Milford chronicle., 1959-04-24
Housewife Can Be
Own Interior Decorator
Ry EDWARD s. KITCH

CHICAGO (AP)- Decorating a
room is like painting a picture to
Marion Heuer, one of the nations
top interior decorators.
She suggests that the American
housewife take a similar attitude.
AS the designer of interior de-
cor for many homes, shops, motels,
restaurants, offices and country
clubs, Mrs. Heuer's work is known
and seen across the country.
How can the average homemak-
er become decorating wise?
'"The housewife can begin with
household publications. They are
doing wonderful job with color
photographs Mrs. Heuer said.
"She can expose herself to open
houses and apartments where she
can get great many ideas in dec
Grating. Then if she can't decide,
she should see decorator.
"He is familiar with the market
and in the long run could save her
money"
Here are examples of do-it-
yourself decorating hints Mrs.
Heuer endorses:
9Draperies should be seen and
not heard. You don't want to sit
and look at a big pattern and have
it jump out at YOU I like a plain
muted background and accent with
accessories the way woman
wears jewelry," she said.
In years of decorating, Mrs.
Heuer is certain of one thing:
she likes the uncluttered look.
Her favorite colors are yellows
and white because they look sunny.
She uses lot of charcoal.
She likes to give a room a tn
eme. This can be taken from a
painting or textured pattern or
an idea can be developed from the
outdoors.
For example, a lobby she dec
Grated for Chicago apartment
hotel includes a huge IL by Is
foot sand casting that. reflects the
influence of the water of nearby
Lake Michigan.
Sea shells and stones of the sort
picked up by beachcombers are
imbedded in the surface of the re-
lief-like mural.
81 like muted colors and the
sand suggested the beach," she
said.
Women usually have good taste
in clothes, but when they are con-
fronted with a room they are con-
fused. If they would think of it the
way they dress it would be simpler.
"She doesn't put on a hodge
podge of clothes and go down the
street"
If one uses a painting or mos
aic for a theme of a room, he
should be sure he likes it.
"A painting has to be a personal
thing. 1t has to do something for
the owners of the house. 1t has to
give them a lift inside, not just
because it is pretty. 1t has to tell
some message" she said.
If the owner has artistic ability,
he or she can create mosaic of
bits of glass. BY fiddling around,
you can get an interesting design.
You can use several shades of
one color in one room. Use reds,
yellow, blue, orange or green in
dividually for accents.
You can use cool colors in a
room and pick up brighter or
warmer color in a ceramic or
painting.
Mrs. Heuer says her easiest GUS
toners are men who want their
offices to look like a library or
den.
The executive wants his office
to look elegant He is aware of the
age of texture and deep carpeting
on the floor.
Here are trends in home and
office furnishings predicted by
Mrs. Heuer:
Oil teak wood will replace wal
nut. A great deal of Italian fur
niture in modern and in dressy
woods or lacquer in colors of blue,
red, black and some green will
show up.
The lacquered chairs with wal
nut table will be used to give ac-
cent to a room. More monotone
upholstery will be used with
brightly lacquered chairs.
There will be a swing back to
Early American or Oriental.
81 think that maybe we are GO
ing so modern with the machine
age, Americans want the nostalgia
of Early American and it's warm
ness" she said.