Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-04-16
Nowadays these things are not con-
gidered either artistic or beautiful.

air and sunlight. Wool drnperies and
portieres should be avoided In rooms
that are to be much used. because wool
fabrics catch and hold dust more than
any other material. For living rooms
and dining room silk or linen draperies
are the best when expense need not
be figured too closely. but there Is such
big variety Of cotton fabrics display
ing beauty in both design and color
ing that one need not buy the more
costly silks unless one prefers them.
In color portieres and draperies
should harmorize with both wallis and
floors and should be q tone midway
between the two The long folds OF
the straight hanging drapery are much
more beautiful than the looped and
festooned arrangements which were
popular few years ago and which are
stin used by some professional uphol-
sterers. Window curtains should come
Just to the lower edge Of the easement
and not to the door or spread out
yard or two on the door. after the
fashion of recent years. A single pair
OF window curtains made Of thin ma
terial, either plain or trimmed and
hung In long straight lines, with side
curtains to match the portieres, Is the
best trimming for any window from
every point Of view. II the window is
very wide, making more than one pair
Of curtains necessary, there may be an
overdrapery from the top as well as
the sides. This should not extend
down too far.
In selecting draperies keep two
points firmly fixed in mind-frst don't
use lowered drapery with lowered
wall and don't buy heavy, unwashable
hangings for bedrooms. Such mate
rails are entirely out Of harmony with
the whole idea of bedroom simplicity.
For a lowered or much figured wall
no curtains are prettier than plain
white muslin or net made with wide
hens or finished with ruffie. For
bedroom with plain wall decoration
white curtain with Powered inner
curtain draped at the side Of the win
dow is very effective.
Furniture and Where to Put II.
One important rule to observe IN
buying furniture for any part Of the
house is that it be Of good quality.
built on simple lines and suitable for
the service It is intended to give. Tho
| living room should have comfortable,
| substantial furniture-not too much Of
| 1t. yet enough to meet the require
| ments of the family The table should
be large enough and strong enough to
support the weight Of the books. maya
zines and other articles which may be
brought to It, The frail table, which
looks as IL 1t might go to pieces II sub
iected to greater weight than that of
a vase Of flowers or a book, may be
| permissible In the reception room, but
is entirely out Of place in the living
room, where the family has its several
pleasures and interests. The chairs,
too, in this room should be comforta-
BILE, strong and sufficiently varied In
size and style to suit every one from
grandfather to the little child. Furni-
| ture for the living room, especially the
| chairs. should not be cumbersome.
There can be strength without unnec-
essary weight, such as Is often found
| In the so called EMISSION" furniture.
! The lines and general composition OF
this kind Of furniture are good, and
the popularity Of the style has done
much to revive simplicity In furnish
4 ing, but occasionally we find pieces
| that are unwieldy and awkward to
| move.
In the dining room the same rules
should be followed; also adding to It
4 that in this room the furniture should
be limited to that required for serving
and partaking Of meals. A dining ta-
(. BILE, six or eight chairs, sideboard or
/ buffet and serving table are really
all the pieces necessary in the room.
and unless there Is an unusual amount
/. Of space to spare no more should be
/ added. If possible the furniture in
4 the dining room should be Of one style
and one finish. Odd pieces spoil the
attractiveness Of the room. 1t is q
good idea when practicable to have
the woodwork in the dining room and
j it's furniture match. For instance, q
room finished in old English oak may
have old English furniture, and this.
with dull yellow or pomegranate wall
decoration, is most effective In north
room. Do not crowd any room with
superfuous furniture. There should
be enough chairs, sufficient tables and
one or more comfortable couches, but
exaggerated creations in the way OF
seats. centerpieces and whatnots ars
i not in good taste
j The bedroom furniture should be
chosen with an eye to fitness and COM
fort rather than fashion. A plain
brass or enameled iron bedstead.
dressing table or bureau. small table.
one or two chairs, washstand and
couch are ample for any room the
prime use Of which Is rest and sleep.
I would include couch-a simple
homemade affair will fill every require
ment-in every bedroom. 1t tempts
one for the ten minute nap during the
day which might never be thought OF