AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



November, 1908 



This is where we manufacture our Monarch Porcelain Ware 

 Trenton, New Jersey 



Uniformity §f Design 



Architects DO appreciate the fact that by specifying 

 Wolff Plumbing Material exclusively they are 

 protecting their clients from the annoying con- 

 fusion of design and mechanical standards that 

 is sure to creep into even the most carefully 

 selected line of "assembled" plumbing equipment. 



L. WOLFF H 



MANUFACTURING 

 M P A N Y 



Established 1855 



Manufacturers of PLUMBING GOODS EXCLUSIVELY 



The Only Complete Line Made by Any One Firm 



Showrooms: 91 Dearborn St. 

 Denver CHICAGO Trenton 



Patented and 



Trade-Mark 



Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. 



The Globe Ventilator 



IN GALVANIZED IRON, BRASS AND COPPER 

 ALSO WITH GLASS TOPS FOR SKYLIGHT 



Simple, Symmetrica], Storm-proof, Effective. For per- 

 fectly ventilating buildings of every character. Send 

 for model and pamphlet. Smoky Chimneys Cured 



"Globe Ventilated Ridging" 



Mfd. by GLOBE VENTILATOR CO., TROY, N. Y. 



The SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN BOY 



By A. FkUSSELL BOND 



I2mo. 320 Pages. 340 Illustrations. Price, $2.00, Postpaid. 



STOKY OF OUTDOOPv BOY LIFE, suggesting a large number of diversions which, aside from 

 affording entertainment, will stimulate in boys the creative spirit. Complete practical instructions are 

 given for building the various articles. The book contains a large number of miscellaneous devices, 



such as scows, canoes, windmills, water wheels, etc. 



MUNN £r CO. • sciENT.nc she AMk.cAN" 361 Broadway, New York 



PROBLEMS IN HOME FURNISHING 



{Continued from page 454) 



w ith a spread laid over the pillow. By ex- 

 cluding the many useless articles that usually 

 find their way into bedrooms, and hanging on 

 the walls a few large pictures, the desired ele- 

 ment of dignified interest will be attained. 



QUESTIONS ABOUT WINDOW CURTAINS 



Several letters this month show that there 

 is considerable thought for winter comfort in 

 home furnishing. D. W. writes: "What kind 

 of a curtain would look well over my Brus- 

 sels net? This room is my parlor, but I do 

 not want anything fancy. The wall paper is 

 ecru colored, and the carpet is two tones of 

 green. Is madras ever used to hang over a 

 lace curtain?" 



As the real mission of an over-curtain is to 

 draw at night to exclude drafts of air, the 

 madras would not be suitable. As a sugges- 

 tion for color, a mixed material in ecru and 

 ^reen would look well, if it could be obtained 

 in the locality. Or, a self-woven tan goods, 

 to follow the tone of the walls, would be right. 

 There are new drapery fabrics brought out 

 every fall by the manufacturers that are de- 

 sirable for over-curtains. 



Another reader, F. W. A., inquires about 

 the merits of stenciled curtains. "I have read 

 so much about decorating curtains with a sten- 

 cil that I would like to hear from you if this 

 process is suitable for a home that is furnished 

 with considerable regard to artistic perfec- 

 tion. 



From the conspicuous position that curtains 

 take in the interior effect of a home, they 

 necessarily demand a certain degree of excel- 

 lence. This is not always attained by amateur 

 efforts, and until a standard of execution is 

 reached it would be better not to introduce 

 this work in any of the formal rooms of the 

 home. Some beautiful curtains are being de- 

 signed and executed by experts in stenciling, 

 and one of their advantages is in bringing into 

 the furnishings an article that can not be 

 duplicated. 



COLOR SCHEME FOR A LIVING-ROOM 



L. A. D., of Wisconsin, asks about a color 

 scheme for a living-room which she wishes to 

 furnish for service and comfort. "Restful, 

 but not lacking in character. I rather like 

 gray," she writes, "but you may have some- 

 thing better to suggest. I also lean to browns 

 and tans, if these would not be too warm for a 

 southern exposure. I want some hints for my 

 fireplace tiles that would be out of the ordi- 

 nary, and I would be willing to expend an ex- 

 tra amount to make this part of the room in- 

 teresting. The woodwork is oak, but I imag- 

 ine it may be stained any color. Would you 

 advise green? The color for the coverings of 

 window-seat cushions is also another perplex- 

 ing question. I do not want velvets, plushes, 

 or that kind of material in this room, as it is 

 a real living-room, to be lived in every day 

 and every evening by all the family. I know 

 the influence that colors have in a place of 

 this kind, and, therefore, would appreciate 

 any help you can give me." 



As this correspondent is willing to avoid the 

 popular, accepted ideas, the color scheme pro- 

 posed for this room could be built up on blues 

 and browns, introducing green as a subsidiary 

 color. The woodwork may be stained a me- 

 dium shade of oak, not as dark as weathered 

 and not as light as golden, and a rug made for 

 the floor of a brown and dark blue carpeting. 

 As there is so much light for this room, the 

 walls may be covered with a brown or gray 

 English paper. The curtains may be of heavy 

 ecru net, with the hems drawn and finished 

 with spider-web stitch. Over these curtains 

 dark blue rep curtains may be arranged to 



