A FENDALTON DWELLING

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21416, 7 March 1935, Page 5

A FENDALTON DWELLING

STRIKING DOMESTIC architecture HOME OF MR S. MOORE TRIBUTE TO NEW ZEALAND WORKMANSHIP One of the most striking of the recent acquisitions to the domestic architecture of Chnstchurch is the home of Mr Samuel Moore, of 14 Waiwetu street, Fendalton. Constructed of brick with a plaster facing, it is an outstanding example of the art of the builder, the architect, and the interior decorator. One of the most encouraging features of the work is the part that has been taken by New Zealand industries, for many of the charming aspects of the construction and decoration are the result of local enterprise.

The trend towards the functional—to make everything useful rather than purely decorative— has been a distinct phase of architecture in recent years, and its growth in New Zealand has become more noticeable with the stimulus to the building trade. That trend is most marked in Mr Moore's home: but while to some people functionalism may bo synonymous with coldness and severity—influenced perhaps by impressions of the starkness of tubular steel furniture and sharpangled designs—the home dealt with in this article is as charming as one could wish, and the foremost consideration in any home—the need for comfort—has steadily been kept in mind.

The home is a pleasant mixture of period and modern fashions, furnished with delightful taste and balanced judgment, without ostentation or undue luxury. In it is noticeable the effect of "the growing interest that women are taking in domestic architecture. With wider scope for their activities, women to-day are unable and, reasonably. unwilling to give most of their day to constant work in keeping a house in order. They are asking for less work, but most do not wish the beauty of a home to be lessened in achieving their desire. Their influence has shown itself in the disappearance of dust-catching ledges, for example, and the coming of simpler design in building and furnishing—a change which, in modera-

tjon, is considered by many people to be thoroughly desirable. The exterior of the house, with its clean, straight lines, is the result of the English influence in architecture, but the windows are suggestive of modern tendencies. A view from the outside causes one to think that there is an absence of window space, but such is not so, for when one is inside it is realised that there is ample light. The Sitting-Koom On the right, as one enters the hall, double glass doors lead into the sitting-room, where the colour-scheme is in green and gold, on a base provided by the walls of deep cream plaster verging into primrose. An unusual feature of this room is the lighting, all of which is concealed. A delightful effect is given by the provision of a two-toned light system. Tf the occupants wish to read they may use a white light to get the best results, but the beauty of the room may be enhanced by the use of a soft restful orange. The main light comes from the ceiling, from the centre of which is suspended by short chromium steel standards a sheet of etched and embossed opaque glass. On each side of the fireplace is a tubular concealed light set in chromium steel fittings.

The eve is quickly taken low fireplace of glazed tiles in mo green on the opposite side ■ room to the doors. The st the base and yi the sku Im* ( [ unusual and striking. The & - ; chromium steel and the tend : edged with the same metal, r - of keeping the grate, clean is simplified, for a rub over with a datm cloth restores its brightness. A ern touch is given by the low . ■ • ing round the room to a heig ■ _ three inches, and the absence of any picture rails. . In the daytime plenty of light, is given by the shallow bay window which looks out over the garden towards the street, and the three smaller windows, one of which is shown in the illustration. All the windows in this room and in several of the are so made with a wedge effect that all draughts are shut out. The curtains throughout the house are of peacn marquisette muslin.

The furnishings are a happy mixture of modern and period styles. The big comfortable arm-chairs, for example, in cottage weave of gieen, with a touch of gold, and cyclamen, are of modern design, as is also the china cabinet to the left of the illustration, while the maple table in the window recess and the pedestal stool and chairs arc period reproductions with the graceful Queen Anne leg:'. A striking piece of furniture is the walnut china cabinet, a mixture of old and new styles in which the straight lines of the new set off the curves of the old to full advantage. The floor is covered entirely by a "foxglove" carpet which allows the use of practically any colour scheme in the rest of the room. This carpet is fitted in the hall and on the stairs. A Modern Hall The hall is typically modern in design. The front door, of etched and embossed opaque glass in a polished walnut frame, adds a distinct futuristic touch. The doors in the hall are of hand-polished walnut set flush in

frames of red pine. To the side of the front door is a modern interpretation of a hall table built to the wall, with chromium steel supports.

