DUAL-PURPOSE FURNITURE

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 134, 3 December 1938, Page 19

DUAL-PURPOSE FURNITURE

Serving with a double function — not too strongly ear-marked for any one room —is a very acceptable feature in furniture sold these days for small homes and apartments, says a writer in the "Christian Science Monitor." Where living-rooms are sometimes also dining-rooms, and bedrooms are converted into sittingrooms, or where it is an advantage to have furniture which is functional and interchangeable, double-duty pieces are always worthy of consideration.

In the recent wholesale furniture market in Chicago a new group of this type of furniture was displayed for the first time and received much approbation. It was designed by Edward Wormley, whose one great objective is to turn out something practical as well as beautiful.

A double function is attached to almost every piece. The china closet is also a book case; the bureau becomes an admirable buffet; the table, long and narrow and appropriate for a liv-ing-room, is also a dining-table. The entire group is made of light-col-oured mahogany, with a delightful "toast" finish, using brass disc hardware for fittings.

The book case, which may be also a china closet, has heavy glass sliding doors instead of the usual hinged ones. Three drawers below take care of silver or linen or papers, while the large door below them drops down to reveal ample space for linen—or for file cases and secretarial papers when used for a book case.

Several sections are shown as possibilities for various combinations, resulting in either' a high cabinet, or a long, low bank of drawers and shelves. These are equipped so they can be used in a living-room, a bedroom, din-ing-room, or a man's den. One unit has two large drawers; another has two doors opening to reveal three inner trays, especially fitted for a man's shirts, ties, and so on. A third unit consists of just open shelves.

When we first saw the table in a living-room set-up, it was quite inconspicuous, being long and narrow and placed against the wall, extending out only sbout eighteen inches. A lamp was placed in the centre and books and magazines on either side. The two leaves were dropped. But when guests arrive this table is quickly pulled out, the leaves fitted, making a dining table with top measuring 54 by 60 inches and capable of easily seating six people.

The large chest of drawers in this group was designed with an eye on both the dining-room and bedroom. Nicely finished on the top, it could be attractively decorated with a few choice pieces of silver, enhanced by a hanging on the wall behind. Moved into the bedroom it would serve as a bureau with mirror above.

All of the pieces are simply designed, with softly rounded contours and fitted with simple brass pulls.