Evening star., 1961-02-18

; Decorating in the round is
& popular practice today.
Coming the full circle from
the angular effects in vogue
. decade ago, one hardly
finds q sharp corner in sight
any more.
Softly curved lines show up
everywhere-in architectural
Backgrounds, In furniture
designs and even In acces-
sories in such forms as egg
shaped boxes, round ashtrays
and urn-baSed lamps.
The temperance Of the
curved doorway and the
dome shaped window treat
ment is one evidence Of this
retreat from the square. Sur
prisingly enough. this type
Of window treatment seems
to be this years decorators
darling.
Often the effect is achieved
by taking plain plywood, saw
ing q dome-like shape out OF
IL and applying it in front OF
the window area like a false
wall. The rounded area is
then often filled in with
filmy sheer cloth.
The curved shape is be.
coming popular for cabinets
and chests.
Curved CobinetS
such q motif was used by
Dedgner Merton Gershun in
q recent collection in which
several other Of the newly
popular rounded furniture
pieces are included.
Important among them Is
the tub chair which hugs the
aittAr In kind Of semicircular
Upholstered comfort. On
other wood-backed chairs,
only the back rest is rounded
to emphasize the curvilinear
look, and the carving applied
TO the chair Is q scroll CEN
tered by q rosette-still an
other rounded shape.
Round and oval tables are
another phase Of this trend.
At dining size and dining
height they have been par
ticularly well received since
these tables, moved into q
corner Of the living room,
can be tucked away with
more grace and in less space
than could a square or rec
.tangle.
English Adaptation
This same desirable quality
may also account for the
large numbers Of newly ar
rived semicircular chests,
often adapted from 18th CEN
taIry English designs but ad-
mirably styled for use in to-
days tiny entrance halls.
To avoid a dizzy-making
effect and to set off the
smooth curved lines, fabrics
and wall coverings should be
confined to simple plain
Weaves-or, at the most,
sharply geometric stripes and
squares. The same goes for
decoration underfoot-be it
soft carpeting or hard tile
or wood parquet. If it is strict
and simple the results will
be more pleasing.
Questions and Answers
Question-Is it possible to
tie q color scheme together
with small purchases such
Is accessories? We have a
very limited budget and can
not afford major items at
the moment. Our upholstered
furniture is dark green and
the floor is dark green and
,off-white tile. We have a
large area rug in pale blue.
What colors for walls and
accessories?
Answer - Accessories are
your most powerful ally in
.es t a blishing. strengthening
and tieing together a color
scheme. They can be changed
easily or replaced for a diff
ferent color emphasis, adding
strong color which would be
overpowering in a larger ad-
dition to the room.
I would advise off-White
or pale green walls, which
with floor and furniture will
give an essentially monochro-
matte scheme. You have one
accent color in the rug. You
can use blue in its various
shades for all accessories or,
better, add sharp citron yell
low, lime green or hot pink.
Question: intend to paint
walls and woodwork and
buy new carpet for my large
living room. Draperies across
one wall are rose-beige with
beige leaf pattern. Sofa is
rose-beige and two chairs are
burgundy. Lady's chair is