The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-08-12
Nv PERFECT HARMONY
WITH SURROUNDINGS
The Situation of House Is IMPORTANT Factor III
Determining the Character Of House Decorations
as Well as Architectural Style-P,incible APPLIED
to Country Places

The character of whole house will
be influenced by it's situation, says Mrs.
Candace. Wheeler in her book on q Prin-
cclples of Home Decoration A house
IN the country or house in
town; a house by the seashore or
quire stronger or less strong color, and
even different tints, according to situa-
ton. The decoration itself may be
much less conventional in one place
than in another, and in country houses
much and lasting charm is derived from
design and color in perfect harmony
with natures surroundings. Whatever
hangings will be far more effective if
it. bears some relation to the surround
lngs and position of the house.
Ii the house is by the sea the walls
should repeat with many variations the
tones of sea and sand and sky; the
gray.greens of sand grasses; the blues
which change from blue to green with
every cloud-shadow; the pearl tints
which become rose with every morning
or evening light; and the browns and
olives OF sea-mosses and ichens. The
treatment of color will make the in,
terror OF the house a part of the great
out of doors and create harmony be-
tween the artificial shelter and nature.
Suppose, on the other hand, that the
summer house is placed in the neighbor-
hood Of fields and trees and mountains;
it will be found that. strong and posi-
tive treatment of the interior is more in
harmony with the outside landscape
Even heavier furniture looks fitting
sive tree growths; and deeper and
purer colors can be used in hangings and
draperies. This is due to the more pos
tive coloring of a landscape than of a
sea-view. The masses of strong and
slightly varying green in foliage, the
red, brown or vivid greens Of field and
crops, the dark lines of trunks and
branches, as well as the unchanging
forms or rocks and hillsides, call for a
corresponding strength of interior eff
feet. .-
It is curious fact, also, that where
house is surrounded by myriads Of
small natural forms of leaves and flow
ers and grasses, plain spaces of color in
interiors or spaces where form is
greatly subordinated to color are more
grateful to the eye than prominently
| decorated surfaces. - -
The principles of appropriate furnish
| ing and adornment of house interiors
depends on circumstances and natural
surroundings, as we'll as upon the char
acter and pursuits of the family who
are lodged, and the final charm of the
Ehome' is obtained by perfect adapta-
tion of principles to existing conditions
both Of nature and humanity H.. s-
| In summer cottages, furniture should
be simpler and lighter than in houses
intended for constant family living.
Chairs and sofas should be without
elaborate upholstery, and hangings, and
cushions can be appropriately made of
some well-colored cotton or linen mate
rial which wind and sun and dampness
cannot spoil, and of which the fresh
ness can always be restored by launder
ing. These are general rules appro
pirate to all summer cottages and tc
these should be added, that a house
which is to be closed six or eight months
in the year should really, to be consist
ent, be inexpensively furnished.