Evening star., 1902-02-15
Observation-Disclosures
EXQUISITE GOLD CANE AND
WHITE ENAMEL SETS.
An Ideal Du Barry Room Fitted Up
for a Recent
Bride.
Written fo- The Evening Star.

1T does not matter in the least how
much King James oak or Washingtonian
mahogany is used in the library, recep-
ton and drawing rooms of the properly
furnished country houses, the sleeping
apartments must be treated with lighter
hand" Thus spoke the first authority in
America on interior decorations who holds
that though we may so back to older Eng
land and to our own colonial period for
models in living rooms, it is to the French
we must cling for the highest ideals in
the fitting of bed chambers.
1.-THE French know exactly what bed
chamber ought to be- said this eminent
decorator 1T must first of all represent
deliciously gay and cheerful serenity, alb
solute simplicity and stand complete
without superfuous furniture, hangings,
etc. bed room should for health's sake
never be used as a sitting room; for
health's sake it ought to be also an in
spiration to high spirits and good temper
and again for heath's sake 1t should be
perfectly formal and almost spare in the
amount of fitting employed. This sensible
and healthful philosophy of furnishing has
insensibly taken a firm hold on the fancy
of American country house proprietors
and today the eighteenth century French
or marquise bed room furniture is used
in all the fine homes on the big or little
country estates. The wall papers, wood
~.
all either imported directly from France
or can be bought from our own factories,
where the most perfect copies of Louis
XIV and Louis XVI models are turned
eighteenth century French household
goods the choice just now has settled on
the laquered wood and gilded cane Of
Madame du Barry's period, and perhaps
the finest example Of this style is owned
by Mrs. Chauncey NJ Depew, who Is
learned in French decorative periods and
who received splendid du Barry set as a
wedding present.
bedside cabinets, four chairs, two tabour
cts and dressing table. Gided cane and
white lacquered wood. on which in high
relief are carved wreaths of apples that
are richly gilded, is the pattern Of the ten
pieces that form the complete furnishings
of her exquisite bed room On the floor
of this room is a large Ambasson rug of
du Barry pink nearly covering the highly
of the rug the floor Is inlaid in elaborate
patterns done in light hard woods that
are highly polished. The walls are covered
with a du Barry chintz paper which eX
actly matches the bedspread and the up
holstery of the chairs and stools. What
this rooms emphasizes is light. color and
cheerful charm, fresh airiness and dainty
neatneSs.
On the mantel shelf of pink marble a
clock and candelabra of gilt are the only
ornaments, and when toilet is in process
of making one of the chintz- covered panels
in the wall swings open and a series of
three sX-foot mirrors unfold, while putting
sconces Of gilt gas jets above them cast
powerful light on the evening costume.
While this room has been carried out in
detail in the richest and most perfect woods
and fabrics that money could buy, an equally
satisfactory and correct impression is Sc
cured in the average new country house
at something near a fifth of the cost of this
one chamber The American manufacturer
can turn out the most charming and mex
pensive copies of the best Pampadour and
du Barry periods, in enamel wood combined
with cane, that Is first gilded and then var
nshed This is perfectly durable and
highly decorative when it is treated with
the Pompadour rose or the du Barry apple.
Along with the less costly furnishings are
used the most charming and inexpensive
chintzes. These last can be bought in all the
Louis XIV and XVI colors, Vatican green,
Pompadour turquoise and Duchess rose at
Is cents yard. They are used for bed
spreads. upholstery and the straight, scant
portieres for doors and w WjndoWs that ac-
cord with the French decoration.
Especially printed Bourbon wall papers
are also to be had, to be laid on solidily in
the modern fashion or printed in separate