The Winslow mail., 1899-06-29
SOME LITTLE THINGS.
The Proper ArTang gement of Odd
Articles Help the Appear
aucc OF Il Room

If bric-abrac is rot in any way su-
peri0r, it is better o group several har-
monious pieces, only isolating those to
whose fine contour or color you wish
to draw attention. The usual three
pieces for nanteis are, as ruic, too
formal for small room. 1t is difficult
to find anything suitable to add, to
break he numerical effect, as these
sets are SO dignifed that to Put with
them any merely pretty object would
produce an incongruity.
While there is a bond between the
arts it is we'll to give the pictures of
musicians little exclusive corner near
the piano. while the other Personages.
as writer's and painters, may be hung
in groups or rows near the bookcase.
Landscapes should be put together;
faces by themselves. This should be
done without apparent effort, for evil
dences CT studied effect take away all
charms from room. The success of
the hit-cr-miss arrangement Of pic
lures is due to its seeming freedom
from law.
y coed book or magazine is never out
of place on q table or tabouret.. or in
any room. 1t is often a substitute,
when guest is kept waiting for few
minutes
rriiing bric-a-brac is not appro-
pirate above bookcases. Bronzes may
not be available Or desirable, yet plas-
ter casts, pieces Of pottery, medallons,
brass or wrought-iron candlcsticlls
give character to the top Shelf, while
toy clocks, china candlczticks and
basque figures should be excluded. A
clock does not seem congruous above
bookcase, as we cannot connect time
with the infnitude Of thought.
Form is as important as color. Many
rooms seem arranged according to a L
square, few people recognizing the
value Of the round or elliptical in shape
a round or oval gilt frame gives to a
room a luxurious aspect which prim
square one does not. However, ore
shape must find response in something
else Of the same shape. An oval object
must have a counterpart; similarly a
color must be REINFORCED by compan-
ion color. a patchy look is given by
too many unaccompanied shapes or
colors a color CIR shape must have
some apparent relationship to other
colors CT objects to give harmony to a
room. A bright color introduced into
room Of subdued co!oring is q dis
cordant note 1t makes the others look
faded and soiled.
Unless in a room Of delicate color
ing, light silk pillows are not desirable
Such pillows on o worn. dull sofa at
tract attention, by contrast, to its con
dition; while those OF dull color and
serviceable material would give one to
understand unconsciously that the sofa
was worn because So comfortable.
A first requirement CT pleasing
room is to have the various pieces Of
furniture in proper proportion to one
another in size. then distributed so
that they balance. This principle is
fundamental. and was responsible, by
excess. for SO much mopotony in house
hold decoration decade Or two ago
where the vase on one end Of The man.
tel was balanced by a similar one on
the other end. In order I o break away
from the servitude of pairs and sets we
have gone in 4 sort Of rytistic frenzy,
to the other extreme, until all repose
is lost in tumble of odd pieces Of fur
niture and bric-a Housewife.