New-York tribune., 1907-06-19
IN COUNTRY HOMES.
Quaint Furnishings in Cool Tones the
Seasons Fad.

Brass beds are longer the thing in summer
homes. says woman decorator. They may be
hygienc. but they are not quaint and quaintness
and simplicity the qualities to be striven for
in furnishing the country house. and especially its
bedrooms
''one piece Of good is that soft colors in
summer home furnishings have apparently
to stoy," said this decorator. when you accept
weekend invitation you needn't have the
least fear that you'll have 10 sleep between walls
covered with sprawng pink roses. or do violence
10 YOUR complexion and your gown by sitting on
scarlet couch with vivid green cushions at your
pach' @ ihoSe horrors happened frequently III the
past put they couldn't now. Soft, resttu browns
and tans and fresh. cool grays what meet the
eye In your artistic modern summer home.
wooden beds taking the place of the brass
beds. which considered TO smack of the hotel
bedroom. Sometimes these beds stained in
delicate shades 70 match the color scheme of the
room. but most people like white beds best.
Flowers as ] said. fading away from bedroom
wallpaper. and a good thing, too. There ought to
be as many real flowers about In the rooms
possible. but fowered walls should be left for win
ter quarters II they are used at all Nothing can
do so much toward making room haven of peace
as the right wallpaper; nothing can make 1t a
bowling dissonance the wrong paper I think
the world has been slow to realize this. but like
All great truths, 1t is making its way. In some
ideal bedrooms for women guests In a bachelor
farmhouse that has been built and decorated lately
the walls covered with white plaid paper.
There lowered borders. for borders don't glare
at you. and are quite allowable. The bedspreads
and window curtains and the hanginss of the
dressing table OF white barred dimsty. with
overhangings Of sprigged chintz, the figure IN
which matches the figure in the wall borders The
furniture in these is very simple, just Il
stnall chest OF drawers some rushbottom chairs
and a candle table in each. Candles
popular than this year. and the quantest. lit
tie. completely fitted candle tables for bedrooms
and upper halls are shown by exclusive house
decorating firms. I'm very much interested In this
bachelor home I'm furnishing. for I'm doing 1t all.
from dish towels to pictures, and there's not a
woman to interfere with me.
Speaking of pictures reminds me. Have very
Few pictures In summer bedrooms a
old fashioned prints. In wide, dark frames may not
be amiss against the plain wallpaper; or. better
Still silhouettes II you want to be strictly up to
date, have your relatives done in silhouette and
hang them, properly framed. your bedroom
right.
Here are some dainty chairs for country bed
room added the young decorator. drawing for
ward quaint. stiff backed one with n rush bottom
and rocking chair In the same style They can
be painted any shade to match the room. And
here" she went on. bringing out piece OF chntz
which had tiny pnpoint dots Of black and little
rosebuds scattered over white background. sis an
importation from England which is becoming very
popular for bedroom hangings. Its called the
queens own, because during Queen Victoria
lifetime II was never used by any one but her. It's
unglazed chintz and hand painted, you see.
mere hasht been much change in the country
house living room It must be as simple and in
FORMAL as possible, that's ell. But the porch is
te important place; II is really the living room
all but the worst weather. Let me tell YOU OF one
know, which runs completely around a shingled
bungalow 1t has swinging seats-a number Of
them, everybody can be accommodated and
there need be bad feelings There are swinging
couches. too. made OF wicker stained a soft brown
ana furnished with cushions covered with cotton
or a nghter shade The tea table and the sewing
tabie are or th't brown wicker, and the rugs OF
brown Jute. At the Dutch doors and windows open-
ing ON the porch curtains Of saiicoth stem
ciled in brown. It is lighted at night with swing
ing ianterns-not those fancy, wrought-iron affairs
Wihch are nothing more than ornaments but prac-
ucal lIumlnators not unlike a ship lantern only
bullt on more artistic lines. Brass tin lanterns
pierced with tiny holes used in country houses
too-the more old fashioned looking the better
1ts very convenient TO have those lanterns around
ready to carry If you want TO make a neghborly
call at night. for country streets aren't likely 20
be well lighted.
The newest thing in rugs IS the dyed hemp II
they get wet IL doesn't harm them: on the con-
raiy, they swell and become softer and thicker
This Is the age Of dyelng. Almost anything can
be dyed successfully-rugs furniture. leather
hangings; II is only necessary TO select sour mo-
tif, and you may have everything in harmonizing
shades.
or old. People learning not 10 have things
that can be knocked down or blown over wall
vases and hanging 1ardinieres in cases OF tinted
wicker take the place Of the standard affairs
There are wall match boxes of glazed porcelain
and wicker racks for magazines Porch screens
are awfuliy pretty and artistic this year
1JId brass things still much sought after
ny people who are furnishing country houses but
brass needs so much polishing that except with
people who have number OF servants I think
pewter will gradually take fits place. But brass
and copper do go beautifully with dull blues and
grays, and are TOO artistic to 60 out entirely"
This decorator is OF the firm of two that did
the Connecticut Building at the St Louis expoaI-
tion.