The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-03-13
Fixing Up Cozy Living Room
 For Spring
Nv ELAINE MASON

TN SMALL houses there is always l some trouble in arranging and deco rating the living room because the stairs are built in the room and the fireplace and windows are so poorly arranged. Some ingenuity and care must be used tc get a pleasing result and really make the living room livable. A few sugges- tions can be used to help get the room ready for spring. In this case I have taken just a corner of a room showing the staircase and fireplace, which have been placed carelessly.
 To overcome a lot of the difficulty n high wing seat has been built at the side of the fireplace, to separate the stairs from the rest of the room. A semi.circular mirror over the mantei carries out the lines of the opening ot the fireplace and books are placed on the mantel shelf between candlesticks of wrought iron in place of any other decoration. So many mantel ornaments look as if they were merely to fill up space and books are decorative wherever you put them.
 The wall paper is one of the most important features of any room. and the allover pattern of this paper serves it's purpose nicely. Few pictures are needed with a paper of this kind, and the electric fixtures are of wrought iron and all the mirror and picture frames are black. As the fireplace IS ot cream colored marble, the woodwork Ill the room and the settle are painted cream color too. The wide boarded floor has been painted light shade of green to make the room look bigger than it is, and a braided rag rug Tn gray gives a homelike atmosphere and is more inexpensive than good looking rug of any other kind. On account or the smallness of the room it is necessary tc make the best of every inch of space, so bookcases are built in the other side of the fireplace and painted to match the woodwork. The furniture was of an unpleasant variety, so slipcovers were made for all the chairs, and the rest of the pieces painted with black enamel. The covers are of plaid linen in gray and green, and this material is used to make cushions for the seat and back of the settle, and ruffle beneath the seat. Logs of wood can be piled under the seat and yet not show and at the same time save space. On the win dowsills are towering plants which make attractive touches of color against rut- fled dotted swiss curtains. To save on the plaid linen, it has been made into window blinds instead of side curtains, and they are just as nice looking.
 An old-fashioned desk of the roll-top variety is placed between the windows opposite the fireplace and is painted black, with the inside and all the many pigeonholes painted bright green. Green dishes are pretty on the little black teatable beside the settle, where a cozy spot for afternoon tea with fire light and candles is created. There is a gateleg table in the middle of the room painted black between two chairs. and reading lamp with a green pottery base gives sufficient light so that no other lights are needed.
 A simple couch is placed against the wall in case of extra visitors, but has been disguised and makes comfort able nook in which to cuddle up in the daytime. A deep ruffle of linen all around the sides and dozens of bright colored cushions makes this one of the most popular resting spots in the room.