122 The Country House 



the city house. It should harmonise with the room, and its lines should be in 

 keeping with those of other motives therein. Rough stone and all other bold and 

 unconventional motives should not be used in the conventional room. Such 

 materials belong in the den, studio, or wherever the scheme is strong enough to 

 hold them. The unconventional should never be forced upon the conventional; 

 like oil and water, they will not mix. 



The accessories of the fireplace viz., andirons, tongs, shovel, fenders and 

 coal scuttle should be carefully chosen; otherwise a true harmony of effect is 

 impossible. Their being necessary adjuncts to the general utility makes this 

 care in selection doubly important. In addition to the general design, the matter 

 of scale should be considered. Accessories either too small or too large look 

 out of place. The articles in question are commonly constructed of wrought 

 iron, brass and bronze. Iron and bronze require little care to keep them 

 looking trim, while brass, on the contrary, requires labour spent in polishing. 

 This extra work may mean much to some of us, but that a good bit of polished 

 brass is clean and effective is undeniable. The common method of disposing 

 of the shovel and tongs is to stand them in little hooks or racks at either side of 

 the fireplace. This is the simpler and better method, although the old movable 

 rack may be used if desired. The old solid fenders are by far the more artistic, 

 but are less effective against flying sparks, as well as heavier and harder to move 

 than the folding-screen patterns of later date. 



The fire screen is often a thing of beauty when designed on the lines of fur- 

 niture, in which light it is best considered. Some of these in the style of the 

 Louis's, with their tapestry panels, are very beautiful; those of the Colonial 

 period are both dainty and unique. It is better that the back should not be covered 

 with fabric, as such is more inflammable than wood, and at the least is liable to 

 be scorched. If the wooden panel be covered with asbestos paper it is safer yet. 

 The long line of designs headed by the huge peacock and the stained-glass freaks 

 are not to be considered for a moment, although the latter may be made credit- 

 able in the hands of a good designer. If a fire board be used to close the 

 opening in summer, it should be fittingly designed for the purpose and not be 

 covered with remnants of the wall covering; and if it be dark in tone it comes 

 nearer to the ordinary conditions suggested by the open fireplace. It may be 

 desirable to leave the fireplace open for the purpose of ventilation a very wise 

 proceeding. It is very apt, however, to smell of soot, especially in damp or 

 rainy weather, but since a small fire is usually required at such times this 

 objection is of small account. 



Where wood is used for fuel, some provision must be made for its storage. 

 To the collector of antiques the old chest naturally suggests itself, while the 

 flanking window seat with a hinged lid may effectually solve the problem. In such 

 case it is wise, owing to the liability to scatter dirt through the house, to make 

 provision for supplying the woodbox from the outside, when, as in the case of 

 the window seat, it comes against the outside wall and is fixed. This is readily 

 done by making a panelled door under the window motive and under the seat; 

 a door which is made on a matched batten and fastened from the inside is best. 

 This door may have a panel or any other treatment on the outside. 



