Arizona republican., 1907-12-08

Ing. and then 1T the wall covering Is In | perfect taste, any room can be made | charming. If one has uuerring taste and the courage to discard or remove all or
 naments or furnishings that are not fin perfect keeping. So often one sees an
 otherwise tasteful room spoiled by one or
 two articles which are a jarring note.
 Remember that it Is better to have few pieces of furniture of the simple and comfortable order and but few ornaments than q conglomeration of m assorted
 trash. Cheap ornaments are not neces- sarily in bad taste-we cannot all af-
 ford to buy exquisite Japanese vases or carved worries. Because we are not
 wealthy we need not leave a room entire
 ly without ornament, but articles are not more expensive because they are good in
 color and line. SO look to select well and choose each piece of furniture, picture or ornament with a clear idea of how it will harmonize with the rest of the room. Pictures are a pitfall tO many home deco rators. l have often noticed that in many
 rooms otherwise fin excellent taste the pictures will prove the jarring note. The selection of pictures is a long subject alone. so l can only make a few passing comments in this little article. For one thing unless one Is willing to pay a large price. colored pictures are seldom to be advised. How often one sees re- ception room or drawing room entirely spoiled by one or two Oyer-colored fancy pictures in gaudy gilt frames hung in conspicuous places on the wall. Occasion ally one sees charming softly colored re- productions of old prints or copies of portraits at moderate prices, but as rule the uncolOred pictures in sepia tones or fine engrayings or black and white prints are a safer selection.
 Another word of advice as to rugs. car pets and draperies. This is another pitfall and generally the trouble lies fin the fact that bold patterns and colorings seem to appeal to the average buyer. Remember that the coloring of a carpet, rug or curtain should be subservient 10 the other furnishings. and a showy pat tern will thus be disastrous in result. as 1t will be too conspicuous. Have as handsome rugs and draperies as you can afford. but depend on the beauty of Coloring and material, rather than on a showy pattern. In the fine imported rugs a great deal of the charm lies in the varied colorlng, but these cOlOrs are so soft and so exQuisltely blended that the result is generally very beautiful and artistic. but such effects cannot be re- produced in modern carpets and curtains. so 1t is advisable to select plain rich tones in preference to lowered and fig ured fabrics.
 Also always hang draperles. such as portleTes and curtains. in simple straight lines in preference tO their having draped valances or being loOped up with cords and tassels. Sometimes in a little re- ception room. decorated Tn French style fin light colorings, darped silk or brocade is used at the windows. but the result is seldom as tasteful as the simpler style would be and is apt soon to look stuny and dusty. For dOorways, the most satls- factory style of curtain is the straight wide hanging sort either single ar double. as most suited to the width of the door, which Is hung on a wooden pr brass pole by means of rings For the windows. velours, hrocades or silk or some of the linen taffetas Or cottons may he used. hung in straight strips at eith,r side. with a valance across the top. Where the material Is heavy, such as 1 velouTs. th's valance is often made plan ] cut in shape and stlnened Ur lined and !. Is often finished with du!l gold bullion 1 braid. but the softer materials are gen | orally shirred or lad In plaits oH rod. l, and either are untrimined or fu shed b. l narrow ball or tasse fringe.
 BEATRICE CAREY. |