Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-07-08
VEXED QUESTIONS IN FURNISHING,
What May be Done with Ugly MantelS-
A New Curtaint Material Wanted
Practical Decorative suggestions.

From the Art Amateur.
Old-fashioned mantels are often an eyesore in
country houses. Take the tall, gaunt Shelf
five feet high, in black or white paint, which
may not be marred or changed without offence
to the rigid ideas of the owner, and what is TO
be done! The methods of the best house artists
suggest some ideas which may be Of use to
people who have such fixtures to deal with.
In one instance tall white wood mantel was
allowed to keep its quaint original ornament of
ovals OF looking-glass, set in the fiat pilasters
and under the shelf aud framed in narrow gold
beading. Outside Of these the wood was covered
with maroon velveteen tackled on the sides of
the upright. with very fine 'invisble' tacks.
The space under the high shelf was hung with
band OF etchings in a long fiat gold and cherry
frame of the natural light color, which harmon
lied beautifully with the velvet and gliding
The mantel scarf was maroon velvet, just fall
ing over the edge, with lace border three inches
wide. of a brOwnisf-cream tint, which went we'll
with the deep red, yellow-white, and slight
gliding of the rest. The long ends were finished
With lace over fringe of maroon and gold-colored
silks in pale tinges which repeated the effect of
bullion. The summer drapery for this mantel
was wholly Of antique lace over amber-silk?
NO, but plain sateen, covering the whole Of the
obnoxious woodwork, and deeply draping the
sides, allowing the mirrors to be seen. The fire.
place was filled with a huge basket of growing
plants which hid the opening with luXuriant
ampeiopsis, against which were placed such
plants as were in bloom, mass of sweet alyssum,
aquiegia or gailliarda, the latter forming gOr
geous center with its brave golden stars The
materials for this design were seven yards of
veiveteen at seVenty-fve cents, three Of lace at
eighty cents, one yard of fringe at two dollars,
an etching frame at two dollars and half the
flowers and the tacks. The summer arrange
ment cost about five dollars. The ornaments
for the mantel were Benares brass fiagon and
vase, long tray of deep blue Nankin, and plain
cylinder vases OF yellow-pink modern glass,
mounted on gilt perforated holders, placed there
Tor flowers, and because they BLENDED the colors
of the mantel perfectly. The room was sum-
mer chamber with fringed mat of the new
English tapestry carpet in fade" colors and
border OF dark red and check mating, furniture
OF Wakefiefdrattan a maroonr rug for the lounge.
cushions IN maroon and amber silk and plush,
and curtains of antique lace over amber sateen,
b0rdered with broad maroon satin ribbon, and
caught back with large bow. to show the lin
ing, the lower corner of which was embroidered
in dark artemisias and yellow daisies For
winter plain curtains of Velveteen were placed
under the white ones, so as to be drawn entirely
away from the glass when wished. The wall
paper was tea-rose with pale eaf-brown pen
cillings and border of dark rose-foliage with
some large deep-red petals. q have been
drawn on to give the full description of this
room. because each feature harmonized so per-
tectly with the others that one insensibIy led to
the whOe.)
Another obnoxious mantel was improved by
an open-work screen OF light cherry, sawed out
OF haff-lnch wood. to conceal the entire front.
lifting the arched fireplace. and standing on
substantial block bases at the sides. The strong
frame was made to support irregular shelves
each side. with dwarf pailings similar screen
81 a hart of no nj frau
beyelled oblong square PANEL of prune velvet
crossed by an upright mirror panel in the mid
die. When seen with shallow glass dishes filled
with pink laurel branches under the velvet
panel, the effect was very pleasing.
third fOrlOrn, glossy Old black mantel was
straighway turned into an admirable decorative
piece by the girl artists who occupied room in
Maine farmhouse. Stalks OF golden and
brown rudbeckia, russell, thiEk-headed grasses
and wild red lilies were painted on the smooth
dark wood. and ledge fastened just under the
trieze Of the mantel to hold brushes. palettes
and artist belongings. Al nursery fireplace had
Japanese Grape pictures under the shelf alter
mating with wider panels of heavy-looking
bronze materiaI, which l grieve to say is not
fashion drapery even, but cotton flannel of the
best quality, thick, smooth. and firm as Spanish
leather, and good for all backings in such work
The pictures were carried down the sides of the
mantel and bright fan tackled in each corner
above the fireplace to fill the space. The coofs
Vi tHo Grape pictures ana IaflS were carefully
chosen to harmoniZe with the ground.
After experimenting to find the cheapest good
material for curtains, am quite persuaded that
nothing fully answering the end has yet been
made. much-used drapery of double faced
Canton flannel fades in the sun, as proved by
wear and the nap fades soon, looking unneces-
sary shabby. Jute looks well, but it trays and
cannot be renovated. Wool curtains hold the
dust. which is a permanent plague of all house
keeping with the present system of heating and
building. There are few fabrics which will take
the beating necessary to cleanse them from dust
without injury. Monte cloth, brocatelle, even
turcoman will not bear years dusting and
what woman of taste can tolerate a suspicion of
dust in her furniture or hangings, rich or poor?
Give me grass mats sooner. The old-fashioned
blue and white check bedroom curtains of home
spun linen were of material which answered
we'll the use demanded of it. The round even
thread gave fulness to the web and it's folds; it
was clean, durable and healthful. Why cannot
we have something as practical with better TASTE
and variety? My ideal hanging for common use
is firm, softly falling linen, of half bleached
hues woven with stripes of pale blue, light red
buff, deep blue, or dark red, all colors which we
know by our damasks that linen receives readily
and that never lose beauty. With broken stripes
or damaskings of these colors variety could be
gained for all purposes, decidedly better than
anything we have now. soft, thick, round
thread linen, OF silvery graysh-brOwn, with
wide uneven stripes of light blue, would be very
pretty for simple rooms. A dark unbleached
brown with red and amber stripes would be SER
viceable and pleasing in color, but the only
things approaching it are German table linen in
graceless floral patterns. | have been strongly
tempted to take the German blue and red cot
ton for table-clOths, two yards wide, sew bands
or borders of unbleached striped linen to 1t. and
hang for door curtains or archways. Only the
association with ham sandwiches and the dull
mustard-pOts of cheap lunch-tables deters one.
We want wide, heavy, unbleached and colored
linens of quality and pattern suitable for cur
tains and furniture.
Needlew0men and housekeepefs want, more
over. wide two and half yard crash of the
finest Russian quality, for embroidery and
drawn work in hangngs and bed-covers The
narrow crash is used, and the strips Joined to-
gether, but the work cannot be as satisfactory
as if on wide cloth. Neither burlaps nor canvas
nor any OF the slack-twisted race will answer
for the purposes Of house hangings and if the
manufacturers cannot or will not furnish such
goods as are needed the hand-loom must be
brought in again, and the scarce weavers will
command their own price, as they do for the
hand-woven linen sheetings sought by English
ladies of experience in the northern counties of
Britain. Our people have almost lost the knowl-
edge of what good fabrics are, save as they come
in some imperishable fragment of India calico,
or hOmespun check. A broad crash of the fine
grays of the brilliant Russian flax, which is more
silvery and lustrous than any other would be
invaluable for household purposes. What cool,