THE VACATION HOME 
By Harry Martin Yeomans 
momma | |FIE THER one’s vacation is passed in a 
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mountain lodge, a seaside bungalow, or on a 
houseboat threading its way along the mossy 
Ns ia|| bank of some quiet stream, a great deal is 
Bike Avs a|| added to the joy of this playtime of the 
EEE year when the vacation abode is all that it 
should be as regards its interior arrangements. 
If there was ever an appropriate place for compact, built- 
in furniture, window-seats, inglenooks and bookshelves, it is 
in the vacation home, as it is always desirable to minimize 
the labor of housekeeping when one is on pleasure bent. If 
the built-in furniture is arranged for at the time a house is 
being constructed, it will be found to be much more econom- 
ical than if acquired later on, and it can also be toned to har- 
monize with its surroundings at the same time that the 
woodwork is being done. 
If the idea of having only such furnishings as are abso- 
lutely necessary, and those in good taste and consistent with 
the type of house, then a vacation home will be evolved that 
will be decorative in every sense of the word, and will not 
have to depend upon applied ornamentation. 
The walls should be tinted, kalsomined or painted, or, if 
of wood, they can be stained with some of the wood stains 
or dyes which can be obtained in various colors. ‘This 
mode of treating the walls is preferable to wall-papers, 
unless, of course, the walls are in such a condition that they 
cannot stand the tinting process. Stained woodwork is also 
desirable, as it does not show the dust and is easily kept 
clean. If the principal rooms are connected by large open- 
ings, one will get the effect of greater space by using the 
same color scheme in the different connecting rooms. At 
least, all marked contrasts should be avoided. ‘This is also 
economical. 
Floor coverings should be sparingly used and the rag 
rugs or solid color modern rugs, either in brown, blue or 
green, will be found to be a good choice. The blue and 
white Japanese rugs are excellent for bedrooms. 
Curtains and hangings should be used only where neces- 
sary and made of washable fabrics, such as lawn, gingham, 
cheesecloth, denim or China silk. 
The furniture for the little vacation house should not be 
pretentious in character, highly finished woods _ being 
avoided, and only such furniture purchased as can stand 
damp weather, hard usage and contact with coarse clothing 
without showing any ill effects. Furniture of the “Cottage”’ 
type is desirable. 
house and can be stained or painted in accordance with any 
chosen scheme of decoration. The shapes are strong and 
simple without being heavy in appearance. 
In a vacation bungalow which had been furnished as in- 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDEN 
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 
from subscribers pertaining to 
should be enclosed when a direct personal reply is desired 
eet ane © ean ma 
It can be obtained for every room in the » 
ome Decoration. Stamps 
expensively as possible, most of the furniture for the dining- 
room and the living-room, which opened into each other, was 
obtained in the housefurnishing department of a department 
store. The furniture sold in that department is intended 
for kitchen use, comes in the white wood, and is therefore 
very inexpensive. Chairs of two different types were pur- 
chased, two ordinary kitchen tables, and two large tables, 
the tops of which turn up so that they can be transformed 
into settles. They were all stained a rich, dark brown and 
the two settles placed on either side of the fieldstone mantel- 
piece. The tops of the two small tables were covered with 
dark green imitation leather held in place by a row of brass- 
headed nails around the edge. One did duty as a book and 
magazine table, and the other one was placed against the 
wall and served as a desk, after being furnished with a 
lamp and a desk set. Two porch-rockers were added, but 
as they had already been painted a bright red, they had to 
be treated to a few coats of forest-green enamel to make 
them harmonize with the other furniture. When this cheap 
kitchen furniture was placed against a background of pump- 
kin yellow walls and brown woodwork, the effect was both 
pleasing and restful. 
For a house at the seashore, the willow and wicker fur- 
niture is commendable, as the damp atmosphere does not 
aiect “It. 
The table of the vacation home will be more attractive 
and inviting if set with matched dishes of good design. The 
dainty floral designs are not as good for this type of house 
as that old standby, the blue Willow pattern. The porcelain 
cottage ware is worthy of consideration and the Indian Tree 
and blue onion patterns cannot be improved upon. ‘They are 
all carried in open stock, are very moderate in price and 
reasonably safe for transport. 
In a bungalow which the writer visited the question of 
table linen was solved by using no tablecloths. Small squares 
of hemstitched, écru linen were used interchangeably as 
either napkins or doilies, and when the table was set with its 
crude porcelain dishes and the candles lighted, the effect 
was quaint and charming. 
If one must depend upon lamps for illumination, those 
made from pottery vases or lamps of brass or nickel are 
best for this type of house. Shades of split bamboo, lined 
with silk, Geisha shades, or those of glass, are fitting ac- 
companiments. 
One should not forget to have a shelf at the bottom of 
the stairs, or somewhere conveniently at hand, holding a row 
of bedtime candlesticks. 
The vacation home, whether high and dry on terra firma 
or floating on a waterway, should be appropriately furnished 
for people who expect to spend most of their time in the 
open air, but at the same time it should embody the neces- 
sary comforts to make this house a pleasant place during 
inclement weather; cosy enough to plead against exposure. 
