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

HOW f1OmcS may no MaOe Attractive.
A book entitled "Hints on Household Taste
in Furniture, Upholstery and other Details, %
by @. L. Eastlake, has just been published in
London. part, OF the volume has already ap-
peared in the form Of contributions to the
Cornhill Magazine, the Queen and the London
review, but the illustrations aud great part
OF the text are new. Mr.. Eastlake gives some
useful suggestions concerning furniture and
the numerous details of housekeeping. He
says:
As a rulo, the simple patterns are the best
Tor every situation; but where the eye has to
rest upon the surface of the wall alone a great
er play Of line in the pattern may become ad-
visable. 1t is obvious that delicate tints admit
OF more linear complexity than those which
are rich or dark. Intricate forms should be
hue should be chastened by the plainest pos
slble outlines. In color, wall paper should op-
pose instead OF repeating that Of the 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
rate the art Of house fitting would be reduced
to very simple process. The rcal secret Of
success in decorative color is, however quite
as much dependent on contrast as on simi1ari-
ty OF tipt; nor can real artistic effect be expect
ed without the employment of both.
MIR. Eastlake goes on to show that modern
CRATES, tenders and fire irons are almost always
lll-deslgned, regardless Of the nature of tie
material OF which they are made. The curtain
pole OF the present day, with fachsias or con-
volvul! sprawling down at the ends, he SAYS, is
wonderful burlesque Of the simple iron rod
On On "mca curtains were formerly hung For
German stuff called Coletan is one of the most
artistic OF modern textile fabrics. The French
material called Agerisse, which was the hest
thing OF the kind that had appeared for many
years-being cheap, washable and artistic =
found few admirers, and is not now obtainable.
Cetorine is good and useful in quality, but the
designs In use for it includes every eIemen.
which sound taste would avoid. For summer
WorKed +; SWISS lace made of stout thread and
PETER than muslin on which is semi-naturaI-
1stlc foliage or nondescript labyrinth OF en-
bossment.
LIBRA Library book cases are capable Of much i'm
Pfovement, and the drawing room furniture.
sent in from fashionable upholsterer, is sure
TO furnish illustrations Of faults in taste and
construction Oil paintings should not be hung
with water-color drawings. nor these with en-
cravings and photographs It is best to keep
al paintings in room BY themselves. Draw
ings should be hung so that the centre OF the
picture is about five feet six inches from the
hoor. They should act touch each other; in a
drawing room. especially, they may be ad.
yantageously separated by sconces, mirrors or
BRACKETS, supporting some object OF art.
Never hang glazed drawings opposite win
dow, says Mr. Eastlake, and he adds:
sa1, Meyer arngo suspend framed me picture however
but. independently Of the con siderations OF
safety, the effect produced by two points Of
support is infinitely better. The triangular
space Enclosed by picture cord stretched be-
NOUS with the horizontal and vertical line of a,
room. "