Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-07-08
Nowadays these things arc not con
sidered either artistic or beautiful.


Femninity loves soft draperics much
! more than the average man diSlikcs
them, so as long as woman is the pre-
siding genius in the home she will
have them at windows and doors. Ger.
tainly they do add the finishing touch
to a home. the final touch without
| which a room never seems quite com
| plete. no matter how well chosen are
its appointments But q word of eau
ton is necessary in regard to draperies
both for artistic and sanitary reasons
| Window curtains should not be so
heavy or numerous that they shut out
air and sunlight. Wool draperies and
porteres 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
a 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 harmonic with both walls and
floors and should be 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 arr
still used by some professional uphol'
sterers. Window curtains should come
lust to the lower edge of the easement
and not to the floor or spread out a
ward or two on the floor. 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. If the window is
very wide. making more than one pair
of curtains necessary. there may be an
overdrapery from the top as we'll as
the sides. This should not extend
down too far.
In selecting draperies keep two
points firmly fixed in mind-first. don't
use lowered drapery with a 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 Il lowered or much figured wall
no curtains are prettier than plain
white muslin or net made with wide
hens or finished with rullle. For a
bedroom with plain wall decoration a
white curtain with a lowered inner
curtain draped at the side of the Win
dow is very effective.
Furniture and Where to Put It.
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. The
Twin" room should have comfortable,
substantial furniture-not too much of
it. 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 frai table. which
looks as if it might go to pieces if sub
jected to greater weight than that Of
vase of flowers or 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 mission" 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
ing. but occasionally we find pieces
that are unwicldy and awkward TO
move.
In the dining room the same rules
should be followed; also adding to it
that in this room the furniture should
be limited to that required for serving ,
and partaking Of meals. A dining Ia ,
bic, six or eight chairs, a sidebOard or
buffet and a 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 ,
the dining room should be of one style ,
and one finish. Odd pieces spoil the
ut tractiveness of the room. 1t is Il \
good idea when practicable to have
he woodwork in the dining room and
It's furniture match. Fer instance, a
room finished in old English oak may ,
have old English furniture. and this.
With Il dull yellow or pomeGranate wall \
decoration. is most effective in n north
DOM Do not crowd any room with
upcrluous furniture. There should
70 enough chairs. sufficient tables and
me or more comfortable couches. but
Xa GGerated creations in the way OF
eats. centerpeces and whatnots are =
lot in good taste. 7
The bedroom furniture should be
hosen with an eye to fitness and com 7
ort rather than fashion. A plain !
rass or enamcled iron hedstrad, !
ressing table or bureau. small table. 4
ne or two chairs. Il washstand and a 1
ouch are ample for any room the
rhine use of which is rest and sleep.
would include Il couch-a simple
omcmade affair will fill every require
lent-in every bedroom 1t tcmpts
ne for the ten minute nap during the
ay which might never be thought of
,1,- ~; IN in