The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-08-25

2 By MRS. GEORGE G. B ALL.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
When so many pretty homes are going
up all over the city and the homes al
ready built are being reprinted and BEAU
titled by the owners, it is natural that
the minds of men and women should
turn to the furnishing and decorating
of these homes. Of course, 1t IS essen
tial that ore should have some money,
even for the simplest furnkhing, but it
is net indispensable to artistic adorn-
ment that one should possess wealth. So
much can be accomplished with SO small
an outlay If one has judgment and
genuine appreciation of the beautiful
things of life. The most unattractive,
monotonous houses in the world are
those furnished solely by professional
decorator, whose tastes are largely reg
ulatsd by the moneyed value of his wares.
Such home is but a small production
of a shop. No woman OF refinement and
taste would tolerate such a house for
any length of time; she would give to
the rooms, halls, the bath rooms and the
kitchen the impress of her individuality.
furnished with simplicity that is ex-
quisite, and the dainty touches of a cul-
tured woman's hands make them beau
tiful and restful to the family as well as
visitors.
When the drap;ng and arrangement Of
windows Is to be considered it is well TO
bear in m MI that white shades produce
a dazzling light, are no longer as fashion,
able as they were. In their stead, the
tasteful housekeeper prefers shades Of
buff or tea color, which harmonic with
other furnishings better than those OF
white. Sash curtains are concrete part
of home decorations, and often more or
namental than useful, especially that va
riety which is frilled and furbelowed ana
then tied back.
Sash curtains of net, with designs
darned in tho meshes. are particularly
pleasing and are easily made. These
should be edged with guipure lace, and If
desired a guipure center piece can be
added. A very lovely. effect in sash cur
tains is produced by the use of tissue
silk of any desirable shade, with delicate
lace or net woven over them.
Long curtains should never extend
much below the window sill, or just above
the floor, if taste so suggests. These
should hang in straight, severe folds.
never box-pleated and never festooned.
The newest lace curtains have centers of
plain coarse nets, with an edge of lace
and an inner border of ribbon work.
Brussels and renaissance lace curtains
are both popular and cream lace ones
will be very fashionable. Curtains for
bedrooms will be made of Irish point
{where one does not have to colnt coso
tambour net or Japanese silk.
And, of course, no artisticaliy decora-
ted house is complete without cushions
and pillows, which make the odd corners
and luxurious couehes inviting and rest
full to the family and visitors alike.
So many and such various pillows are
seen everywhere that it would be a diff
cult matter to make blunder in pur-
chasing or designing one. There is the
cushion of dull blue veloue, the center
cut from square of coarse ecru linen,
leaving the drawn work border intact.
mt = ..;ll
sci thread and green and pink floss. n
heavy silk cord around the sides gives
"A finish 10 this cushion.
A pillow for the smoking den is covered
with dull art ticking and pipes. tobacco.
and punches of cigars are worked in
brown, red and black as Is the motto:
''The man who smokes thinks like sage
and acts like a Samaritan"
A very odd and pretty cushion IS made
of black satin ornamented with peacock
feathers ana gold stork. THE quilts are
carefully split and the feathers fastened
to the satin with strong glue. This is a
very nice piece of work, requiring deft
handling to prevent the glue from rum ng
on the satin. Cover with lueee of smooth
manila paper and keep under a beard
and weights until The fathers are dry,
or the satin will wrinkle. The gold bull
lion work may be gotten at any Japanese
sore
AndJlfer very pretty pillow Is covered in
dull red calico, having a procession of
solemn yellow and black Egyptians me-
andaring over the surface. The Sides are
finished with full ruffle.
a pretty cushionts made of heavy satin
duchesse. and has a fight of butterflies
embroidered In rich shades of golden
Brown, yellow and white, with black and
tinsei meshings introduced In the wings.
around the four sides of this cushion Is a