The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-09-03
The Home Harmonious.

HE nfSt tHlhB one uoes upon uuS4hb
an old house or moving into an old
apartment building Is to alter the
old time mantel tops. Ugly man
tells OF the extremely passe type.
having brackets at the sides. mirrored
center pieces with scroll edged frames
and bits OF oval mirrors under or over tho
brackets. are clearly indicative Of age
bordering on decrepitude.
AL Of the ornamentation Of the over
mantel must be done away with II the in
terror is TO be rejuvenated into anything
that looks like up to dateness.'
Among the several hundred photo
graphs OF successfully executed interiors
which have before me none has a mantel
piece with built up top. All sorts OF
schemes are attempted TO finish tho
space above the mantel shelf. The most
attractive fashion IS that OF having Il
painting inset in the allotted space Tha
painting selected for the purpose usually
is either n reproduction Of nm old floral
piece ~ quaint style. showing a vase oc
large rich colored flowers on u dark
ground. with lacquered finish to mako
the piece look very old. or fine old por-
trait, also properly aged with lacquer.
The canvas is stretched upon the wall
and edged with a molding.
Mirrors. while they no longer form a
part Of the mHntel piece proper. are also
effectively used above the shelf, or in
come instances are framed and suspended
above the shelf.
Sometimes the over-mantei space Is sim
ply shaped into single large panel or
into one square center panel and two
Emall upright side panels by means OF
narrow wood holdings. The holdings
are tackled on to the wall and then the
whole space Is painted. molding and all
or 1t may be calcimlned.
Plaster panels are used with telling re-
suit rs over-mantel lnsets These are par
ueularly good with period furnishing.
especially that OF the Adam or the Louis
XIV. or XVI. periods.
A charming dining room furnished in
William and Mary walnut furniture has
wood panellng q little more than half
way up the height Of the side wall clear
Iroupd the room. Tho woodwork is
painted old ivory and the upper wall is
violet blue, At one end OF the room is the
fireplace, with mantel shelf extending
the full width OF the room, md above this
the old ivory wood paneling is repeated
clear up TO the ceiling. The floor covering
is gray green. with markings Of fawn
color and little flecks OF ivory. The china
Is OF purple luster and wedgwood.
Striking indeed is n fireplace without
: hnhTitel shelf. but with the square sage
green thing that frames it extending in
a dat, wide panel above the fireplace as
high as the ceiling, Each tile hasa white
mark In its center. and they are put to-
Rether with white cement lines. The
floor covering and the easement curtains
are Of autumn red, and the dark brown
furniture is upholstered in deep blue
The side walls are light tobacco brown,
and the woodwork is cream colored.
In colonial rooms the over-mantel Ia
furnished with any one ot,the many good
STYLE colonial mirrors. The long horizontal
mirror is most excellent in point OF bal
lnee.
Lighting brackets are now placed al
either side directly above the mantel shell
instead OF on the will outside Of the
mantels. Where It is not feasible to have
wiring done for the actual electric candl,
hxtures wax candles in eandlesticks art
assd.