New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-04-08

self for our daily excursion into
EaN the realm of the interior
49, -I-.-..-- - decorator
pretty. isn't it," she said,
as She put the last pin in her veil. 81 haven't
thought of it for years. 1t was painted on a
beam over my bed in country house winch
visited years ago in England. / was think
ing Of bedrooms and this popped into my
head. I'm going TO use it in the next bed
room that ] do
81 am so relieved to hear you say that you
are going TO do a next bedroom | replied,
for ] had an awful feeling that you would
take away the good, oId-fashioned, comfortable
bedroom just as you banished the time-honored
dining room. I didn't know just how you
would accomplish it, but / had visions Of all
sorts Of folding contrivanceI which would
take the place of the substantial, stationary
bed. And the most dreadful part Of 1t all
was that ] knew that. in spite of all my
prejudice "agin" it, by the time you had
explained il all TO me in your enthusiastic
professional manner should have come 10 con-
slider the conventional bedroom as hideous
as YOU have made me believe the old-faSh
toned dinmg-room- and ! do love my bed,
Thank goodness ! can still rest in peace in
the old four-postcr Of my grandfathers! But
there must be some innovations, so tell me the
worst"
There is no worst" answered Letita
Once It bedroom, always a bedroom
SAYS. IL don't hold much with makc-shifts or
disguscs. The bed sittng-room means moth
ing in my life. No one is ever deceived for
moment: the mcrest child knows directly he
enters the room that the portieres at the end
conceal the bed and that the set bowl turks
behind the screen in the corner. There are a
few new ideas in bedroom furnishings, how
ever, which ! am going to show you.
WOODEN BEDS IN FAVOR ONCE MORE.
an the first place, you doubtless know that
the day Of the brass and iron bed is past.
Wooden beds of all descriptions are univer-
sally used Those who can afford to do so pick
up quaint old French or Italian or Spanish
bed and use this as the keynote of the bed
room Indeed, collecting old beds is a very
popular fad If it isn't possible TO find one
intact. fragments Of other pieces Of old furni-
ture such as the door of an armoire or the
ends Of an old settle, are taken as the nucleus
and a really interesting bed built around this.
your Colonial bed is still in favor and will
undoubtedly hold its own, especially here in
the East, where such an article is, usually
like yours-a family heirloom Hung with
chntz or white dimity it is always good. And
bv the way. if you want new white spread
for your bed, have you seen the hand-woven
ones with design in knots which are mad"
in North Carolina? They are very interesting
and very appropriate for a four-poster.
"And. while we are speaking of Colonial
beds did you know that the latest craze
in that period is for the maple furniture in
the natural color? Colonial mahogany will
always hold its own, but up 70 now very few
collectors have paid much attention to the
old maple furniture.
Mrs. Travers has a bedroom in her shop
furnished entirely with this type Of furniture.
There is a four-posted bed with deliberately
carved posts, a high-boy, a charming grand
fathers clock, table with a simple design
inlaid in darker wood, several chairs and
really remarkable Settee,-a cross between
settec and chaise -rush-seated, with
the end made so that 1t can be adjusted on
the principle of the Morris chair. With chintz
banginrs at the bed and windows, and rag
rugs on the floor. the effect is very satisfying
THE ENGLISH BUILT-IN BEDS.
To return to the subject Of innovations IN
bedrooms suppose the one which is newest
TO most people is the built-in bed fancy
Baltic Scott, who is more or less responsible
for the 'dining-recess' is also the godfather
at least. Of the 'built-in bed At any rate
the first one that 1 ever saw was in house
which ne had designed 1t was the very house
by the way which had the little verse painted
on the beam and slept in the built-in bed
1T doesn't sound a hi; comfortable TO me- |
ventured TO remark. "'built-in' sounds hard
and stuffy"
at was far from it, answered Letitia. 1T
had a wonderfully soft mattress and com
Portable spring. You must have got your idea
of a bult-in bed from the Dutch. In Holland
the beds are sunk into the wall,-and they
are hard and they stuffy.
"The kind Of which | am speaking doesn't
skulk in the wall; it stands out in the open
like any other sef-respecting piece Of furni-
ture. It is built in an alcove with its head
against the wall and its foot on the line where
the alcove joins the room. The ceiling Of
the alcoye is usually n little lower than that
of the room and there are four square posts.