30 
T II E (i A R I) E X 
:j a (1 A Z I X E 
August, 1916 
Simply Painted Furniture 
Mr. James Collier Marshall, Director of the Decorating Service of The Garden Magazine’s Advertising Dept., will solve your problems of home 
decoration — color schemes, hangings, floor coverings, art objects and interior arrangements, making purchases at the most favorable prices. 
This service is free to our readers. Address inquiries to “Inside the Garden Home,” The Garden Magazine, 1 1 West 32nd Street, New York. 
S O MUCH has been written in an indefinite way 
about the use of painted furniture, that perhaps 
it may be helpful and interesting to give some 
practical suggestions here regarding this charming type 
of decoration, and especially as regards bedroom fur- 
nishings of the simpler and less expensive kinds. 
Like everything else, bed room furnishings are a mat- 
ter of personal taste. Most people prefer mahogany 
which is always satisfactory, though always formal and 
demanding dignified treatment. Lacquer work has 
enjoyed a tremendous popularity, but it must have an 
absolutely correct setting or its effectiveness is lost. It 
is in painted furniture wherein are seen some of the best 
qualities of both these expensive articles, that a more 
generally useful and pleasant medium is found. 
What could be more expressive of dignity and cheer- 
fulness than the good looking low-boy pictured here 
whose charm is its simplicity, its suggested type and 
its pleasing colors w'hich, with its decorations, have 
been taken from the chintz shown at the left which 
is the motif of the decorative scheme where they were 
used. 
Herein lies the success of all decorations of this kind. 
The hangings and the furniture must be agreeable, 
while the rugs or carpet used should always be a fod to 
them both. .-Mmost without exception, either lacquered 
or painted furniture show to better effect on a plain rug 
Hluc and tan iris, red roses, aquamarine water, green foliage 
and natural tinted peacocks, make beautiful this quaint ivory 
chintz, that sei.s for 98 cents 
or one that has a very little design on it, as, for example, 
one having a basket patterned centre in self-tones and a 
border in similar design but heavier colors. A simple 
Chinese rug furthers the Oriental feeling of lacquer. 
When painted and enamelled French furniture is 
used, as, for instance, those of Louis XVI design, the 
Anbusson carpets are by far the most effective, and are 
no more expensive than good Oriental rugs, which are 
not nearly so good, though when properly chosen. 
either is better than the solid colored carpets which 
give an otherwise perfectly furnished room the cold, un- 
tenanted look of a hotel bedroom. 
For all these three types of furniture, lacquer, French 
enamel and simple painted designs, the walls must be 
kept plain, though in the case of the last one, a paper 
striped in wide self-tones may be used effectively. 
If one so desires, some special design may be worked 
up from those on the furniture and chintz to be used 
either as a frieze, or in specific locations such as over the 
mantel, doors, etc. A most interesting over-mantel dec- 
oration can be evolved from the chintz shown here at 
no great cost, at once highly decorative and in perfect 
consonance with the decorative scheme. 
These main points having been made clear, it may be 
w’ell to say a few words about the individual pieces of 
furniture used. Considerably more care should be 
exercised in choosing the bed than is usually done, if one 
is to judge by results, since this article dominates the 
room and should be correct. It is difficult to give the 
specific requirements of the bed, but the less decora- 
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Thc real beauty of this painted low-boy lies in the s miilicity of 
its decorations which are taken from those of thi chintz shown 
here 
tion given it, the better, so long as the decorative motif 
is apparent. For instance, with the low-boy pictured 
here one might use either a slender columned, four-post 
bed painted to match, with a tester supporting a ruffle 
valance of this chintz, with long hanging at top and 
sides. Or, if this style seems unsuited to the room, a 
bed with low square head and foot boards of solid wood, 
with feet similar to those on the bureau, can be used 
most successfully. 
T hen one must be careful in choosing bedroom chairs. 
There is no reason for the silly looking, high, narrow 
seated atrocities called bedroom chairs. If there is any 
place where low, comfortable chairs are needed, it is in 
the bedroom. The one shown here is designed es- 
pecially low for the easy lacing of one’s boots. Some of 
these have the further convenience of a little sliding 
drawer beneath the seat for the safe storage of shoe horn 
Wby not have a really comfortable shoe chair in your bedroom. , 
This one will look even better when upholstered to match the ' 
hangings and furniture 
and laces. This is concealed by the box pleated ruffle 
that adds so much to the appearance of the chair. 
.Apropos of ruffle valance on chairs, it is pleasing to 
note that we are beginning to use this good, old fashion 
appropriately. The English have always appreciated 
and used the box pleated ruffle wherever they pleased to 
do it, and always with excellent effect. Without 
(juestion such a finish gives a softness and grace to an 
easy chair or sofa as no other treatment ever does. 
T he chintz reproduced here, in which are seen blue- 
green peacocks, aquamarine water, red roses, green 
foliage and iris of blue and tan on an ivory gmund, will 
upholster splendidly an easy chair and chaise longue, 
and one can easily imagine how its effectiveness is 
heightened yvhen its blues, greens and ivory are dupli- 
cated on the furniture with which it is to be used. 
T his low-boy has its structural lines painted a deep 
greenish blue, while natural colored peacocks and rose | 
trees decorate the old ivory drawer faces. 
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