Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-22
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.
Getting Ready for the Fall and Win
ter Decorations.
AN AIR OF NEW N ES s

a ~ a ~ ~ = Az u w N ~ = y .
This Can Re Secured by the Exereiss q In
Esnu,ty and without ors.. Exps.ss--some
Practical sugeestions in This Direction
Written for The EVENING Star
MANY PEOPLE ARE PLANNING, AND
AVA others already doing, the work that
the autumn season generally makes nsees-
sary in every house-shat ID, repairs and
little alterations. A new paper On one room.
fresh curtains in another, o chair recovered
In third, are some Of the things In
almost every housekeeper's outlook at this
time. Although still rather early for the new
styles in such matters, one often has ideas best
suited to individual needs, regardless of par
ticular fashions, % that waiting ID not
. necessity, and time may be saved by
having things done now. Almost every
room In house may have some little touch Of
newness which will make IL more inviting when
wintry weather confines people more closely
indoors. and often IL is the inexpensive addi-
tons which add most to the attractiveness Of
home life.
Some years ago saw a guest room which was
arranged with more individual taste than was
very generally displayed 1T that time and with
excellent results The house was one which
was furnished with white marble mantels
throughout, and a. they were obnoxious to the
lady, who had not had the pleasure of building
her own house, che had taken advantage Of
various devices to conceal or otherwise miti-
gate them. In the room l speak Of she had had
wide board laid over the shelf. covered wi tn
a cretonne Of olive and dull blue with very
large design, but also very conventional and so
su6dued. A twelve-inch valance hung from
TINS. edged with wide white linen lace in bold
open pattern. Underneath the valance hung
long curtains, falling to the floor, Of
the cretonns, which were run on
wire. and 30 easily pulled back and forth. Or
dinarily these fell in full folds straight down.
put when fire was lighted in the crate beneath
the mantel the curtains were slipped back
little and then Topped with bands OF the same
to hooks set on at the side of the chimney. They
were caught far enough back so that there was
no danger Of their catching fire, and the APP
Re nnsd was very pretty whether they were
The brass bed-much more Of q novelty then
than now-had q valance of the cretonne, and
tne snort white spread, hanging over at the
SIDES and foot, was edged with linen lace like
that on the mantel
TREATMENT OF THE WINDOWS.
Ine windows were very high. as was the
room itself, and to give the effect of less
height valance twenty-seven inches wide, of
lace-edged cretonne, hung straight across the top
IN Iong PAalts Under this were long muslin cur
tains embroidered in tambour work which had
been brought from Switzerland, for 1t was sew
eral years earlier than tamboured muslin had
maze lts reappeArance in our shops. The long
curtains were tied back with woven bands Of
white work, which we're a novelty also.
A wicker tahla vieEo hal E. =
all OF which peacock blue ribbons were run,
made light and suitable furniture, while the
carpet had . good deal of peacock blue in it
likewise. Peacock blue, remember, was the
popular color for furnishings and decorations
just then, and every house with any pretensions
to taste had 1t in at least one room.
TIE MOST UNIQUE THING.
The most unique thing in the room was the
chiffonisr. which, with the mirror above it.
had been designed by an artist and made to
order. The wood Of the chiffonier was apple
wood, very light, with scarcely any yellow tone
to it; the shape and height were like q medium
high, broad and deep bureau. Two small
drawers were the receptacles nearest the top:
then came doors. filling the space to the floor.
little good carving was on each door, which
when opened showed shelves that drew out, SO
that the contents were easily brought into
view and as easily rearranged. Above this on
the wall hung beveled glass mirror az large
square Is the chiffonier was wide, and
set in q wide open-work frame of brass.
This was very handsome, and the brass work
brought that and the chiffonier, with it's brass
rallied top, into harmony with the bed, and they
were different from anything have ever seen
A small dressing room opened out of here,
with stationary wash stand, so the need OF
that piece OF furniture was obviated in the bed
ROOM great advantage in the looks Of Q room
generally.
BEvERAL DEVICES EMPLOYED.
As said before, several devices had been
brought into use for the concealing of the
white marble mantels, which the generosity OF
the builder had put into every room, SO there
was no escaping them-one could only deal
with them.
In one room. where an open fire was never
used, book case was made, low enough to ft in
below the mantel shelf, and at each side the
mantel was covered with painted panel on q
black ground, which was a favorite background
then for flower pieces. One Of the first over
manteis l ever saw surmornted this rather
complicated arrangement Of eboniZed wood
like the book shelves, and on its irregular
shelves were many beautiful ornaments and OBJ
1ects OF Interest gathered In travels abroad one
thing admired especially being two small
groups of pillars, fac-similes of the columns
OF the Roman forum, in yellow marble with
black marble bases. have wondered why
more people do not bring such from Rome.
MorHER-oF-PEARL NOW POPULAR
After some years of disfavor mother-of-pearl
seems likely to be popular again in a way.
Now, with the numerous little objects in silver
which have been the rage 80 long one may see
many pearl articles SO pretty in design that the
material is made very attractive. Especially is
this true of writing accessories; letter openers
Of scimiter shape, looking as if the pearl were
naturally Of that curve, for no chasing is seen
on these newer designs, book marks, miniature
trowels in form, with silver mountings, and
other equally novel and pretty articles. Mother.
of-pearl 10 SO attractive to look at and pleasant
to handle that one wonders at its periodical
disuse, when nothing IL more out Of fashion,
and probably upon its revival it will be quite
. rival TO silver, which has fourished 10 long
and with such vigor.
APRErTY PHOTOGRAPH FRAME.
A pretty photograph frame has lately been
designed which might be easily copied or
adapted by other hands. A wooden frame was
made at the picture trainers, the inner opening
large enough TO show the photograph we'll,
which in this case was rather larger than cabinet
size, the frame being three inches wide. To
cover this piece OF fine French crash (which
10 Q cotton stuff. suitable in size, was covered
with flower pattern by means Of transfer pa
per, and then the design was tinted in tapestry
HwrAa AIA n A<Ht IL. L