Redecorating Of U-M President's Home Blends Modern And Traditional Styles

Redecorating Of U-M President’s Home Blends Modern And Traditional Styles

Hatchers To Open Campus Residence To Public Tomorrow

The Harlan H. Hatchers are finally beginning to feel "at home" on the University campus.

For many weeks early this fall, the University's president and his family lived at the Michigan Union, later "camping out" in the confusion of painting, furniture moving, and similar activity as the work of readying the president's house on S. University Ave. for their use progressed.

With the final touches put on the "settled" look of their Ann Arbor residence, the Hatchers have set "open house" hours for tomorrow from 3 to 6 p.m. and from 8 to 10 p.m.

Done under the supervision of Helen Stafford, interior decorator from Detroit, the redecorating and refurnishing of the house have made interesting use of the traditional and modern.

Modern Harmonizes

Restrained modern furniture of lasting line and design has been included in complete harmony with the Georgian background of the house. Throughout, genuine antique pieces from Mrs. Hatcher's family have been placed in strategic positions.

Carefully restored, these pieces included a crotched mahogany Victorian sofa, a love seat also of the Victorian era and a fine secretary, all in the drawing room, and a mahogany chest in the dinning room.

The dining room ahs been kept in the Georgian period with interest added through paneling of Chinoise wallpaper and draperies with a Chinese motif.

Blue greens, golds, coppers, and touches of chartreuse and American Beauty have been used as the decorative scheme throughout the house. All woodwork has been painted a chalk white and the wall colors give a feeling of light and brilliance.

Walnut Paneling Refinished

The walnut paneling in the library has been restored to a natural color. The president's study has been left with the original pine paneling and a fine old bookpaper has been installed on the ceiling.

The meeting of the modern and traditional is typified in the library where cornice lighting over the bookshelves and the drapery cornice has been installed. All of the lighting in the house has been modernized except for the crystal chandelier in the dining room.

The president's house is the oldest building on the campus. The original section was build in 1841, probably a few months before Mason Hall. It has been remodeled many times to meet the changing needs of the period and of the families occupying the house.

Back in 1869 James B. Angell insisted on the installation of a bathroom and a furnace before he would accept appointment and the Board of Regents finally agreed, after first balking at the terms.

When Alexander G. Ruthven became president in 1929, the house was completely redecorated and the study and plant room were added to the east side of the house.

"Open house" visitors to the home (top) of President and Mrs. Harlan H. Hatcher will find the campus structure redecorated inside and out. The interior views show (center) the dining room and library and (bottom) the drawing room and sun room, as seen from the vestibule.