The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16
SHELVES IN HOME ADORNMENT
VIEWS or A WOMAN DECORATOR
on ONE PHASE or HER Art.
They're Far Pretter Thsn Cabinets. She
Says, and Infinitely Handler -Ihei
Use Has Become . Fad Kinds That
Look Well window (onseryatorfcs

Dsy sHt rs ebb
Use Has Become . Fad -Kinds That
90 We'll window Conserystories
Few people realize how much character
shelves add TO a room. I" said a woman deo-
orator while she worked the other afternoon
making order out Of chaos in a bachelor
fiat. Like cushions and rugs and books
they give that delicious air of comfort
that Is 80 often lacking in the stately but
stif drawing rooms Of modern homes.
when I make a contract for decorating
or arranging an apartment artistically.
/ always ask for the privilege OF putting
in shelves IL | deem them desirable. A
great many people do not take TO the idea
at all. They associate shelves with the
homely uses Of the kitchen, the pantry and
| tho cellar. The fact is, this very utility
of the shelf constitutes much Of It's beauty.
.Peoplo have become educated TO seeing
book shelves In a library or sitting room
in preference to set bookcases for these
nave always seemed designed more as show
cases for books and their bindings rather
than 10 hold books ready for intimate use
There are fewer bookcases sold nova
days than formerly, for everybody seems
TO appreciate the charm OF the low book
cases built In around a room or occupying
some special nook or corner In a bay window
or alcove. On the top OF these shelves one
oan always have plants. Photographic, mag
azines, all the hundred and one little fur
| nishings that add to the beauty OF a room,
The high corner book shelves are al
ways good, for they use up space that
Is often wasted and this is an impor-
tant matter In these days OF apartment
house furnishing. Then | like the idea OF
books within easy.reach, their rows not too
| formidably stif. But people must get
used TO shelves, not only for books but for
| other uses 10 which they adapt themselves
charmingly. A music room In an uptown
studio has above the piano a low shelf
swung on brass chains and a similar one
over the organ. This il entirely with a
view to convenience in obtaining the sheets
OF music, but OF course 1t IL p%rettier than
the commonplace cabinet by far.
-Bric-a-brac displayed in cabinets OF
glass and gilt has become almost an eye
sore. Like the piano lamp of a few years
ago 1t won more popularity than IL deserved.
But b~ric-h-brao Is happily going out and
now in furnishing we always try 10 put
in sets Of finely made and well polished
shelves for the accommodation OF the
really good china or pottery that Is owned.
zone effect that must always he ban
ished from a room is the fireless chimney
place. The placing OF a screen before
it is only an added inoongruity, but here
Is an admirable chance for shelves. |
have seen some of the most delightful
little cabinets simulated In this way in
which books. pipes or china may be stored
10 advantage. Then sets OF wellmade
shelves may show shells gathered during
a summer trip. ore specimens, carved
worries or old brass or silverware. Such
shelves add immensely TO the individuality
Of a living room or a special den.
an one home there was a somewhat
impossible window; that il 70 say, IL mo-
nopolized the Lest part Of one wall OF a
library. From each side Of the window
I had shallow book shelves built out into
the room, about three feet standing and
about four and a half feet high from the
floor. A broad-cushioned seat was carried
about this space just below the window
and OUT at each side. giving the effect Of
an old-fashioned h~igh-backed settle, with.
of course, the window for the back. Light
Japaneee silk draped the window and the
books provided were all verse. We called
il the poets corner and il was a charming
nook in which 20 curl up for an hour or
two over a favorite book.
Another old-fashioned house that has
been turned into a bachelor apartment
house showed the very queer arrange
ment of mRntels built between two big
window but without any fireplace he
meath. Here again shelves came 10 the
rescue. We had them sat In white enamel
and distributed a beautiful ert Of old blue
wilowware in each Of them, the cups and
sauoers, the cream jugs and teapots oc-
cupying the top mantel in the fine light
that came In through gathered point
d'eeprlt.
.0ne rarely sees shelves In modern bed
rooms. In fact, the bedroom remains
hopelessly commonplace, no matter what
we may do for IL. Unless one has an old
f~our-poster, there Is nothing much prettier
than a brass bed. Then there Is the dress
ing table, the cheval glass, the couch. with
It's pillows; but the bedroom remains es-
sentially the sleeping room in appearance.
There was a woman who wished to
have a long glass for dressing. Not having
room for a swinging cheval. she suggested
setting one on the back Of the wardrobe
door. But this was not practicable on
account of the poor light; - we selected
the wall with the best light from the electric
globe In the ceiling and had the glass built
IN with Il moulding around II. But II
looked unfinished.
y had it practically framed in little
shelves down the sides with ono narrow
shelf over the top. In each Of the little
inches was a powder box, u pin tray, a
scent bottle, a face cram, hair pins all
tn. numerous necessities Of the toilet,
The advantage Of this plan in dressing
quickly will he appreciated by every woman
who has ever attempted 10 dress In a hurry
before a table which speedily becomes a
heap OF lsccs, brushes, gloves, handler
chiefs, fans and jewels, hopelessly mixed
No with the dressing appointments. The
little shelves made a place for everything
where the hand could reach instinctively
! for II and did away with any chance Of
| sudden uusctting Of scent bottles or powder
and pin boxes. which 40 often deinorRliZe
a hasty toilet.
Every bedroom should have at least
one shelf for ones own personal books, the
fayorite ones which MAJ TO picked up
withou, disturbing others during n wakeful
hour on retiring.
.Sorne people frown AZ the idea Of grow
ing plants in a nursery, but one of the
p~rattiest and most Interesting rooms of
The sort was a big nursery in Washington,
which was really a day nursery, as the
children slept in another part Of the house.
There was one great window facing the
south Instead Of ~curtaining It, narrow
shelves were swung across il from the