Evening star., 1925-08-14

It is not only the back room with
an ugly outlook upon back yards,
trash boxes, garbage cans. and ugly
sheds that causes a sense of deSolatlon
and depression to the observer. Often
the view from our front windows.
showing our neighbors inartistic
porch and ugly curtains, may be
equally displeasing.
How to hide the view without OBJ
structing the light is a problem
which many residents have 10 solve.
Fortunately for those who would
rather not gaze upon that which con
fronts them. the present style Of
draping the entire window with col
ored net provides welcome way to
solve the situation. For instance,
deep blue net. weighted with beads of
deep blue glass or with a silver
fringe, may well compensate one to
great degree for an unpleasant out
look.
If one needs still further to discour
age vision. one may add to the net an
applique of gaYly Colored birds and
flowers in a Cretonne design, taking
care to cover the groundwork sutfi-
ciently sparsely to admit of proper
lighting
The dust accommodating curtain of
reeds and beads cannot he recon-
mended from a hygienic point of view.
Far better is a short curtain hung on
a level with the eyes and desce nding
to the sill. made of tinsel-edged rib
bons in a combination of CoIorS or in
several shades of one color, in har
mony with the room decoration. But
tons of Colored wool or silk are effeC-
tive as ornaments to the ends or if the
distressed owner of an ugly view hap
pens to be of an artistic temperament t.
she may convert the window into
something very attractive by pasting
II carefully over with fine tissue
paper and then painting upon it an
alluring vista of trees. terraces, pea
cocks, or what she wishes. This treat
ment is best suited to a double sitting
room which is lighted from both ends
since a CertSin amount of light is
necessarily obscured by using this
method.
View from Outside.
The appearance of a house from out
side is much affected by the choice of
window curtains and the way in which
they are hung. When redecorating
the exterior It is we'll to let the color
scheme he influenced by the colors
used inside. A uniform appearance is
secured by having the curtains all to
match, but if these are colored, mo-
notony is apt TO result indoors. 1t is
both with each other and with the eX-
ternal decorations instead of match
Ing. 1t might be we'll if the windows
on each floor facing the street are
hung with curtains to match.
The present style for colors sug.
gests many attractive schemes for
outside effect. If the window frames
are jade green. for example, either
primrose or gray curtains, either
nal hA ,..I
spring green or cream are charming.
If black curtains are used. orange
woodwork will make n striking and
charming contrast. With orange col
oring, striped curtains in brilliant
colors are also effective. Gray window
frames harmonic with violet. rose,
or mauve hangings. Sometimes it is
difficult to harmonic the curtains
which are chosen to suit the plan of
the room with the outer paintwork
This can often be overcome by lining
the hangings with a color that agrees
with the exterior.
To Add Light to a Room.
Blank walls. projecting caves, and
overhanging trees all help to make
certain rooms appear dark. To secure
the greatest amount of daylight in a
dark little room in an otherwise per
feet apartment, the services of an ar
chitect friend were engaged. and he
gave some helpful suggestions which
could be easily carried out without
professional help. Following his ad-
vice, the outer caves of the window
and the window sill were whitewashed,
and inside the window were fixed a
couple of small refiectors which
caught the light and brought it into
the little room. while the white
washed bricks also played their part
in "chaining" the light.
In this same architects studio,
which is a semi basement the win
dows are set in deep recesses. In each
recess narrow glass mirrors have
been neatly fixed to catch the light.
Another idea for lighting up a
dark window which this architect sug-
gested is to place a small table, if no
window still exists, close to the win
dow and to put on this a sheet of
glass. This also reflects light.
No window looks attractive if it is
entirely unadorned, but curtains can
make or mar a room which is in
clined to be dark. The warmer vel
low tints, such as orange and reddish
yellow, are good. Avoid green's, green
yellows and purples, remembering
that the suns own palette is the best
on which to base a choice of colors.