by the fireplace, and has a rack underneath it for newspapers. The Baxter coal box, which could be improved in its external appearance, is very sensible inside, having a rack for the big coal at the top, and a door at the bottom from which to shovel small coal. The wrought iron coal tongs are small and strong, and have a very large span. The lamp shades are made of buckram painted silver on the outside, and dyed pink inside. When the light is on, the silver entirely disappears and a pink glow remains.

Selected at Messrs. Lee. Longland & Co. Ltd.

£ s. d.

Curtains in “ Claverhouse ” fabric, lined “ Sun- dour ” fabric, making, pelmet and runners 8 5 6
Hair cord carpet, made and fitted 9 15 6
1 Staglan Rug 1 1 0
1 Oak Sideboard .. 6 0 01 Oak Dining Table 6 0 0
4 Ash Dining Chairs at £1 5s. each 5 0 0
1 Settee 12 10 0
2 Parker Knoll Chairs at £3 17s. 6d. each 7 15 0
Bookshelving made to order and painted 3 10 0
1 Mirror made to order 2 8 0
1 Oak Occasional Table .. 1 17 61
Oak Wall Bureau 2 12 6
1 Oak Baxter coalbox 1 10 0
2 Cushions at 7s. 11d. and 9s. 11d. 17 10
2 Glass Vases, 1 Pitcher and 1 Fruit Bowl 1 0 3
1 Dinner Service for four people .. 1 15 54
Tumblers, at 1s. 11d. each, brown glass 7 8
1 Water Jug, brown glass .. 7 6 1
Half Tea Set 14 11
1 “ Best” Standard Lamp 1 12 6
1 Steel Stool 1 16 01 Set Linen Dinner Mats 5 11
Selected at Messrs. Barrow's Stores Ltd.
1 Standard Lamp Shade .. 10 6
2 Ceiling Shades, at 6s. fid. each 13 0
1 Pair Coal Tongs in wrought iron 3 11
1 Poker in wrought iron .. 6 9

Selected at Messrs. Elkington, Newhall Street

2 Table Spoons 4 64 Forks 8 10
4 Dessert Forks 7 0
4 Dessert Spoons .. 7 0
4 Table Knives 12 8
4 Cheese Knives 10 2

£81 7 4
Design For Today   2   1934  Page: 179
 
 Two Hundred Pounds. An Experiment in Furnishing
Zoom:
 100% 200% Full Size
Brightness:
Contrast:
Saturation:
 
Living Room
Design For Today   2   1934  Page: 180
 
 Two Hundred Pounds. An Experiment in Furnishing
Zoom:
 100% 200% Full Size
Brightness:
Contrast:
Saturation:
 
FRONT BEDROOM

The scheme here is green and pale cement colour. The walls pale cement, the ceiling pale yellow, the walls stippled green ; the floor is oiled and wax polished. The furniture is an unstained oak suite with chromium handles ; the chest and wardrobe are quite a good design but the dressing table, in spite of slight alterations, is rather poor. The fitting above the bed is an attempt at something cheap, sensible and effective. It consists of a built-in shelf to hold books, fitted underneath with a curtain to add colour and keep the wall clean, and in front of the curtain is a strip-light for reading. There is a Venesta bedside unit which had not arrived in time for the photograph. The room is heated by an electric fire, the panel for which was designed by Mr. Parkes. The curtains are green with a white pattern, and the bedspread is cement-colour, and is not so violent as it appears in the photograph.

Selected at Messrs. Kean & Scott Ltd.

£ s. d.

1 suite in Oak, Wardrobe, Chest and Dressing Table 18 5 0
1 Divan Bed, with Spiral Spring Mattress 1 13 6
1 3 ft. Wool Mattress 1 7 6
1 Felt Pad 4 11
1 3 ft. Feather Bolster 11 9
1 Feather Pillow 5 6
1 Oak Rush-seated Chair .. 10 6
1 Bedshelf, with Curtain, Runner complete 1 7 6
1 Venesta Unit in Oak 17 3
1 Bedspread, in “ Old Bleach ” Linen 3 1 6
Curtains, in “ Prestona ” print, lined “ Sundour’ Fabric Pelmet, made and fitted 4 12 6
1 “ Best ” Striplight, standard finish 13 0
2 Rugs at £1 Is. each 2 2 01
Parchment Shade 4 0

£35 16 5
Design For Today   2   1934  Page: 181
 
 Two Hundred Pounds. An Experiment in Furnishing
Zoom:
 100% 200% Full Size
Brightness:
Contrast:
Saturation:
 
BACK BEDROOM

This is the only room that lent itself to built-in furniture, which unfortunately I could not have. There were many reasons against it, the chief one being that the retailers were unable to supply it on loan. The colour scheme is black, white and brass. Walls and ceiling white, paint slightly cream. Floor black curtains and small accessories black and white, and bedspreads of brass-coloured, coarsely woven satin. The furniture is unstained waxed oak. The wardrobe and chest were Unit pieces, and I intended to build in the recess with two wardrobes and the chest in the middle, but I had to omit one wardrobe on account of expense. The bedside locker with chromium frame has a cupboard at the bottom, and a moveable shelf above. The Shutterlite can throw light for reading on one or both beds, by moving the shutter. I could not find any cheap and attractive mirrors ; the ones I chose are good but dull. The room is heated by a radiator. The beds are well sprung, and the mattresses well made and comfortable.

Selected at Messrs. Kean & Scott Ltd.

£ s. d.

