Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-09
REMODELING THE CITY HOME.
How an Artistic Drawing Room Can
BE Evolved With Taste and
Thought.

Thought.
| For the amount of money expended NO
decorative arrangement Is SO brilliant as
| dazzling white enamel paint, with gold or
silver used on the high lights Of the relief
| work. However, this effect has been in
jured by overuse. and may be happily ex-
changed for the exceedingly modish and
artistic combination of dark rich green and
gold. A beautiful green woodwork is en-
| bellished with as much relieve as possible
of gilt, after the graceful early French
models. or of more original designs il one
wishes 1t.
Dark red wall covering is prettiest with
the green and gold. 1t may be of striped
velvet. figured damask. the paper that
closely Stimulates the latter, or of red bur-
lap. This probably would prove more sat
isfactory than any of the more expensive
fabrics.
opposite doorways and inside %unenclosed
windows. which give vista and an impress
sion of space, have not been at all appre-
ciated in this country. until very recently
without a gloss. touches of gilt may be
ADDED in this way: A wide gilt molding
placed as a frieze above the red wall
hangings; a central gilt ceiling ornament,
in relief, with pendant gilt electrolier "a
candle chandelier would be more artistic,
though less conveniently. with one or two
wall candelabra of gilt; and the bevel of
the ~doorway's border. as well as the relief
work of the mantel. of goldleaf.
The mantel should be ~plain-that IS. with
out an over-mantel; Suspended above it an
side by gilt candelabra, or those of chiseled
plaster that closely rasemble old ivory
two of Recamier style. both as to picture
and to frame, suspended above the mantel.
AS the mantel in itself is somewhat bril-
liant, its ornaments should be somewhat
somber: a polished copper ever; q very ar
tistic photograph framed in wrought silver;
an amber glass vase set in old silver: a
small Canton pitcher holding, some dried
pink roses with their foliage. both for the
beauty Of their subdued coloring and to
give a touch of sentiment; a Venetian glass
earafe Of the graceful shape one may pick
the most artistic of the vase
order; and, last. a cut glass candelabrum
for a dash of brightness.
Great caution should be exercised in fur
nishing such a room to allow nothing, even
In. the smallest accessories, to go into it
which makes the faintest discord in the
impression Of stately. antique. but grace
full and Frenchy-which implies a certain
ightness-Scheme of decoration. Much that
gives this effect is not French at all. but
perhaps Venetian. or even Japanese, but it
Is merely the result that We must insist
upon.
Many amateur furnishers go with fair
correctness through the major details. but
when they arrive at the embellishments.
fall into every sort of error. With this fact
In view, we are considering with equal in
terest the minuter aspects of the decorative
scheme. though, of course. the suggestions
may be varied at the decorators discre-
ton.
For chairs it would be wise to select ap-
propriate designs in dark natural woods.
highly polished and as deliberately carved
as the purchaser can afford; though many
quite plain and massive ones. in quaint
shapes. that would answer perfectly, may
now be procured at very modest cost. With
these should be mixed two or three others
that are altogether different.
What pictures one uses must be good.
appropriate In themselves. and also in their
framing. A few beautiful women's heads,
historical or f%anciful, in pastel, by some
ing. They should have oval gilt frames.
The floor of the room may be covered
with the fine satin finished government
mating, in its natural color. with white