Year: 1879

Here is my idea Of a cool room, such as


| mean TO have when | shall have realized
I from some large estates in Spain: The room,


first of all is parallelogram, and the most


noticeable feature therein is the small win
dows which are placed in the center of the


upper half of the room, protected on the


outside by awnings. Thus such light as


reaches the apartment is toned down, and


unless special effort is made, the occupant


has no knowledge of the sultry atmosphere
without. The windows, moreover, are pro-
tected on the inside by lace curtains of light
gray tint, upon which airy floral designs
are traced. The drapery falls nearly to the
floor, and is suspended by means of rings
to an arrow of pale green color with gilt


barb and feather. The green cords and


tassels which are fastened below the window
proper draw the curtains back, and are con-
fined in a gilt quiver. Between the lace
folds thus drawn back are hung suggestive


~ cool pictures of water, scenes of ice and


snow, with occasional parian statuettes on


brackets One third of the wall is painted


of the same green tint rs the arrow shaft


and cords, while the remainder is white In
place Of a border there is a graceful run


nIng vine pictured, with depending sprays
at the corners. A band of cool gray, with
slight stripping of gold at the edges, marks
the point of disjunction between the green
dadO and white wall Upon tins is painted
the wandering corvolvulOus, with here and
there flower, and an occasional petal gilt
tering with dew. The floor is of marquet-
~ work, mostly in light woods, upon which
are spread rugs, all of modest color and de-
sign, but none with long nap or fringe.
The chandelier is of graceful design, gilt
tering with glass lustres and exceedingly
light gilt chains. The light is furnished by
wax tapers. In lieu of fireplace or elab-
crate mantel there is a conical recess IN the
wall, shaped in white marble, the bottom
of which is a basin with slight lip, which
extends into the room. Upon this is built,
in an irregular pyramid, a quantity Of rock
crystal, from an occasional interstice of
which nOdding ferns wave to and fro.
When desirable, a fine spray Of water is
thrown upward against the marble-lined
recess, from which it drips over the translu-
cent crystal into the marble basin below,
and is finally discharged by a concealed
waste pipe. About the room, in antique
vases, stand few plants with shining green
leaves. The furniture, for the most part.
is rattan, ana consists of easy chairs, several
light lounges, light table for games, and
one with writing material. On a sidebOard
Of almost fragile character few articles of
bric-a-brac are standing, while in the center
Of the room a circular etagere, designed as
an "'omnium gatherum," holds books,
papers, wine glasses, cigarette materials, or
nf Ea ar-s11a, oh
incline us to taxi into the cool room. Nor
must | fail to mention one window much
larger than the rest and directly opposite the
entrance. The window has genuine glass
and curtains, but beyond the sash appears
a bOsky glen, down which limpid noun
tain stream dashes, both over and under
1erny rocks and moss grown logs. Through
its cool. misty atmosphere one delicate ray
of sunlight CLEANS upon the foliage, drip
ping from the late summer shower. One
third of the room NAV be cut of by means
of two curtains which are of the same pre-
vailing green tint, but upon which pattern
Of white lace is brown. The silvered rod
upon which these curtains run is let half
way into the ceiling, and when the curtains
are not in use they are drawn into a recess
in the wall. \ rod precisely situated as
the one on which the curtains run traverseS
the other end of the room, and these in
turn are crossed at right angles by similar
rods. With these as a relief 10 the ceiling,
and pale tinted center design about the
chandelier, the effect will be charming.
IIanmocks may be suspended from these
rods, at certain places where they have
been specially strengthened to sustain such
weight. There are some other details
which might be mentioned, but enough has
been written TO give Il general idea, which.
of course, must needs be modified by means.
tastes and surroundings. The main features
of such room should be its light colors,
cOOl-lOOking furniture and furnishings, and
above all, absence OF Over-crowding, and
often use of brillian, cOlOrs or glaring
contrasts.