1 Unit Wardrobe, in oak 8 5 0
Wardrobe Mirror, as supplied to order 2 5 0
1 Unit Chest in Oak 5 18 6
1 Hanging Mirror 12 9
2 Divan Bedsteads, with Spring Mattress, £1 13s. 6d. each 3 7 0
2 Mattresses, 3 ft. wool, at 7s. 6d. each 2 15 0
2 Felt Pads, at 4s. lid. each 9 10
2 Bolsters (3 ft. feather bolsters), at 11s. 9d. each 1 3 6
2 Feather Pillows, at 5s. 6d. 11 0
1 Oak Rush-seated Chair 10 6
1 Chromium and Oak Locker 3 3 0
2 Bedspreads, in “Ruthern” Satin, at £2 Is. each, per pair 4 2 0
Curtains in “ Kenmore ” Cash fabric, Pelmet made and fitted 2 17 0
1 Rug 1 1 0
1 “Best ” Shutterlite in Chromium and Black .. 1 15 0

Selected at Messrs. H. Ward, Bournville.

1 Shade 6 0

£39 2 1
Design For Today   2   1934  Page: 182
 
 Two Hundred Pounds. An Experiment in Furnishing
Zoom:
 100% 200% Full Size
Brightness:
Contrast:
Saturation:
 
BATHROOM

The colour scheme here is green and scarlet. The tiles and sides of the bath are a pale emerald green. The floor is covered with dark green linoleum, the walls and ceiling are cream and the curtains of scarlet oil silk. I was not allowed a coloured bath and basin, or more expensive taps. The basin has straight square chromium legs which makes it easy to clean underneath, and the built-in soap and sponge rack also has a hand-rail to pull oneself out of the bath. The wall cabinet has a frameless mirror door, which opens on a swivel hinge and can be placed at any angle for shaving. I painted the frieze in scarlet and green lines because I think it takes away a little of the angular appearance a small bathroom always seems to have, and also adds a little colour. The lavatory is the same colour scheme, with a scarlet bakelite roll fitting.

Selected at Messrs. Kean & Scott Ltd.

£ s. d.

Linoleum fitted 1 10 0
Cabinet with Swivel Shaving Mirror 17 6
1 Cork-seated Soiled Linen Stool 1 1 0
1 Bath Mat 3 9
1 Hook 1 6
Curtains in Oil Silk, complete 1 6 0

Selected at Messrs. H. Ward, Bourneville.

2 Opaque Glass Fittings, at 4s. each 8 0
Selected at Messrs. Barrow's Stores.
1 Bakelite Roll Fitting 5 6

£5 13 3

KITCHEN

The colour scheme here is biscuit and scarlet—the wall tiles biscuit; the floor tiles, curtains, knobs and painted lines scarlet. There are built-in drawers and cupboards under the serving hatch, and a glass fronted cupboard over the table with a sliding door. The gas cooker is black and biscuit ; and unfortunately the Ideal boiler could only be obtained in rather an objectionable blue-grey mottle. The sink basket is a good design for small sinks because it has its own draining tin. The pantry is large, well lighted and shelved.
Selected at Messrs. Lee, Longland & Co. Ltd.

£ s. d.

Curtains in Oil Silk, pelmets fittings and making 1 1 0
Wall Cupboard, made to order, and painted 3 19 6
1 Table 1 5 0
1 Chair 11 9
1 Broom Cupboard (in Garage) .. 1 0 0

Selected at Messrs. H. Ward, Bournville

1 Light Fitting 4 0

Selected at Messrs. Barrow's Stores Ltd.

1 Enamel Bowl 1 6
6 Store Tins at 10 1/2d. each 5 3
1 Enamel Sink Basket with Patent Drainer 3 6
2 Aluminium Saucepans 10 9

£9 2 3

Selected at City oj Birmingham Gas Department

1 Kingsway New World Cooker, £18, or 31s.6d. per quarter.
Design For Today   2   1934  Page: 183
 
 Two Hundred Pounds. An Experiment in Furnishing
Zoom:
 100% 200% Full Size
Brightness:
Contrast:
Saturation:
 
NURSERY: SMALL FRONT ROOM

This is an unpleasantly proportioned L shaped room. It had a shallow built-in cupboard over the bulkhead of the stairs, the door of which when opened wasted much more space than the cupboard warranted. Weoley Hill Ltd. kindly removed the cupboard and took the side wall back to the bulkhead wall. This exposed the bulkhead which is cased in and used for a toy table. The room is cream with a stained green floor. The curtains are “ Sundour ” linings, and the bedspread a red and white hand woven material with little cross stitch patterns worked between the stripes. The cabinet is a good piece of furniture, made in solid oak, having two drawers, a locker with a strong flap which lets down and forms a table, and two bookshelves. The small table is strong, folds up and has a green American cloth top. The mirror in this room, which was specially made, has thin lines of green and red

in the wooden frame. It is both cheap and attractive. The rug is also very pleasant, woven in wool with green and white stripes.
Selected at Messrs. Barrow's Stores.

£ s. d.

1 Divan complete 2 2 0
1 Chair 11 6
1 Mirror 15 6
1 Woven Rug 1 1 0
1 Cupboard Cabinet 6 15 6
1 Bedspread 1 15 0
Curtains, complete 15 0
1 Shade 5 6
1 Wardrobe 4 19 6
1 Table 10 6

£9 11 0

The house, situated at 21 Hemycock Road, Weoley Hill, was opened on March 21st by Mrs. George Cadbury, the Lady Mayoress of Birmingham, and remained open for public inspection until April 17th. Any of our readers who are interested in obtaining further information can do so from Mr. E. 0. Ransome, 76 Corporation Street, Birmingham, the local secretary of the Design and Industries Association.