any interior decorators, drafters, or architects here?

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I have a puzzle. There is a room in my house that I can not “name.” It is a 2 bedroom home, with 1 full bath, living room, and kitchen… then there is the room with no name.

The room in question is at the front of the house, adjacent to the living room. It has double french doors and is 10.5 feet x 11 feet square.

This room has been used in the past as a bedroom, sewing room, home theater, and currently is sort of a study.

But what on earth was the orignally designed purpose of this room? I have no clue. Was it likely intended to be an “all purpose” room, originally? If so, there still should be some type of “label” for that. The house is 70 years old, built by my grandfather, and has been in my family for 3 generations. My dad doesn’t even know what to call the room. It was his sister’s bedroom when they were children.

No original blueprints exist, to my knowledge.

2

It could be what was known as the parlour or sitting room. That’s the room that people sat in when they had company but otherwise nobody really spent any time in there. The other room - the one you call the living room now - is what the normal family used.

Or it could be a separate dining room. Or maybe it used to be the living room and what you now call the living room is a separate dining room. I’d bet on the parlour, though.

3

I’d say it was originally the parlour as well. Especially with the double French doors, and the size of the room. In some areas, they’re actually making a comeback, being put back in use again. Often they would have a piano in it, and the seating was very formal both in style of furniture and in arrangement. Richer families would also invariably have a fireplace in one corner as well. Overhead lighting was fairly rare, so if your room has an overhead light, it was most likely put in at some later date. Although, come to think about it, you said it’s only 70 yrs old, so it may have been installed in original construction.
My parents had one, at one house we lived in. They called it the ‘front room’ though, but it’s purpose was the same, to entertain guests. It was always the most spotless room in the house.

Hope this helps you, MSK.

4

***Hmm interesting… I can say for sure that it is not a dining room. The house has no dining room. The kitchen is large enough to accomdate a dining area, and is used as such.

I did a little research… here’s what I found:***

(From Merriam Webster)

den [1] (noun)

[Middle English, from Old English denn; akin to Old English denu valley, Old High German tenni threshing floor]

First appeared before 12th Century

1 : the lair of a wild usu. predatory animal

2 a (1) : a hollow or cavern used esp. as a hideout

 (2) : a center of secret activity

b : a small usu. squalid dwelling

** 3 : a comfortable usu. secluded room**

4 : a subdivision of a Cub Scout pack made up of two or more boys

[li]Nope, not a den. Comfy? yes, secluded? LOL no way.[/li]
par*lor [1] (noun)

[Middle English parlour, from Old French, from parler]

First appeared 13th Century

1 : a room used primarily for conversation or the reception of guests: as

a : a room in a private dwelling for the entertainment of guests

b : a conference chamber or private reception room

c : a room in an inn, hotel, or club for conversation or semiprivate uses

2 : any of various business places <a funeral ~> <a beauty ~>

[li]Possibly the parlor, but it’s never been used as such. It seems kind of small, but this room could easily, and comfortably accomodate two sofas, a love seat, and a coffee table therefore making it a parlor. IMO, this room has always been the coziest room in the house. Thanks for your help.[/li]
I have another question: What makes a bedroom the “master” bedroom, when all the bedrooms are the same size? The bedroom that we have always considered the master bedroom, is in the rear corner of the house, and is closest to the bathroom. IMHO, the proximity to the bath would make it the “master” bedroom, would it not?

5

My house, built in 1997, has one of these. Double french doors, and about the same size. They called it an “office” when I bought the house, and that’s what I use it as.

6

There is no hard and fast rule of thumb on what makes a master bedroom the ‘master’ one these days, given the conditions you describe. Usually it’s the largest one, or the one closest to the bathroom, or having it’s own bathroom; or a really large closet or even two closets. Also, if one bedroom is separated from the other ones, say by the bathroom or even the whole house, that’s the master bedroom.

If they’re all the same size, I’d say just pick the one you like the best. It’s your house, you get to decide. :slight_smile:

7

In these parts, a “master” bedroom is one with a private or semi-private bathroom. Private meaning the bathroom can only be entered from the bedroom and semi-private meaning that the bathroom has an entrance from a bedroom as well as another room.

However, the term is pretty loose. The last house that I shared with my parents had a true master bedroom. My parents claimed that bedroom. The previous house had no true “master”. All of the bedrooms and the only bathroom all opened into the same hallway. Yet my parents room was always the “master” bedroom.
How’s that for muddying the situation?

8

When was your house built, MSK?

9

It was built between 1929-1930

10

Looking through a 1926 Sears & Roebuck home catalog, there are two rooms that look like they fit the description- sun room or music room.

But it sounds like a parlor =)

-Jenny

11

Here in hick-ville it is called a bonus room in the papers. Yep we have a really stupid newspaper.

12

Nope, can’t be a sun room. There two large double hung windows on the north wall. The front porch is on the other side of thses windows. The porch is enclosed, and has been for many years, but originally was out in the open. If the sun comes through, it would be only in the very early morning, or dusk. Not much sun comes in these windows.

There is a small window on the western wall, but it does not open and never has. It’s only 2ft high vert. x 3ft wide horiz. This window does let lot a lot of sun in around 3pm-5pm though.

Music room? LOL I’d like to see anyone attempt to bring a piano in the house through ANY door. Unless you perhaps are referring to a record player or a hand held instrument.

13

the master bedroom is where the master\lady of the house slept. sometimes there were separate master and lady rooms refered to as the master suite. his room, a dressing room or bathroom, her room, dressing\bathroom, both bedrooms opening to a sitting room. so in connection with your home the master bedroom would be the one the home owner sleeps
in.

so it sounds like you have a parlour. get some really nifty floor palms for that room.

14

I’d say it used to be the parlor. These days, you’re likely to find that room used as an office, library, or spare bedroom. I’m not a decorator, drafter or architect, but houses and apartments are a hobby of mine. I love to draw floor plans and I go house-hunting just for the hell of it.

Your house sounds cool, MSK. As far as little houses go, those are just the kind I like. Lemme guess. The whole thing is maybe 1000 sf, with both bedrooms on one side of the house, the kitchen, living room and parlor on the other side, and the bathroom stuck between the two bedrooms right? Possibly a full basement and maybe-just-maybe a garage?

The french doors are a good feature. Many rooms like this are separated from the living room by nothing more than a really wide archway, which is wide enough that you’d think you could use the two rooms as one, but not so wide that you actually can.

15

Heres a link to a makeshift floor plan of my home.
http://hometown.aol.com/magicalsilverkey/myhomepage/photo.html

16

ChrisCTP,

If you like that kind of thing (Smaller homes with unique features), you may like the current project on HGTV ( http://www.hgtv.com ) the link to the current home is:
http://www.hgtv.com/shows/DRH.shtml

It’s an old blacksmith’s shop that this guy is renovating and restoring. The inside looks fabulouse, but I can’t imagine spending this much money on such a small place. I think he said last night that he’s put over $200K into the house just this year.

17

A slight hijack here, but it is old house related:

During college I lived in a fraternity house that had been converted from two attached row houses in neighborhood of Richmond that had been developed in the early 20th century. I had a nice size room, but one of my housemates had a room at the end of the hall that was 6 feet wide (at the most) and about 10 feet deep. It had been what was known as a “trunk room.” There was no other area for storage in the house and extra little nooks were routinely constructed to store, well, trunks. Also, no one had a closet. Houses constructed during this period never had closets as everyone had an armoire for storing clothes.

I’m looking at an American Foursquare right now with about 1900 sf, detached garage, and hardwood floors throughout built in 1935. Its in good structural shape, but central air will have to be added to survive the Richmond summers.