Evening star., 1927-09-16


value which is within the reach o
all. regardless of the amount o
money to be expended upon tn,
nome. Even a badly proportione,
room may be redeemed from me
diocrity by symmetrical arrange
ment of its contents and skillfu
choice of decorations.
BY symmetry. however, is no
meant dull. monotonous uni
formity, but, instead carefully bal
anced arrangement Of furniture anc
other objects. the essential differ
ences between which are sufficient tC
ohviate any risk OF monotony. Its
principles are applicable equally tt
large or small rooms, but whereas
large, we'll proportioned rooms car
stand certain amount of bad treat
ment without losing dignity. small
ones must be skillfully handled e
avoid a jumbled appearance
Carpets and rugs always look best
when their edges run parallel .wltf
the walls. To use rugs successfully
there must be a reason for the posi-
lions they occupy. They should
either conform to the structural lines
or the room or else emphasize the
comfort and utility of some part:cu
lar pieces Of furniture. A large set.
may be placed at an angle to the
walls. and rug laid parallel with
the main lines of the piece of furni-
ture in question will be rightly placed.
The top OF the piano is not the
place for collection of ornaments.
photograph and odd articles. Beauty
and utility will both he served by
leaving it severely bare. except per-
maps for an occasional bowl Of flow.
ers or a decorative lamp.
Color plays a large part in the bal
anced effect of any room. strong col
ors naturally carrying more weight
than pale ones. and when the color
pattern is allied the effect is en-.
HANGED. Thus it VIII he realized that
curtains represent an important item
In the finished whole
Large windows at one end or at
one side of room flimSily curtained
convey an impression of weakness and
fail to balance the stronger attrac.
tlons of the substantial furniture or
deeper colorings of the rest of the
rooms equipment. On the other hand.
a mass of heavy. dark. or over-pat.
termed curtains tips down the scale
the other way and once more the
equilibrium of the room is upset.
Accessories in Furnishing.
The main furniture pieces in home
may be selected for durability or be-
cause they We're the best for the
money YOU had to spend. or for some
other reason. but the accessories. such
as lamps. pillows. pictures, vases, and
c-a-brac should be selected to give
home the necessary touch of indi.
vidualitN. Accessories either enrich or
cheapen room. They cheaper when
they are gaudy or crude. or when too
many are displayed in one room
Pictures are important accessories
The right picture, aside from a per-
sonal appeal. adds finishing touch
10 a room in which it is hung. The
personal appeal may be through SEN
timent. scenes of color. subject. ar
tistic value, or money value. The To-
cation or space in the room in which
picture is to be hung, the amount of
light, with the use and style of the
room. are important considerations.
Ii is sometimes necessary to plan a
room around a picture. especially If
it is valuable oil painting. in order
to show the picture to the best ad-
vantage. The beauty of a picture is
diminished when ii is crowded into
space too small for it. when it is
hung too close to other pictures which
detract from it. and when ii is hung
or a wall papered or painted with a
busy design
Browsing around i'm out of -the-way
stores is the best way to acquire a
power of discrimination and inciden-
tally few bargains in bric-a-brac. 1t
is more satisfying to buy bric-a-brac
that is true to its own technique or
material. no matter how unpreten-
tious that may be. than to invest i'm
limitations of something costly. An un.
adorned Indian basket for trash bears
the stamp of authenticity lacking in
an oak waste basket decorated with
machine carving. For the same rea
son an old homespun coverlet has
more charm than imitation tapestry.
Fabrics for Use cn Wall.
Fabrics for use in the modest home
or small house should be those made to
Withstand sun and the tub. Brilliant
color and enchanting design are given
these. Glazed chintz. oilcloth, sun
fast voiles and easement cloth are
some of the fabrics. Gingham and
percale and cotton prints are others.
Glazed chintZ can be cleaned with
soap and water to restore its fresh
ness, the material being spread fat
before being scrubbed. Oilcloth comes
IN soma -cOlorS Jnat are lovely, ana
every one knows how easy it is to
clean. A valance of it at the kitchen
window is one clever use for it, the
valance being edged with .another
color and the same color used for tie
backs across the sheer fabric used
next to the glass. The sun-fast voiles
are of many tints. The easement cloth
comes in such combinations as cream
AM blue or green and white The
many cotton prints. with their delight.
full colors and designs. suggest bed
room use for spreads or curtains
Walls paneled in cretonne and fin
ished with some of the many at.
tractive cotton gimps that can be
found to tone with the dominant col
ors Of the material are gay and re-
fined in effect for bedrooms. boudoir
or living room when furniture not too
heavy or severe in outline accompa-
MES it. A sitting room with bay
window. and the woodwork painted in
soft gray tones. might be hung with
a gray and white striped cretonne
strewn with bouquets of pink and
mauve roses. Recesses and cupboards
lined with the same cretonne as that
used for the walls are very attractive
in rooms of this kind.
To cover an ugly pla Sterwork deco
ration. to mask an undesira BILE door,
or to hide stains on a wall. cretonne
Will often prove useful eXpedient.
The hest method of hanging il is to
provide the wall with light wood bat