1930's inspiration
Like everyone else, I’ve fallen in love with 1930’s Dutch houses. As I walk through our neighborhood I admire each one: different, special and yet harmoniously a part of the whole. On one such walk last autumn I began playing a game of picking out my favorite stained glass. That’s when it struck me - a quilt inspired by these houses, a sort of ode to their loveliness, would be a true pleasure to sew.
What is a 1930’s Dutch house, and what makes it so special? Let’s explore that together, and then I’ll share how those characteristics influenced my quilt design!
Why the 1930’s?
I began to recognize the 1930’s houses when I was shopping for our home, totally unaware of Dutch home trends. The style spoke to me, but I was confused about the connection to the thirties, as I had always associated that decade with The Great Depression. Indeed, there was financial crisis in the thirties in The Netherlands, but there was also a housing boom.
All the circumstances were right. There had been a slow-down in building during the First World War which combined with population growth to create a huge need for houses. The government stimulated city-planning with the motto: light, air and space. New neighborhoods were planned with more green space, both private and public - like the green square opposite our home.
In step with the new motto “light, air, space”, homes were designed with larger windows and more generous proportions than the decades prior. Builders opted for high quality because the cost of raw goods was quite low and labor was also affordable.
an advertisement for investors circa 1936, source Geschiedenisvanzuidholland.nl
In addition to all these factors, investors were flocking to home building projects, preferring homes made with special details designed to attract a buyer. The result was a style of housing that was instantly popular and has remained so, some ninety years later!
a Characteristic Style
A year ago I would have found the Dutch 1930’s home style challenging to describe. After all, I’m no architect! When the idea took root to design a quilt reflective of the style, I began looking with a different eye. I noted patterns, discussed them with Dutch friends and enjoyed reading articles on the topic. Here are some of the key characteristics, in my view.
Harmonious - Viewed from a distance, these houses exude a sense of balance and harmony. This is not stark and minimal, as with slik modern architecture, but rather like a well-planned French garden. There is symmetry, especially with the popular duplex design. Each side of the duplex is a mirror image of the other, with flourishes and decorative elements in double.
Preangerstraat 24 in Enschede, source Funda.nl
Flower boxes, covered entries and balconies are often built with the same bricks as the house, so that everything flows in an integrated way.
integrated balcony, source Geschiedenisvanzuidholland.nl
Graceful - Buildings can feel almost military with straight lines and strict regularity. The 1930’s style adds curved shapes and sweeping lines to soften the edge of geometric shapes. A much sought-after example is curved entry doors.
source Watismijnhuiswaard.com
Some 1930’s homes even have rolled brickwork or tile surfaces. Sweet round or oval windows make appearances above front doors or up high in the attic. Much more common are the bay windows, which bring in extra light for nearly every 1930’s home.
source Lifs.nl
Detailed crafsmanship - When you look closer at these homes, the details begin to dazzle. Bricks might be set in unusual patterns or different colored stones used to decorate the facade. You’ll find stained glass above doors and windows, as well as inside homes.
source Glasinloodstudio.nl
Some entries have gorgeously complex tile. Geometric patterns in tile and stained glass are unique, as if the artists were given their freedom. As a result, these homes feel well-made and well-loved, and it is an honor to care for one.
To Patchwork
All of these ideas were ruminating for months when my “aha” moment finally came. I saw a poster with a rounded flower design identical to this quilt block from years past.
The shape struck me as just right for a 1930’s home, but that would be only the beginning. The shape was a seed; the rest would follow.
I began sketching a quilt with curves in the form of graceful flowers. The quilt is a medallion layout, so that it has a formal, planned structure (like a formal garden) with a larger, decorative motif at center. Just as 1930’s homes combine sweeping and curved lines with geometric patterns in tile and stained glass, my quilt combines the orchid flower with angular patchwork - triangles, stars and squares. It has symmetry and grace; details and elegance.
Once the design was drafted, the search for fabrics began. I settled on Rifle Paper Co.’s Bramble collection, a fat quarter set. I wanted something that would feel suited to the 30’s, thus not too modern or flashy.
Bramble has a beautiful array of flowers in an elegant palette. It has both light and dark value prints, which will give my quilt depth. Indeed, working with so many deep darks will be a challenge, but it has the potential to be really special.
The Bramble fabrics are timeless and oh-so-beautiful. I imagine that they can yield a quilt that could be at home in any decade, from the 1930’s to the 2020’s.
I’ve already started sewing and will be sharing more with you soon. My quilt design has evolved since the above draft, and I daresay it is even better. It’s called Nineteen Thirty.
Is your interest piqued? Nineteen Thirty will be presented as a 4-month sew-along March through June of this year. I hope you might like to join us! To stay in the know, you can subscribe for sew-along updates or simply follow my blog.
