October, 19 lo 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



399 



A boy's sitting-room 



in the matter of rugs — which is at once the most necessary 

 for comfort-giving and for setting the color scheme of the 

 room — one may mistakenly adopt at this point vivid reds 

 and greens with the intention of making a cheerful effect, 

 when good taste would choose quieter colors to dignify 

 the floor lines. For rugs of moderate cost, one may find 

 some browns with green borders among the Japanese jute 

 rugs, or quite various colorings in artistic tones in the 

 Scotch wool rugs. Some of the Wilton or Brussels rugs 

 would be suitable if their sizes fitted. For a floor of ir- 

 regular spaces one may de- 

 pend on carpet by the yard, 

 shaping it the right size, 

 and using it with or with- 

 out a border. Small fig- 

 ures set closely together, 

 with a ground-work of 

 medium dark tones would 

 be a good selection. If a 

 number of rugs in small 

 sizes are preferred, they 

 should be laid in front of 

 the larger pieces of furni- 

 ture. 



Furniture on mission 

 lines is an accepted thing 

 for the boy's sitting-room, 

 but a mistake may be made 

 in adopting those of the 

 heaviest and most pro- 

 nounced type. Some good 

 examples are shown in the 

 illustrations. Wooden or 

 rush-seated chairs repro- 

 duced from Colonial times 

 are in keeping with the 

 practical usage of this 

 place, but a divan of mod- 

 ern make is essential for 

 comfort. For the latter 

 one may, if the cost must 



be kept down, choose a 

 cot with the reinforced 

 woven-wire top, the latest 

 improvement in this piece 

 of furniture, and lay on it 

 a mattress of fine felt; or, 

 for better service, a frame 

 fitted with spiral springs 

 and a mattress of South 

 American hair. 



A fitted cover of plain 

 denim may be made for 

 this couch, or a loose cover 

 may be laid over it. In 

 the fifty-inch materials 

 there are heavy home- 

 spuns admirably suited for 

 the latter purpose, and 

 for covering a set of square 

 back pillows more decora- 

 tive materials like Dutch 

 prints or hand-blocked 

 linens are useful. Too 

 many colors and too great 

 a variety of designs at this 

 point should be avoided if 

 the desire is to bring all 

 the contents of the room 

 into harmonious unity. 

 A hammock or a swing- 

 ing settle is often more enjoyed in a boy's room than the 

 stationary lounge, when the ceiling will sustain the weight. 

 (Illustrations of swinging settles may be found among 

 the ideas for porch furnishing in back numbers of this 

 magazine.) 



A writing desk or writing table is an essential part of 

 the furnishings of a boy's sitting-room. On the special 

 table to fit a corner space (shown in one of the illustra- 

 tions), the sliding leaves at either side give additional 

 room for either books or writing materials. 



A transformed garret 



