Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-04-11
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.
Suggestions in Regard to Arrange
ments for Summer Dwellings.
DRAPERIES AND HANGINGS.
Pretty Things Now Being Shown for Doors
and windows-Cheap Material Made by the
Associated Artists-Japanese Mating Sleep
ing Rugs-Pretty Little Novelties.
Written for The Evening Star.


GUNNER PLANS, SUMNER HOMES, SUM-
~ mer costumes and summer employment are
gradually absorbing all other themes in inter-
est This year such ideas have not received
any impetus from the weather, Cor our chilly,
rainy spring thus far has given no encourage
Elent to hope for better things. We can only
trust that before many weeks Washington will
once more assert her claim as spring para
disc" and in the meantime prepare for it ma
terially by shopping in mackintoshes and ga
loshes and lay ones plans for fairer days.
Many matters are taking q summer turn, as
In our wardrobes the lighter fabrics appear, SO
IN our homes, heavy hangings and draperies
VIII soon be giving place to cooler ones, plush
and wool in our decorative work are being laid
aside for the attractive linens and cottons, and
the annual interest attaching to the opening Of
ins the warm season will coon be felt.
All that Is said or written tends the same way,
and summer novelties is the label and head
ing for many things quite diverse In detail.
SUMMER DRAPERIEs AND HANGISGs.
Some very pretty things are being shown at
this season in light drapcries for door or win
dow hangings. In our city and climate, how
ever, no draperIes IRE the rule for windows in
warm weather. But for doorways, when the
heavy portieres are taken down, thin, light
curtain that can be pushed we'll back or be
Topped high gives the graceful touch we all
like. while it does not invite moths or prevent
free currcn. of air.
For the reason that window drapery is almost
unused here some Of these pretty cross striped
cotton curtains, almost transparent in texture,
and with soft lovely coloring. have been re-
duced in price, and for a sum that is really low
can be bought, and if not wanted for hangings
can be diverted to other uses
Sometimes lot of odd ones accumulate and
then are sold at low figure. For a single
door these are available, or to drape for a cor
ner effect. or can be split lengthwise and used
for mantel drapery. using both strips if much
festoonlng Is desirable, or, If not, serving for
two mantels.
HEAVY KNorTED FRINGE.
On one end of most of these is heavy fringe,
knotted from the raveled material, the other
end being plain; if used for a portiere the top
is turned over, thus showing the stripes and
having the fringe for frieze to the curtain
The stripes vary in width and ar
rangement as they do in coloring
and some of the curtains have
plain edge on each end. One such one in white
and the softest tone of golden yellow was so
striped that yellow bands were closely brought
together at the bottom in dado effect. while
two-thirds of the curtain was white with very
narrow yellow lines through it. This
was bought with view to other
+
OF yellow were on the curtain for the distance
of fOrty-six inches, just the width of the goods,
SO this square was cut of to be used table
cover, best suited to summer. but pretty
for all the year round; The remainder
OF the portiere would have made
another similar spread, only little longer but
instead was used 10 cover u large sofa pillow
with very wide frill for the same room, which
was most effective with the corresponding ia
BILE cover and represented an outlay of less
than 81.
little tassel cotton fringe, such as is used
for sash curtains. could be put around the
table spread, il desired, but in this case a much
better effect was gotten by raveling enough of
the white threads of the curtain, which are very
coarse across and fine up ard down-to make
knotted fringe.
The portieres in plain colors of turcoman,
with heavy tassel fringe at top and bottom, can
be bought now for much less than at the first
OF the season, and if one likes can be purchased
not attack them and they are in such hand
some. artistic colors that they are always pleas
ing in effect.
BLUE OR BROWN DENIM.
As summer furnishings are under considers
ton blue OF brown denim come to the fore
quite naturally. Tho Associated Artists of New
York. who make some charming goods in cot
ton, have process by which they extract the
blue from the denim, leaving design in white
the blue ground. This, of course adds
much to the attraction of denim as a furnish
ing material. and remarkably good results can
be obtained by using it.
In certain fishing lodge in the New Hamp-
shire mountains the living room has q corner
fireplace, and the tall dresser is set forth with
dishes in the blue onion pattern" so-called.
from the Dresden china. The table cloths used
with these are OF blue denim, with the hem and
seams featherstitcLeG in white linen floss
When the table is set white linen mat, en-
broidered also in white linen floss is in the
center, and on it rests low, largo dish filled
with nasturtiums i'll all thei: gorgeous color
ing. The fameJ from the burning logs in the
fireplace give back the sa 40 brilliant hues and
the dark blue and famir.; red and orange are
delightfully."- attractive a crisp evening in
that mountain air.
read the other day of another inexpensive
materia. made by the Associated Artists and
that is a cotton fabric with unbleached ground
and pattern in dark blue stamped upon i'll
fancy something in the japanese style. This is
only 80 cents yard, and like all their work
must have artistic merit.
MATING SLEEPING RUGS.
While SO many japanese articles find place
in our homes both for use and ornament the
mating sleeping rugs are among the newest
adaptations These fine, pliable mattings are
pretty for floor coverings but also are used
with the original tention that is, for sleeping
porary summer accommodations; for, laid on
cot over a wire mattress. they make very
comfortable substitute for hair mattress, so
they say. The size about fits a single cot, and
the price of a mat is in the neighborhood of a
dollar. This season there seems to be quite
demand for them, and dealers have orders
ahead for them for camping purposes.
Little novelties appear all the time pretty
and attractive In their way and often showing
much ingenuity on the part of their designers.
PRETTY LITTLE NOVELTIES.
Small pin cushions Stimulating apples are in
such natural sizes and coloring as to be quite
deceptive. These are with foundation of cot
ton. ball shaped, and covered with white India
silk. in bias strip, which is fitted without
wrinkles over the cotton. It is tinted with
dyes 20 look like the rich red, with yellow
streaks side, or of lovely carnation red,
with Il cheek like dainty lady apple A stem is
added at one end and tine silk is tinted brown
ish green FOR the other. These are specially
pretty for q mans dressing bureau for scarf
pins.
Sachets, always numerous often pretty and
always acceptable as gift. have a little variety
displayed all the time ii their makeup.
One pretty style is made OF piece of linen
about twelve inches square. This ia fringed
all around and folded over so as to make a
triangle. Ono side of this is embroidered on
tho long side, q ribbon bow and end. and grace
fally interpreted and scattered to the point
below little flowers In pompadour colors. The
linen Is put over the sachet proper and the
fringed edge on two sides of the Triangle
caught together with the popular 'pin stitch"
which heads nearly all fringes nOvadays With