The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-08-20
Modern Housewives Today
Find 1t Easy to Make New
Things Out of Old With a
Brush and a Bit of Gay
Color.
BY Molly Elliott

The magic of a can of paint and
nice new paint brush is a thing OF
strange and delightful charm when
in the hands of a modern house
wife. Old furniture that has long
been relegated to the attic or cellar
becomes a thing of beauty and joy
to the neighbors; rooms that have
been only considered good enough
for storage have been opened, paint
ed and becurtained into inviting little
guest rooms.
Of course the trend toward the an
tique is responsible for the repaint-
ing habit. Not a family but what
has been dragging out the old fam
lily heirlooms for renovation and
setting them UP with all pride either
in their original finish or modern
lied with little gray or green paint.
If the wood be genuine and of good
grain, of course, it is left with only
a dull finish to enhance its lowell
ness. But if it be the contour of
the design and not so good a piece
of wood then beware of the flourish
ing paint brush
Woodwork, Too
And not alone does the furniture
come under the Establishments of
enamel, but the woodwork itself is
transformed into lovely colors to
complete a color scheme. This re-
suits in somewhat Of an Italian ef-
feet, for there is often a pale shade
Of gray, green used, and with that
a faint line of corah or blue in the
paneling or molding. When done by
an expert it is sometimes given a
quaint notified effect that softens
the color and again gives the eff
feet of the much desired antique.
The guest room, therefore, may
be made most attractive with a lit
tie paint and ingenuity and be freed
from any appearance Of nlakeshift.
Odd pieces collected and handed
down may be assembled for the
guest room, a color scheme decided
upon and the whole room, walls, fur
niture, draperies and floors blended
into the scheme. The use Of Gre
tonne in old-fashioned chintz pat
terms is. of course, the most prac-
teal and picturesque. A clever use
Of cretonne is to remove the solid
back Of the head piece Of an early
twentieth century wooden bed and
in its place stretch behind the frame
bright colored cretonne to match the
over Grapes and pillows about the
room. The effect is charningly
quaint and attractive.
Old Problem Solved
The high head pieces of these I'M
slightly old beds that nearly every
one of US has hid away some where
or worse. has been the balm Of our
lives for years, can be removed in
this painting process. Or at least 1t
can be lowered, the foot piece be re-
moved and quaint little squatty Co
lonial bed results.
A desk made from the funny little
old-fashioned washstands makes a
pretty piece of furniture for paint
ed bedroom. The lower drawers and
little cubby hole cupboard are re-
moved and only the upper drawer
remains. Knobs to match those Of
the dresser replace the ornate brass
handles that usually come on them
and the desk is a part Of the suite
1t is great fun to make new things
out of old. Especially when the old
furniture has some sentimental ap-
peal that makes us loathe to part
with it. as so often family pieces,
though unsightly, do. Furniture
shops are busy making over or re-
vamping old pieces, they say, and
they do truly enjoy it, for after ALL
old friends are dearest.