Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-02-15
Written for TIE EVENING Sr.a
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.
How Household Odds and Eads May be
Used for Decorative Purposes.

COMFORT AND BEAUTY IN AN ANTIQUE soFA-wHAr
ONE WOMAN DID WITH A BRUSH AND SOME
WHITE PA1ST-A SIMPLE TABLE ALL DRESSED IN
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. ABOUT DRESSING TABLES.
Wg2AM CRING that important but evarescent
"a vi period of time designated as the
Ill season" Washington interiors are at
UIW their best. or course in the large
- houses-the mansions of society re-
ports-rreparations for entertaining on a
grand scale are made. But the mistress OF
small domain makes it point to be ready to
receive friends at stated intervals and puts her
house into more or less gala attire for these
occasions. day at home in which to see ones
friends is a convenience to both hostess and
visitor, and is almost universally observed
here. There are many attractive homes
that IN making round Of visits a person of
ordinary powers of observation sees many
things to admire. These may also afford sug-
gestions for other pretty effects if ones menu
ory Is not a treacherous one.
DECORATING ANTIQUE FURNITURE
Antique pieces of furniture are often to be
seen in our pretty houses here and are gener-
ally admired for their looks. if not for their
comfort. To insure the latter. however. one OF
the oid-time sofas has just been fitted up 20
make 1t the equal in ease Of the favorite divan
with its numberless pillows. This sofa has the
ends curving over and leaving a space for the
round bolster cushion which used to be such a
feature of sofas. To the usual two pillows-one
at either end-have been added two more. TO
be fitted in wherever they are needed. and thus
adding to the picturesque appearance
OF tins relic of the past. The covering is softly
gay IN coloring and the four cushions have
little rutfies setting out from the round ends,
both rs ornament and to provide something
tangible to get hold of when one wishes a
change of arrangement. Without the ruifles
to try aud get hold of the round pillow was
something like clasplng yule log with the
weight slightly decreased As one catches
sight OF this sofa in a little tower alcove be-
yond hanglngs of the same subdued though gay
color the effect is very pretty. 1t seems just
the work to set off the charms of this old-fash-
Toned prettiness.
WITH WHITE PAINT.
With the present fancy for white in furniture
and decorations it is remarkable what results a
few cans of white paint and two paint brushes,
large and small may accomplish young
woman OF my acquaintance, with some ideas of
her own, has been ransacking the house for
available material to ornament Among the
cast-of articles in the contracted apartment
which Is the city synonym for garrett were
several things which she at once seized upon
as offering basis for her decoration.
Among them were some old black walnut
picture frames with the gold rim inside.
which years ago had been as popular
as white enamel finish is now These were to
be the pioneers in this march of improvement.
Each frame was given several coats of the
white paint. the last being the porcelain white,
INFO which she mixed enoug h yellow tube
paint to make it an ivory tint The smaller of
her two brushes was used and the gold rim
inside the frame was painted as well as the out
side moulding. These paints dry very quickly,
and when wide cream white bevelcd mat was
put under the glass and under this mat a
charming print OF Church's maiden piping to
the three lions a very dainty picture was Oh
tanned. The other frames were similarly
treated and small etchings, photographs and
prints put in them. small shrine easel frame
OF walnut also was painted white. and with the
of young girl disclosed it was notice
ably pretty. A tall. slender table
easel was quite transformed by the process,
while those utterly gone-by ornaments wal
nut brackets. were made to renew their useful
ness by painting them. BY hanging them in
rooms where the neighborhood or a white pic
ture frame would keep them in countenance,
as 1t were. they were really quite effective.
When the mania for painting once takes hold
OF person everything susceptible in the least
of being beautitied is seized upon. Baskets
that have become little discolored by time a
wicker chair that bears similar marks of age.
and IA variety or small furnishings that are not
difficult to work over can ali be Improved. As
l lntimated, the labor is apt to become fascinat-
ing and the results most encouraging.
WONDERS PERFORMED WITH TABLE.
This SAME young lady has Just gotten up a
little table that calls forth approving remarks
from those who see it. and as it is a simple
affair 1 will describe it. SO that others may
benefit by 1t If they choose. The foundation is
pine made by an ordinary carpenter after her
directions. 1t Is very low and has a round top
"A inches in diamet ter. few inches from the
floor is a lower shelf just the same size, while
three straight slim legs support both. Below
the lower shelf the legs taper sl yhtly to the
hOOr-some inches-thus making it ra her
more graceful looking. Originally it was covered
with felt, but time and moths had shoru it of
ats beauty and 1t was set aside. waiting an
inspiration for Its rehabilitation. The
thought of covering it with white came
suddenly and acceptably. and the idea was i'm
mediately carried out Bolton sheeting. which
is at once artistic, easy to work with and mex
pensive, was chosen for the material. Then
came difficulty. for the next tning-a white
gimp for finishing the edges-seemed for a
time unattalnable. Nothing could be found al
furniture shops and dress-trinming counters at
the dry goods stores offered no encouragement
Finally among white embroideres was dScov-
cred the coveted article, called on the printed
wrapper ''pique trimming" This was just the
rib OF regular silk furniture gimp and was ex-
actiy right. except Ill shade. being dead
white instead of the cream white of the cover
ing. 1t was bought and handed over to the
cook, who dipped the whole piece of dozen
yards i'll weak coffee and pressed it, VIXEN it
came out the same tlnt' of the sheeting
The work OF covering proved a very easy
matter, as the felt was left on
for padding, and the sheeting WAS easily
stretched over it and fastened with gimp tacks.
The covering of the legs was fastened on the
outside by sewing to the felt with long stitches.
The gimp was then put over this seam. fas-
tened AT intervals with large, square-headed
Grass lacks, which also were put at three-inch
spaces all around both shelves. catching the
gimp down. Pins were put i'll TO stay it at first.
thus making only one mailing necessary. When
1t was down 1t was so pretty and delicate look
ing that 1t was at once promoted from bed
room to parlor. II shows off ornaments well.
and one of the whit2-fraEled pictures before
mentioned on the white easel sets on II and
harmonizes perfectly. II viii soil in time. OF
course but it has been my experience in this
clean city that white and light-colorcd articles
are always durable far beyond expectation
ii will no doubt be serv.ceable long as tine
rage for white lasts, when it will be equally
available for some other form of decoration.
DRESSING TABLES
Dressing tables OF handsome woods, low and
broad. with swinging glass. have almost super
seeded the Duchess so much liked and used a