48 
House & Garden 
In the Royal House 
at Bedford, Mass., one 
of the finest examples 
of Queen Anne Co¬ 
lonial architecture is 
a Queen Anne day- 
bed that is a rare type 
THE ACCOMMODATING DAY-BED 
Which Can Be Used in the Bedroom, Living Room or Studio 
—Its Covers, