1963 House & Gardens - House of ideas, built in Inwood Oaks, Houston, Texas - part #7

For the youngest member of the family, an enthusiastic 12-year-old sailor, we chose sturdy oak furniture that refuses to reveal tell-tale signs of vigorous use. Lower section of bed pulls out trundle fashion, or upper section may be raised to height of an upper bunk. Walls of Clay Beige and floor covered with off-white terrazzo-patterned sheet vinyl make a practical neutral background for Green Olive upholstery fabric and the Mexican rug. The painting over the bed is "Beach Scene" by David Adickes.

Sheer wool plaid that curtains sliding doors to outdoor balcony inspired the bright color accents of this room and adjoining bathroom. A cedar chest topped by an uphol- stered cushion gives the young man a window seat as well as extra storage for his sports gear. The seats and basket-weave backs of his oak chairs are stout cowhide.

All storage is built in. In the corner opposite the door to the bathroom is a built- in chest of drawers as well as a man-sized desk, both finished in one of the multichrome schemes used elsewhere in the house. The continuous top is white plastic laminate.

For the children's bathroom we chose colors that would go equally well with either of the bedrooms that flank it. Striped towels in two different color combinations inspired the striped ceramic tiles Martha Mood designed to border lavatory. Recessed in wall at each end of the room is a lattice-door medicine chest, one for each child.

A short hall that turns the corner from the leisure room balcony leads to top of stairway. Door to long narrow storage space at left is narrower variation of doors used throughout house. Over stair well is large skylight screened with translucent acrylic.

The soft pinky tones of redwood glazed with white like that in the leisure room glow in the natural light of the stair well. Sides of stairs, too, are redwood, but treads are planks of oak. Antique carriage lamps flank "Still Life" by Francis Skinner. 

For the daughter still in her early teens we created a bed-sitting room, opposite page, in colors similar to those of her brother's room, but with a switch of emphasis. Here the deep pinks, reds and yellows of the sheer wool curtains comprise the main theme rather than the accents. And they are reflected even in the painted furniture: the Curry-finished high chest for her smaller possessions, the dark red drum table that doubles as a writing stand. To set off these gay hues, walls are Crystal Pink.

A Provincial daybed finished in white, above left, emphasizes the sitting room atmosphere and has the practical advantage of converting into two single beds when a schoolmate comes to spend the night. A covered basket lacquered to match the room's predominant colors serves as a stash-away cache and night table. Set high in the wall over the bed is a pair of stereo speakers that form one of the eleven listening stations of the housewide high fidelity music system.

Tucked in one corner of the room is the young lady's built-in dressing table, left, with a multichrome finish and a white plastic laminate top. To the right of it, around the corner from the wardrobe, a door leads into a large walk-in clothes closet generously fitted with built-in storage.

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