St. Paul daily globe., 1896-03-16
HINTS ABOUT FURNISHING ROOMS
FOR WARM AND COOL
CLIMATES.
SELECT A COLOR SCHEME.
DECORATED IN BLUE AND
GOLD.
COME VERY SAFE PRINCIPLES.
The GradutiOn of Color From the
Floor to the Ceiling Should
Follow Nature.

From Womankind-
In warm climates, let the furnishings
of houses be in cool colors. This will
afford a pleasant relief from the
warmth and glare of the sun. The
same rule may usually be followed
with wisdom in a south room in any
climate. Blue, sage, pale gray and
grayish colors give an aspect of cool
ness to house or apartment; especial
ly is this true of the tints of these
colors. Very often a room with many
windows admitting the full sunlight
is rendered too light and bright for
comfort by the use of much yellow and
ecru or of other sunny coloring. On
the other hand, a room for use in
severe climates may be made CHEEKY
and inviting by employing warm hues
for walls and furnishings. More or
less of red or yellow in the composition
of a color will give the desired glow.
Reds, old rose, old gold, golden brown,
will afford apparent warmth. This is
likewise true Of many other colors
which, as has been suggested, show
traces of red or yellow.
a definite color scheme should be
decided upon before anything is done
to finish or furnish any room, for only
in this way IS it possible to secure a
harmonious result. Two colors which
combine or contrast pleasantly may be
selected, and several shades of each
may be used. Should blue and gold be
preferred for the bed chamber, the
straw mating may show blue figure,
and the walls may be covered with pale
yellow cartridge paper with blue and
deeper yelloWs in the border. White
fur rugs and rugs of golden brown will
be tasteful upon the floor Furniture
of birdseye maple with white enamel
ed chair touched up with gold, and with
a table of brass, will be we'll chosen.
Some of the drapery and cushions
may be in white and blue or white and
gold; others plain blue or plain yell
low. Pictures will be pleasing in
maple and gold frames.
yellow Holland shades, and sheer
sash curtains of white with a tiny pale
blue figure will be tasteful. Other de-
tails may continue the chosen scheme
and produce a most charming effect
For rooms which are in constant
family use, quieter darker colors may
be desired A preconceived plan should
be followed and will yield equally good
results. Let nothing mar the room in
the way of discordant colors, foreign
to the original intention. Several safe
principles are given which may be re-
garded with confidence; the walls
should be lighter than the floor and
darker than the ceiling; in other words,
the floor covering must be darker than
the walls, and an effect of gradual
tightening be seen from floor to cell
ing; the fringe or border at the top of
the walls however, which represents
strong timbers, upon which rests the
ceiling or upper floor, must be in tones
deeper than the side walls, to enable
it to take on an appearance of strength.
The gradatiOn of color from floor to
ceiling s-on the principle that in the
outside world the ground is darker in
tone than anything we see to right
and left and the latter is usually
darker than the sky tints.
Nature is the school in which are
learned all lessons of art A careful
observation of the outer world and the
aid of few timely suggestions may do
much to implant truer ideals.
Large and prominent patterns upon
wall papers or carpets are to be avoid
ed Something unobtrusive in design
is much better; something low-toned is
usually preferable. BY low-toned is
meant the combination, in ground work
and design, of colors or shades of one
color not pronounced in effect and
which are but slightly different in de-
gree.
To return to the matter of brighten
ing room by the furnishings and fin
ishings. An apartment which is dark
perhaps closed in by high buildings
which cut off the supply of light, may
be made quite acceptable if every light
and cheerful hues are chosen for its
decorations. The Importance of such
selection, viewed in the light of the
pleasure and health Of the rooms oc-
cupants, can scarcely be overestimated
1t is quite as easy to have ones home
speak cheer and pleasure on every
hand as to have it dreary and forbid
ding from an unwise choice of interior
decorations. Taste and wisdom NAV
be acquired, built up, in these days
when sc much IS being done to render
houses beautiful, and when the higher
ideas are being spread broadcast