Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-09-14
Written for TIE EVENING STAR
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.
A New Use for Denim, Generally Called
Blue Jeans.


Blue Jeans.
A BED ROOM EFFECTIVELY ruRyrsHIp WITH DE-
NM-THH WOODWORK AND FURNITuRK-A
SMALL OUTLAY, But sATIsFAcroRY REsuLrs--
ARTISTIC DISQUALIFICATION, ETC.
1t has long been . cherished scheme with
me to furnish . room, using blue denmi where
ever it could be made effective. Now that
have carried this out an account of the result
may be Of interest to some home workers.
The room chosen to be beautifed by this hum
BILE material is a rather small guest chamber.
1t was handed over to me entirely free from
membranes Of any kind. Even the wood
work was in the natural state, with no finish
whatever. Here was surely scope for ones
taste and fancy to display themselves, but a
rather moderate sum to be expended for the
furnishing kept them from running riot in de-
lightful extravagances. Not little thought was
required. for, besides the outlay of money be-
ing limited, the room itself was small enough
to make care necessary in furnishing. 1t was
easier indeed to tell what could not go in than
VIVA what could in the way OF furniture. In the
hrst place the wood work Was to be considered.
and decided to have it painted in two shades
OF blue, much lighter than the color of the
denim but of the dull grayish blue tones, to
harmonize with 1t. 1t il possible that denim,
SO lauded by art societies and workers in tle
past few years, may be unknown to some Of
HE STAR readers.
PLAIN BLUE JEANS.
We therefore at once proclaim it to be ''blue
jeans" used commonly for the overalls OF
workmen, but which from its durability and
other virtues has been dignified into an ''art
fabric" Another preliminary is that where it
Is to be used for embroidery or hangings it is
softened by being boiled in water before using
and the little fading of the color is considered
to be an advantage. To go on, then, with the
wood work. After painting it was given that
soft finish Of enameled white furniture by rub
bling with powdered pumice stone. The floor
was oiled, with little burnt lumber in the oil.
given coat of shellac. the walls were the
next point OF attack. A ceiling paper of
cream color was selected with a small
snow crystal design. For the side
walls the paper chosen was of two tones of
grayish blue-a pale ground with an arabesque
pattern several shades deeper. The frieze was
made Of the denim, sixteen inches deep, with
wooden rod at top and bottom, painted like
the lightest shade of the wood work, the lower
one to be used for the picture rod. The furni-
ture chose in odd pieces, according to my
own ideas. The bed is brass, with a half cam
opy over the head. This has a plating of
denim all around, edged with heavy cream
tinted lace.
THE CANOPY.
single width of the goods edged with the
lace hangs from the canopy on each side and is
looped back with cords and tassels. The bed
spread is of the denim, embroidered in heavy
cream-colored linen floss in q pattern which
nearly covers it. Very large flowers are
powdered over the center and lines inclose O
border in which is a band Of the same flowers
with the lines cutting some Of them in half
The centers of the flowers are filled in with
lace stitches in pale blue silk, while an outline
OF the pale blue defines the flowers, leaves and
stems throughout the design. The scarf which
covers the sleeping pillows in the daytime is of
white linen with hemstitching all around and a
monogram embroidered in the center. There
is deep lace on the ends which nearly touch the
floor on each side. The second and larger pair
OF pillows has handsome linen cases with hem
stitching, monogram and lace, like the scarf
No colored decoration can take the place of
white pillows on a bed, nothing else being 80
suggestive OF freshness or SO attractive.
wAsHsrAND AND BUREAU.
Over the washstand and something to use for
bureau spent some thought and feel that
triumph has been achieved. made simple
drawing of what wanted, very plain in form,
with no ornamentation, and took it to the
mandatory where white bed room furniture
is made. With my design to show what
wished was able to be completely suited. A
the enamel finish, out in two shades of pale,
grayish blue, like the wood work of the room
The brass handles and color suggest its rela-
ton to the bed, and it is charming in appear
ance. While waiting for it to be made had
time to embrOider q scarf for it of white
linen, with small flowers powdered
over the ends, which hang down half
yard on each side. The flowers are
in soft tones Of old pink silks and cream lace
finishes the ends. The washstand had made
10 xuifh ha Obi ho,-, Al,
top projecting at the ends and brass rail at
the back, ON which shirred blue and white
batiste i'll India silk design. Finding it impos-
sible to get toilet set with anything like the
right blue to look well with the denim bought
one with old pink decoration, in which color
ing 80 many pretty ones can be found. The
scarf for the washstsnd has simply a little
drawn work and fringe in the way Of decora-
ton, this being most satisfactory for the fire.
quent washing required.
THE TOILET TABLE
was perhaps my pet idea in the room and
meant it to be as pretty as it could be made.
I dispensed entirely with curtains, draping the
mirror, as the denim seemed too clumsy for the
purpose and the mirror was to be too pretty to
be concealed. In the first place I bought
good-sized looking glass, rectangular in shape
and without frame. then embroidered on
dull blue satin sheeting chrysanthemums in
cream white silks. These were conventional
lied in form and arranged in groups, some
overlapping each other. When this was done
I made it into q broad band, which was put
above the mirror and framed with it. the whole
being nearly square by this addition The
frame I had made five inches wide and
beveled on the outer edge. It was painted
in the ightest blue shade Of the
wood work, and q small blue bar crosses where
the embroidery and glass join. On each side
Of the frame was fastened brass sconce
which holds each a wax candle. The mirror is
hung fat against the wall, with draped table
beneath. The foundation is q small kitchen
table, which is covered on top and hung with
curtains of the denim. This material has end
less wear in it and is improved with every
washing it gets; SO, suitably decorated, i. is
worthy OF having q good deal Of work put on
it: Accordingly embroidered flowers on it
with the cream linen floss. These are well
scattered and rather large, SO as not to have
the effect lost in the folds of the curtains
frill OF cream lace finishes the curtains at the
top, and with a linen scarf just the size of the
table, with no decoration in color but q good
bit of drawn work on it; the whole has q very
pretty effect. Of course the usual
LITTLE CoNvENIENCEs FOB A GUEST
are to be found here. A TALL round pin cushion,
with blue plush top and full frill Of blue In
dia silk around it, is provided for the lace and
other fancy pins, while small trays of brass and
china give a place for other belongings. A
small wooden rocker undertook to paint nv
self, and it looked well enough when finished
not to feel disgraced by the side Of its profess
sionally manipulated brethren A cover of