Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-24
Written for The EVENING STAR.
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.
How to Beautify Rooms at Small Ex-
pense.


pense.
THE LACK OF ARTISTIC FURNISHINGS IN AMERI-
CAN HOUSES BEFORE THE CESTENNIAL-AN
EFFECTIVE AND USEFUL bedroom SCREEN
WHAT CAN BE DONE BIZ DEFr FINGERS
In thinking back it would seem that before
the centennial exposition of 1876 there were
Few houses of moderate pretensions that could
be called in any way artistic. There we're many
considered tasteful by the occupants and their
friends, but to eyes educated up to the present
standard how crude and glaring were the
colors; how awkward in design was the modern
furniture which it was the ambition of the
mistress OF the house to acquire. The carpet
OF even small room, for instance, would be in
largest pattern Of crimson, yellow and white,
with furniture covering Of bright green as to
color and rep as to material-a favorite COM
bination. This made a full parlor suite-so full,
indeed. that it quite overlooked the small
apartment it was intended for into other rooms,
where it could not be more inharmonious than
In its chosen sphere. Brilliant blue. too, was
looked upon as specially delicate and suitable
for the show room of the house.
TASTEFUL GROUPINGS.
But can recall a home furnished in this way
which was considered to be remarkably pretty
and attractive by outsiders. 1t was the femi-
nine black OF tasteful grouping of furniture,
with the good arr angement of ornaments, that
made the agreeable effect, notwithstanding the
fact that brackets of black walnut and chromos
were prominent features of the scene. 1t is
this same taste, developed and educated, which
has had made Of this home today-with
worthier Materials house beautiful, ..ad-
mlred by artist and non-artsts" alike. The
nrE1 nvhf q
factor in the cultivation of natural powers of
observation and adaptation. The articles by
Mr.. Clarence Cook, which appeared in Scribers
Magazine about the same time, were also of
great benefit to many, especially to those living
In small places who were eager for reform and
Improvement in these matters. So much has
been accomplished that now one scarcely sees
even the most unpretending of homes that is
not pleasant to look upon on account of the
artistic combination OF things useful and orna-
mental This is all done, too. with view to
the comfort and pleasure of the particular
family inhabiting it, without regard to how
other people may plan their homes.
WASHINGTON HOMES.
Here in Washington of all places indepen-
dence and individuality have predominated,
and there are houses here by the score which
are charming and unique, more from the good
taste displayed than from the money expended
on the interiors. Many ingenious ways are
employed by quick wits and fingers with re-
suits astonishing to those deprived by nature
OF these aii-important aids to good effects with
small outlay. People who have only to go to
the shops and select what they fancy among
the many attractions lose much of the pleasure
which exercising the creative power gives one
This line OF household genius should be fos-
tered. II can make luxurious looking divan
OF cot bed, with Turkey rug for a cover,
plenty OF soft and gay-colored pillows piled up
for comfort, and a rug fastened to the wall as
DaGkQrOlnd faEa he oil
rocking chair and transform it by means of
white paint and silk covered cushions into an
inviting object. Such a chair was not dis
dained IN the notable drawing room where
Young Mrs. Wanamaker received last spring.
The low nursery folding bars, painted In
delicate colors, or white, with curtains of shir-
red India silk, were among the prettiest things
seen IN the rooms of "woman's exchange"
and are easily accomplished.
USEFUL TOILET SCREEN.
A most commodious toilet screen can be
made of two folds of small clothe shorse.
one made by young lady to suit her special
needs was painted In white and width of
French cretonne used as a hanging or panel on
each fold The cretonne was wide as the
fold OF the bars, so it hung perfectly fiat, thus
showing off well the design of the cretonne-
Iestoons OF MOVERS on pink ground. The Gre
tonne was SIMPLY hemmed top and bottom, and
then laced on to the top bar Of the frame with
several strands OF the heavy Bargarran linen
moss IN shades of pink and olive. The panels
were tied together at the angle of the screen
with large loops Of the twisted linen threads,
endlng In tassels. These were made by crochet
Ing around brass curtain rings OF good size with
the linen floss and then tying in lengths OF the
moss to form tassels, after the fashion some
what OF cords and tassels so much used for
looping back window curtains. Three of these
were USED to tie the hangings together and
three as finish on each outside edge thus max
ing the panels secure to the framework and
giving unique finish The cross bars of wood
were left free on the inside to serve as a towel
rack OF more ample dimensions than is often
secured. This screen, set about the wash stand
made complete little dressing room of a cor
her OF the bed room. This would be a great
convenience in a small house.
Very pretty, too, are the screens to be bought
now at reasonable prices, OF three folds. with
paha OF network at the top and India silk
shlrred panels. This is not as commodious
however as the last mentioned, where a stand
ing or hanging towel rack-ether of which il
always In the ways dispensed with. Still
another idea for this article, considered almost
indispensable in the modern bed room, il to
get one of the frames to be bought in different
sizes at the furniture shops and shir any thin
material on both sides of the folds lacking il
on, and finishing with gimp. or tassel fringe,
with no wood work showing india silk is the
Pretuess OF anything as covering, but
stamped batiste, or madras makes a good
effect, with less expense, if economy is any
object the work being only pleasure to deft
fingers
WITH THE AID OF PAINTS.
II the same deft fingers can use paint brush
hot aspiring to anything in the ''reai artist"
line, but in decorative way-much can
be done to beautify a house or CRAFTY a
friend by timely gift Of something to them
unattainable. The French tapestry dyes are
never-ending resource for making pretty
Things; they can be applied to SO many textile
fabrics, and a little mixed with water will do a
great amount Of coloring and can be left in thu
dish 1t was mixed in any length Of time and
used over and over. 1t will dry up completely.
but by adding water-a little if deep shade
OF color is wanted and more for paler tones
1t can be used almost indefinitely for small ar
ticles without adding to it from the bottle.
Linens absorb the paint SO quickly that great
care must be used not to let the color spread
beyond the outlines. For this reason cottons
are better as a groundwork for the dyes Boil
ton sheeting is excellent, though rather hack
neyed just now, but unbleached cotton
gives good creamy background to the
painted portions. Danish cloth, part
cotton and part wool, is extremely good.
as the ribbed threads Of the cloth are an easy
guide for darning or making lace stitches as
a background. This serves to bring out the
painting well, especially if the outlines are
emphasized with Japanese gold thread. Two
threads are much more effective than one for
this purpose. The work of embroidery is much |
iessened by combining painting with it for
many articles which do not need to be iaun- |