Evening star., 1941-04-26
Dining Room Beauty
Easy 10 Achieve,
Decorator Says
Practical Suggestions
Are Given on Rugs,
Walls, Furniture
By BARBARA CURTIS.

How often it has been said that
the dining room is the least inter-
esting room in the house. And how
easy it is to disprove this. True,
it does require a bit more thought
and work, with a dash of ingenuity.
Before you begin the actual deco
rating, you must decide on the type
of room. In considering this, re-
member to maintain harmony be-
tween your personality and the
room. Do you entertain formally
or informally? In either case the
18th century styles are adaptable.
Therefore let us consider the 18th
century period in keeping with its
popularity again this year.
Good decorating and the most ef-
fective, begins on the floor. The
18th century floral patterns are es-
pecially prolific and lovely at this
time. Imagine the appearance of
your room, enhanced by carpeting
with off shades of peach, beige and
tan flowers on soft grey-green
ground Striped silk chair seats add
a note of distinction. Have you for
gotten the charm of upholstered
arm chairs for the heads of the
family?
Less Formal Rug Attractive.
Slightly less formal, but none the
less attractive, is a tone-on-tone
rug, in a cathedral pine pattern
which is effective in any room or
a leaf scroll to complement whatever
other regency touch is being used
to heighten the beauty of the room.
Figured or self-color rugs are often
first choice due to the very prac-
tical consideration of spillage.
In the dining room, as elsewhere,
1t is important that the rug be of
the correct size. Have you ever
seen perfectly lovely dining room
with chairs and table seemingly es-
conced on an island in the center,
and the rest of the furniture ar
rayed around the room on the bare
floor? Have the rug as large as
possible, or better still, use wall-to-
wall carpeting.
In keeping with the color scheme
OF the rug, we may select fabrics,
such as f1oralS, stripes or those with
regency motifs. There is a revival
OF the use of lace or embroidered
curtains.
Choose Wall Paper Carefully.
There is a slight rise in a ten
oency toward the rocco type of
Chippendale furniture in dining
rooms. However, the Queen Anne
and Sheraton styles reign among
the favorltes. A dining room is
prone to appear cluttered at times.
what with the innumerable acces-
sorles required there, such as dishes.
coffee sets and candelabra. not to
mention the number of chairs.
Hence simpler lines lend themselves
more gracefully to ornamentstion.
BE careful to choose a wall paper
which is in accord with your floor
covering. A simple pattern is de-
sirable with floral rug. The self
color rugs lend themselves well to
the use of fowered paper. The
proper regency wall paper con-
forming to the scroll pattern. rug
presents pleasing picture.
An excellent background for
Colonial or English furniture is
achieved through the use of pine
paneled walls. A less expensive
method of rendering the same eff
feet is possible through the use of
backed wood veneer or papers that
copy the actual pine design. In
such room make the most of a
fireplace, hang old sporting prints,
place your Staffordshire pottery in
an advantageous position.
Provincial Trend Strong.
The provincial trend seems to be
most strong in dining rooms, and
with it, helping to sustain an in
formal atmosphere, ranks the Early
American Period. There is variety
of woods and finishes stressing
mellowness and charm as in the
use of oak in lined effect.
There are many provincial tyDe