Book: The Ideal Home

The Ideal Home (1937) by William Feather , Summary
William Feather’s The Ideal Home presents a brisk, witty, and unfussy guide to creating a house that serves people rather than fashion. Writing from the vantage of a publisher-businessman steeped in practical habits, Feather treats the home as the workshop of daily life, where comfort, order, and prudent spending outshine showmanship. The book blends common-sense economics with an eye for craftsmanship, urging readers to plan before they purchase, to choose quality over quantity, and to build a setting that makes good habits easy and bad habits awkward.

Planning and Acquisition
Feather begins with the decision to buy, build, or rent, weighing pride of ownership against mortgages, taxes, and upkeep. Location and orientation are treated as permanent facts that outlast décor: a sound street, decent light, proximity to work and schools, and the character of neighbors matter more than ornament. He counsels readers to study construction details, foundations, drainage, insulation, heating, plumbing, because a poor plan cannot be redeemed by a fine lamp. Contracts, specifications, and timelines deserve cool attention; sentimentality, he warns, is expensive when negotiating with builders.

Rooms That Work
The “ideal” plan is small enough to maintain yet generous where people actually live. Feather favors rooms with clear purposes and easy circulation, sunlight where families gather, and quiet for sleep and study. He is skeptical of ceremonial spaces that sit unused; a living room that truly lives is preferable to a parlor defended like a museum. Kitchens earn special emphasis as the engine of the household. Counter space, sensible storage, and dependable equipment save steps and temper. Bathrooms should be well ventilated and placed for convenience; a modest second lavatory is described as a luxury that prevents quarrels. Built-ins, shelves, and closets tame clutter without demanding constant discipline.

Furnishing and Taste
Feather argues for a slow, steady furnishing process. One good chair outlasts three shaky ones; a rug that fits the room is cheaper, in the end, than a parade of compromises. He urges readers to learn the feel of solid wood, well-cut joints, and honest upholstery, and to favor pieces that stand up to daily use. Color and pattern are tools to buoy mood and unify rooms, but restraint is the greater virtue; a room should not apologize by shouting. Second-hand markets can be treasure houses if buyers bring a tape measure and patience. Lighting deserves layers: reading light where eyes labor, gentle light where people converse, and enough switches to prevent dark corners from breeding inconvenience.

Maintenance and Economy
Housekeeping, in Feather’s view, is organized foresight rather than heroic rescue. Tools should live where they are needed, minor repairs addressed before they compound, and seasonal chores placed on a simple schedule. Modern appliances promise relief, but he advises counting the hours and costs honestly; a labor-saver that sits idle is not a bargain. Paint, polish, and simple cleanliness accomplish more than elaborate ornament.

Attitude and Era
Written amid Depression-era caution, the book treats the home as a stabilizing enterprise. Feather ties domestic order to personal character: a house that fits its owners frees them to do better work in the world. Fashion will turn and prices will wobble, but proportion, light, good materials, and thoughtful use remain steady guides. The ideal home, he concludes, is not a perfect stage set; it is a straightforward place where daily life proceeds with fewer snags and more cheer.