Evening star., 1925-12-25
Ideas i'm House Furnishing
How to Select Pictures, Draperies, Rugs and Lamp
Shades-Ways of Producing Attractive
Kitchens.
Kitchens.

Pictures or other works of art are
used as decorations because of their
beauty. If they are to serve this pur
pose they must be displayed against
"A suitable background If the wall IL
covered with pattern or brilliant col
ors, or both, it draws attention from
the pictures, each one of which should
be a focal point. When pictures have
to battle with Il wall for attention, 1t
is better to change the wall or remove
the pictures. Otherwise we lay our
selves open 10 criticism.
This does not mean that u use OF
pictures in home decoration neceSst-
tates fiat, unlnterestins walls or gray
or creams While Il plain wall. done
in a sanitary, washable tiat wall paint.
is always in good taste. Il may he en-
bellished with panels or simple stem
Gil designs or n timely done twO-tone
effect, rendered in different tints or
the same color, may he used, and, or
course, one is not limited to the use OF
but will also add a touch of color to
gray or ivory or cream. Any desired
hue is quite all right as long as the
dominating color note in rugs, hang
ings and pictures harmOniZes with 1t.
Small pictures, those about tour Dy
five inches in size, can be used IN
many ways, and are really indispen-
arrangement of pictures on wall.
For instance. sometimes, after placing
a large picture above davenport or
over a desk, or above the mantei,
there is a wide space on either side.
It is, perhaps, too small space Tor
picture II by IA inches in dimensions,
and vet when left bare 1t gives a
blank and uninterestinG effect. Ihat
is lust the spot where small, brilliant
picture in a black frame, touched with
a line of red or blue, gold or orange,
not only will give feeling Of balance
the wall and serve to break the 100
bare wall space.
Because the designs of modern print
ed linens and cretonneS are often pic
lures in themselves it is possible 10
find a picture which strongly suggests,
in subject, the design OF the draperles'
For instance, a common motif for dri-
perry designs is the flower basket nlled
with the charmingly vartegat"d Zln-
MAS, or the rich, healthy looking
peony. These two flowers are 1aVor-
ties with artists, and it is not dlfhcult
TO find very decorative pictures In
woodcuts, reproductions from oils or
water colors, or other media, in when
these flowers are used as subjects. or
course, the cretonnes showing parrots,
peacockS, parrakeet, cockatoo and all
colors of roses are extremely common,
but If one perSeVereS it is possible TO
find pictures in which these subjects
have been delightfully."- handled.
Draperies, Shades. Rugs.
Window draperies should serve the
same purpose as lamp shades, soften
ing the light and affording a warm
glow if it IS a cold. northern light, or
neutraliZing it if there is too much
sun. If there is a pleasant view from
your window do not hide it with heavy
draperies. An open net on rings. easily
drawn aside, will soften the light If
necessary One of the first principles
Of art is that good decoration never in
terferes with use, and this is nowhere
more excellently exemplified than in
the matter of draping our windows.
Window draperieS, when used, may
add interesting color spots to a room
Often the color of the window curtains
determines the color scheme of the
room, and because it does this the
window group is the focal point of in
terest in that room. In such case
it is necessary that every part of this
group be correct in color and detail
The color relation of the valance and
the side drapes, as we'll as the color
which is most effective for tiebacks
or edging and braid. must be carefully
considered. 1t Is far-more interesting
to have the valance a solid color It
the draperies are figured. and vice
versa. For the tiabacks use the same
material as the valance.
Accented spots of color in window
decoration are necessary, and for this
purpose black is the safest and most
effective. 1t may be introduced i- +as-
sells or in a narrow braid. A color that
Is complimentary to the general color
scheme of the room is also excellent
for accent. The accent that is used on
the curtains should be used for the
same purpose throughout the room.
If 4 lamD shade produces COM
Portable. radiant glow 1t imDresses us
as being successful, whether 1t is
made of glass, mica or paper. Aside
from its primary purpose of directing
the light TO our work. it is largely a
color spot, and therefore a decorative
accessory. Parchment or heavy
water-color paper makes charming
shades. It should be cut to form q,
wide-spreading shade about 18 inches
at its greatest diameter. A wire frame
for support is not necessary. as it
should fit closely about this electric
socket. The seam up one side may be
fastened with metal clamps and all
edges covered with Il gold galloon
about three-fourths Of an inch wide,
stitched or glued to the parchment.