Built-Ins and Other Details

Gordon Marvel, the architect of the house, designed many built-ins for the rooms. They give the house character and are always noticed by visitors. Fortunately, they were not altered over the years and I will likewise preserve them.

Telephone Niche – Leading from the entry hall into the living room is a small hallway (not even 3 feet long). This features a telephone niche. The phone niche was designed for the telephone mechanism to be installed under the shelf and the phone apparatus to rest on the shelf. The original bell and other telephone components are still behind the metal grill. There is another niche in the upstairs hallway, but the bell was only on the main floor – it was a true extension telephone.

A friend found this antique candlestick phone and gave it to me. Note the separate shelf for the telephone directory.

Bookcases – In the living room are built in bookcases on both sides of the bay window.

Practical as well as attractive.

Corner Cupboards – The dining room has matching corner cupboards for storing china.

The one on the right is unique in that it is less than an inch deep. The chimney for the heating system is behind it. It is only deep enough to display a plate on the built-in shelves.

Master Bedroom – The master bedroom has a lot of built-ins.

A bookcase.
Gentleman’s closet.
Vanity in the ladies dressing room.
Ironing board in the ladies dressing room. Behind the ironing board is another closet of shelves.
Closet in the ladies dressing room.
Closet in the ladies dressing room. The hanging space here is long. The original pull out hanger racks are intact. I am told this closet and it’s unique pull out racks were to accommodate ball gowns.

Linen Closet – A large linen closet is at the top of the stairs.

Note the pull out shelves.

Knee Wall Drawers – Two of the bedrooms have drawers built into the knee walls. Every possible space that could be used was designed in this house – the touch of a true architect who thought of everything.

Knee wall drawers.
Note the window trim detail in the same bedroom. It is unusual and decorative.

I appreciate all these details in the house. The thought and care in both design and execution show this was meant to be a well loved home.

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