Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1888-05-28
gaaies' Column.
Beautifying The Home.

Beautifying The Home,
There are many ways in which the
home may be beautified at a trltllng
outlay of either time of money. One
of these is the conversion of an old
fashioned chest of drawers into
modern chiffoniere. These old-tlme
tall bureaus may be picked up for
song at a second hand dealers shop
or in out-of-the-way country places.
They are generally of hard wood,
and are we'll made, although, as far
as external appearances go, they
have not much to boast of. Sand
paper the entire surface and finish
with mahogany stain, after which
sand-paper again and then varnish.
OF course finer finish may be pro-
duced by rubbing the first coat OF
varnish down and applying second
coat. If the bureau be of fine-grain-
ed hard wood it would be far better
to not put any stain upon it, but
finish with repeated coats of varnlsh
well. rubbed down. These articles
are generally quite plain, but they
may be embellished to ones hearts
content by ornaments and mould
inos of Lincrusta- w alton stained the
same shade as the wood. Put brass
handles on the drawers, and get
mirror long enough to extend across
the top; frame it in Lincrusta- Wal
ton, stained, fasten it the bureau
with braces at the sides, and not only
a useful, but a very tasteful, chiff-
oniere will be held.
A wide, low couch of wicker work,
or with woven wire seat, may be
a thing of beauty by laying upon 1t
a rather thick mattress, over which
is thrown a Turkish covering, with
rich, dark colorings, which falls to
the floor. Then get three square
pillows, of such a size that when
placed side by side they will extend
the entire length of the couch, and
cover them with tapestry of harmon
ious colors. Lean these up against
the wall. and behind them nail
wall drapery of woven flax, with
cross stripes Of ecru and brown.
Across the top, where the drapery IS
affixed to the wall arrange at equal
distances five small, round, lacquered
plaques. If some short Japanese
daggers or swords can be secured,
one may be placed on each side OF
the centre plaque with good effect,
but even without them the tout en-
| senbIe will be artistic in the extreme.
A simple and Inexpensive side
board, which does good duty and is
very appropriate in the modestly
furnished house, is made Of plain
deal table about two-thlrds the width
of the ordinary kitchen table, with
a shelf fitted below. Stain this to
initiate old oak with a mixture OF
raw Sienna, burnt Sienna and Van
dyke brown thinned to the proper
consistency with sizing. Hang some
plain shelves above, either stained
or covered with felt cloth, to hold
ornamental pieces of china and glass
Lay upon the top of the table a scarf
of butchers linen, with knotteo
fringe, and further ornamented will
drawn work or outline designs IL
washable silks, and then there will
be had a sideboard of which no on'
need be ashamed.
Corners are sometimes eyesore'
from their very barrenness. One o
these may be managed by a yer,
simple arrangement of three cor
nered shelves covered with felt o
plush, the fronts being finished wit
a six-inch fringe, or with strips o
! Lincrusta-Wa alton. These shelve
should be at least twelve inches apa1
and there may be two, three Q
more of them, as desired. An 1ndl
silk curtain suspended from slende
' brass rod from the lower one is
n pretty addition. Another corne
e may have a single shelf upon whic
t is a bust or a handsome vase. Tax
+ sufficient length of soft silk {
. other drapery, draw it through
brass ring, which affix to the pictul
rail, letting the ends fall in careles
I folds behind the bust or other orn;
ments, covering the shelf and hang
inc some distance below it. A pei
- estal, tall lamp or. some other
Of rangement would fill up the low