Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-19
FURNISHING THE HOME
Conducted for The Star
BY ELIZABETH STETsON AND GENEvIEvE HENDRICKS

toned before, the ruins of Pompeii
and Herculaneum were discovered ana
old Europe was Influenced by the
beautiful Roman and Greek styles
| found there. Also people were getting
tired of the overdone carvings of "A
riot of lines which surrounded them.
They wanted simplicity.
England has nearly always turned
to France for her fashions; so the
beautiful and restrained lines which
developed in France at the time of
Louis XVI and the Directoire inspired
English contemporary furniture. 1t
| is impossible to tell many of the Eng
fish and French pieces of this period
apart The lines of architecture are
rectangular with often a semicircular
arch over the door and mantels. Bal
ance and symmetry were the ideals
| of design.
Furniture was arranged in pairs
around a central focus. Lines OF
chairs, tables, sideboardS and COM
modes are very dainty ana low. There
are no pieces Of furniture which pro
| ject very far above the dado. or chair
rail, as it Is more commonly called.
| Straight and semi-circular lines. or
| very delicate Louis XIV curves are
! used for the furniture. Wood panel
| ing as a wall covering disappears en-
tirely, and plaster becomes the great
medium. The walls are covered with
smooth plaster and marked off into
panels with wood or plaster holdings
Sometimes these panels are deco
| rated with raised plaster ornaments
inspired by the painted decorations on
the walls of the Roman houses; or
again the walls were plain, with only
| the cornice and dado ornamented with
classical designs. Ceilings also were
decorated in low plaster relief. with
many plaques of classical subjects
fitted in the geometrical arrange
ment. Graceful dignity and Formally
are the order Of the day. Chairs, bu-
reaus and commodes often were
painted in Powered designs or deli
cate tones.
Balance and Harmony.
Everything in this type OF room
balances and harmonizes to such
degree that the effect often is monot-
onous. In cur modern home. in order
to get the best effect, we must adapt
the interior architecture to very
simple paneling. wood or plaster. or
plain wall, and then set against 1t the
lovely Adam furniture, and also that
of Hepplewhite and Sheraton, with
here and there upholstered pieces or
the best modern lines, or those of
Louis XIV or Louis XVI or the Dl-
rectoire, or even Queen Anne. In
this way we can prevent that cold
ness and baroness which nearly al
ways accompanies the absolute per-
lection of detail in the Adam period.
Plain or very small patterned Orien'
tai rugs should be used on the floor,
and at the windows fine nets and laces
should hang in full folds. Overdra-
peries of light silk, striped or plain. or
lightweight damasks are appropriate.
For simpler houses toiles de Jouey. or
linens printed in Directoire designs
are very pretty. Floors have small
parquet patterns. or black and white
marble. The lighting fixtures are OF
brass or silver or gilded wood, with
crystal ornaments. They should be
fitted with candle bulbs and shades.
All the hardware of the house is OF
gilt brass or polished silver in beau
tiful and graceful classic designs.