Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-05
BU|[T-|N FURNITURE
CONTRIBUTES TO HOME
Gives Element of Strength and
Solidity, Declares Pub
.. LEGATION.

There Is no one thing which contributes
more successfully to the FURNISHED ap-
pearance of a room than the planning OF
q few pieces of furniture built in" or
made a structural part of the house.
This Is because such objects become part
Of the walls which frame in and create
the setting of room and their being
built In gives a certain element OF
strength and solidity which help greatly
in interior effect. Many home-builders
realize the value of furnishings of this
kind and would use them more frequently
did they not fear what they believe to
be their excessive cost, forgetting that
the expense may be just as much or as
little as one Is willing to put into 1t, ac-
cording to the Dayton Journal.
The cost OF such furniture as Is apt to
be built into a house Is usually very
slight compared with Its value. One
would never think Of the cost of placing
a mantel In a room or of fitting the house
with lighting fixtures, for their being in
place would add to the value of the home.
The including of certain pieces of furni-
ture designed to agree with the house
and built into place would likewise mean
an increase in value out of all proportion
to their cost
Added Expense Small.
If a new house is being planned al
low the architect to build in such con-
veniences as his taste and good judgment
may suggest. The added expense will be
quite small. for the making of such fit
ments will then be part of the mill
work." which Is a very important item In
the construction of building. Built-in
furniture of any kind should be treated
as part OF the house and painted or
stained to agree with the rest of the
standing woodwork" such as doors,
window frames, etc. Unless this be done
the effect will be to make such additions
stand out conspicuously and thus the OBJ
Ject Of building In furniture will be de-
feated. for the prime purpose is to make
such fittings part of their surroundings.
II the woodwork elsewhere in the rooms
be white, the furniture which is made
part Of the house should be painted the
same color with hardware, perhaps, of
brass unless 1t would be plainly out of
keeping with that used elsewhere if the
rest OF the trim be Of the mission
style, by all means repeat the same finish
upon the pieces Of built-in furniture, with
perhaps copper or iron hinges and locks
II they are required.
Place for Storage.
In the hall there may be space for
the building Of a settle or a window
seat, the lower part Of which might pro-
vide a place for the storing of the rugs
or mats which are often used upon the
veranda. In the living room or the IL
brary nothing more useful or decorative
could De had than a row of low book
cases, which might be built into the
spaces usually planned at either side of
the chimney, or extend in a row along
one or two sides of the room. Such book
cases may be inclosed with doors having
panes Of glass arranged in any number
of very decorative patterns. or else doors
may be omitted and the book shelves used
with or without light curtains hung
upon slender brass rods. Books have a
very definite value in decoration, and a
room containing well filled book shelves
or bookcases cannot fail to possess a
domestic. homelike appearance difficult to
achieve In any other way. In some liv-
ing rooms there may be a corner into
which desk or writing table may be
built, and bay windows frequently offer
alluring possibilities in the way of built
In conveniences, which any architect will
at once realize and appreciate. Fire
places offer. perhaps, the most tempting