Evening star., 1961-06-03
Time to Look
Toward Summer
By BETTY PEPIS
Contributing Writer

Contributing Writ
Now that June has arrived,
it is high time for those who
have summer places to give
a thought to either furnish
ing or refurbishing them. All
too often the warm-weather
home is simply a catch all
for diScards from a city
house.
Such conglomerate ingre-
dents may almost defeat the
purpose of a summer retreat
where members of the family
spend vacation days and are
entitled to a relaxing atmos-
phere. Then, too, worn pieces
often require more care to
look up to snuff and this is
an imposition on the home
maker, too.
For those who acknowledge
the wisdom of this philosophy,
furniture should be chosen
carefully with special regard
for appearance. Furniture
should be light in line and
color and designed for double
duty use since fewer rooms
in country cottages usually
demand multipurpose prac-
ticality for each room.
Then, furniture should be
selected for durability, since
casual summer living entails
a careless use Of furniture
and ease of maintenance.
A recent collection of pieces
by the design team of Van
Keppel-Green satisfies these
four requirements. And be-
cause these designers work
in California where the in
doors and outdoors so fire.
quently merge, these pieces
will operate equally we'll on a
porch or patio as inside the
house.
Use Metal Base
The basic design theme of
the group is a squared off
metal base enameled in brigh
and pastel colors. Lifting
sofas and chairs high off the
floor, they give these pieces
an airy look. The light colorS
reinforce this impression.
A plastic tray placed on the
metal base holds cushions in
place and is matched in color
to the metal. On one par
ticularly clever piece, adapt
able for sleeping as well as
sitting, this tray is joined
in two places, making it pos
sible to raise either end, as
in a hospital bed.
Table tops are another
feature to consider in furnish
ing the summer home, both
inside and out, for again
these take unusual wear from
sweating glasses and other
accoutrements Of casual and
informal snacks. Natural ma
terials are one suggestion
Travertine. already so pock-
marked, spots will be alb
sorbed in the design, is g
particularly apt suggestion
Among man-made materials
glass and plasticized sur
faces (Formica and Micarta)
will also survive.
Questions and Answers
QuestiOn-My living din
ing room, has a spotty, spindly
look. Three walls are pink
the fourth is in white sim
ulated brick; ceiling is white
Draperies are white with
floral print in pink, black
and gold. Lamp tables, coffee
table and dining table have
gold flecked white (formica)
Couch is blond with black
upholstery, platform rocker
is turquoise. I would like tc
add sectional or two chairs
room size rug, small side
board, pillows and ashtrayS
What color for these?
AnSwer-Your room has toe
many areas of sharp, isolated
color. These can be integrateC
by use of a great deal of one
rich muted color. With the
pinks and brass, I would like
a rich golden shade. This
could be golden beige or one
of the fashionable new mus.
tard colds. Rug and chairs ir
medium shade of this color
One or two pillows in vivic
mustard. one in clear, pale
pink and ashtrays in blue
green ceramic. Cherry OF
light mahogany would bt
good choice for sideboard.
Question; I have just
moved into a new home
which has no dining room
The living room is quite
large enough to accommo.
date my living room furni-
ture and my dining room
furniture, which blen
nicely. My only problem i;
one of placement. The only
area which seems right fol
the dining group is in front