Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-05-17
ARTISTIC FURNITURE.

Nowadays we are nothing II not artistic, an
artlstlc furniture is the order OF the day. High
art, Ia LOUIS NV. and Queen Anne furniture.
costly tapestry; In ebony cabinets in Turkish
rugs and Persian carpets, and in all the expen-
sive trlfles which we class together as bric-a-
holders. The Carpets are chosen to harmonic
with the furniture; the curtains aud lambre-
gums agree with both, and the successful up
Holster mas need Of taste and artistic ski:
Give MN carte blanche, and your rooms Will De
peautnul; but unless your balance at bank Is
Ieavy one, 1t viii scarcely meet bis bill. Fortu-
n na1ely however, for persons Of moderate IN,
comes the rage for bric-a-brac allows of much
nperty and variety. We may be artistic 10
modest way, without running ourselves in the
enCrt. Thus In carpets, the tapestries and
and Wiltons, OF Turkish and Persian goods,
while light cottage sets OF painted wood are In
tne same forms shown for costly woods and Or
moiu. The regulation parlor set is falling into
disfavor. Instead of it high art ordains sofa
and two easy chairs covered with raw silk IN
oriental colors, while the rest OF the seats are In
o6a pieces; an ne bro cna Wicker
cushions, a folding chair or two In heavy
damask, and fancy chairs In ebony, gilt and
light wood until the room is filled. A new style
OF seat Is formed Of cushions supported on a
frame, which they hide, and resembles the piles
of cushions long familiar In pictures of eastern
palaces. A fashion Is In vogue for dressing up
furniture, so to speak. Thus over one chair IS
thrown a Persian shawl Of the coarSer kind,
used for rugs and draper1es; on another there Is
an embroidered blanket; fur rug covers a
flung over an ottoman. For summer furniture
coverings there Is endless variety-plain linen,
striped linens and damasse linens; cretonneS,
mummy cloths, sateens; Turkish towelng and
among so many. For cutting and fitting furni-
ture Slips the prices are high-four and i've dol
lars for q sofa, ten to twelve for suit Of eight
pieces. Yet the work Is not impossible to mex
1an0S- 1ahV.
unsk1led In such matters, finding the cost Of
having furniture slips made would amount to
herself, and with the help of maid, who knew
as little about it as she did, the job was sue.
cess1uliy accomplished. The material should be
pinned on exactly as it is to set and then cut
out on the furniture. This insures perfect fit.
For straight backed chairs, the back, simple
slip Is stitched up on one side and left open on
tne opposite one, to be either buttoned or fast
ened by bows down the side. The seat cover
extends In front to the edge Of the woodwork
frame and Is completed by side pieces. In cor
reSpondence with the back one OF these may be
the s oy Of we h e
pieces Is to work q row OF eyelet holes down each
hem and lace both tightly together. Where the
very useful and pretty for the tops OF sofas and
straight backed or conversational chairs, the
latter especially. They are made as straight
are IN one long Piece tied on at the
They may be made Of anyth1ng-from plush
and satin to embroidered crash, or muslin trim
med with lace. Sometimes strips of colored
flannel are stitched In wide bands down foun-
dalton OF gray linen. Piano covers are now
made and fitted to the case, and are embroider-
ed, as Is every other cover.
HOW TO STAIN FLOORS.
All sorts Of rugs are used. We have previous
1y spoken at length Of these In the Times, and
have little more to add. Coarse gray blankets
embroidered In point Russo stitches, with sun
flowers or daisies, rushes and reeds are used
ELEGANT q 1aPo
Turkish rug in the center OF the floor with q
border OF wood carpetfng around it. Or the
whole floor may be covered with this wood car.
peting and smaller rugs be scattered over it.
Wood Competing, or parquetry, Is expensive,
costing from thirty cents TO dollar per linear
foot but since it outlasts any carpet It does not
houses the floors are now laid In Ornamental
woods and these are highly polished. In the
halls there are rugs, or narrow breadth of car
up the stairs as tread, the Sides being OF hard
wood or parquetry to match the hall. 1t is
to be supposed that the fancy for Turkish
rugs viii aoate since the British and American
consuls at Constantinople have cautioned
travellers against buying them for fear of the
plague, large numbers Of them from the infect
ed districts being known to be In the market,
This may be some consolation to people unable
to AFFORD them. When parquetry Is too OK.
peIsive, the Old floors, II wei joined and OF hard
pine, may be successfully oiled or stained at
wen secured and the cninKs 1lied in with putty
into which little burnt lumber has been
worked to color It. Then, If the floor Is to
be oiled, apply boiled linseed OIL as hot as
possible boiling hot Is best-by means of mop
or soft brush. Treat the floor, plank by plank,
and rub 1t until 1t will not sol white cloth
For painting, druggists and artists stores sup
ply various kinds OF dyes treated with OIL Our
native forests furnish many choice stains for
wood; chestnut oak bark Is among the prettiest
OF these. Make strong decoction Of the bark
set with I've or with alum and apply hot, plank
BY plank, rubbing each until entirely dry.
From three to four applications of this viii pro-
duce rich nut brown. Black walnut bark
gives q handsome cOlOnng much like the wood
Itself. Strong I've leeched from wood ashes rem
ders the floor yellow oak hue. Waxing the
floor after staining, and rubbing We'll with a
dry rubbing brush gives fine polish. We have
seen floors 80 treated In which the shadows Of
objects were plainly reflected, and which were
In appearance not inferior to the costly floors OF
walnut, oak and rosewood affected by mil.
hOnareS. But such floors require much care
and what old-fash1oned people are used to cali
elbow-greaSe.-(PhitG. Times.