Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-06
DINING ROOMS.
Space. Light. Ventilation. Wnu Gov.
erinE, Shades. Table md Chairs.


erinE, shades. Table md Chairs.
From the Philadelphia Record
In this country the foreign custom OF
lingering several hours over dinner is prac-
tically unknown. 1t has been commented
that we in America might protitably follow
the example of our English cousins in maxi
ing more Of the dining room than is our
usual custom.
Almost everywhere in Europe this room
is ole of The largest and most imposing
apartments in the house, and often the
handsome ST.
The walls are usually wainscoted with
firely-caryed oak or other dark wood In
1t hang the family portraits unless, of
course, the house boasts OF a picture ga
lers) and the troahies of the chase. The
furniture Is OF the most massive kind. with
great towering sideboards broad tables
and hish-backed chairs.
Most of these things have been handed
down from generation 10 generation. some
OF them, probably, are old as The family
tree; ana they end their usefulness not
through old age, but the result of some
accident. Such magnitcently made fu.ni-
lure Is rarely 10 be found in America, with
the exceptions of some dearly priced relics
CT colonial days.
In sharp contrast to the sort of room
just described is the badly-lighted, badly
ventilated, suDterranean apartment of the
average high stoop" city house. known as
the bs sement dining room. How people in
their effort to have an imposing .'parlor
moor can endure the penalty thus I'M
posed Us past comprehension. one is al
ways stumbling down those dark stairs,
and tripping over the bicycles kept in the
lower hall; and how pleasant IL is on a
warm day, when the windows are half
open, TO have your mail flung in through
the iron grating or listen to the gentle
voice of the iceman demanding to know IL
YOU want any more ice today"
IA, trf.~
In such a boX. Ii were far better to let
the rather dininutiye front parlor do
double duty as reception room and dra wing
room, reservinS the rear parlor usually the
largest room IN the nouse) for the dining
room, than to cons.gn ones guests-or
cne's own family-to those dreadful lower
regions.
To make the dining room an attractive
place rather than a mere feeding box, il
should be as large as rossible-as large.
III you are building mouse, as you can
afford to make it. Ii should be cheerful
and airy, with high ceiling.
Fer its decoration a dark red-Indisn red
as the predominant tone will be found as
rich and Pleasing as any color. the depth
OF the shade should. of course, he gov
erned by the amount OF light in the apart
ment. A japanese pressed paper In red
and bronze is probably the richest and
most effective wall hanging that can be
obtained fer a modest outlay.
The dining table is the central and most
important article of furniture. The round
table Is in every way preferable to the
oblons affair, which is, somehow, always
reminiscent of boarding houses and rsili-
tary barracks. 1t is more sociable and
lends itself admirably to decoration: while
1t may, if desired. be made long and mar
row by the Interpolation of leaves. more
artistic way of increasing its crcumfer-
ence is to have a false top Of large dimen-
sions made to fit securely over IT.
Arm chairs for every one at table are
now in vogue They certainly are a great
luxury, and do With that ia.
which so often comes To one to rest ones
arms upon the table.