Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1884-01-04
HON TOPICS.
Notes on Household Decoration


One often hears person say, eff l
were only rich, or had even little more
money at my disposal, how pretty l would
make my house look ~ Now the really
creditable thing to do is to make it look
pretty without the extra money. Most of
us have seen the houses of certain rich
people, those having more money than
taste, that were not pretty, in spite of
their costliness and, on the other hand.
we have seen the houses of persons of
moderate means that were delight, so
harmonious and well appointed we're all
the details. 1t is the knowledge, which
seems almost iutuitive with some per-
that gives the best results. 1t is no par
appointed house when there is plenty of
money to pay the bills and the profession
al decorator is given full description.
Anybody can have artistic surroundings
by paying somebody else to design and
make them, or to select them.
Remington Work.
1t is well to disabuse the mind of the
idea that true decorative art is found only
in bad "Kensington work, as the crewel
embroidery of the day is inaccurately
called. "Kcnsington work" covers a
very much wider ground it means all
art embroideries, from the simple outline
stitch to the most elaborate ecclesiastical
embroidery, and it has that general name
because it is all taught in the Royal
School of Art Needle work at South Ken
sington, the school of which her royal
highness, the Princess Louise is the chief
promoter. The stitch that we popularity
know as "Kensington" is the laid or petal
stitch. This is very effective when well
done and carefully shaded, but an excess
of it is unpleasant. | was in room not
long since, the owner of which had the
Kensington craze to fearful extent, in
deed she might be called a monomaniac
on the subject. While waiting for her to
make her appearance | took an inventory
of the articles in the room which were
adorned with very poor samples of the
petal work. There were window lambre-
quins, mantel lambrequins, table scarf,
clock scarf, large table cover, sofa pillow,
screen, and innumerable tides. The
thing was overdone it became absurd.
Now if the mistress of the house had
only known it, she might have had n
much prettier room with much less of
labor and effort, if she would have had
something else in place Of ali that "ken-
siugton" stuff.
"a Sofa Pillow.
Here, for instance, is a way of making
sofa pillow, that is easy and inexpen-
sive. You can find at almost any dry
goods store the silk handkerchiefs that
have some design printed in one corner.
Select any color you choose, taking care
al 10 q, l,o,,
colors in the room. Fold over the printed
corner so that the design shall come about
in the middle of the pillow fill the cor
ner which has been left by the folding
over of the handkerchief with velvet of a
contrasting color. If the handkerchief
be scarlet or crimson, the velvet should
be black ; if the handkerchief be dark
blue the velvet may be Of an old-gold
| shade, and vice-versa If of bright blue,
have the velvet an olive of deep garnet ;
cover one side of the pillow with this,
and the under side with cashmere the
color of the silk finish the edge with a
silk cord, and in the centre of the velvet
piece out bow of ribbon the color OF
the silk. You will have n really lovely
sofa pillow, and it will have taken but q
little time and little expense to make it,
Many housekeepers ARE compelled to
forego the desired decoration of THEN
homes for the lack Of spare time 10 give
to elaborate work, but there are very few
but can find time to make this pretty sofa
pillow.
Mantel Draperies.
| Wooden mantel pieces are not in them
selves remarkably handsome, unless they
are made from some handsome wood
beautifully carved, and those are not Otter
seen in ordinary houses. But the com
monest painted mantel shelf may b,
made to look very pretty, by covering i
and finishing the edge with n fringe. Fo
a sitting room where dust is likely to gath
err, nothing is nicer to cover the mantle
with than gray crash, as it brushes easil!
and does not show the dust Make
Irvine fringe with deep crotcheted head
ing, and through this heading run color
ed ribbons, with bows at each end and il
the centre. You've no idea what prett
ornamental mantel shelf you will have
| have seen parlor mantel shelves covere
merely with fine quality of Turkey re
and edged with red cord fringe about
7 finger deep, and the effect WAS very good
1t gave warmth and color to the room
and was very becoming ground for OF
naments. Felt is very nice for manteli
Especially in rooms that are not in COL