November, rg11 
so as to have another piece of furniture in this color. The 
chair for sitting at the desk should also be green, unless a 
wicker stool is preferred, the advantage of the stool being 
that it can be pushed underneath the desk when not in use. 
A decorative chintz to go with the frieze can be used on a 
threefold screen. It would be useful in screening the bed 
or washstand from the rest of the room that is to be used 
as a sitting-room. A small cushion should be covered for 
the stool or the seat of the chairs in the room. The wicker 
chair should have cushions covered with the same chintz or 
cretonne, if that material is preferred. The windows could 
have one pair of curtains and a vallence of the same. The 
effect of two windows curtained as one is sometimes very 
quaint, but the shape and size of the room would determine 
that. The one pair would leave more space for the desk 
and enable there being enough room to have the closet for 
stationery built above the writing part. The bedspread 
would be best white, as there would be enough color in the 
room without having a decorated quilt. Dainty hand-made 
rugs on a stained floor or over matting would be in good 
taste. 
SHADES FOR TABLE LIGHTS 
READER asks advice about the best shades to use on 
oil lamps and candles for the dining-room table. The 
first consideration when choosing shades for dining-room 
tables is the color. It must be soft, so that it is not aggres- 
sive when unlighted on the mantelpiece or sideboard. It 
must be tender in tone, so as to shed a soft haze on the 
faces of those who sit around the board. It must harmonize 
with the decoration of the room. Some of the most be- 
coming shades are made of China silk of very good quality, 
in the four shades that are best for use in dining-rooms— 
ivory-white, corn-color, red, and green. When made by 
experts it will be noticed that in addition to the top color 
there is an intermediate silk lining of another color. A 
corn-colored silk shade will have a lining of corn-colored 
silk, over this an interlining of bright pink China silk, which, 
when concealed by the top silk of corn-color stretched 
tightly over the linings or soft-pleated, will look charm- 
ingly soft and dainty. When lighted a tender haze of pink- 
ish tone will be suffused. The effect is further enhanced by 
a heavy silken fringe or passementerie fringe. Sometimes 
a golden lace is chosen with the corn-color scheme to go 
beneath a light fringe of silk. There is also a wide choice 
in the selection of shapes. Empire, with its almost straight 
sides, the wide flare which means shorter silk covers and a 
greater depth of fringe, and the usual angle is after 
all the most satisfactory shape to have the shades. It is 
most harmonious to have the lamp shade match the candle 
whenever possible. When visiting in a country house in 
England the writer was impressed by the charming color 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
There are many sorts of shades for table candles, and these are to be had in the shops of nearly every town. 
413 
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Vallenced window curtains of chintz for an attic bedroom 
scheme of flowers, candle shades and table center. If red 
candle shades were used a large piece of red felt was laid 
over the white tablecloth, extending to about eighteen 
inches from the edges of the table. An immense silver 
piece was filled with flowers and there were many silver 
dishes of candy, also two dishes of fruit on either side of 
the flower bowl. The red set off the silver and made a 
charming mass of red with the candle shades. 
For use in the simple dining-room there are effective 
shades to be found in cretonne, glazed chintz, and gingham, 
the last having small pattern blocks in red and white, 
yellow and white, and green and white. They are de- 
cidedly quaint, but could only be used for seashore or bunga- 
low cottages. There are the usual fancy shades of painted 
cardboard, stenciled effects and pierced copper, as well as a 
good variety of French shades, but a visit to the shops that 
carry such things must be taken to see the ‘newest designs. 
Well-chosen designs enhance 
beautiful table effects 
