The Washington times., 1923-01-29
HELPS
To FURNISH
HOME
Decorator Tells How Electricity
Adds Beauty to interior
Effects.

1.-THE day of the big house for
the family of moderate size is
passing" said Mrs. c. Hill Griffith,
a well-known interior decorator of
New York city.
"The tendency in present-day
home planning, indeed, is toward
compactness, simplicity, labor-sav
Ing in construction and housekeep-
ing and Standardization in building
operations and electric wiring and
installations. And all these things
are Obtainable in a correctly de-
signed home without sacrificing
either home comfort or beauty of
design; or beauty of furnishing,
either.
Indeed" continued the speaker,
the. electrical requirements laid
down as accessory to bring a home
up to the standards Of today are a
distinct asset to the skilled interior
decorator.
Bedrooms Of today are smaller
than they were in grandmamma 3
time; as are also most of the other
rooms of the house. Living rooms
alone have taken to themselves
greater spaciousness than was for
merly considered necessary. But,
along with this increase in space
in the living room. the dining room
has shrunk into a room just large
enough to permit comfortable plac-
ing of the necessary furnishings,
with no waste space to be covered
by trudging feet.
Charm In Effects.
Electrical wiring and outlets, in
the dining room of all rooms. give d
distinct charm. The beauty of ex-
preSsive lighting is a joy to the
decorator; this not only as dec
orative note in itself, but as an in
depreciation of other colors and
materials. The modern housewife
is asking, in addition to plenty of
electrical connections for lights in
her dining room, places also for
hooking on her complement of
electrical cooking appliances, so USE
full nj the absence of servants
which marks housekeeping of the
day:
Dining rooms, in some homes,
have been eliminated entirely from
the plans; compact nook being con-
sidered sufficient for the informal
meals Of the family whose mistress
does all the work, while table may
DS ldIu III the llNIflS TOOHl OH SIdtc
occasions. These breakfasts or
pullman dining hooks are capable
of delightful arrangements in both
furnishing and lighting"
Another fashion which is increas-
ing in popularity, according to Mrs.
Griffith. is that of building the en-
tire lower floor, with the exception
of the kitchen, in such manner that
it presents complete vista; rooms
opening up into what appears to be
one large area.
Sense Of SpaciOusness.
This plan, with a certain uniform.
ity of furnishing and lighting eff.
fects, gives a sense of spaciousness
and dignity which might otherwise
be lost in the small house.
"Built-in furniture is popular and
practical" said the decorator. 1T
does not require moving in order to
clean and sweep. The tendency of
the day toward eliminating house
work. which is markedly exemplified
by the tremendous increase in the
use of electric labor-saving appli-
ances. is responsible for this phase
of building. Book shelves, ingle-
hooks, china closets, kitchen cabi-
nets and odd seats are permanently
constructed, and harponize with
the architecture of the house.
Simplicity and compactness, per-
hitting comfort, convenience, and
beauty at moderate costs, are con-
sidered the keynote in modern build
ing requirements.