The Saint Paul globe., 1904-04-30
HOUSE DECORATIONS SIMPLER.

For the last two or three years in
New York the tendency has been to-
ward simplicity in house furnishings
and decorations. This does not mean
that rich people are contenting them
selves with inexpensive furnishings for
the fine houses which have gone up so
fast Of late in the city. Far from it.
Simplicity and cheapness do not neces-
sarily go hand in hand, says a writer
in the New York Sun.
A Fifth avenue decorator said not
long ago:
During the last five years there has
been a constantly increasing demand in
this country for the costliest and rarest
specimens of furniture and hangings
which can be imported or manufactur-
ed here after imported models. Many
Of the very wealthy have selected such
pieces for themselves while on the 9TH
er side"
Fhe other day a decorator and de-
agner equally famous said on the sub
ject Of house furnishings:
1nconspfcuous and simple effects in
color and design are now noticeable
feature of the furnishings and decora-
tiOns OF the best houses
To see gOrgeously frescoed walls and
ceilings that show not an inch of un-
i adorned space one must now go to the
hotels and restaurants to club houses
and public buildings. With few excep-
tiOns they will not be found in the
homes of the New Workers. who set the
fashion in most things not only for this
| city, but also for the country at large.
This wifi illustrate what | mean. -
explained a decorator, taking up a col
Ored sketch of a parlor respf-ndent in
gold trimmings, intricate frescoes and
ornamental frieZeS. 1t represents one
OF the rooms in a big hotel in neigh
boring city we are now furnishing and
decorating.
The proprietors of the hotel are not
striving after quiet effects by any
means. And they are right. The great
mass of the travelling public are better
pleased TO have magnificent effects
when they pay big prices. They ex-
pect them. in fact.
Now, here in contrast to that is
Mrs. So-and- Sos drawing room (nam-
ing a lady who is famed for her
wealth. which we redecorated last
fall" .ta
The sketch showed a long expanse of
perfectly plain ceiling rounding down
to meet four-inch moulding of white
and gold. The walls between two
foot high wainscOting of white enamel
ed wood and the frieZe were panefed
with yellow self-tOned satin brocade.
The chairs and sofas were upholstered
in yellow brocade of exactly the same
tine, and portieres and window eur
tains were made of the same material
The frames of the furniture were white
enameled.
The general style of the room is
Louis XVI" explained the decorator.
and to some extent it Is a facsimile
of the drawing room most in vogue
just now among the very wealthy.
Plain ivory tinted ceilings devoid of
ornamentation are practically the
rule. The very wide, elaborate frieze
has gone out.
There are no vivid contrasts of color
in wall hangings or furniture cover
ings. The self-tOned room-that is. the
room where everything is of the one
color-has the lead in the best houses
below the bed room floors. Two or
three kinds of furniture of as many
different colors jumbIed up in the same
drawing room are out of the question
now
Aubusson tapestry is preferred by
those who can afford il for furniture
covering and hangings, and in spite of
Its cost it is exquisitely refined and in
conspicuous in it's colors and general
effect None but the experienced knows
that small sofa made of this fabric
costs about 5000 or more, and a single
chair about $500. It Is neither snowy
nor gaudy.
Powdered gold frames or frames of
Circassian walnut generally go with
the Louis XIV. and XVI. designs of
covering. and in order to carry out the
color scheme in any but very large.
drawing rooms ii is the fashion now to
have large center rug made to match.
This takes six months, but the result
is entire harmony of coloring"