Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-01-27
Drawing-Room Decoration.

From the New York Times
Nothing. or as little as possible. should be
admitted in the room that. is not itself a good
background to humanity. No chair or cabinet
of ugly color and ungainly shape, no sofa or
table-clOth that an artist would disdain to paint
ought to occupy place in the living picture
Keep chairs and cabinets that can be in any
way made to look pretty; choose Of YOU cannot
get old marquetry and carved oak simple forms
in sofas and tables that you can treat with nice
draperieS and vases OF fresh flowers OF course
the piano is always a trial. for it is never .tess
than ugly, though it is often more; but even
that can be screened off or draped SO as to be
bearable. Bookcases allow of Imaginative
treatment, with inches for pots and fancy glass;
and Oriental carpets are now so cheap that they
are within everYbOdy's reach.
All darkish walls are more becoming than pale
ones. because the light which falls on the furni-
ture and on the living folk brings out bright por-
tons and edges that lose their Importance if
seen against pallid background Light upon
light is as Ineffective as dark upon dark. and in
picture an artist makes the surroundings SUBJ
servient to whatever he means should catch the
eye first. Surely that ought to be the people,
when people are present
Gold is good background, therefore gilt
objects are always effective. but not too many
nor too bright; above all. not in vulgar masses
OF coarse moulding, like the chairs and consoles
sold to an ignorant Croesus.
The Queen Annites protested very properly
against too much Of anything, when they ia
boOed great mirrors and gilt frames; but they
went immensely too far. They are the rabid
tectotalers of art. They condemn useful ele-
ments Overmuch, demanding total abstinence
where they should have merely taught us to be
temperate, and rooms furnished on their prInc-
pies are always cold and unsympathetc; dull as
table without wine
Let US learn to make proper use of all good
things; and bit of old gliding Gold gold tones
into darker tint and loses some glOss) is q
beautiful ornament when understood and I'M
hesitatingly add, so is big mirror.
One of the little old Indian caskets and cab
inets. Of ivory or wildwood, delicately carved
In lace-ike patterns. gilt like sun-lit threads on
milk. gives cachet to any room. So does a
piece OF Moorish Renaissance work wherein
gliding forms q prominent part. One fine gilt
chair is never out of place; and well-chased and
hammered brass-wOrk Originally mere sub
stitute for the richer metaD is always useful
bit Of color
No doubt brasses-even old brasses-may be
overdone, like masses OF cheap gilt stucco.
Everything is bad when you get too much Of It,
Even gold plate, of which few Of us have an
overplus, may vulgariZe dinner table when in
too great pr0fusOn and mixed Ill with other
elements.
Never be afraid of little bit of nice gliding
In a dark corner. 1t brings light, defines dis
lance, accentuates desirable angle, Us nothing
else can.
Avoid fimsy curtains hanging over the fire.
place. They are bad in TASTE for they suggest
q confiagratiOn, even if they don't lead to it.
They are too short and tubby to add anything to
the background" But long curtains at win
dow or door. and especially when cleverly
arranged about q large mirror immensely add to
the grace and comfort of a room, and often
magnify It's size, though have known people
object to such use Of mirror on moral GROUNDS
AS they would object to padding their dresses
and replacing lost teeth and hair These people,
however, don't rule the world, and the world
has happily concluded to do without their rule.
curtain, wherever it is Is a valuable oppor-
tunity for good color and well-managed folds.
and many Of the modern copies Of old hangings
are really splendid ornament. Draperies are
not enough used.