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AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



November, 19 13 



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WITHIN THE HOUSE 



SUGGESTIONS ON INTERIOR DECORATING 

 AND NOTES OF INTEREST TO ALL 

 WHO DESIRE TO MAKE THE HOUSE 

 MORE BEAUTIFUL AND MORE HOMELIKE 



The Editor of this Department will be glad to answer all queries 



rom subscribers pertaining to Home Decoration. Stamps 



ie enclosed when a direct personal reply is desired 



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PERSONALITY AND "PERIOD" IN THE 

 ARRANGEMENT OF THE HOME 



By Ferdinand Gottschalk 



HERE often arises, in the minds of those 

 about to furnish a home, a perplexity as 

 to whether it should reflect some period or 

 merely the personality of the owner. In de- 

 ciding on a given period, as the keynote, if 

 the furniture is to be antique the difficulty of 

 the expense arises. In America, of course, it is possible to 

 procure authentic furniture, objets d'art, and materials of 

 most of the periods that lend themselves to home decora- 

 tion; but their acquisition belongs rather to the pursuit of 

 a collector. It would take years to equip a house through- 

 out in such a way. One might give a free hand to an 

 antique dealer to do the work, but that would simply mean 

 farming out the collecting and would also take more time 

 than can usually be devoted to the question of furnishing. 

 Leaving out the consideration of expense, is it a good plan 

 to insist strongly on the feature of "Period?" 



PLACE AND PERIOD 



For argument's sake, let us include under that heading 

 the features of "Place" nationality, such as American, 

 German, French, English, Japanese, Chinese, etc. Some 

 prefer to choose the distinguishing mark of their interiors 

 from "Place" sooner than from "Period." In so doing they 

 run the risk of introducing the note of incongruity. The cus- 

 toms of countries are reflected in their furniture and in- 

 teriors, and when they differ from American ideas their 

 transplantation to this country often robs them of their 

 appropriateness. A German porcelain stove, for instance, 

 a decorative feature in its proper surroundings, would be 

 inharmonious in an American interior, where steam radi- 

 ators generally exist. The brazier the Japanese use, would 

 be thought comfortless in this country. A Chinese arm- 

 chair, to "the tired business man," would be purgatory. 



Choosing from the field of period, the Past, candles, 

 candlesticks and the necessary snuffers would be found un- 

 satisfactory for the general purposes of lighting a 

 house. On the score of lack of illuminating power and of 

 labor, they would be condemned. It is true, for particular 

 occasions, when a soft light is desirable, such as dinners, 

 teas and receptions, candles meet the requirements; one 

 needs merely enough light to distinguish faces. Moreover, 

 women look well in candlelight. But one needs, at other 

 times, to work and read also; candles do not suffice now- 

 adays for such pursuits. 



RIGID ADHERENCE TO PERIOD 



These are some of the difficulties arising from a rigid 

 adherence to a particular period or place. Concessions 

 must be made. One of the first concessions that has usually 

 to be considered, is in reference to the piano. Most houses 



have one; its use has entered deeply into the customs of 

 the country. Now, if, let us suppose, a Louis XV. drawing- 

 room has been decided upon, a problem arises as to the 

 piano. An upright one would be glaringly "out of the 

 period." A grand or semi-grand, even decorated to match 

 the room, must be, but in a minor degree, also wrong; they 

 did not have such things under Louis XV. There conces- 

 sion becomes a necessity. 



The point now arises as to how far concession should be 

 carried. There looms up the consciousness that, if we are 

 going to import the surroundings of another period or 

 place, sooner or later, we shall find them in conflict with 

 our customs. It will dawn upon us how impossible it is to 

 retain them unchanged in a house and still live in it and 

 enjoy it. The house, however, is intended to be lived in 

 and enjoyed. Now we know that we are living in the 

 present; any attempt, therefore, to reproduce exactly the 

 past must savor somewhat of the museum or a labored 

 pedantry. We know we are living in America; any attempt, 

 therefore, to reproduce exactly a room of another country, 

 without regard to life here, must savor of mere curiosity 

 or the pose of having traveled. 



THE VALUE OF SUGGESTION 



In the art of arranging a home, as in all arts, the value 

 of suggestion should be borne in mind. Let a room have, 

 for example, a Louis XV. "air" or a Chinese "air," enough 

 to stimulate the interest of the beholder to recognize either. 

 Let a room indicate a feeling for the Elizabethan, Queen 

 Anne or other periods, a taste for Italian, Chinese or any 

 other nation's interiors. Let a room retain any of these 

 features and yet harmonize with requirements of the day 

 and of this country. It is in these requirements that the 

 personality has, perforce, to show itself; but, it should not 

 do so unbridled. There must be discipline, or there is no 

 harmony. It is not fair to insist both on a Louis XV. 

 drawing-room and on having, let us say, a "rocker" in it. 

 The violence of the incongruity is too great. Discipline 

 must decide, either for the "rocker" or for Louis XV. An 

 attempt to reconcile these two divergent features must end 

 in discord. After all, neither is absolutely necessary, but 

 what is necessary is the prevention of discord in a house. 

 In short, this exercise of discipline, of restraint, both in the 

 introduction of period and the introduction of personality, 

 must be understood and cultivated, if there is ever to be 

 evolved the harmonious interior that shall be a delight to 

 behold and to live in. 



MAKING CONCESSIONS 



How then can one best make the concession required for 

 the "rocker?" Do not rock in a Louis XV drawing-room: 

 just rest! The only concession that is demanded thereby, is 

 the difference between quiet rest, which is quite "in the 

 period," and a fidgeting motion, which is characteristic of 

 the present day. Rest quietly in an armchair, as they 



