South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-03-10
Fashions Versus
Home Decoration

The relation between fashions in
clothes and schemes Of interior dec
GRAFTON IS closer than one might at
FIRST realize. In fact. the latter is
more or less the result of the form
or. for passing fads and fancies can
be tried out in frocks or dress ac-
cessorics which change or arc dis
Carded from season to season.
while home decorations are usually
so permanent that only the ideas
which have already proven their
worth are adopted for them. Per
haps the most striking example of
This is the way that the darl, blue
suit. which has become so essen
vial a part of every woman's ward
robe. has found it's counterpart i'm
home furnishings. The dark blue
suit holds its own year in. and year
ont. II is practical. serViceabIe. and
has a great many other virtues 10
recommend II. chief among which is
its attractive appearance and the
ease with which IL can be dressed
up Ur toned down 10 suit an occa-
sion by the simple addition OF col
ors and frills. or stiffly tailored ac-
cessorics. The corresponding devel-
opment in interior decoration is the
dark blue upholstered furniture.
particularly the big, overstuned
davenport The reason for this is
essentially the same that made the
blue tailored suit almost a stand
ard on which 20 build the average
Nyomans wardrobe. The blue up
hOlstery. like the suit, is attractive
and serviceable, but more than that.
it IS restful. for blue is a recessive
color. Many tones Of reds and
browns stand out, but blue has the
effect Of receding from the vision.
In certain shades this quality Of col
or is so marked that an object up
holstered IN q red-brOUn seems
actually nearer than one covered
IN blue IN very large rooms. the
warmer, more aggressive colors are
perhaps preferable. particularly if
the rooms are dark. but since most
houses and apartments are built
nowadays so that they receive
plenty OF sunshine. and are not
over-spacioua. dark blue is generally
q splendid choice
CONTRACT Elective.
And just as IN frOCks and hats.
many have found that several tones
of one color with a little of another
color for contrast is more effective
Jaar great variety of colors the
same has proved true in decorations.
a great deal OF one color Is mono
touous. either in costume. or fur
pisLings. hut various tones of one
color, ranging from a. little OF the
most vivid. intense tint-in cushions
or candles perhaps-to great deal
of the same color i'm an almost neu-
rralized. gray tone-in hangings or
upholstery r. charming erect
4 brief study Of the most chic mil
liuery ought 10 give valuable hints
Tor the use OF contrasting Colors in
the home Frequently, a brilliant
cherry. or a leaf. or buckle is the
O:s,y trimming on a hat More than
that would make il lose its piquant
air. In the same way brilliant col
ors in contrast 20 the basic color
scheme OF a room, can be handled.
1t IS far more effective. for instance.
TO introduce a little brilliant color
through lamp shades. a vase. or an
iridescent bowl. than il IS 20 have
hangings or some other larger OBJ
ject IN a more softened contrasting
color.
q Is not only IN the bessie ideas cf
interior decoration that furnishings
follow the lead OF clothes. but in
the little details as we'll Various
phases OF the new art are quickly
taken up by dressmakers and cos
tUmC GesiSuers. but the average
home maker adopts these only aft
~ their true value has been found.
Peasant and TvrOlese embroideries.
and futuris,ic combinations OF col
or. all fairly ran riot through our
frocks and dress accessories before
they finally found their place in our
homes Tho first contributed some
what 10 our informal table linens
and a Ereat deal OF our painted
furniture: the second enGeared
themselves in odd little aowers and
designs for sofa cushions painted
boxes. and such minor furnishings
~ desk sets.