76 
KOHLERS 
^/j(?MEANS ATOWN | 
Scarcely four miles from Sheboygan, fi| 
Wisconsin, U. S. A., stands the town yi 
of Kohler, home of the world-famed 
enameled plumbing ware that bears [f 
its name. V 
Here is an independent community [i 
imbued with the spirit of achieve- 
ment, yet untrammeled by aught 
that tends to hinder fullest self-ex¬ 
pression. 
Through this spirit Kohler products 
have set and attained their enviable 
mark. 
Thus Kohler has come to mean many 
things. Kohler is an idea. It also 
means a bathtub, a town, a kitchen 
sink, an institution, acomplete plumb¬ 
ing equipment for home or factory, 
a laundry tray, an ideal. 
And it also means forty-five years’ 
experience. 
The discriminating architect and 
plumber know that this indeed is a 
line by which they can give highest 
expression to both your and their 
exacting ideals. 
Let us send you with our compli¬ 
ments an interesting booklet describ¬ 
ing Kohler products. 
KOHLER OF KOHLER 
Kohler Co., Kohler, Wisconsin 
Shipping Point, Sheboygan, Wis. 
AND TWELVE AMERICAN BRANCHES 
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MANUFACTURERS OF ENAMELED PLUMBING WARE 
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House & G arden 
A bed with high 
posts and heavy 
cornice draped 
with top and 
bottom valance 
The Draping of the Four-Poster 
LEE PORTER 
T he choice of material for draping 
a four-poster bed will depend upon 
what has been used in the room 
for hangings and furniture coverings, as 
well as the style of the bed itself. 
This can be either plain goods or ma¬ 
terial like the curtains. If possible, it is 
better to choose figured goods, the ex¬ 
ception being where the bedspread has 
been made of the same curtain fabric, 
in which case the head curtain should 
be plain. 
Many of the early beds were deco¬ 
rated with curtains at the foot, as well 
as head, to protect the sleeper against 
drafts. When the dressing was white it 
gave the charm of cleanliness that is so 
dear to every New England housewife. 
White curtains are often trimmed with 
knit fringe, the making of which was a 
favorite pastime in many a new Eng¬ 
land family, more especially when pre¬ 
paring the wedding outfit for one of the 
daughters. This was made not only in dif¬ 
ferent patterns but widths that it might 
fit the various ways of draping the bed. 
The bedstead with low posts is less 
frequently found. For this type can be 
made an arched canopy or tester, fin¬ 
ished with a valance. 
Many people would find any cloth 
over the top of the bed oppressive. To 
such as these let it be sug¬ 
gested that a canopy of 
hand - made net finished 
with an open fringe may 
be used. Should the lace 
heading be objectionable it 
can easily be dispensed 
with, without spoiling the 
effect. 
The bottom should be 
draped with a valance that 
extends from the side rails 
to the floor. These should 
match the counterpane or 
the long curtains in color. 
White can be used even if 
the curtains are colored. 
The prevailing fashion in 
many of the earliest beds 
was to use hangings of 
chintz, which were very gaily colored 
and repeated in the valance. 
There are many ways of attaching 
this valance around the bottom of a 
four-poster. It must be remembered 
that our forefathers were unable to pur¬ 
chase wire-woven springs, being forced 
to use rope woven in and out across the 
frame, or a canvas which they laced 
with stout rope. This fact caused the 
valance to be fastened to the rails of 
the bed. Now with the coming into 
style of firmly placed and well fitted 
box springs, the best method is to attach 
the flounce to a sheet, spreading between 
the spring and mattress. It is a very 
easy matter to take this off, sheet and 
all, that we may launder it. 
Time was not so precious or diver¬ 
sions not so varied in our grandmother’s 
time as they are today. This accounts 
for the quantities of hand-made bed 
spreads and patch work quilts that were 
so fashionable. 
Tufted quilts were all the rage at one 
period. They chose for their work dif¬ 
ferent patterns, with the same motive. 
These within the last few years have be¬ 
come very valuable, the best variety 
bringing as high as $35.00 or more, ac¬ 
cording to size and amount of tufting 
worked out.- 
The curved canopy 
or tester is generally 
covered and a gath¬ 
ered valance used 
Little side curtains 
add considerably to 
the finish of a 
draped jour-poster 
