Evening star., 1900-02-24
Fine Points Noted in a House of
Moderate Cost.
INGENUITY and TASTE DISPLAYED
Out Of Wealth Of Experience
Good Hints Given
BEST FINISHING TOUCHES

nave lately seen q very interesting
| room. built with the new-old ideas of dark
woodwork, the staining done by modern
chemicals, however, not by time. Pine was
the inexpensive wood used, and a deep
wanscoting on the sides and beams show
| ing on the ceiling are stained the dark
| brown of Flemish oak, good wearing
color. The beams in the ceiling are only
the joists of the next story above, made
smooth and stained: the result is only a
| little more expensive than the usual plas-
| tering and much more picturesque. On the
ceiling, between the beams, is fastened
academy board, with gold pattern stem
ciled upon 1t; the ground gray green.
| The side walls similar in color being
| of sanded plaster, tinted the desired shade
| Above the wainscot is a narrow shelf for
| pictures framed and unframed, with here a
few books and there a vase or small bowl.
The tone of the walls is perfection as a
background for photographs and prints,
OF which many are hung above those rest
| ing on the shelf. Most of them are in black
or dark oak frames, and a large tray of
Benares brass Is hung with good effect on
| the chimney-piece. Brass candlesticks, the
modern reproduction of antique Russian,
are on the mantel, while a seven branched
one, souvenir of days in Rome, is on one
OF the book cases. There are three of these
inches each side of the fireplace and one
| on the opposite side, all just the height of
| the wainscot. This is just the height of
the mantel, too, giving a uniform appear
ance which seems to increase the apparent
size Of the room itself. while varied heights
| IN such objects tend to give a patchy ap-
| back, was made by the carpenters when
the other woodwork was done, the archi-
| tect giving the design to be followed, of
pine stained like the rest. Very dull
| blue cushions are on either end while
cover of the same-serge should say it is
iron, from the looks-ls on small round table.
nish-looking room is round when closed,
but a section swings back on hinges: the
no lifting ,g up shows chair seat, cushioned
| shaped table, with drawers containing ali
materials for writing. When not in use for
this purpose the lid of the seat is lowered
ana swung W back into place, where it fits the
curve OF the kidney shaped half and be-
comes a good-sized round table again. de-
nsht1u1 FOR cards, and the man of the
mouse enjoys his game of whist and this
specla! room OF his is small, this suits him
to nicely. -
The Floor Covering.
The large rug on the dark floor is in COL
oring of blue and green mostly, with bits
OF red, white and yellow mingled and the
comfortable Morris chair has cushions of
serge like the settle. There are two good
WINDOWS, which are hung with cream
madras, and this is to my mind the most
artlstlc curtaining for windows where
|
such good folds, tones the light SO pleas
lngly and can be laundered several times
at least before wearing out, and unstiffen-
ed by starch keeps its pristine softness
until the last
In this same house the dining table is
worthy of mention; it is of handsome oak
with an extension at each end which when
closed drops an inch by means of a spring,
ana slips under the solid square center;
either or both ends may be used for en-
iarglng, and it is a great improvement on
foI1 1p III.
cost is very moderate
When small table only is needed, and
the fancy is to have it bare, it is much
prettier to be solid instead Of with a crack
across the center, as is usual. In one of
the bed rooms of this attractive home the
walls are of the same rough plaster as in
the little library or sitting room q am so
weary of 'den!o referred to; but of a soft
old blue, what would in gowns be called a
pastel shade and very charming 1t is.
The curtains here are of Japanese COTTON
They are different from anything L have
seen elsewhere and are lovely The ground
is of white crepe with delicate embroidery
In b!ue scattered over the entire surface.
and they are finished with blue and white
fringe.
Black Walnut Furniture.
Against the plain blue wall they are very
decorative. The furniture in this room is
black walnut, of the rich brown shade not
the darkest kind. That it is all old goes, of
course without saying. for l doubt if any
thing new can be bought now in this beau
tiful wood. 1t is coming into favor again,
however, as 1t ought to, and will be expen-
sive, as 1t Is not so plentiful as it used to
be. What spoiled much of the furniture of
some years ago was the machine made or
namentation put on 1t. But old pieces.
handmade or carved or plainly finished.
are always admired. In combination with
the soft blue l speak of it is admirable. |
The carpet is of brussels. rug nearly COW
ering the floor of two tones only of blue,
darker than the walls, 1t has no border
and is fastened by nails with very large fiat
heads of antique brass finish. Blue and
white cretonne cover the couch and chair
seats, while the bed is very prettily ar
ranged The head is rather higher than
that of a brass bed but is not at all ag-
gressive and is plain in finish
Japanese Bedspread.
For spread three of the single japanese
curtains have been sewed together, and
through the footboard Slit has been cut
in the wood SO that the frtnged spread falls
down metal bed. Large pillows in
handsome linen-embroidered cases - no
shams!-make the finish at the head, COW