Evening star., 1941-05-17
Two Popular Trends
Noted in Creatinq
A Modern Room
Either Refurbish Old
Furniture or Stort
Plans From Scratch
By BARBARA CURTIS.

So you're planning to go mod
ern." Well, you are in for a lot OF
fun over the surprising effects which
may be achieved in surprising ways.
There are two principal trends in
modern furniture today one is
practical and simple, falling within
the means of limited budget. The
other Is sophisticated, leaning
toward the rather extreme.
There are two ways to create a
modern room, namely, to refurbish
the old furniture or to start from
scratch and buy a whole new outfit.
One way or another, you'll want
new rug, for nothing sets the spirit
of the room so much. Plain broad
loom carpeting is much favored. as
are twist weaves and Sculptured
rugs. However, the self-color rugs,
such as the Fern Leaf, Willow Spray
and Cathedral Pines, are popular
because they combine the simplicity
of the plain carpet with the prac-
ticalness of floral design.
Choice of 26 Colors.
Several new. interesting designs
have been created, which render the
effect OF an embossed rug. These
are, of course, less expensive than
the sculptured type. Another new
development is Lokweave Broad
loom, offering a choice of 26 colors.
Since the tufts of this carpet are
woven through to the back and
locked in place by special COM
pound, it may be cut in any direc-
ton without raveling. Areas which
have been burned or worn can be
cut out and replaced. Also, you may
have designs made to your specifica-
tions and inserted where desired.
Now the question is what size is
the best. The preference runs to
all-over carpeting or at the most
leaving a few inches of floor show
ing around the rug. This is due.
perhaps, to the fact that 1t lends
itself better to the odd arrangements
which may be employed in modern
room, and makes it appear larger.
1t is the fashion to arrange fur
niture according to units-two, three
or four-depending on the size of
the room. Note that in the illustra-
ton the center of interest in the
conversational group is the sectional
sofa. The rather baroque lamps,
the traditional picture frame and
the plants tend to lessen the severity
which might otherwise be objection
able, but do not detract from the
modern appearance of the room.
The amoeba- shaped table helps to
tie the group together. Those eftec-
tive but deceptive windows are
naught but three ordinary windows
on the side wall, cleverly draped.
Darker Tones Popular.
Some other units in the room
would be a music group, centered
around a piano or radio, and a
library group. The combination liy-
ing room and dining room is basking
In the limelight these days. AS far
as possible, these two units should
be kept separate.
Darker toned finishes, such as the
Cordovan, are growing in popularity
and look well against the lighter
rugs. Or you might use dark walls
Rs foil" for blond rooms.
Plastics have rung in, having
started out as novelties and modern
decoration and reaching the point
where they are now used as an in
tegral part of the furniture. Printed
fabrics in modern weayes and tex
lures feature large-scale tropical
flowers and leaves, abstract designs,
stylized traditional patterns, bold
stripes and plaids.
Note: Miss Curtis will gladly
answer your floor covering and
other decorative problems. Ad-
dress your inquiry to Miss Bar
bara Curtis in care of The Eve
ming Star.