The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-11-23
HOUSEHOLD TOPICS.
Change of Ideas About Home Build
ing and Furnishing--The Living
Room An Important Item Of the
House Plan--Its Furnishing and
Appointments.

The extreme rigidity of "The Simple
Life" as laid down in the book of that
title, which year or two ago found It's
way into the home of almost every intelli-
gent reading family, was the cause of its
failure to influence its following by larger
class. Still, it left an impress upon the
minds of many readers, and its discussion
has led indirectly to a change of opinion
about what constitutes correct and artistic
taste in home making and furnishing. 1t
has helped, as well, to make US realize the
fallacy, not to say absurdity, Of some of
our traditions; and the sentiment that now
prevails, and is contrary TO the views Of
our ancestors, is that the home must be a
place for the family TO live in and be COM
Portable and happy.
An outgrowth of this change of senti-
ment is the advancement of the family
living room to place of supreme import
ance in the house plan for whatever kind
of home, simple or pretentious. If large
enough to afford both living room and
drawing room, well and good; if not, then
the guests must be entertained in the liv
ing room, for on no account can it be sac
rifced. Let there be soft color tones that
are harmonious if varied, and let the ex
preston be one Of perfect comfort and rest
fulness.
The floors should be of hardwood if pos
sible, and the woodwork in accord with the
general color scheme of walls and furnish
ing. With walls soft leaf green and the
woodwork dark old mahogany, Oriental
rugs are correct and artistic. If their price
is prohibitive, mission, or the lighter kind
that is now replacing the heavy slab-sided
type that first appeared, would be charm
ing. If the room has little sunshine, then
have the walls yellow by all means, as they
give the effect of sunshine and go admira-
bly, with dark woodwork and dark furni-
ture. A wicker chair or two upholstered
in bright fowered cretonne is not amiss,
though furniture of all one kind is more
artistic The living room has a couch and
pillows covered with dainty white, washa
BILE stuffs that are embroidered; it has a
desk and large table with lamp in the GEN.
tire, around which the family can congre-
gate, and which is we'll supplied with the
best current magazine literature. A palm
or two adds much to the artistic effect. Let
there be an extra number of chairs chosen
for comfort first and looks afterward.
Fabrics are employed for wall coverings of
living rooms to great extent, and there Is
a variety of them; but there are papers to
be had which are very clever limitations OF
all kinds of fabrics, and the choice depends
much upon the style of furnishing. Bur-
laps or plain cartridge paper goes better
with the mission, and even the simple
colonial style, than many of the fabric pa
pers or fabrics. An agreeable adjunct is a
tray with chocolate pot of Huyler' cocoa,
the leading one at fashionable entertain
ments, and indispensable in the daily rou-
tine of domestic life.
Most of the latest house plans include a
den, certainly if the head of the family is
smoker Contrasts are reserved for the
upper floors. Some prefer to have the den
totally different, and then the choice is for
everything Oriental; but it should all be
strictly of that type or harmony will be
sacrificed, and if of good quality Oriental
furnishings are expensive. The idea of
simplicity is lost, and as that is the pre-
vailing one, the den usually partakes Of it.
Everything for the comfort and convent
ence of the smoker is the first consideration
in its appointing, after that any ornamental
tion good taste may suggest.
LUCY CARTER.