Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-03-07
HOMES.
The Latest Fashions in Household
and Decorative Art.
CLOTHING FOR FURNITURE
Some Pretty Goods and Patterns Already ON
Display in the Stores-How to Lessen APP
parently the Height Of Ceilings-Sllvsr and
Gold characterization.
Written for The Evsning Star.

Written for The Evsnins Star
HOUSEHOLD AND DECORATIVE ART
IL follow closely the methods displayed in in
Producing fashions for dresA In the coolest Of
our wintry weather the shops are decked with
the ARREST Of fabrics for suftry summer days,
| and likewise the establishments where summer
garments for furniture are manufactured
drape their windows at this time with the gay
est of cretonnes and prettiest Of their window
hangings. One may take her choice in these
materials, either the large figured cretonne or
close patterned dimity or chintzes. some of the
Latter being charming in narrow stripes with
gay little flowers between. A novel effect is to
have the bold design in the French cretounes
look as if a hundred washings had brought
them to the subdued almost indistinct tones
now seen in them. Cotton fabrics Of all kinds
are well to the fore and recommend themselves
by their moth-resisting qualities and attractive
appearance.
THE NEW MADAGASCAR CLOTH.
Something quite new is stuff to be used for
lounge covering and similar purposes, called
Madagascar cloth. This ID quite like the NADIA
gascar hassocks in coloring, but is finer in tex
ture and has repped surface. The colors are
In stripes across. and are in tones of green,
P."fN. WIN % todc1A VI DldCk 10 set IL on.
The goods is fifty inches wide and is 81. as per
yard. and IL most suitable for summer chair or
lounge covering. pretty example of the lat
ter Is made in Turkish style, with large pillows
of the same at the back-three maybe-this
number to be augmented by others in different
coloring. Frilled pillows by the way. are as
much used as ever, but the frills are wider, and
hemmed with a narrow hem instead of being
doubled. In a silvery blue silk. with broesded
design In self-coloring, such pillow is ex-
H.
lows is a leather covering, either plain or with
design applied or embroidered in chain
tch. Pillows of all shapes are made of
leather, from the square one of good size to the
little round head roll. and they are finished
with tassels and lacings of leather, which are
as pliable apparently as cords. These are in
tended especially for library use. and are, Of
course, very durable as well IS suitable for
leather furnishing.
HOW LEATHER IS MADE ARTISTIC.
Leather is made more artistic than ever by
the treatment and decoration it receives, and
Is handsomer for certain rooms than any stuffs
could be. One firm has control Of q line of
leather goods which are quite unique The US
uai chairs OF various styles and sizes are SUD-
plenented by screens which are made Of sew
eral panels each. one fitted with brown leather
and with q handsome design embossed upon it
The edges ere simply finished with brass nails
set rather close together. and while such arti-
cies have been seen before. there is difference
in the whole which makes these specialties moro
artistic than any have seen before. Ever the
small comforts of the library are provided for
IN the same material. and the waste paper
basket il made Of leather also, which seems as
available as wicker and is similarly woven and
twisted into shape. One of the baskets is de-
cldedly odd. being an almost veritable ''eel
pot OF the northern fisherman in shape and
very comfortable to use from its height and
SIZE. DINING chairs are also OF novel shape and
decoration. with leather covering rather lighter
and with lower backs than have prevailed.
A pretty style of boudoir or reception cbai,
has the rush seat, with light wood frame. both
seat and frame being painted with gay flowers
In French manner, though the work is all
American In reality.
PRETTY COUCH COVERINGS.
There is no end to the pretty couch cover
ings to be procured at all prices. The Fancy
for the loose drapery instead Of regular up-
holstering seems to be permanent one and is
taken into consideration by all dealers An
old lounge with head and back and with worm
out covering can have the back removed and
then with one of the many pretty draperies
shown can be transformed with little money
and work, comparatively, into the favorite
lounge OF the day. Bagdad curtains have been
extremely popular for this purpose and are
durable and excellent in coloring but thew are
wool and In climate like ours must be well
looked after through the summer on account
OF moths. Now, to fill the want for cotton
fabrics, there has within a few days been placed
on the market couch covering which must
meet with the approval of many. This is cot
ton tapestry. heavy enough to hang and wear
well and with a variety of coloring that gives a
wide choice, though the same design runs
throughout the line. tassel fringe finishes
the cover on all four sides, and it is long and
wide enough to cover the lounge Thoroughly
and can be left entirely loose or caught at the
corners, as one prefers. In the coloring two
tones OF the same color prevail, giving a much
more artistic look than larger variety of
shades would do: thus a dull blue ground has
the design in light gray blue and terra Gotta
red has a pinkish tone for the pattern. Another
combination Is blue and brown, and there are
a number Of colors used. but the same pattern
all through the sample list. The price Of these
tapestry coverings is $3.50, and by the aid of
one really shabby couch may be made an at
tractive piece of furniture.
REACTION FOR Low CEILINGS
With the reaction in favor of low ceilings MANY
devices have been invented by which the height
OF the room may be apparently lessened. an
effectual one being fretwork or open transom
in doorways, with the rod for portieres hung
below, thus bringing the opening lower by a
foot OF more according to its height. The
Moorish fret work, the bamboo fretwork and
various other styles have been much used for
this purpose but while these are effective thew
are too expensive for every one to indulge in.
no matter how their inclnations may soar
toward making such pretty additions to their
houses. l have seen, however. a continuance
which 1t seems to me might easily be made
and adapted to any modest home, though
handsome brocaded silk portieres hung below
the one L mention. This transom then was
composed of framework of wood lust large
enough TO fit into the doorway, and about two
inches wide. This could be made of pine or
strips of bamboo, and could be painted or
stained or gilded, according to choice On the
back of the framework and rather close
together, say two inches apart. tacks are to be
put all around the four sides. When these
are nailed in take cord, silk or cotton, dark or
light. ecru or colored, and beginning at one end
begin 70 lace it across back and forth. catching
1t on the tacks. A little experimenting will
show how this is to be done, aud that after one
tack has caught the thread several NAV be
skipped on the opposite side, to be filed later
by crossing again, and on until a perfect
diamond-shaped lattice work is made bv the
cords having been crossed and recrossed until
this effect is obtained. At intervals Q tassel or
fluffy ball is fastened in one of the diamond
shaped openings, which gives q pretty effect
and looks a. little more intricate. 1 only de-
scribe this as have seen it, but see no reason
why homo worker should not have perfect