The stairs begin at the end of the hall. At the first landing, facing the hall, is a full-length mirror with incised bevelling set in a glass-flanked recess. From the base of the recess a concealed light illuminates the mirror and reflects enough light; for the staircase. The staircase has been designed so that it is really a fine furnishing feature. There are no banister rails such as are seen, in the usual staircase; they are replaced by polished walnut to a depth of about three feet, the impression of solidity and modernity being increased by the continuation of the wood to the floor at the foot of the stairs. The banister rail is set on short chromium steel standards. As pleasant a room as any is the main bedroom at the head of the stairs. The colour scheme is buff for the walls and green and rose pink for the furnishings. Opposite the door is a most unusual dressing table, distinctly modern and serviceable, and a remarkable example of the cabinet-makers' art. On short curved legs it rises only about two feet from the floor. Above it, set flush on the wall, is an unframed full-length mirror. In front is a tap-

estry-covered stool of walnut, with solid curved ends instead of legs. From Ihe wall to the side of the dressingtable a lamp hangs in a graceful fitting.

There are built-in cupboards on each side of the head of the bed, and another built-in cupboard gives plenty of space for shoes and any oddments. Folding windows give the maximum of light and air. The bed is of modern design, with solid ends running to the floor. On each side of the head of the bed is a modern bedside table. A green ottoman along one wall completes the furnishing of the room. A Delightful Bathroom For beauty of colouring it would be difficult to find a more delightful room the bathroom, which is within a few yards of the bedrooms. A soft green has been chosen for the walls, the main contrast being given by the fittings, which are primrose in colour, while the third colour, sparingly used, is wine. Facing east, the bathroom is improved even more by the morning sun. The bath is built into a recess of green. Primrose in colour, it is of the modern type in which solidity is the chief feature, the side to the open room running to the floor. Recesses in the wall provide space for soap and sponges. Of the same colour as the bath is the pedestal wash-basin. All the taps are of chromium steel.

In one corner is an enclosed shower, the door of the cabinet being of opaque glass and the interior walls of the same material. The effect over the green of the wall is cool and refreshing. A

built-in medicine chest with numerous drawers, a shaving cabinet, chromium steel towel rails, and two unframed mirrors set flush on the walls provide the bathroom with every convenience. Coming downstairs again one goes to the dining-room, where the predominating colours are brown and blue against buff walls. Simple furnishing sets off its charm. In a recess made by '.he bay window is placed a solidly-built oak dining-table, while in the rest of the room are big, deep armchairs and a chesterfield. Against one wall is a carved buffet sideboard.

manner as that at the sitting-room, with a noticeable absence of the customary mantelpiece. Under a lamp in the corner near the lireplace is a walnut secretaire. Diagonally across the corner to the right of the door is the servery in walnut, designed and disguised so well that it addr, to the beauty of the room.

Off the dining-room is a small but roomy sun porch, with folding windows looking out to the garden through which runs a creek. In this

porch the curtains are of a green Indian cotton striped material. In the Kitchen The kitchen is colourful and so workmanlike that it would delight any woman. Under the window, above which is a supplementary light, there is a washing-up bench lined with stainless steel, while spacious cupboards for cooking utensils are underneath. There is ample cupboard room in the kitchen, for there are at least 24 cupboards and drawers. Light and airy, it is brightened even more by the attractive colour scheme. Light blue is the basic colour, with the handles on the cupboards and drawers a dark blue, and the frames in orange. An electric stove stands in one corner, and instead of an incinerator—often an unsightly feature in kitchens—a tiled fireplace in warm colours has been built, thus giving the kitchen a distinctive feature which is little inferior to an incinerator in efficiency and certainly much superior from a decorative point of view. Another sun-room, or child's playroom, adjoins the kitchen, while within a few steps are the washhouse, coalsheds, and storage cupboard, all under cover. The other rooms of the house are decorated in styles which are as attractive as those of the rooms that have been described. The architect was Mr W. H. Trengrove.