Parlor - House of the Future
In addition to art, the Parlor also contains interesting modern concepts.
For example, the massive, single pane, double hung windows, which are a hallmark of Queen Anne Style architecture, could not have been created and installed if not for the industrialization and transportation advances that the 1880s brought.
Further, the windows are “pocket” windows. This means that both sashes can be raised up into the wall above the window to create a doorway. This permitted guests to effortlessly walk from the parlor to the veranda and back again, creating additional usable space that was particulary useful when entertaining.
The wall paint in this room is also a very modern approach and looks rather normal to our eyes. However, it was anything but normal for the time, as it was an utterly new way to decorate.
Prior to this, Victorian homes were decorated almost exclusively with wallpaper. However, in 1882, a gentleman named Sherwin got together with a gentleman named Williams and they invented a brand new paint technology for keeping pigment in solution. This made possible the manufacture of paint on an industrial scale in Philadelphia that could be shipped all across country on railroads.
For the first time, customers were assured of getting paint that matched the sample at the store and was consistent from gallon to gallon. This made possible the broad use of paint, replacing wallpaper and becoming another example of the “Aesthetic Style.” This room, like all in Hearthstone, has been restored to its original paint color - still using Sherwin-Williams paint.