The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-18

be more conspicuous than that which thew
decorate. The floor and wall are the basis
both or color scheme and decoration. as
Well as the background Of the people who
are TO live there. Especially In ordinary
small dwelling houses. patterns should.
therefore, be rather inoonspicuous. indeA-
mite In design and the color tones either
neutral or rich in effect II the climate
be sunny and the room well lighted. the
walls and floor may he dark. and rich.
II the climate be uncertain and often
cloudy. or the room badly lighted. the ef-
feet should be light and gay. Color Is the
chief means OF producing this result: tho
walls and floors OF living rooms should
be in soft rich brown, yellow, red. green
or warm gray tints.. Blue. though very
lovely when artistically used. absOrbs the
llght, is cold In effect and Is seldom sat
isfactory for living rooms. while the blue
grays are positively chilling. Yellow in
paler or deeper shades. depending on The
lighting Of the room, is uniformly cheerful
ana satisfying; next 10 IL rank the various
terra-cotta shades and the richer greens
Neither floor nor wall covering should
have large. striking designs. but should
rather II having pattern at all. have n
wandering, indefinite design or small con-
yentional patterns
The furniture and decoration OF bed
wall and floor coverings may be lighter
ana gayer than those OF living rooms.
Blue and white or pale green and white
may be used as n color scheme for any
sunny rooms; yellow or pink and white
TOT less sunny ones. One OF two single
white iron and brass bedsteads and wash
STANDS. bureau or chest OF drawers
with glass above. two or three low. light
chairs and desk or table large enough
10 write upon. a hassOCk and a waste
basket make ample furnishing. II there
be good closet or wardrobe A calendar.
writing materials. warm dressing gown
and pair OF bedroom slippers and n
furnished sewing basket add much 70 the
comfort or guest room. The rug need
only be large enough TO cover the space
In front Of the bed. bureau and stand. ~
the moor be well matched and painted or
oiled. bedroom should give the i'm
preston OF spotlessness and inviting COM
Fort; everything in IL should be readily
cleaned, and unless IL must be used also
as study or sitting room II should con-
tain only strictly necessary articles. Mats,
Dric-a-brac, superfuous fancy work, even
many pictures, are quite out OF place
Most buyers must take what Is offered
In the shops; they have neither the money
nor time, nor indeed. perhaps. the taste.
10 hnd that which is choice and which ls
perfectly adapted 10 their circumstance.
Many OF the most Obvious mistakes In
such matters are the result Of mere help
lessness In the presence OF the dealer and
the manufacturer. So many very uRIv
things have been made by man since the
era or invention began that one must
spend either much time or a great amount
or money 10 secure that which IS really
TASTEFUL Unless one Is conscious then
OF matured and cultivated taste which
may be safely trusted, II is always better
10 buy plain, substantial, we'll made arti-
cles' they at least will be only negatively
ugly. AS ones taste becomes more and
more trained by observation and expert
ence, and the amount Of money which IA
available for this purpose increases, II fs
very easy TO add more costly and artistic
furnishings. But II a mistake is made in
the beginning in buying ugly things which
are rather costly. there is growing dissat-
isfachon In living with them. Striking
patterns and fashions are safe only I'm
the hands OF very we'll trained persons
lnconspicuous designs. soft colors. plain
surfaces are very seldom inartistic Sim
pncity, appropriateness and genuineness
are always safe. There are now 10 Ia
found In all the large cities a few shona
where expert advice may be obtained on
points Of taste, but unfortunately thu
goods sold In these places are often 80
costly as 70 be quite beyond the ordinary
purse Meantime the average buyer can
at least cultivate his taste by observation
and as his income permits NAV add "a
the house furnishing articles not only
useful ana hygienic but beautiful as well.