Evening star., 1914-08-22
WRITER DESCRIBES
ideal LIVING ROOM"

It was one of the most inviting and
most satisfactory living rooms 1 have
seen, and yet It was wonderfully simple
and comparatively inexpensive. That is
one reason why i want to tell you about
II. Another is because there are a num-
ber Of plain, practical rules in house deco
ration that can be followed by even the
inexperienced. giving satisfactory results.
writes Edith Charlton Salisbury, in Farm
and Fireside
The prevailing color in this living room
was rich golden brown. which gave the
effect Of softened sunlight. The room was
on the shady side of the house and needed
Frightening. Golden brown, tans and
neutral browns. much the same color as
the paper in which our groceries used
to be wrapped. are particularly good
shades for living rooms. because they
friendly and harmonize pleasantly with
other colors we may wish to use.
The hardwood floor was covered with
two medium-sized. inexpensive axmin-
mingling of darker browns. dark rich
green and just a hint of the softest red
imaginable. The ceiling was a deep
cream or soft ecru. MORE paper which
extended beyond the ceiling. dropped over
on the wall and lost itself in the quiet
browns and greens that formed the frieze.
or border, in conventional design. The
window curtains. hung straight from the
shade Of the ceiling. Side curtains were
of golden-brown red. a shade darker than
the wall and as much lighter than the
rugs. The wall paper was without design.
SO the danger of monotony in coloring was
overcome by trimming the window drap-
cries with broad bands of green to match
the green in rug and wall border.
The furniture fitted in perfectly with
fh0 n vaf
was nothing especially noticeable about
1t. One always remembered that the
chairs were comfortable: the table was
strong and roomy; plenty Of space for
books and papers, and there was a low.
inviting couch. 1t had a brown red
cover. and the pillows were clothed In
washable covers of dark greens and gold
en- browns. and one had a dress Of dark
red.
Few Pictures on Walls.
A piano. low book shelves filed with
books and a thrifty looking fern grow
ing in one of the windows almost COM
pleted the furnishings of this delight
full room. There were few pictures on
the walls.
II one were asked why this room, un-
pretentious in every way. was SO friend
surely be because the one who planned
| 1t had followed three cardinal principles
in the selection and use of colors, max
| ing the whole effect one of harmony. The
color had been chosen in regard to the
location, size and style Of the room. 1t
| was a dark room, so a warm color was
selected to give the effect of added sun
light. Also It had been chosen in re-
lation to the colors in the adjoining rooms.
Gradation in tone values had been OBJ
served in applying the color. The dark
est tint was on the floor, the next on
the wall, and the lightest on the ceiling.
while the intermediate shade was used
for draperies and in the furniture. One
seldom makes a mistake in putting the
darkest color on the floor. Only oc-
casionally one sees a rug lighter than the
wall or draperies darker than either at
the doors and windows. In such cases
the room is always out Of harmony and
the general effect unpleasant.