New-York tribune., 1909-04-25
A REMoDELLED ATTIC.
Charming Rooms Done in Soft Tones Used as
Retreats

Retreats
when the children began to grow up John and
thought we'd have to move 10 bigger mouse
said the woman who lives in the. suburbs but
We find to our joy that we won't had an loea
one dny / was up in the attic putting away some
blankets and II occurred TO NE. Why not make
some use Of ali this space It's roomy attic eN-
tending the whole house. and all we had III II
was little Iumber-trunks boxes OF clothing exc
things that could be- put IN one small storerooHl
had the carpenters there the very next day, and
within a fortnight had the attic divided into
four rooms.
one I'm the southwest corner. with quaint little
windows I'D under the roof. 1 decided TO give
Ethel for her own. She's getting 10 the age where
She wants n place away from the other children TO
read and dream and draw. We papered the walls
and the sloping ceiling with burlap OF soft dull
yellow and I stencilled conventionalized tulip
border around the upper edge Of the walls The
windows which are high, Jutting out under the
roof hung with soft full curtains OF yellow silk,
and had window seats built under them. The seats
are boxes, convenient to store things in, and,
stained a dull brown and piled with soft cushions,
make comfortable seats enough. Like all attcs.
these rooms irregular in shape, but think that
makes them more charming In one bit OF Ethels
room that juts cut from the rest we put skyhght
in the sIopug roof and there she has her drawing
table. On dry summer nights too. she can open
the skvEht and draw her couch under II, and
sleep there under the stars. In every corner where
there's an inch for them the carpenters built oooN
shelves, which l stained brown ike the WInuo"
seats The walls Ethel has fixed up herself with
the college coors and other stuff girl collects and
from the way her friends exclaim over 1t l fancy
it's as pretty a room as any of the girls have
'One Of the other rooms fixed up for John. He
does good deal OF his writing at home, and the
only place he's had was the dining ROOM which.
with the children running In and out, and the maid
working about. wasn't exactly peaceful place
TO grind out articles He says his attic dan has
saved his life. l papeYed the walls with green and
the rafters-rough dark wood left them just as
they were There's nothing In the room but
Johns typewriter. a big writing table. shelves for
his books Of reference, chair to work in, chair
TO lounge in and a rack for Johns pipes.
''One room I had to reserve for trunk room, but
the fourth ! finished sort of refuge In time
Of need The children call il mothers II
Is done in the most restful colors. fawns and
browns with touches Of dim blue. and there are
two wide soft couches In il, and easy chairs foot
stools tables with magazines and game or two
II 7 want A nap or a quiet talk with friend 1
nv to this room II wants to put baby 10
sleep and the rest Of the is noisy she comes
here Jack and Marian use it for study room
after school. There's plenty of light, for had
one OF the dormer windows cut down TO the floor.
How do we heat these rooms? With Franklin
stoves There's chimney running up through
the centre OF the house and We found we could
cut into that without much expense. The stair
uav was my chief difficulty, 1t was so straight
and ugly but relieved that with burap the
walls and a few prints. hand rail on either
side and a pretty stair carpet. In the landing at
the head Of the stairs have rug. and a swtnging
hammock seat depending from the rafters- That's
where the children love sit and tell secrets Tho
window In this landing. by the way, looks cut on