A cosy 1956 split-level house with a gorgeous celeste-blue fireplace
This is a model house built to showcase a prefab series of suburban split-homes. The living room decorated with a gorgeous celeste-blue fireplace has a wing of its own. The recreation room is in the partial basement, under the bedroom wing, while the family room is at the core of the house and as an expansion of the kitchen can be used as a forma dining area.
Architect: Ralph A. Fournier, Kirkwood, Missouri
Decorator: Key Russell, Better Homes and Gardens
Furnishings: Stix, Baer & Fuller, St. Louis
Builder: Charles Anderson, Pennant Construction Company, St. Louis
Photographs: Bill Hedrich, Hedrich-Blessing
This view from the back lawn shows the continuous relationship of that area with screened porch, carport just beyond and the family room (windows next to screened porch). Doorway at right serves both basement recreation room-workshop and main floor, opening on a landing that's halfway between.
Lot drops enough to allow strip windows along foundation to brighten basement recreation room. (Slight excavation on level lot would achieve same thing). To right is living room's fenced-in terrace with door leading inside. Roof of light-green shingles plays nicely against outside color scheme.
1. Private family terrace just outside the living room gives parents outdoor niche of their own. Screened by plywood-panel fence and low hedge, this grass plot is fine for family gathering or it can work with living room in warm weather entertaining. Three-tiered window and glass foor admit morning sun to living room, throw light pattern on blue carpet.
2. Dramatically different version of open ceiling sets style of living room, spacious and individual. Beams at conventional ceiling height are plainly left to show. Prefab fireplace is first point of itnerest as you enter from hall. Door is to room's own terrace. Wll-lighted corner table is for serving light meals. Carpet and fireplace carry exterior blue of gables and trim inside.
3. Living room is a wing by itself, is its own best separation from family room (background) and other areas of the house. At same time, room's boundaries stop with carpet where vinyl flooring handles heavy traffic of entrance hall. Dropped ceiling points the way from front door to fmaily room, sleeping wing. Variable light control dials cover lights to any degree of illumination.
4. Bay becomes light, decorative seating area with low benches. Accessories are placed low to be noticed, like the Oriental scroll just off floor. Prefabricated fireplace, an economy feature that loses nothing in beauty and efficiency, comes in a package ready to install. Unit has prefab chimney, requires no reinforcing or foundation.
5. Large window in family room frames back-lawn terrace for diners, brightens daytime tasks. Louvered doors conceal washer-dryer, other cleaning, equipment.
6. Family-room ceiling, floor carry into kitchen. Rooms work together unless separated by sliding drapery. Food preparation is concealed from living room, entry - but you're near for serving, door answering. Sheet vinyl plastic floor has rich terrazzo look. The work area is accented by bright ceiling drapery.
7. Screened proch gives indoor comfort to outdoor relaxation. This old favorite brought smartly up to date ties with family room, kitchen, carport for complete entertainment unit. Tough fibre carpet is attractive wall-to-wall covering. Wicker and canvas furnishings are comfortable, durable.
8. Other side of efficient U-shaped kitchen shows neat, built-in conveniences, handy planning desk. The small table serves as work surface or can double as eating space for child snack. Living room and entry hall are just around wall.
9. Just outside porch and kitchen, carport plays interesting dual role. Beside car, it accommodates family functions like outdoor cookery, children's play. Plastic skylight brightens kitchen window and planter.
10. Color and furnishings suit taste, size and habits of growing boy in this smalles bedroom - though not to small to include boy's own game or study table. Furniutre is child-high, fabrics and finishes are sturdy.
11. Unusual color treatment reverses brilliant blue and green in twin spaces of compartmented bathroom. Shower of light illuminates bath through corrugated plastic ceiling panels. The floor is of sheet vinyl plastic.
12. Two beds across one wall open space for furniture, storage, hobbies in teen girl's room. Moroccan rug sets color scheme of orange and olive for fabrics, furniture, walls. Valance light hits both study spots.
13. Parents' room, between childrens' rooms and bath, has to wardrobes like one pictured. TV is off the floor on closet shelf.
14. Lower level has little in common with space we usually call a basement. Light-diffusinf matchstick blinds reflect play of sunny colors from outdoors and paneled walls. Hopscotch court is built into resilient tiles. Room's furnishings get around: snack table, TV, record-player.
15. Retaining wall gives sense of enclosure to terrace and softens this more severe, steep side of house.
16. There's division of activities even within recreation room. Remove bolsters from sofas and you have two beds. Play and living separate by contrasting tiles, too. Perforated hardboard wall displays fmaily hobbies.
17. Give plenty of study to the workshop layout. It packs a lot of activities into the space. Standard base and wall cabinets offer hundreds of feet of storage and counter. Big tool board rolls right to job at hand.
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