Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-01-14

Square pillow chairs and sofas. up
holstered in Turkish fashion with n.
wood visible, are very fashionable
The finest of these chairs are covere,
with the fine Persian rugs that lool
more like silk than camel's hair.
The passion for hard wood floors i.
general and rugs are the rule, carpet.
the exception. The shops are filled
with bewildering assortment OF east.
ern rugs. There are antique prayer
rugs from old mosques. worn by the
knees Of many worshippers: rugs from
Lahore. from the Vale Of Cashmere
the rose valley of Bokhara, in all about
30 different districts are represented by
the various eastern carpets in market
The handsomer hard wood floors are
sunk in the center to fit the heavy
Turkish carpet. which is fastened by
pins and sockets so chat it can readily
be removed The most attractive
feature of hard wood floors and rugs
to the housekeeper is the fact that they
do away with the chief terror of house
cleaning. the taking up and putting
down Of carpets every spring. The
rugs. on the contrary, are removed
and busted whenever the floor is
swept. and the floor is kept clean all
the time with only weekly derange-
ment of an hour or so in place of the
annual earthquake. Where there is
not a hard wood floor the ordinary
floor may be covered with plain carpet
or with China mating. and the rugs
laid down on that.
Really this is no more clearly than
the old-fashioned method of carpeting
the room. but the plain background
shows off the rugs to advantage. Fur
rugs look well upon mating, and one
or two are found in each bedroom in
the majority of luxurious summer cot
tages. When fur rugs are used care is
necessary to preserve them from
moths. 1t goes without saying that
they are of all sorts. the cheapest in
one Of the leading shops being So. and
the more expensive 1878. In the dimly
lighted receptionroom of some hand
some residences it behooves the Gale,
to he careful lest she trip unwarily
over the head of lion, tiger or polar
bear lying ou;stretched upon the
polished floor.
Ii lis IL fancy IN handsome houses to
carpet the stairs with long narrow rugs
which form a tread, like that of a stair
carpet. up the polished stair. Still more
elegant are narrow rugs for each wide
step. Fastened with p.n-like buttons. An
tique rugs are softened by wear until
their surface is sllken and the colors are
blended like the colOrs of a landscape.
The Background of some of the handsom-
est of these rugs is the natural color of
the came.'s hair. Antique rugs are pre-
ferred 10 all OF hers when they are not toe
much Worn. as the colors are finer and
harmonize in amy scheme of decoration:
but only people of slightly eccentric taste
will buy IA ragged rug. Still it IS possible
to have an oriental carpet mended per-
fectly. provided YOU are willing 70 pay
literally for the work. Turkish rugs are
always dark and their beauty is in their
rich colcrings. They cannot be used to
brighten a room like some of the eastern
carpets. which resemble mosaucs and look
as though the trees of Aladdins garden
had been shaken upon them.
Bhandoor rugs are popular for hand
some country cottages. as they are bright
and especially effective with the pretty
light woods and bamboo furniture now so
much used. A rug under the dining ia
BILE is the proper thing. and dining
room carpet is rare. The oriental rug is
the wisest choice If one can afford it,
one cannot the imita lions are good.
All carpets have borders and may be
made up rugs, while the smyrna and
Wilton rugs are woven in such close i'm
ceive any but Il practiced eye. Japanese
rugs are wonderfully good for the money
but will not stand hard wear, not that
they wear out. btrt the coloTS fade and
the rug looks shabby.
Medieval designs and oriental effects
are by all odds the rule. Everything an
tique is stylish. and our factories turn
out antique furniture wholesale. You
may buy a chair which looks as though
II belonged to your great grandmother in
any furn.ture shop. and the old-time
dressing table Is quite the correct thing.
Eastlake bookcases are preferred. but
Eastlake Is broad term and may mean
any one of a number of designs, provided
the case is low. with q table-like shelf for
The top. Cabinets for bric-a-brac are part
Of 'uhe furniture in all handsome draw
.ng rooms. and the auainter and mora
unique they are the better. People prefer
to keep their costly treasures locked up
not handled. Everyone who can afford
il collects something. and the story Is
told of one wealthy woman who brought
back a marvellous tapestry from the east
a nd had a room furnished TO suit it,.
In decorating a room there Is always
danger of OVERRIDING the thing. No room.
however. looks homelike without few
knick knacks scattered here ana there.
Still ladies with taSte and leisure ma?
give their rooms the air of museum or
bl'ic-a-brac shop.
Pictures are among the most essential
of furnishings. yet it d possible to have
tDo iiaiiS siiS W uNi & N<>N ~ - 50
lery. As good engraving is to be pre-
forred to a poor painting. 50 the quality
rather than the showiness of pictures
ought to De The first consideration is
their choice Papared walls. unless Of
u,,ietest tone, rarely show off pictures to
advantage Tinted walls in gray, pale
buff. blue or pink are far better. \ very
: riking oriental room has the colorins
in dark red. with gilt holdings. while the
pictures are framed in gilt. Indeed. walls
afford a fertile subject for the decorator $
art A beautiful dining room has them
covered with fine japanese mating 70
within three feet of the ceiling. where It
is met by a frieze of gold and white wal
plDer in Il large chrysanthemum pattern
The gold picture molding divides paper
and mating. The holdings and the fur
ntiure are of oak. a New York artist
l,rneled his geception-room IN brow
butchers paper. with gilded ropes by way
Of decoration the picture rod being Il ca
BILE held at short intervals by staples.
Bedrooms in very handsome houses
lave the walls covered with i1uted emma
snk. ending under u rosette in the CEN
fer of the ceiling. A successful Chicago
decorator uses glazed English, chintz Tor
the same purpose. Her own bedroom y
upholstered in a dainty design or small
pink roses with green leaves, making II
a bower of beauty.
Everything quaint and original is adj
mired. only be artistic. whatever you
do