New-York tribune., 1897-08-17
DECORATING A HOUSE.
MISS LEWIS GIVES PROFESSIONAL HINTS
THAT ARE USEFUL.
OCCUPANTS MUST BE CONSIDERED. As WE'LL As
WHAT AN APARTMENT l. TO BE USED

OCCUPANTS MUST BE CONSIDERED. A. WE'LL As
WHAT AN APARTMENT Is TO BE USED
FoR-GooD COLOR EFFECTS
Artistic color effect and furnishing In n home
ara proof now of the artistic sense of the own
ers thereof. for the professional artist decorator
and furnsher finds uncircumscribed field for
his skill in house decoration. Miss Lewis. Of the
Gramercy. has made great strides in this parcu-
lar field When she was interviewed by Tribune
reporter who wanted to find out about new
schemes in interior decoration. that lady promptly
disayowed all knowledge of the subject
You see | DO not work by rule diagram" said
she. The truth Is furnish houses just FOR what
we artists call pot boilers My aspirations are
in another direction" and Miss Lewis led the
visitor into her studio the walls of which We're
covered with pastels. portraits and sketches OF
quaint figures in old-time satin brocadcs. all Of
which spoke for the ambitions of the artist
II did not intend TO make the furnishing Of
houses a profession said Miss Lewis but the
houses have found me out and pursued me. Some
times am annoyed when they take me away from
my portraits for the houses very absorbing
They consume nv time. and necessarily my at
tention and my interest for ! feel quite respon-
sble for them until turn them over to the owner
complete in every detail.
COLOR AND CHARACTER
How do | start in with the work? Well be
lieve l first look the house. and then | con-
slider the people who are to occupy 1t. The rooms
must have color ana character. ana lntN must b'
unconventional Ideas must be originated. and
then ali must be relative to the amount Of eN-
penditure. ! have just completed most effective
library-room m the house Of + ID. Hooper in
West Eighty-scvcnth-st. Th- colors are green and
black. The wall is Il tobacco green and thu wood
work black. The furniture Is teakwOod and iht
bookcases ebony. \ window seat in the bay
window is plentifuliy supplied with gorgeous pill
lows The window hangings are OF green silk. and
the chandelier is unique affair OF wrought iron
with opaque inverted cups ornamcnt-d with greci
glass The leather bindings Of the books on the
boOksheiics also furnished contrasting color. In
the same house the music-room effectively
decorated apartment ON a pumpkin-yeiow frieze
srrttTenT and gay.. tb. room, nor onI, rLarart4r
but warmth OF atmosphere. This last il what my
rooms must have. must l-nt fhem warmth thai
is not measured by Fahrenhei;. This Of c6urse i,
best done by hanrings rugs. etc. but all must
harmonic and blend TO maxi room that invites
DIN1NG-ROOM EFFECTS.
a particular delight to me has been dining
room nave recently furnished. The wall covering
Is tapestry. allowing four-foOt frieZe Of a plain
color. Below the freze is an eieht-inch shelf on
which placed pieces Of pewter. copper and
brass. The furnishings OF carved antique oak.
The summer home Of George Mminc Al Lakeville.
Conn. Is another house recently completed.
Il have recently been congratulated on tho sue
ssess Of bachelorS apartInent which have just
were no, in thc cast feminine There vas an impos-
sble recess in the room. and seemed lend Itself
to nothing in the world. and was in consequence
quite puzzle TO ne However. built platform
in front Of it, backed Il with wall Of mirror hung
portieres at either side Of The mirror. spread rug
over the platform. established palm at one side,
room The Oriental cOlOrs abounded here This j.
occupant one would scarcely put man IN a
room ~ pale blue and rose color The pictures on
the wall must he typical also
ROOM FOR A YOUNG GIRL
Il have recently designed 2 room for young
girl who has expressed herself charmed with the
result The wall paper is exquisite new design
representing "a vine of pink roses and green leaves
clambering trcllis. A carpenter was en-
ploycd build a shelf about the walls at depth
q TWO feet from tho ceiling As ne latter was low
and airy trifes dear TO a girls heart There
we're vases in pink; white candlesticks containing
tanning photographs Of friends and celebrities The
floor Was covered with moss-green filing and over
this TO he placed white fur rugs when cool
weather comes. The drapcries were Of fine PINK
coInierpane and vslarcc OF the white enamelled
he'd cushions for the chairs draperies for the win
doWs and dressing-tabe The room was ineXpen-
siye and Yet dainty as possible. On the walls were
hung waier-colors In wide mats. with passepartout
frames
I'm house decoration there are certain rules
lowed out in all houses. The exposure OF a room
must decide its color quite as much the to
snIrnI,uro md neutral tones IN fbe csrne1 IL he
exposure is northern a higher key OF color Is de-
sira be with Eight furniture and rugs or carpets
MATTERS TO BE CONSIDERED
The use or purpose for which IS intended
Is certainly Of great importance IN considering
color effect Tie library. dining-room and study
should be quiet and rcstfu in color eject so as
not 10 iar upon the senses. Halls should be quiet
and dgnifed yet cheerful Here the visitor
ceives the first impression the hall is the keynote
OF the entire house.
The nving-rooms should be cheerful ana home
like Tho parlor and recepti0n-rOoms should lend
themselves particularly 10 illumination. They sug-
gest evening tints that bring out the complexion
and harmonic with briliiancy Of attire. Blue OF
any degree duls by artificial light while, any color
containing yellow receives an added brilancy. Ny
ladys boudoir should always be tinted 10 sut her
complexion and 10 blend with dainty pegnoirs.
I'm blending colors one must study nature. and
whatever tnis are restful TO the eye may usually
b employed in interior decoration Red and yell