Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-02-28
The Selection and Furnishing Of a
Summer Residence.
THE BAMBOO TREATMENT.
II Gives . Cool and Refreshing Look. and 10
Easy and Comfortable, Besides Not Being
Very Expensive-How the Different Rooms
May BE Arranged to Advantage.
Written for The Evening Star.


inss to seem s.uffy. and we begin to think Of
airy summer furnishings and plan for the
changes in decoration which change of season
demands. Many are maybe planning new
summer homes or are looking out for ideas as
to refurnishing old ones. Many others still
make the refreshing alterations in their homes
here in town which enable them to not only
endure summer stay here il enforced, but to
actually find it agreeable and restful. There is
a fascination about planning any kind of q
house, Dig or little, in city or country, and
even small one. and that to be used only for
time in the summer, requires considerable
thought in regard to its arrangement.
A SUMNER LIVING ROOM.
A friend who is contemplating new abode Of
this kind is busy with ideas in regard to it. and
has asked me for suggestions, especially for the
little parlor or living room, as it will more
aptly be called, perhaps. This summer home
is to be built in the country, in Virginia, and is
to be modest affair. but fortunately, with the
resources of a furnisher nowadays, that need
not detract from its appropriate prettiness.
Some little time ago spoke of disliking bam-
boo furniture, with its notified brown and bun
appearance and used indiscriminately with
other kinds of wood and other colored furnish
ings. think an odd piece or two no addition
to any room. Taking it, however, for the key
note of an apartment, especially room Tor
summer use exclusively think it might be
made extremely effective, for. as remarked
before. one can find many pretty shapes from
which to select IN bamboo. For this country,
then, I would suggest bamboo treatment, and
l would begin with the ceiling and side walls.
BAMBOO TREATMENT.
The ceiling I would cover with fine India
mating. divided into squares by split bamboo,
the squares being as near two feet as might be.
A wainscoting of the mating similarly barred
with the bamboo, should cover the base Of the
side walls for four feet and there be sur
mounted by narrow shelf, with the bamboo
making outer rail TO keep plates or what
not from slipping off. The space left above
this dado should be covered with japanese
chintz with buff ground and stamped with q
powdered design, rather far apart. a bamboo
rod being the finish at the top. The floor
should be covered with mating likewise, and
the furniture should be bamboo. As to the
various pieces to be selected, would say, first.
a good-sized square table with mating top and.
if possible, bamboo frame; them next, one Of
the little sofas or double seats. as they hold
about two people; then a corner chair. a rock
ing chair or two and one or two small chairs.
Two of the pretty little ottomans with curving
seat could be added, or might take the place Of
small chairs II there Is not room for both.
BAMBOO BOOK CASE.
A bamboo book case should be in prominent
piaCc. ohu solt Elm thiub VI Jtpduceo Ria u
brown and buff tones should be hung here, and
the top will serve for holding a number of
ornaments. For real comfort large divan,
placed in q corner and draped with pillows.
should supplement the small sofa. and this
should be covered with brown cotton cretonne
or any suitable stuff in hnrmonizing tones for
the bamboo. Another thing to be made
necessity is desk in old oak, if o bamboo finish
cannot be procured, or if not regular desk in
form, table. comfortably large and high and
completely fitted with all the con veniences for
writing a note or friendly letter. The prettiest.
most easily accumulated. cheapest and most
serviceable outfit for this desk intended for
general use by the household is one of brass.
1t will suit, too, the browns of the furnishings
and Tighten up the writing table. Such orna-
mental work Is to be found in brass that one
need have no difficulty in finding Just what is
wanted in letter clip, inkstand, pen tray, paper
knife. candlestick and tray for sealing wax. A
piece or two of japanese bronze, in tray Or
stamp box. will be rather an addition to the
brass articles than otherwise.
THE OPENING INTO THE HALL
Naturally the parlor will open into hall Of
some kind and for summer use one makes the
rooms as airy as possible, SO 1 should have the
opening wide and high, wide for looks and
high for ventilation. To take away from the
apparent height, however. and improve its
appearance Japanese fretwork of bamboo
should be put across the opening of the right
depth 10 make the proportions correct. This
fretwork is made now, am told. Of the smallest
sized bamboo, like that used in fishing rods.
which can be bent and woven into intricate
designs almost as easily as heavy cord. Below
this fretwork pair Of bead portieres would
look well if they were looped back. Bead
portieres, like bamboo. do not like used
promiscuously, but for an airy effect in sum-
mer house, and especially looped high they
would be really good, think. AT the windows
thin madras or null in ecru tint would be
| suitable, and the thinner the material the
pre.tier the effect obtained.
THE WALL ADoRNMENTs.
In such a room the result will be better il
many small pictures are hung on the walls in
stead of few large ones. We used to be afraid
of a ''spotty" look with such an arrangement
but now reaction in picture hanging has come
and irregular grouping of all kinds is the fancy
OF the hour. Another reaction likewise has
come and instead OF hanging pictures in the
sky-aspiring style once prevalent, now they
are brought low, SO low, indeed. that they
fairly touch the cushions when hung over a
sofa or divan. 1t is the lower ones OF groups
generally which are so arranged, and if one has
good taste such scheme of hanging may be
made most attractive. To 60 back to our
country living room. however, the pictures
which will look best there will be those in black
and white, such as etchings, prints and the
like. Besides the strictly black-and-whito ones
prints where the red browns come in will all
look WELL and a most desirable collection Of
these with photographs may be easily gotten
together. Many Of the illustrations. both
copies and original wood engravings, which the
magazines and art papers put forth are well
worth framing, and with bamboo or oak or
passe-partout frames and wide cream or white
mats would be really charming on these buff
chintz walls.
ARRANGEMENTS OF PICTURES.
II some of these pictures in the reddish shades
are hung near the divan something Of these
same tones in the covering of one or two Of the
pillows will make a pleasant variety in the
coloring, without being in the least startling
Pillows of all shapes and sizes best suit divan
of this kind. and all sorts of materials NAV be
used, keeping to the QUOT, restful bluffs and
browns of the ROOM with only the reddish
browns a change. ALI cotton crepes and gold
stamped chiEtzes and plain India silks will be
suitable. and the medium dark shades will make
them durable. Along the dado rail-or china
rail- rs il Is also caIled-the reddish shades may
repeat themselves in pottery and porcelain
which, il tastefIlly selected and arranged, not
OVERRIDING the matter will add to the general
good effect of tine room. Although the house
Is for the summer it must have n fireplace to
give the proper expression to the room, and
sometimes blazing log across the andirons is
not amiss at evening time.
As pretty design for a mautel and fireplace
would be to build il of cream-colored brick
plain and with receding shelves at the top, the