The Minneapolis journal., 1905-11-26
LTHO colonial architecture and

a L1HO cOloHldl alen1oooV"'o "n'
~ decorations are so generally
4 "A used and the term is on every
lip there are many who use it glib!y
that have no complete idea OF the style
Martha Cutler has begun this month IN
Harper's Bazaar series Of popular
articles of periods Of household decora-
tion in which she takes up first the
colonial which she regards as peculiarly
adapted to the tastes and needs OF
Americans. After noting that the style
j is but slight modification OF the Eng
ish Georgian style she says:
t "The colonists concentrated their
ornament and original ideas on the outer
doors, the mantels, and the staircases,
while in some houses the inner door
castings and cornices were elaborately
carved. There were graceful futed pill
lars and pilasters on either side. OF door
or mantel, heavily ornamented pedl--
friezes and stair ends, and spiral neWels
and spindlcs. The panels and pillars
Of the mantel often reached to the cell
ing, so beautifully proportioned that
mirrors, pictures, or ornaments We're
quite unnecessary. The shelf IN itself
was usually very high, generally quite
inconspicuous, and often not present at
all. The mantel was sometimes of white
marble with mottled marble facing
and red brick lining, but it was oftener
simnIv of wood. painted white, with
carvings or plain holdings. The pre-
dominating characteristics here, as IN
the whole house, were simplicity, Dig
nity, and grace.
White Paint or Mahogany.
"All Of the rooms were generally
wainscoted either up to the cornlce or
only as far as chairrail. The wood
was either mahogany or pine painted
white. Even with the white walnscot
and paneling the doors were frequently
Of heavy polished mahogany, inside
Heavily carved castings or supported on
either side by Doric or Ionic pilasters
delicately futed. The windows were
usually deeply set, with curved tops
and heavy shutters, many OF them ar
ranged in groups Of three. The window
at the top of the stairs IN the nail WI was
ALWAYS particularly effective, shedding
its light upon the tall clock standing
in the corner of the landing and sedately
ticking the time away. Pllasters and
columns were frequently seen on either
side of the windows as well as the doors,
while there was almost lnvarlably a
broad low arch in the lower hall sup
ported by two columns and framing IN
the broad stairs with their white steps,
white spiral spindles, and mahogany
rail, turning sometimes in both direc-
ttions instead of one at the landing half
way up. This sweep OF stairs With the
arch below and the graceful window
above is always one, OF the greatest
beauties Of a colonial house. E.
&a Quaint Landscape Papers. u
q "a quaint and interesting addition
To these architectural features is the
landscape paper more often seen IN the
Hall than in the other parts OF the house
Here are views Of Venice with gon
dolas and graceful gondoliers, Grecla1
temples, with the Olympic games go
ing on in the foregrron1n!3dI:: Dutch wing WI q
all kinds. These, landscape papers are
Quite realistic, soft in color, end very
attractive, but very large and elaborate
in detail, many of them without any re
peat, so that they must have been very
expensive; but there are less expensive
papers used in the liying-rooms 7,s' ofmGr' 8 :
scenes, Chinese in spirit and detail, arr
repeated over and over. Here, too, tn!
colors are soft and apparently as goo(
now as when the paper was put on
For the living-rooms and hall if tn
walls were not paneled or perfectE
plain, which was far the most .beautlfu
treatment, aside from the iandscap
prominent conventional and geometr1
designs which would be absolutely inap
nronriate in any but very large rooms
and many Of them not to be admire
even there from our artistic STANDPOINT
For bedrooms and small sitting-room
there were what might accurately D
called meat little flower papers, tn
flowers stiffly arranged in flat tone .upo
a geometrical form neatly and firml
tied together in. all it's parts. The ia
yorite BACKGROUND color was gray,
dull gray, with pink, red, or blue-g1ree
flowers There were few festoo
papers in daintier colors, and the sell
toned stripe paper was great faVorlte
Retain the Atmosphere. i @~
"The effort now in interior decoratio
Is to retain the colonial characteristic
rs much as possible, it's architecture
outlines, it's furniture, and it's wall hahs
ings, but the danger lies in losing it
atmosphere Of breadth and dignity L 3
overcrowding and overelaboration. III
atmosphere was the principal charm
those days, much more important tha
any detail Of furnishing, and that
what we find so difficult to attain. The
tastes were simple and their NEAR
limited. Our tastes are elaborate an
our inclination to spend money lavish
and display all the. results Of our e:
penditure While simplicity came ma
ilirally to them, it is necessary for |
f. consider our simplicity very car
fully. While it is easy to improve upo
many of the details Of their furnishin!
their carpets and their Wallpapers, Fl
instance it must be done with gre;
self-restraint and in accordance wit
the spirit of colonial days if not in e.
act imitation. Otherwise aqconfusion
STYLES will be the result, and the 5enti
atmosphere lost.' ">' ~
COLOR COMBINATIONS