Evening star., 1941-03-07
MISS NOVEL;:

I am building a small house in the
woods and would like to use pine
logs with the bark on for the ceiling
beams and leave them exposed. Is
there any reason against this? If
there is. what other method do you
suggest that would give a rustic ap-
pearance?
JOHN F. S.
Answer-The main reason for not
using the logs with the bark on is
that you never may be sure how
many varieties of bugs are dwelling
under it and who will all begin to
thrive as soon as you give them a
snug retreat. 1t is much better to
Skin" the logs and smooth them up
a bit, and if you like the rich brown
color, there are preservative prepa-
rations which will give you the color
and guard against infestation at the
same time. Another way is to split
the logs after they have been peeled,
ADJ the split side off to reasonable
smoothness and turn the split side
down so that it is visible from the
living room. The various colors to-
ward the heart of the log may be
brought out with linseed oil and are
most decorative.
DEAR MISS NOVEL;:
MY little girl wanted pink and
blue room. so we papered the room
in pale pink and put a blue rug on
the floor. I expect to use pam
white organdie curtains at the VIM
dows and soft blue bedspread. The
room looks most innocuous and l
would like to pep it up" a bit. Can
YOU suggest a few touches that might
do that? have a small upholstered
chair to cover and another small
windsor TO paint.
MRS. E. G.
Answer would suggest blue
paint for the windsor chair, the
muntins of the window and interior
of the frame This gives most
interesting effect at the windows.
If YOU want to line the moldlng
of the doors in the room, 1t also
would be interesting with blue. l
would cover the upholstered chair
in bright pink and white candy
stripe washable material and tie
the curtains back with huge bows
of the same. l think that will give
you plenty of pep
DEAR MISS NOVEL;:
What would you suggest for the
curtains in a beach house that has
pine paneled walls throughout? l
plan 10 make them myself and want
them practical and durable.
NJ. r.
Answer-Calico percale, gingham
or seersucker. Any or all of them will
stand plenty of washing, are fast
to color and no trouble at all.
Furthermore. they are exactly right
with a pine interior. You will find
calico in the old Colonial patterns
that are very gay, and percale in
conventional patterns with good
color is excellent Checked ging-
ham is always good and the plaid
even better, while SeerSuCker in the
gorgeous new stripes has the added
attraction of getting more seer
suckery" with the damp air. Make
allowance for shrinkage in all of
these unless they are sanforized.
DEAR MISS NOVEL;
Is it possible TO buy patterns to
MAKO slim rovprS9
H. G..
Answer-Yes. you may buy pat
terms for all standard shapes, but
be sure to fit the patterns to your
chairs before you cut. and you will
have to fit the covers again, just
as though you had no patterns, after
the material is ready for basting.
In other words, the patterns do not
allow for personal idioSyncracies,
such as the sagging or slipping of
padding that is usual in any chair
which has been used several years.
Address queries on home deco
ration and similar problems to
Margaret NOVEL;, in care of The
Evening Star. For personal re-
plies, include a stamped, self
addressed envelope. Other ques-
tions will be answered in the
column as quickly as space per-
mitS.