The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-04-17
ARTISTIC HOUSES.
How Homes may be Made Attractive.

A book entitled "Hnts on Household Taste
in Furniture, Upholstery and other Details,
by C. L. Eastlake, has just been published in
London. part of the volume has already up
peared in the form of contributions to the
Cornhi Magazine, the Queen and the London
Review, but the illustrations and great part
of the text are new. Mr.. Eastlake gives some
useful suggestions concerning furniture and
the numerous details of housekeeping. He
says:
Asa rulo, the simple patterns are the best
for every situation; but where the eye has to
rest upon the surface OF the wall alone, q great
er play of line in the pattern may become adj
yisable. 1t ls obvious that delicate Lints admit
of more linear complexity than those which
are rich or dark. Intricate forms should be
accompanied by quiet coors, and variety OF
hue should bo chastened by the plainest pos
siblo outlines. In color, wall paper should op-
pose pose instead of repeating that of tho furniture
and hangings by which they are surrounded.
Some people conceive that the most important
condition of good taste has been fulfilled If
every bit OF damask in one room is cut from
one piece, and every article Of furniture is
made from the same piece of wood. AT this
to very simple process. The real secret of
success in decorative color is, however, quite
as much dependent on contrast as on similari-
ty of tint; nor can real artistic effect be expect
ed without the employment Of both.
Mr.. Eastake goes on to show that modern
CRATES, tenders and fire irons are almost always
ill-designed, regardless OF the nature OF the
material of which they are made. The curtain
pole of the present day, with fachsias or con-
vovuli sprawling down at the ends, he says, is
O wonderful burlesque OF the simple iron rod
on which curtains wero formerly hung. For
the curtains, besides silk, rep and damask, the
German stuff called Coetan is one of the most
artstic of modern textile fabrics. The French
material called Algcrissc, which was the best
thing of the kind that had appeared for many
years-bcng cheap, washable aud artistic
found few admirers, and is not now obtainable.
Cletorine Is good aud useful in quality, but the
designs in use for il includes evory elemen:
which sound taste would avoid. For summer
curt tIins, Swiss lace, made of stout thread, and
worked in small, we'll defined patterns, is much
better than muslin on which is semi natural
istic foliage or nondescr.,t labyrinth OF en-
bo5sment.
Library book cases are capable OF much I'M
provcment, and tho drawing room furniture,
sent in from fashionable npholslerer, is sure
to fulnish illustrations Of faults in taste and
construction. Oil paintings should not be hung
with watcr-color drawings, nor these with en-
cravings and photographs. 1t is best to keep
all paintings in room by themselves. Draw
ings should be hung SO that the centre OF tho
picture is about five feet six inches from the
loor. They should not touch each other; in
drawing room, especially, they may be ad-
vantageously separated by sconces, mirrors or
brackets, supporting some object OF AIT.
Never hang glazed drawings opposite win
dow, says MIR. Eastake, and he adds:
Never suspend framed picture, however
small, from one nail. This may seem trlt1e !;
but, independently Of the considerations of
safety, the effect produced by two points Of
support is infinitely better. The triangular
space inclosed by picture cord stretched be-
tween thre, points must always be inharmo.
NOUS with the horizontal and vertical line OF
room.