Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-24
ATTRACTIVE HOMES.
How to Make Guest Chamber Pretty
and Pleasant.
SOME ARTISTIC FURNISHINGS.
There Should BE Harmony In the Tones of
Wood work, Walls and Carpets Rugs
The Furniture Need Not BE "set'-Arr.nge-
nsnt Of Draperies and Ornaments.
Written for The Evening Star.


a visitor will bear witness. The city welcomes
outsiders, and nowhere is entertaining under
taken more ''conamore' than here. In some
other places a small house or limited number
OF servants will effectually preclude and excuse
all efforts at entertaining In Washington.
however, charming hospitality has time and
again been shown in small houses. the good
taste Of the hostess making the form of enter
tainment conform to her surroundings Those
people who do not invite friends at all because
they cannot vie with the fortunate owners of
large establishments really deprive themselves
of much genuine pleasure. Here. at least, a
delightful independence prevails in the man
ner of living and there is a unique charm
about many OF the small homes here.
TINE GUEST ROOM.
visit to Washington is pleasure to be de-
sired BY all the dwellers in other towns of this
big country and most people living here have
friends in plenty who long for "a sojourn at the
capital The guest room therefore is as much
@ matter of course in a house the dining
room. and if there is Sufficient room more than
one Is provided
In one small home which can only boast of
one apartment for the exclusive use of guests,
and that somewhat contracted as to size. yellow
Is the color chosen for the decoration. The
room - square. or nearly 80. and two corners
are taken of giving little triangular closets,
which are more roomy than one would give
them credit for at first glance. Between these
closets the bed sets and opposite are two win
dows. between which il the dressing table. \
modern mantel above the fireplace Is in the
center of one side of the room and a door into
the hallway is nearly opposite on the fourth
side.
GENERAL DECORATION.
So much for the room itself. The house is a
rented one, and when it was first taken by the
present occupants the floor stained dark
brown A good paper of a yellowish tone was
already or the walls. and pretty brown frieze
eighteen inches deep was added. to its improve
ment- An art square, with brown and yellow
predominating. nearly covers the floor. and in
front of dresser. washstand and fireplace
small rugs Of plain ingram earpeting of
tawny yellow. The rugs were first herimed
and then the hem split and raveled. making
heavy double fringe three inches wide For
inexpensive rugs. where it il desired to em-
phasiZe a color. these very good and can be
made IN various sizes
NO SET FURNITURE
The furniture is not at all set" but consists
of brass betlstead. oak chifonier and wash
stand and dressing table draped with white.
The chairs are limited in number by the size of
the room, and two of oak and one a low
wicker.
The chifonier and washstand were made to
recesses by the chimney. IL Is a handsome
piece of furniture. quite large and roomy.
with brass handles and the antique finish to the
wood, of yellow brown. however, instead of
the somewhat grayer tone often seen. The
wsshstsnd Is OF generous proportions and
really imparts an air of largeness To the little
room that cramped toilet accommodations
could never do. A brass rod is fitted to the
back'of this and from 1T Is hung. with brass
rings, a curtain of cream white batiste with
large disks Of yellow painted on it, the ci-cles
outlined in brown hoss- toilet set with deco
ration of yellow chry san themums and brown
green leaves is effective. and the scarf under it
Is of fine white huckaback simply feather
stitched with heavy linen floss in white.
ATTRACTIVE DECORATIONS.
The two windows are quite prettily draped,
first with sash curtains Of yellow japanese cot
ton crepe. edged with tassel fringe of yellow
and white. which are tied back with big bows
of yellow ribbon. The long curtains are Of
yellow silkaline, with frills of the same, hung
from a brass rod. and they tied back also
with yellow ribbons and are looped quite high.
The brass bedstead has a coverles of the same
silkoline. made with q deep Il ounce. which is
gathered full and has a narrow hea ling. The
nounce is set on just below thu edge OF the bed.
on sides and foot and falls nearl; to the floor.
The pillows have linen cases PRETTY tr' irned.
but all white. and the scarf which is under them
is also Of linen, hemstitched like the Cases. and
the lace-trimmed ends just escape the floor on
cAtucl over Tue Dtu udilbe ~ narEOW PIC
ture. the width being nearly that of the head
board of the bed and only twelve inches so
high, the subject being daffodils upgrowing
thickly. This is painted in oils and the frame
is gilded oak Apicture of that shape is par
tcularly pretty over the straight and rather low
headboards OF the brass or iron bedsteads and
any one who paints will find that those proper
tions most effective for picture 10 be
hung in that position
THE MANTEL AND FIREPLACE
The mantel is undraped. being of good form
and the yellow tone of the wood harmonizing
with the coloring Of the room Pictures hang
on the chimney and Of course pretty ornaments
As an open fireplace is seldom needed in this
little room the empty fireplace is generally
concealed by curtain of silkoline. like the
bedspread, made plain and full. and hung from
brass rod on which il is shirred. The dress
ing table il a very pretty and effective one. the
draping being entirely of home construction,
the mistress of the house being the architect
thereof Of course the ever useful kitchen
table Is the foundation, for nothing is easily
procured and substantial II is quite large
and over II hangs large square glass framed
in gilded oak. The curtains and draperies for
the table are Q: fine cream white batiste over
white cotton cloth A plain full curtain hangs
10 the hoor around three sides of the table.
on with tassel fringe. like that r on
the sash curtains The lace was white when
bought but by painting il with tapestry dives
the exact shade OF the silkolins was matched
and the effect Was much pretiier. The cur
tsins over the glass are differently arranged
from any have seen elsewhere and ike
them very much. brass curtain rod was cut
In half and the cut ends fastened at right an
gles 10 the wall at distance above the
glass and about two feet apart. The usual
rings are on these two short rods projecting
over the table. and 10 them the long white cur
tains are fastened with the usual curtain pins
The batiste is allowed to droop little between
the rods. thus making graceful festoon Just
over the center Of the table, and then the eur
tains fan to the floor on each side. On the
table edge the curtains drawn back at the
sides and caught with the cords and tassels
used for looping curtains A painted yellow
lace edges the curtains. OF q narrower with,
however. thar that of the valance. The top Of
the table is covered with pretty embroidered
scarf ordinarily, though golden brown plush
takes Its place on occasions, ard TINS serves
well 10 show to good advantage the decorated
china trays and csndlesti sks and ivory brushes
which adorn the dresser.
DAINTY ARTISTIC Touches.
A low wicker chair il cushioned with siiko-
line on seat and back, the cushions tied on with
vide yellow ribbons. Some little hanging
shelves are ezrelessly drsp.d with siikoline an
serve TO hold some books and ornaments while
n fancy bag, worked with yellow. hangs from
one corner. small bedside table is OF wicker
and is covered with a sprrsd Of sres nm viii IN