Evening star., 1936-09-12
of Modern
Interiors Lays Stress on
New Floor Coverings
Pale Hued Rugs and Carpets Are Patterned
by Differences in Weave and
Texture

chitectural innovations" he says. "It
is direct result Of the shrinkage OF
room space in modern buildings. Cell
ings have come down in height. Room
dimensions have been reduced.
Home makers gradually realized
that floor covering should be sub
dued in pattern to give an effect Of
SpaciousneSS. Any architect could
have pointed this out years ago.
Indirect lighting. too. has infiu-
enced the public's task in carpeting
today. Light reflected from the whole
area OF the ceiling throws into equal
prominence the entire floor area, and
it has been found that often the ORR
entail design becomes too prominent
a part of the room. Intricately pat
termed rugs are most effective, ap-
parently, under shaded lamps and
candle light"
Rug and furniture manufacturers
would profit by watching another
significant development in archie
tendency to eliminate walls. Archi-
tects today are compensating for loss
of space in rooms by running one
room into another.
Take for example the new Rocke-
feller Apartments in New York" the
young decorator explains, zone of the
most up-to-date examples of resi-
Dental planning in America.
There dining room. living room and
foyer are one uninterrupted sweep.
Such an arrangement makes a new
demand on floor covering. 1t must
connect various areas and yet suggest
divisions the walls no longer indicate.
Decorators of the Rockefeller model
suite solved this problem by using
carpeting. but setting within 1t Okla
cut, which has the effect of suggest
ing the area of an intimate living
room.
X
4 MOTHER example is in hotel
In your own Washington, which
has combination suites of bed and
living rooms. Previously one carpet
would have been laid over the whole
floor, but now the rooms display
slightly different rugs. plain shade
for one area and a texture weave in
the same tone for another. There is
enough likeness to create an effect Of
unity, but there is subtle suggestion
of where the living room ends and
the bed room begins"
Texture designs are an innovation.
it seems, especially adaptable for ma
chine work. Patterns are achieved
with different kinds Of weaving, luS.
ter and twists of yarn. Some rows
may be high, some low, some yarn
is woven in loops and other loops are
cut-the pile may be cut or uncut,
the yarn straight or curly. Different
levels are responsible for flowers,
trees or conventional motifs, while
combinations of shades are some.
times introduced.
Texture rugs go equally we'll with
modern and conventional interiors,
Sourian says, and the light tints Of
the most popuar pieces seem to de.
light women more than anything pro.
duced before in the history of floors.
Women used to be more afraid Of
dirt than they are today. it seems,
probably because of modern cleaning
devices. They have discovered that
deep rugs of beige, cream and cham.
payne hues show dust and dirt no
more than darker tones.
In Sourian's opinion, the rug is the
soundest investment for the average
purchaser. rather than carpeting. In
the rug you have a piece of furniture,
an entity, he says, that the artist may
design never to be cut, and that the
modern American may take along
when he transplants himself.