14 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
January, 1914 
the stairway the kitchen is 
placed, with pantries still far- 
ther back. On the right of 
the hall is the living-room, 
with a bay-window at the 
side. At the back a small 
veranda runs along the whole 
length of the room. On the 
left of the hall is situated the 
dining-room, opening on the 
left upon a veranda, the same 
length and half the width of 
the room. It is a simple, 
practical plan, in which not 
an inch of space is wasted. 
The second floor is just as 
compact and convenient. Two 
bedrooms occupy the space 
- a -rja? 
This armchair for the porch costs $7.50 and the willow tables $8 
on either side; and between them that over the hall is ap- 
portioned to bathrooms and closets. A stairway leads to 
the upper floor where the maid’s room is placed and where 
there is garret space. 
The problem of furnishing a small house 
spects more difficult than that of a large 
folds, and open and close 
with draw-cords. Adjustable 
shades are rather out of 
vogue in houses where good 
taste prevails. 
With a comparatively 
small sum of money to be ex- 
pended, it is impossible to 
think of “period furniture or 
antiques.” The most prac- 
tical choice for us is willow, 
craftsman, and painted and 
enameled articles. More- 
over, in a house of simple de- 
sign, very elaborate furniture 
would be out of keeping. 
Simplicity must be the key- 
note of the furnishings and 
is in some re- 
one; for, try as one may to keep to essential 
articles solely, the danger is always present 
of getting rooms overcrowded. It is well 
to'fcry td^keep sortie space so that people 
can move easily between the pieces of fur- 
niture. Next to the actual comfort of mak- 
ing as much space as possible is the illusion 
of space, and it is quite wonderful how much 
can be accomplished in this direction by the 
placing of furniture in a room and by the 
arrangement of line and the choice selection 
of color or colors. One of the first matters 
to be attended to in a house of this character is that of the 
windows as they will be seen from the outside. Hence, it 
is advisable that all of the windows should be curtained 
alike, with simple figured net, or any other washable fabric. 
1 liese should be rodded, top and bottom, on swinging win- 
dows. The inside casement curtains should fall in straight 
The table for the living-room 
Mission style will cost $25 
of the decoration. No matter how one may approach the 
furnishing and decoration of a house, the first intention 
(conscious or unconscious) is to make an oasis of happi- 
ness where the inmates and guests may find refuge and 
recreation from the cares and toils of the great outside 
world. One of the chief aids to happiness 
is comfort. It may be unfortunate, but, 
nevertheless, it is true, that people (even 
philosophers) cannot be thoroughly happy 
unless they are comfortable. They must 
have restful beds to sleep in, comfortable 
chairs to sit upon or to lounge in, a dining 
table of convenient height with correspond- 
ing chairs, desks that are solid and friendly 
in their feeling towards scribe or letter- 
writer, drawers that slide in and out of 
dressing-table with amiability (even at a 
hurried jerk), and carpets that are soft to 
Next to these essentials come pleasant colors 
the footstep. 
for the eye to dwell upon and for the tired mind to find a 
sensation of peace and restfulness; and there is nothing that 
charms guests more than a dainty bedroom in fresh, cool colors. 
A few attractive pictures or photographs of famous 
paintings, a few old prints or a few choice water-colors for 
