Evening star., 1927-09-30

To serve the hest purpose. WINDOW
curtains and draperies must not CON
eeat an attractive view. prevent Nentl-
alton or shut out too much daylight.
One of the first steps in planning
curtains Is to take into account the
number Of windows in the room that
is under consideration and also the
shane, size, location and exposure ot
the windows. The more pleasing these
features are, the easier IT VIII ne 10
plan curtains which are attractive
Window curtains, as well as the
walls, floor and ceiling, form the back-
ground for the furniture and occu-
pants of room. Curtains may give
accent to a room through appropriate
choice of color and line. hut usually
thew should be made subordinate IN
interest. The lines, color and texture
Of draperies and curtains must he so
carefully planned that they will blend
Quietly into the rest of the room.
The lines of curtain arc deter
mined by the way in which the cur
tain is hung. The lines are formed
~ the direction and length of the
man masses of drapery AS we'll as
ny the bands. trimming features. pat
tern and each fold of the material
Vertical lines are formal and diSni-
Ned and give the appearance of height
to che window. They are appropriate
TO use in public halls, reception rooms.
and when combined with horizontal
liras they civge character and
strength TO the family living room.
The effect of horizontal lines in
draperies and curtains is produced
fN the use OF a valance, tie-backs,
trimming bands and double-sash cur
tains. They appear to reduce the
height of a room and are attractive.
Horizontal lines are informal i'm effect,
and when they are used in the form
of a valance, cornice. or pole with
vertical side draperies. very pleasing
window treatments are obtained.
If window is too broad and low,
the side draperies may be made OF
striped fabric and spread out over
the window to reduce the eXpanse OF
glass. The valance can be placed
above the casing and just reach the
glass. or the valance may be omitted
or reduced to mere ruffie.
If the window is too tall and mar
row, the proportion can be modified
bv mounting the rods out on the wall
instead of on the casing. and the
side dra aperies may he pulled over
until they just reach the glass. The
valance can be hung in it's normal po-
sition and may be made little wider
than usual.
In each case the relation of the va
lance to the exposed portion of the
glass curtain. to the side draperies,
and to the window as whole must
be considered as well as the relation
of the curtained window to the wall
space in which 1t is located.
Color in Curtains.
Color in curtains and draperies can
Offset even the handicaps of poor light.
weak proportions, and bad lines. 1t is
compelling in it's interest and charm
ing If properly used. On the other
hand, IL elaborate and brilliant cur
tains are hung at the window, the rest
of the room will be obscured and only
the windows will be seen. In order
to distribute interest and restore bal
ance to a room, very simple curtains
blending with the wall should be used.
with furniture pleasing in color and
shape. On the wall opposite the win
dows an attractive grouping OF fur.
niture with we'll placed colorful pic
lures will aid in the distribution of
interest. Soft orange, pale yellow,
pinkish cream, ivory, warm tans rose,
or mulberry curtains seem to modify
and warm the color of the light en-
tering q window.
to be used in curtains or draperies
first take into consideration the walls,
floor, woodwork and all the furnish
ings of the room. II the draperies
are figured, more harmonious effect
will be secured by selecting fabric
in which the background is the same
color as the walls, only slightly
darker, and in which the principal
color in the design repeats the color
of the rug or upholstery.
Decided contrasts In color and value
are permissible if the color Is carried
into the room. In any color scheme.
il wisely used, black. gray, silver or
gold may be used as braid on curtains
or in accessories in the room. White
window curtains should be used only
where the woodwork or the walls are
white.
- When Making Curtains.
Curtains and draperies are not hard
{ to make IL carefully measured and
accurately cut. No draperies or cur
tains Should be bought without first
seeing sample Of the material in the
room where they are to be used. 1t
/ should be tested against the wall in
( the position in which 1t will hang
and against the upholstery and wood
work by daylight and lamplight. The
effect Of light shining through it
should also be noticed.
Texture and pattern modify color
and must be considered in close rela.
tion to it. BY texture is meant the
effect of the weaves and fiber upon
the appearance of the fabric. Com
mon textures are thick and thin
smooth and rough, stiff and soft, lus-