Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-15
When an Apartment

w ueu an ApaCEIueuC-
Or house is to be furnished the average
woman does not know where to start.
v nat she does In most instances Is to go
around to some concern to see what she
can find. She takes with her certain pre-
conceived ideas as to colors, articles of
furniture, draperies, rugs, wall papers
and so on, and this would be commend
able IL she had a scientific basis upon
which to work and knew what she should
have and what she was talking about.
Yet few women do know this when they
undertake the furnishing of home, and
SO they go from place to place and pick
up an article here and another there: they
purchase draperies Of several tones in
clashing eolors, and when they get
through they have nothing artistic and
in harmony.
Some of them do not know that in the
large houses decorative statesmen are en-
pioyed many of them men who have
spent years In Europe studying style and
every known branch of. the decorator 8
art. and all of them practical, experienced
men, who are there for the purpose of
helping one who would furnish house
do so on an artistic practical and proper
tionate basis. And they are not there any
more for the millionaire, who is furnish
ing his $4,000 mansion, than they are to
bring their skill to bear on the decoration
of the $1,000 cottage. The exclusive house
Is the one to go to for suggestions. Long
experience and wide knowledge In the
culture Of house furnishing make 1t pos
sible for them to do more with small
amount than can any one else.
A home cannot be rightly planned and
completed unles it be considered as a
whole and not in sections When the ar
chitect is through with the house. then,
If the woodwork has not been supplied, a
plan is worked out for each room. con-
sistent with the demands of the owner,
usage of each room and the light effects.
Accordingly it calls for different woods,
styles, designs and finish. For example.
an EliZabethan style must not be finished
in white enamel and again a colonial
style will not admit oak woodwork. The
mantels must then receive attention, and
the decorations follow in harmony. The
electric wiring and fixtures should be
governed entirely by the individual room.
These done, the color scheme decorations
claim decision. Careful Judgment must
characterize the choice of colors. For the
different rooms the colorS will vary, some
thing entirely different being used for the
living, room than for the bed room, and
for the reception room than for the hall
proper. The colors are chosen with refer
ence to the demands of the room it's uses,
and, as 1t were, the complexion of it's
owner.
In the well-appointed modern home rugs
are preferable to carpets, and these, to-
gether with the portieres draperies and
laces, should consider harmony of color,
decoration. style of room and the require
ments of the room. 1t is advisable to try
to keep the general outline of each plain
and simple, not emitting the fact that
good quality is necessary and suitable
trimming in the right places.
In choosing the furniture 1t Is almost
imperative to take such pieces that are
the authentic productions of the antiques
sires, and which follow strictly the re-
quirements Of the room. Among other
decorations one should avoid bringing to-
gether q condemnation Of STYLES In the
same room. A Louis XIV cabinet will not
harmonic with Chippendale or Eliza
bethan furniture.
All this work can be attended to prop
erly according to certain rules and good
taste, and at the same price that each in
dividual article would cost If the client
were to choose without assistance, and it
has the supreme advantage of avoiding
an undesirable conglomeration of styles
and colors.
The advice of authorities to one about
to furnish an apartment or house Is to
seek the help of a competent house fur
ntsher. He will draw up a suitable plan
which will meet the requirements, and
accordingly will be found, in most in
stances, to meet the financial conditions
OF the client.
It is
An excellent plan to teach daughter
how to shop. Indeed, nothing could be of
greater value to her than course which
will learn Just how the fabrics are made
and thus their good and bad qualities But
If this is out of the question or above her
interest she may learn much If she will
observe and study in the retail shops.
In school where girls are taught this
accomplishment they are given talks on
how to shop. Then large samples are
passed-sometimes one-fourth and one-half
a yard-of cotton and wool and silk, and
then samples of the combination of cotton
81 H. fT>t..
pies each one handles with the idea of de-
veloping a distinguishing sense Of touch.
They learn the different widths of mate
rails and they are told how 10 tell when
silk. They are told that way to test
wool is to snap the thread; If 1t is all wool
it pulls with a little fuzzy edge; II 1t Is
cotton 1t snaps; that the best test Is to
purn the Inreaaaane , name VIII ~, pu r. up
goods is all wool. while the cotton will