Evening star., 1933-01-20
FURNITURE is perhaps the most
distinctive and permanent of all
the house furnishings. It should
be purchased only to fill need,

'URNIIURE Is perhaps IIlc HUot
l. distinctive and permanent of all
the house furnishings 1t should
Il be purchased only to fill need,
and then with great deliberation.
:: In the selection Of furniture, the points
to be considered are its function or use,
Tits construction or design, and its rela-
: nishings.
Buying furniture is more than ever
: before governed by taste and appreci-
alton Of good design and construction.
If you know little about furniture, be
especially careful to examine the best
types before you buy. Notice that most
good designs are extremely simple, and
that their beauty depends upon propor-
ton and delicacy Of contour, rather
than upon heavy machine carvings or
filigree work. Numerous brackets and
turnings that support nothing have no
reason for existence other than to keep
the housewife busy with a dust cloth.
A moderate amount of tasteful carv-
Ing in the wood, but not glued on the
surface, may add much to the beauty
of piece of furniture. A piece OF fur
niture covered with machine carving
that Is evidently glued on is always in
bad taste, and even hand carving, good
in itself, may be so used as to be OBJ
jectionable
An accurate indication of the quality
of furniture is given by the finish. EiX-
cellent workmanship, good woods with
dull rather than shiny finish, and de-
signs that are agreeable in form and
line, are characteristics of desirable
furniture. The glaring shine so often
seen on low-priced furniture Is an in
dication of undesirability A mat fin
t~l1 r1o htoir Cd hv r1IhhinU
down the shellac or varnish, is usually
the most pleasing, but wood that is
merely stained. and left with dead
surface, or that is finished in wax, will
not offend the most fastidious person.
The handles, drawer pulls hinges. and
Dther trimmings, are other Indications
of the quality of furniture. Drawer
pulls for low-grade furniture are often
of filigree design. stamped from thin
shec. brass, fitted with f1imsy handles,
anG finished to initiate oXidiZed silver,
copper or fire gilt. Since the grade OF
trimmings is usually in harmony with
the construction and finish OF the piece
that they are intended to decorate, they
are useful guides.
Such chairs should be selected as will
prove to be strong. comfortable seats.
Tables should be firm and well made.
like, should be adequate and " sup
piled with smoOthly-running drawers or
Well-hung doors.
Oak is a reliable wood fo general
use and may be finished in many ways.
Fine woods, such as mahogany, imply
an elegance of setting and service.
Painted furniture is especially suitable
for bed rooms, and there are many at
tractive pieces that are suitable Tor
use in other rooms. Willow is a kindly
material for chairs, since it adapts itself
comfortably to the body and can be
made to conform to any color scheme.
Good springs and padding often add to
the comfort of chair or couch.
Furniture should harmonic with the
woodwork of the room. A new piece
of furniture should always be selected
with reference to the other furnishings
In order that friendly relations may be
maintained. The furniture Of a living
room, because Of its more constant and
varied use, should generally be more
substantial than that of bed room.
Furniture Arrangement.
Order is the central idea in good ar
raagement. Furnishings should be ad-
justed to the structural lines Of the
room. Furniture should be arranged
in such way that it will follow and
fit the wall spaces. Interest may be
distributed throughout the room by
placing heavy pieces of furniture and
significant colorings and designs at
considerable and pleasing distance
one from another.
If the lines of the furniture and the
proportions of it are good, the furni-
ture will be emphasized by wall color
grayed in intensity and light in value.
Ii the furniture is not particularly in
teresting, and there are too many pieces,
1t will be less noticeable aga,nft a wall
of nearly its own value. Beautiful fur
nitlTe of lovely lines and proportions,
and beautiful pictures, will be lost if
unattractive and inappropriate wall
covering is chosen.
A group of furniture should be
planned for every use of the ROOM For
instance, in the living room there needs
to be writing group, a reading group,
and. if the family is musical, a music
group. It will be best to have the
writing group away from the visiting
group if possible, and in place where
there is good light. Comfortable
chairs, convenient books or magazines
on a table, shelf, or in book rack,
and well placed lamp usually make
LIE Lie CIldIS
be placed so that there is good light
for day reading as well as for evening
use. If there is a music group, it
should be away from the visiting and
writing groups if possible.
Desks, reading seats, sewing chairs,
and any kind of furniture needed for
close work should occupy well-lighted
spaces. Bookcases cabinets, and the
like may occupy the darker and less
usable spaces.
In the bed room. the bed and a small
table and lamp may form one group,
while the dresser, chairs and closet
make another. The bed should be
placed parallel with the wall, where
there is good air for the sleeper, and
where the early morning sun does not
fall.
Dining Room.
For the dining room, avoid those
pieces of furniture which have high