Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-07
AUGUST 7, 1910.
PLANNING THE DINING ROOM

the new home is the dining room.
While it may be occupied only few
hours a day, these hours are vitally
important to the temper of the family.
A bright, sunny room may be tenn
pered by a cool and restful color
scheme. If greatly shaded by porch
or trees, cheerfulness may be given by
the warmth of color in the decorations.
In planning a dining room two con-
siderations are of equal rank-conven-
ience and cheerfulness.
1t is a serious fault of many houses
that the dining room is small and
poorly lighted. The dining room
should have exposures which give
plenty of light and air. The windows
play an important part in the decora-
tions of a room and a pleasant outlook
will be found to contribute materially
to the enjoyment and appreciation of
the meals If possible have the dining
room look out upon the garden or
good sized porch which may be used
as an auxiliary dining room in warm
weather without making too much
extra work for the busy housekeeper.
BY using French windows on the
porch side of the dining room there
will be plenty of light and the attrac-
tiveness of the room will be greatly
enhanced.
A dining room may be more nearly
square than any other room, as 1t CEN
ters around the one stated piece of
furniture. If the table must accom-
modate many persons it will necessar-
lily be oblong. The position of the fire.
place is also important, If there is to
be one. Care must be taken that the
table when extended does not force
someone to sit too near the flre, as
there is no situation more uncomfort-
able than that of sitting with ones
back near a hot fire. Built-in side
boards and china closets have become
very popular. If built-1n fixtures are
used the size of the room may be cor
respondingly decreased. The effect of
spaciousness should be increased by
the presence of only such articles as
are necessary.
Make the room of sufficient size for
all occasions and there will not be that
feeling of oppression that comes from
crowding.
The SIZE of the table, invariably
placed in the center of the room with
the chairs around it; the space needed
to serve back of these, and the space
required for the necessary furniture
against the walls must determine the
size. The size of the table must be
ample for those who are to live in the
house.
Wood paneled walls are attractive II
the room is large enough. A high
wainscoting of dark wood will give
the walls of a small room the effect
of "crowding in" If high paneled
Wainscoting is used ceiling beams are
an attractive accompaniment.
Ornamental friezes and picture bor-
ders are freely used, the division line
being marked by plate rail or mold
ing. A decorative paper may be used
as high as the plate rail, with a plain
paper above. If the china on the plate
rail is we'll chosen it will be sufficient
ly decorative to make pictures unneces-
sary, It is hard to improve upon the
old colonial and Georgian rooms with
their white paneled walls and shining
mahogany furniture.
If wood paneling is beyond the purse
of the builder the same effect can De
secured by covering the walls and cell
ing with canvas and the use of paint
and wood holdings to give paneied
effect. Rooms treated in this way are
Invariably neat and cool looking.
The plate rail adds much to the at
tractiveness of the room, but should
not be crowded with an incongruous
assortment of china. A few well chosen
.pieces. not of necessitv expensive, but
showing care and thought in selection,
will make many pictures superfluous.
It is better not to display articles
than to display those which are not at
tractive.
Light, sunshine and fresh air are an
essential. A southeast exposure Is
ideal as no artificial effect is as attrac-
tive as the morning sun streaming
across the room. 1t helps to begin the
day Alright.
Tba hardwood floor has become so