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Living Room, page 3 of 5
The Furniture
Although out of necessity the family brought some furniture from their previous residences, Purcell wanted specific pieces in his new house to reflect the philosophy of unified design. The built-in window seat, writing-nook desk, and bookcases are examples of these. In addition, Elmslie designed several items of loose furniture for the house, now represented by reproductions. These include the two delicate triangular-backed chairs (described by Purcell as "perhaps not 'exclamation points,' but 'surprise points' in the room"), box-shaped armchairs for the fireplace, a standing lamp, a fern stand; and a dictionary stand. All display the angular qualities of the house, and have been reproduced from the originals or from documentary evidence. Elmslie also designed stencils for semitransparent curtains of "a mouse colored French cheviot, very fine weave, almost like silk," which Edna then embroidered. next page >
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