The Dining Room and Kitchen 



169 



The real problem with which we have to deal is the dining room proper. 

 This is the common form in more than 99 per cent, of all houses, from the 

 simple cottage to the pretentious dwelling of the millionaire. They are large 

 or small, according to the family requirements, some being even large enough to 

 accommodate a considerable company. While the banquet hall is frequently 

 one story and a half or two stories in height, with often a vaulted ceiling, the dining 

 room is but a single 

 story, or at least is 

 treated as such. 



It is important 

 that the size of all 

 dining rooms should 

 be considered in ref- 

 erence to the furni- 

 ture; one that is too 

 small is a continual 

 source of annoyance. 

 There is such a 

 thing, however, as 

 getting it too large. 

 With the extension 

 table pulled to its 

 full length, there 

 should be ample 

 room to pass com- 

 pletely around it, 

 back of the diners 

 and free of the wall 

 furniture. Do not 

 try to economise to 

 the extent of cramp- 

 ing; if you do, the waiter or waitress is likely to come to grief. Four feet is a 

 fair space to allow; 5 is better. Never make it less than 3 feet, and that only 

 at the ends of the table. It is seldom, perhaps, that the table will be extended 

 to its limit, and on such occasions the 3-foot leeway may answer. 



The decorations should be simple in character, not approaching the mag- 

 nificence of the banquet hall. The same feeling should be borne in mind, 

 however, in the choice of subjects. It has become a fad of late years to convert 

 the dining room into a museum for old china. This is all very well, and in fact 

 appropriate, provided it is not carried to excess. The china cabinet, buffet and 

 upper half of the walls offer tempting fields for its disposal. It ought to be borne 

 in mind, however, that it should never crowd out such pieces as are in actual 

 use; as ornamentation pure and simple it should be relegated to the background. 

 It is out of place on the sideboard, unless it be calculated for general or limited 

 use. One rather good scheme of treatment is to panel the walls simply to the 

 height of the doors, using as a cap a small shelf or ledge on which platters, pots, 



A dining room at Bronxville, N. Y. This room has just enough in it to make it attractive. 

 The wall covering is simple and effective 



