IT IS difficult to have a reception hall, living room, library, and sun room in the smaller type of home without making each room very small. The smallness of the reception hall, library and sun room is not objectionable if a living room of comfortable size is provided, but it is always difficult to get enough windows in every room to make it light and well ventilated, without making the outer wall of the house of glass.
One solution, and a pleasing one, has been found in the Dutch Colonial home of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth R. Tefft, 9751 S. Robey Street, in which the functions of four rooms are well supplied by one large living room. The entrance door opens into an extension of the living room which would be walled off as a reception hall in most houses, but in this plan is left open to increase the size of the living room. Similarly a sun room on the opposite side of the living room is left open. Another extension, toward the rear of the house, contains the fireplace, with windows on either side, and bookcases along the walls.
By this method the living room is 25×26 feet in dimensions, and contains thirteen windows without sacrificing a large proportion of the wall space. It is very light and thoroughly comfortable. The woodwork is walnut finish and the floor of oak. Wall fixtures and floor lamps are used for artificial illumination.
Opposite the entrance door is a coat closet and the stair leading to the second floor, in which the risers are walnut finish and the treads of oak. On the left of the entrance door are French doors leading into the dining room. The woodwork here is oak and silver lighting fixtures are used. The walls are panelled and papered.
A door from the dining room leads into the kitchen, which is finished in white enamel. A row of cupboards along the inner wall supplies the place of a pantry. The icebox is set flush with the outside wall, and is filled from outside the house. A door leads out on a small screened back porch.
An extension of one end of the kitchen provides space for a cosy breakfast nook. The door to the basement stair is also in this extension.
The stair to the second floor leads to the upper hall, off of which are two bedrooms, nursery, linen closet and bath. The owner’s bedroom, is of exceptional size, occupying the whole front of the house. Both bedrooms are connected to a sleeping porch, which corresponds to the sun room on the first floor.
The house is of the Dutch Colonial type, built of yellow brick with green tile roof.
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