Elementary Design

My friend Dean Farris, a designer and blogger who now resides in Naples, FL, recently sent me a few House Beautifuls from the early 1930s. Yes, manna from heaven. Surprisingly, I was intrigued by an article about a very well-appointed nursery in a New York apartment. I usually don't feature nurseries on my blog because quite frankly, I just don't think about them. Alfie didn't require one when I adopted him. Still, the one I'm showing here really caught my attention. First, it was decorated by Pierre Dutel, a noted designer of the era whose work I have always admired. And secondly, look at how elaborate this nursery was, especially considering that this article was written in 1935. There was the kindergarten/ dining room, a night nursery, and a day nursery. A set up like this obviously took up a fair amount of room. It makes me wonder what the rest of the home, owned by a Mr. and Mrs. Wallace T. Orr, looked like. It also makes me wonder what became of the children who were lucky enough to call this their nursery.




This was the kindergarten cum dining room. The mural of blocks, some which feature French phrases, was really quite charming. The star ceiling fixture looks very similar to one that is currently sold through Circa Lighting.

The night nursery was really quite sophisticated stuff for the time. What I'm especially taken with is that bed. I like that the bedspread matches the upholstered headboard and footboard, both of which are finished in a nail head trim. A bed like this would work equally as well in an adult's bedroom, as would the blue and white toile wallpaper.





The day nursery was decorated with Mother Goose nursery rhyme murals. I spy Jack and the Beanstalk and the Cow Who Jumped Over the Moon. And check out the painted floor. Murals like these would be perfect in a child's nursery in 2011.

All images from House Beautiful, July 1935.