by John Griffin
he predominance of bungalows, Queen Anne cottages, and Four Squares
in Midtown Memphis sometimes leaves me speechless. There just
can’t be anything new to see. Fate, which I’m sure takes its cues
from Broadway, always manages to save the day with a role reversal
when I least expect it. That’s why they invented the standing
ovation.
I took this house for a mid-1920s Mediterranean Revival. There are diamond-paned casement windows on each side of the front door. The front porch spans the street facade, starting with a covered entry and ending with uncovered terrace. And the house does sort of run on a bit across the front in a rather ’20s Mediterranean manner.
When I stepped inside, however, I encountered a very square entry
with stairs rising sideways along the rear of the room to a landing
with tall windows. I could barely discern the kitchen behind the
stairs. The other side has the living room in front with the dining
room behind. Sound familiar? It’s a typical Four Square layout,
except (and this is a major caveat) the living room is immense
and runs way out past the dining room with windows on three sides
and French doors out to the front terrace. Very ’20s.
I inquired as to the date of construction. 1915, huh? And have there been any major changes or additions? Well, no, I’m told. Except the other half of the living room, which was added sometime in the ’20s. Ah hah! So what we have here is a typical Four Square that was ‘modernized’ in the Mediterranean style, and far the better for it.
Now, I expect all you current Four Square owners will be immediately eyeing your living room to discern if you too can achieve such a Mediterranean metamorphosis. I would. But there’s one small, but again, significant requirement: a double lot! Fortunately, this house not only has two lots but, more fortuitously, made the most of it.
The entry is nice enough. It currently holds a baby grand with room to spare. The stair balustrade is exceptionally fine. But all that pales beside the first glimpse of that 32-foot long living room with, I might add, 11-foot ceilings. You might expect views of L.A. outside the windows. There are instead big shade trees dappling the lawn like an Appaloosa.
The dining room, with windows in two directions, also enjoys views of this immense lot. The kitchen has been redone. Fine coats of paint were stripped from the original butler’s pantry, revealing old pine. New cabinets were built to match it. There are glass-fronted doors, bead-boarded backs, and bin pulls. A breakfast area, walk-in pantry, and back porch complete this area. A powder room for the first floor has been added by the back stairs.
Upstairs has four bedrooms and two baths. Four Squares typically
have only one bath upstairs. There are honeyed pine floors and
9-1/2-foot ceilings, plus an attic that could be finished. The
big addition below has a sumptuous sunroom above which is an extension
of the master bedroom. You just never find a suite of rooms like
this in your typical Four Square. Fate, one more time, suggests
“typical” often isn’t – especially when you step inside a Med-amorphosis
like this. 
1678 Autumn Ave.
Approximately 3,200 square feet
4 bedrooms, 2-1/2 baths
$235,000
Realtor: The Hobson Co., 761-1622
Agent: Charlotte Lyles, 758-9329