The Washington critic. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1885-1888, 1885-05-07
COSY HOMES,
How Great Results are Achieved by
n Little Planning ana Contrfving.

How Great Results are Achieved by
eLittie Planning ana ContriviDg.
It is wonderful, says writer in the
Providence Sunday Press, what results In the
way Of cosy homes can be obtained In the
most unpromising quarters and with the
most inexpensive adiuncts whom tasteful
and skillful hand directs matters. Hosse-
keeping as well as everything else can be
simplified, refined and beautified. The dis
agreeable features of it, the fuss and furry
and chatter which were once considered
necessary part of it by many of the rush
and-hurry order of housekee pers, have been
thoroughly eliminated by the needs Of this
big city, where space is more valuable than
anything else.
have friend whose little home of three
rooms is more exquisite In its atmosphere
Of refined comfort than any elegant man
sion / ever entered. She docs her own
work." for that is one of the beauties and
pleasures Of the condensed system OF house,
keeping--no servant to bring disorder into
the little bower of home under pretense of
'doing the work. The "work" in this
case isn't difficult because, although she
and her big son, who occupy all three
rooms, have every comfort they need, her
ability to plan unerringly and execute skill
fully and speedily is SO great, and the con-
veniences for such style of living so
numerous here, that the actual labor is only
enough to interest her. Being person of
fine education, much culture and extra
ordinary taste, when riches took unto them
selves wings and flew away, she knew how
TO rob Poverty of his external hideousness.
Only an artist could SO effectively reconcile
these two mortal enemies, Beauty and
Poverty, and get good service from both.
But / must tell you how my friends
home of three rooms Is arranged. 1t is the
entire top floor of house, not fat. Tho
largest room is the sittipg-room and her
own bed. chamber, the inevitable and some-
what ornamental upright folding bed
doing heroic duty as a mediator between
comfort and "looks' sake" The floor is
carpeted with fresh and pretty colored mat
ting, with a bright rug in the middle.
There are soft, cream. colored curtains, mex
pensive but most tastefully banded and
Topped with warm-tinted satin and ribbons.
There are odd bits of furniture that fit
well in odd places, few easy chairs, and q
good broad, comfortable lounge. There is
a small Eastlake bookcase full of books !;
there are few, very few, good pictures,
and small number of ornaments. The en-
tire furnishings of the room would sell for
o song, as the saying is, but everything is
SO Immediately clean and arranged by such
def and tasteful hand, that the effect is
that If perfect harmony, sweetness and
cbeeriness. The walls are papered with
pale yellow and cream colors, which light
up day or night, and add to the summary
atmosphere which is part of that room
winter or summer.
The second large room is divided into two
compartments by means Of the useful and
picturesque portiere. One half is the sons
bedroom, which is as dainty as dolls house;
the other is converted into kitchen, which
might be mistaken for a mimic cook-rOom,
SO tidy and orderly are all its belongings.
It's mistress has an eye to ventilation as
we'll as to other things. The cooking is all
done on gas stove handsome enough to
sdorn parlor, and loud smells of fries and
broils are unknown there.
The third rOom-a narrow ballroom,
which some housekeepers would scarcely
know what to do with-is converted into
dining. room, so wonderfully attractive
that one never sits down in 1t without
marvelipg that human ingenuity could
bring such a picture of comfort and beauty
out of such meagre materials. And the
meals that are spread there, though al
ways simple, are exquisite combining the
perfection of cooking with the daintiest
serving. And it is all done without any
appearance of fuss or worry. The big son
has been taught how to help in various
ways, and this little home, kept up on q
minimum of money and maximum of
skill, is an example of the fact that a
home rests not upon solid monetary
dot inn alnna