The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1917-05-18
THE EXPRESSION
N OF INDIVIDUALITY
By Noble Foster Hoggson, President,
Hoggsen Brothers, Builders.

A man does not build to himself
alone. A house is not merely pos
session; 1t is a contribution to many
lives. While the exterior necessarily
should conform to its environment
the interior, because it Is the express
sion of the individual, is far more
important.
The inside of the house should ex-
press without reserve the individuals
ty of the owner, his interpretations Of
life and love. Materials are merely
used as a means to an end, the emo
being the creation of a eautiful com
position in which people appear a.
the most important part of the PIC
ture.
Discourse to no purpose and to nc
end might be INDUCED as to the kind
of furnishings, tie color scheme OF
walls and hangings, floor coverings
and the like for any home, speaking
in the abstract. 1t matters not that a
particular style or period of furn.'
ture or decoration, which might be So
lected, be perfectly good in itself. OF
that it be consistently followed. I'm
less they possess soul and reflect the
nature and spirit of the occupants
the result will be far from satisfying
The spirit of the ensemble, to fulfil
its very definite purpose, must carry
and express in it's atmosphere and IN
it's being, the essential elements OF
charm, comfort, graciousness, and
hospitality.
Although intelligent use OF mater
ials is necessary, underlying mere
knowledge of detail there must be d
comprehensive vision Of the whole.
Thn temptation is often irresistible
when it comes to making use of some
long cherished possession, because OF
its individual beauty or for reasons
Of sentiment or attachment. Many d
tall clock, innumerable pairs Of old
vases, and pieces of antique" furni-
ture have been intruded in otherwise
perfectly good and agreeable schemes
of furnishings. Completely out OF
character and out of keeping, they
clash with the general plan and SOUND
a discordant note. Those heirlooms
and relics had better be discarded al-
together unless by some remarkable
chance they fit in perfectly and aid
in the creation of an atmosphere that
is so enveloping and pleasurable that
M feeling Of obtrusiveness is appar-
ent.
Rooms should open into each other
as one mood melts into another; eacn
one expressing individuality but pos
sessing the essential elements of the
general effect to an extent that there
is no break in continuity.
Harmony of color may be said te
be the real secret of atmosphere in
the home of exquisite grace and COM
fort. In a rom where pictures serve
to provide the croWning note of glory
nothing in the background should be
permitted to intr'Ide or detract from
their loyeliness of color and compost
tion; every detail Of furnishing should
be subservient and lead toward the
pictures most perfect expression. The
drawing-room walls are hung WITH
materials Of soft colors, and the room
is carefully furnished with gracefully
designed furniture. 1t is skillfully
lighted so as to afford an agreeable
setting for the real ornaments-the
people-and accentuate the lovely
lines in costumes, jewels and faces
while mirrors, affording charmin:
vistas and perspectives, hold and re-
peat the colorful scenes.
The dining-room, most severe II
treatment, is intended to give charm
to the single occasion. Quiet in its
appointments, simple in gracefulness
Of design, the note of freshness anc
color is furnished by the flowers OF
the table, the genial faces around it
and the soft, subdued lighting.
when a particular object is design