San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-09-27
Vivid C0l0rs
To Be Seen
A g aim

10 action seems the usual history Of
man. The color red has been cOnsid'
cred an active color, if not a violent
one, Some Of US remember when II
was quite usual to see an entire room
papered in a perfectly shouting red,
n strong. harsh, staring color People
must have Quarreled and fought in
such rooms. and yet no one stopped 10
consider the mad color was to blame.
That was before the days Of Sub
conscious and ~complexes' and
-norms."
A reaction followed and brown be
came a favorite color. \ living room
with dark brown walls, that absorbed
all light. with brown curtains and
rugs, differing tones, 10 be sure, but
seldom venturing on anything 50
cheerful as tan, presented a drab AMI
forlorn aspect that saddened those
who entered. or lived there. Sup.
pressed desires" had not been released
then, and perhaps il was just as well.
since in such rooms, fratriclde would
be entirely justifiable.
A gradual change brought into our
homes gayer, brighter. more cheerful
colors, until this year We may even
use red again. but with a difference.
oh what a difference from the past.
when unmitigated scarlet was allowed
10 blare from the walls.
We know that wall paper has a def
mite function and that is TO stay back
on the walls. The minute it obtrulcs
il In no longer in good taste. And yet
az that IL may have red for its dom
inant color and still fulfill its pur-
pose.
A case in point. Picture for your
self this living room. One would no
tice first a beautiful red lacquer sec
rotary. Intricate Chinese designs in
gold with little black. soften the red
and keep it from becoming monoTonOus
Curtains draped in sweeping folds in
arched windows, are of scarlet tapes
try. Again the red is there but il is
soft. of a lovely quality and subtly
changes as light and shadow fall on
the pattern.
The Chinese note begun by the sec
rotary is carried further in the POI
trait Of a Chinese gentleman over the
mantle, a framed print closely re-
sembling Chinese painting on glass.
Sconces with heavy crystals hang
either side the portrait. Brass and
irons stand in the fireplace below.
An old davenport in green plush is
drawn close 10 the fire. and opposite
is divan in green tapestry. Antique
side tables stand about the room.
There is one at each window. A pair
of lamps made with glass bases and
pale green shades, light the room, one
on each table.
The wall paper, now we have finai-
~ reached il, comes last, because il
really does so sweetly stay back on
the walls. 1t is a formal red pattern
on ivory white. One lone chair in
scarlet tapestry gracefully balances the
secretary.
Old and new furniture are now com
bined very effectively. Not many OF
us can afford a complete outfit in a
definite period of some other day, but
with the excellent reproductions now
made we can approximate il, and
create an impression Of age with its
quaintness and charm. -
A four-poster bed is a good start
and who cares, 50 the design be good
and done in maple. whether it were
constructed recently or long ago. a
canopy Of glazed chintz in pink and
green with a white ball fringe belongs
TO the bed, and a quilted spread. The
chintz may very happily repeat its
gay color at the window and in the
covering Of one overStuffed chair.
A Colonial room this. as you may
easily guess, and a fireplace would be
pleasant, as in the old days, il was a
necessity. And a spinning wheel at
one side would seem quite right,
wouldn't It? Above the mantle a large
mirror should hang and a three part
set Of candlesticks will properly stand
below. There were two favorite de-
signs in the old ghirandoles, Paul and
Virginia. and Jenny Lind. The two
end sticks held single candles, with
hanging crystals, and the center one
was arranged TO hold three.
At the foot Of the bed a dear old
overstuffed chair in blue would be
long. with a fat cushion in blue on
the floor in front Of it. 4 pleasant
hilip pattern would be prim and digni-
fled on the walls, with framed prints
Of ships. Between the windows n
banjo clock might hang above a small
maple table.
IL ones tastes turn toward the
French periods instead Of the Colonial,
a Fsagonard print makes q good
starting point from which to advance