Colophon

The following sources influenced the 2010 redesign of Antique Home Style.

House Beautiful

Our banner was scanned from an August 1914 issue of House Beautiful magazine (shown below). Then, as now, HB catered primarily to the upper-middle class with higher than average cost lifestyles, homes, and products. That said, many goods were solidly middle-class and included some name brands that are familiar today such as National Biscuit Company (Nabisco), Standard Sanitary Mfg. Company (now American Standard), and Cabot Stains.

We liked the artwork and even the homey little snippet of verse, "East, West, Hame's Best," which is so old it's difficult to prove its original provenance ... Scottish, Belgian, German? It was popular on mastheads and fireplace mantels of the period.

Typography

The banner text (below) came from MyFonts.com and is P22's PanAm typeface, which was created from early 20th century sources to celebrate the centennial of the 1901 Pan American Exposition in Buffalo, New York.

Alabastine Stencils

Alabastine was a colored calcined gypsum powder that, when mixed with water, was used as a "sanitary" wall finish from the late 19th century to about 1930 or so.

To promote the use of its product, the Alabastine company advertised widely in popular magazines like Ladies Home Journal and House Beautiful and offered small stencil pattern books to painters as well as the home owners.

Stenciling was a hugely popular craft activity from 1900 to after 1920 and evidence can be found on walls, furniture, and textiles.

We liked pattern No. 607 for its simplicity so have incorporated it as our background.

To find out more about Alabastine, read our article.