September, 1909 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
347 
Vacation Home- Making 
By Edith Haviland 
=~) HE unmistakable charm of summer living 
8 is in the possibilities for shaping even the 
crudest structure into some expression of 
its occupants’ tastes and needs. Differing 
in detail from the all-the-year-round resi- 
dence, the camp, cottage or bungalow for 
summer use is none the less attractive to the 
real home-maker who finds no lack of material in the shops 
for carrying out the progressive ideas and ideals of our 
twentieth century. 
In the matter of floor coverings, for instance, there has 
never before been so abundant provision in inexpensive, un- 
usual weavings. With the grass matting rugs in a solid 
color, red, blue or green, one may start at a minimum cost 
the color scheme of the living-room, bringing out in the 
draperies and other fabrics some decisive design. Or, at a 
higher price, there are the figured India druggets, with a 
groundwork of light brown or camel color, and the pattern 
woven in colors. 
The cotton rugs woven on hand-looms in the old style 
have regained their former prestige, particularly when they 
are made with good dyes or woven with flower borders. 
Made of cretonne, too, these rugs lose their solidity of tone 
and have almost a patterned effect. Some of the most 
artistic color combinations, strange to say, are the handi- 
work of the blind, and the border designs are unusually 
novel. 
The most durable rug for real wear is made of wool and 
woven in Scotland, although it is found in this country under 
various appellations. This past year the severity of the 
geometrical patterns has been relaxed and some flower de- 
signs in naturalistic style are in vogue. The bungalow, or 
Mission rug is a new departure in a solid color woolen rug, 
with the ends finished with narrow lines in contrasting colors. 
The large-sized Navajo rug that is shown in the illustra- 
tion is made by a tribe of our Western Indians, and for 
vivid coloring can not be equalled by any foreign country. 
Even in a room that is inadequately lighted these rugs, with 
their warm orange-red, impress one with a feeling of cheer. 
In fact, so intense are the prevailing tones that they demand 
The open fireplace expresses thorough interior comfort 
