The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1915-11-18
ARTISTIC FABRIC.
chintz Is Making Task Of House
wife Easier.
BLACK USED FOR FURNITURE.

BLACK USED FOR FURNITURE.
The Problem Of Decorating the Home
Has Been Rsvolutionizsd Since
Cheaper Fabrics Have Come Into
Popular Favor.
This is a year when the amateur
decorator has things very much her
own way. There are so many delight
full fabrics put upon the market and so
much artistic furniture is used that the
woman who possesses clever ideas In
interior decorating, but has no prac-
ucal experience, need not hesitate to
attempt putting her ideas into action.
There was a time when every home
presented very much the same appear
ance, when certain pieces OF furniture.
and only certain pieces. were consider
ed in good taste, when fabrics for hang
ings were always Of silk or Of velvet,
and anything else was not to be con-
sidered In the we'll furnished home.
Those who could not afford such ex-
pensive materials were left out of
things generally. Their needs were not
considered by the decorators.
Then a clever woman, realizing that
the housewife of small means might
have beautiful surroundings just as
much as her Weather sister. began to
cater to this class Of homes. Instead
Of expensive silks she used pretty, ar
tistic but inexpensive chintz, and with
such charming effect that not only the
woman Of small means. but even her
weather. sister began to use this gay
and serviceable material In decorating
her home.
Since chintz came into fashion the
way Of the housewife Of slim pocket
book has been made comparatively
easy. Now a pretty and harmonious
home is within her reach, and II she
lives in inartistic surroundings she has
no one but herself to blame.
Not only is chintz at her disposal, but
she may use in her home nowadays
old dilapidated pieces Of furniture. CIV
en- coat Of new paint and decorated
with clever design in fruit or how-
ers. This work Is done quite easily at
home, and the result is often surpris-
ingly pretty.
Take, for instance, an old fashioned
bedroom suit done over by a recent
bride. The furniture was Of good de-
sign. though very much marred, and
the girl, being economical, decided to
put 1t to good use instead Of purchas-
ing q new set for her new home. She
decided on new color scheme, and
being Of an artistic turn Of mind she
decided not to have the usual white
cream or gray, but dull black. At
first she thought the black would be
too somber, but when she had worked
out the whole color scheme Of the
room she decided this dark touch
would be unique and stunning.
The walls of the bedroom were hung
with cream paper with deep border
Of rose. The carpet was also Of the
rose. With the aid of a painter she
covered the bed. bureau. dressing ia
bic and two chairs with coat Of dull
black, which looked very much like
Japanese lacquer. After this was
done she searched the shops for an
original pattern In chintz. one that had a
black background with a touch Of rose
In 1t. Her selection. was a futurist de-
sign, with baskets Of fruit upon
black and white background.
She cut piece the exact size Of the
bed board and pasted this fat on to the
wood, leaving a rim Of the black
lacquer around the edge. Black cot
ton braid matching the chintx in de.
sign was pasted flat around the chintz
panel The board at the bottom Of the
bed was treated in the same manner.
This gave the bed decidedly up to
date air and was most novel way
Of dressing up old furniture.
The dresser was treated In much the
same manner. only the chintz was not
pasted on the fat surface. 1t was
simply laid on the dresser and over 1t
a large piece of glass was placed. such
as any glazier will cut for you at
small price. The chintz braid was
pasted on to the edge Of the glass.
framing It. as It were.
The old upholstery on the chairs was
covered with the chintz. being tackled
down with white enamel tacks. A
lamp with bell shaped chintz shade
completed the fittings Of the room.
The whole cost only $50. and the
result was a new and up to date bed
room suit Of which any girl Of artistic
inclinations might well be proud The
black furniture against the background
Of cream and rose walls was not In
the least s0mber.
Washing white Silk.
White silk need never he cleaned