1963 House & Gardens - House of ideas, built in Inwood Oaks, Houston, Texas - part #5

10/01/2025 10:41:00 PM

All creative crafts projects as well as any odd job from mending to paying bills may be carried out in the studio-office. Here, too, father can concentrate on his homework from the office, and upon occasion the room can become a guest room. White walls, black-banded white linen curtains and black-and-white wallpapered ceiling make a crisp background for the riot of colors in boxes, baskets, yarns and other materials ranged around the room. Sliding doors open one wall of room to back garden; other walls are lined with a series of oiled walnut storage units arranged to leave spaces for a loom and a desk. Desk chair is an old office chair painted Mandarin Orange and upholstered in tweed. Four-drawer taboret for small tools (paints and brushes, perhaps) rolls on wheels to wherever needed.

The other side of the desk makes a stout and steady surface for a portable sewing machine. Cabinet in corner conceals fold-down guest bed, above. Antique brass trivet doubles as bedside table. Everything imaginable-yarns, fabrics, Christmas wrappings can be stored, above right, in pigeon- hole units, sliding-door cabinets, drawers, open shelves. Floor is teak-patterned vinyl with orange strips.

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A new idea in furniture arrangement adds marvelous convenience to one corner of bedroom. Two myrtle burl tables-console and coffee table-set at right angles to each other serve respectively as dressing table and bedside telephone table. Tub chair swivels easily from one to the other.

Sitting room is most secluded spot in house for reading or taking a nap. Or a sick-abed child might be cared for here rather than upstairs. Antique iron daybed, armchair and ottoman are upholstered in black-and-white checks. Sliding doors in wall opposite bed open to the enclosed sun patio.

Multipurpose cabinet of aluminum and oil-finished walnut, above right, is stocked with everything needed to make the room a self-sufficient retreat. On the counter are a hot plate for making afternoon tea or early morning coffee and a new -cubic-foot thermoelectric refrigerator for fruit or cold drinks.