September, 1912 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 331 
people, although they may not realize it. It makes rooms purchasing decorations that have shades or tints of violet 
appear smaller than they really are and 1s not a good back- in their composition. If, however, one elects to use one of 
ground. For this latter reason it should be avoided in all the colors derived from violet, the lavenders will be found 
rooms where ladies are apt to congre- _ ss to: answer the purpose best, and especi- 
gate, as the various colors of their ally when combined with yellow. 
gowns will be shown off to the worst Violet is a morbid color and red is 
possible advantage. Good reds cannot too energetic, which accounts for their 
be obtained in the less expensive grades being conspicuous by their absence in 
of wall-papers and fabrics, and the home decorating. 
cheap reds give a common, tawdry A BLACK RUG 
appearance to a room. O keep its proper place in a deco- 
At one time red was considered as rative scheme, the floor should be 
absolutely the only color for the walls dark in tone, in direct contrast with the 
of the hall and the dining-room, but, ceiling, which should be the lightest part 
happily, the yellows, tans, grays, and of the color scheme. With this idea in 
buffs are now appreciated at their full mind the black rug has made its appear- 
value. ance, but only time can tell whether it 
Violet is the nearest color that we will become a permanent fixture in in- 
have to black, and all of the colors ob- terior decoration or not. The writer 
tained directly from it, the mauves and & saw one of these black rugs at the 
lavenders, although they may be beau- Blue Meissen is an attractive ware for the Woman's Industrial Exhibition recently 
tiful in themselves, absorb a great deal table held in New York. It was the floor 
of light, and by artificial light they are apt to appear dead _ covering for a William and Mary room, simply paneled in 
and black. This thought should be borne in mind when (Continued on page 336) 
4 
a ne teen ee ANA ce Fe ee a NRC i Ce maaan mai ea” tg Ae Mey 
Lamp base made from a pottery vase costing seventy-five cents and a group of three candlesticks, the outer ones of which cost but ten 
cents apiece and are as effective as they are easy to procure 
