Evening star., 1924-06-20

NOTHING in house indicates the
taste OF the home-maker more
plainly than the curtains and hang
fngs- II there is little money TO
spend for curtains, il is much better
to use something simple than to buy
an imitation of expensive draperles.
The inside treatment OF windows
depends chiefly upon their size and
shape. The color of the curtain
should be chosen with the general eff
feet of the outside of the house in
mind as well as to harmonize with
the tones on the inside.
Windows should be curtained not
only with regard to their shape, but
also their position in the room must
be considered, as well as the kind of
room to be curtained- The mission of
hangings is to soften stin outlines,
and to give an effect of harmony,
delicacy, and comfort to an otherwise
cold and perhaps ugly room.
The curtains on the lower floor Of
the house should be made of a
heavier. richer material than those
used on upper floors. There should
be no between" lengths. They
sill or to the floor. Three types of
curtains are in ordinary use-the
roller shade, easement curtain, which
is the inner curtain next to the glass,
and overdraperleS-
1t is generally considered unhy-
gienic to have much drapery at the
windows, but it is quite possible to
arrange an attractive curtain that
will not keep out the air.
No window treatment is more ef-
fective than a simple. straight cur
tain hanging in even folds or gathers
from its rod. the exact length of the
window frame, with a curved or
straight valance of about foot
across the top. This provides a
drapery for the sides of the window,
keeps out very little light and air,
and is attractive.
For such curtains it is a good
plan to select a thin. unsized mate
rial, such as scrim, net or cheesecloth,
IN q tona that blends with the fur
ntshings of the room. These curtain s
are best adapted, perhaps. to a bed
room or a sitting room, yet they
would be appropriate for any room
In an unpretentious house.
The same idea may be carried out
In silk or soft tapestry material.
The rods should be of brass or
wood to contrast with or correspond
to the woodwork of the room.
For easement curtains white should
deal OF white in the furnishings of
the room. In bedrooms, breakfast
rooms and sun parlors white is often
desirable. In every other case some
SIidtion OF ecfu OF cream Is best.
If the light is cold, as in a north
east room. a pale shade of pink or
of sunshine yellow will be found to
prlng a surprising amount of warmth
into the effect of the whole room.
Summery Curtains.
Crisp curtains of white muslin
edged with colored rick rack braid
curtains which are usually looped
backed at the sides. seem to increase
the size of room. An extra allow
ance of six or seven inches should
be made for. draping. and another
inch or two for shrinkage.
Scrim makes good stenciled cur
tains, but unbleached muslin may
also be used. and SO may crash,
denim, Danish cloth and monks
cloth. They all lend themselves well
tion.
Stenciling is very inexpensive and
therefore one of the most generally
available ways of getting an artistic
effect. A knowledge of drawing. al
though helpful. is not necessary. De-
signs can be bought and traced with
carbon paper or ironed into the ma
terial, according to the nature of the
design. Wall paper will sometimes
AFFORD good design for stenciling.
A pretty way to dress a bedroom
window is to make ruff1e twelve or
fifteen inches deep, according to the
length of the window easement, and
hang 1t across the top Of the win
dow. Underneath should be hung two
straight lengths, one at each side.
For this arrangement two brass rods
are necessary. The ruffle should be
shirred onto the front rod, and the |
straight lengths sewed to brass rings |
on the other rod, to permit the cur
tain to be drawn across the pane The
used may be one with
plain surface. one with a pattern
woven in, or one enriched by en-
broidery or stenciling.
Sash curtains for bedrooms. bath
rooms, or kitchens may be made of
any soft material. such as Swiss,
figured muslin, madras, chintz
or cretonne. They may be made so
as to fly loose at the bottom with
a hem, or they may have another rod
at the bottom to hold them taut. If
used in a bedroom, it is often desir-
able to have a long curtain of lace
or some other sheer material, reach
ing from the top of the window to
the sill or the door. in addition to the
sash curtain.
Japanese toweling is inexpensive,
the colorS are fast, and the material
is strong. In the bathroom it gives
an especially fresh, clean appearance
at the window or in front of shelves,
and harmonizes well with white tiles