The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1921-10-07


answer questions All questions should
be addressed to c. G.. c., in care CT
this paper. Answers will be printed
so that others having the same prob
lem may be helped.
######
THE HOME
"Home is where the heart is" is
an old saving, and it is true. But it
is also true that unless the heart is
in the home. there is no home From
the point of view of the housewife,
the house is where she spends her
time, and where the center of inter
est hes for the whole family. And on
her depends the atmosphere which
will contribute 10 the ha, )iness of
every one in it. Therefore, the prob
lem before the house" would seem to
be how to make tie home the most
attractive, comfortable and suitable
place fer all concerned.
It Is large problem, particularly
where there are three meals to be
gotten, darning to DO, ami all the
routine work tha, faces one every
day. But there is time for the artist
development if we only take it.
First study your own needs not
your neighbours. Everyone of US has
a different size of house to live in,
different size families and different
size pocket books. And we should
be governed accordingly. But many
# us are not Mrs. So and So has
Il nov kind If amp shade = doubtless
bought at bargain counter. But we
are so apt to think it is RIGHT be-
cause it is NEW
The key note to successful home
is found in the one word SUIT
ABILITY. What is more homogeneous
and out of place than plush in the
parlor of a farm house! But if it is
already there. we may have to make
the best of it. But don't put it there
yourself! Let your house represent
your own standing in he community
and standard of living. Fortunately
the tide of excessive display in the
home has turned We are all getting
down to the essentials, and there is
less false pride and useless pretense.
The fads of the day have at last tuln-
ed in the favor of those who really
appreciate true simplicity.
So many decorators who seem to
be sincere in their profession, fail to
grasp the idea tfat til, home belongs
to the person who lives in it not
to the person who saiis the goods.
They there in imposing their ideas on
their clients. But the client need not
fail if she studies her own surround
ings. DO 1T NOW,
Look at your house Is it one of
these old field stone houses that has
stood the test of time? | hope so.
Perhaps it is newell it is new, built
in town or country, it ought to con-
form to the type of architecture a
bout it, and the spirit of the COM
munity. For what is more copspicu-
Gus and offensive to the eye than
california bungalow in the cold
climate of the east! Does your house
look as tho it belonged" where it is,
and as tho it just grew like Topsy-
or as if it were a gingerbread house
out of fairy tale? We all like fairy
tales, but We can't live them.
Look at the interior of your house.
1t may be too late to change the out
side, but there are always things we
can do inside, even if only bit by bit.
Is your living room comfortable,
homelike, conveniently lighted. cheer
full? Are there comfortable chairs
for all the members of the family
or does father get the only arm chair?
Not that he doesn't deserve it, but
house work is hard work too. Have
enough comfortable chairsl
Does your room look inviting to
the casual guest, and to the family?
Is your dining room just place to
eat in, or is it hospitable? Just walk
into your home and criticize it as
would Mrs. j, who has just moved to
town. See it with new object in
view. Is your kitchen spick and span?
A little paint goes a long way, and
cheerful curtains help so much, and
perhaps a rocker to sit in while you
shell the lima beans.
Are your bedrooms restful, or does
the wall paper give you the night
mare? Bed rooms were meant to
sleep in in spite of the fact that
manufacturers offer US atrocities in
the form of hectic colored and elab-
orately designed wall papers.
Look at your house is it just a
house, or is it home? No one needs
to tell you the answer to that ques-
ton. But the problem of arriving at
the desired result may involve more
study.
(Step by step, in subsequent ar
ticles, we may be able to evolve a
standard for good decorating in gen
eral, based on the principles of de-
sign form and color and a personal
standard for the individual, specific
house where we want what is most
appropriate, and all that goes to
create the desirable atmosphere Of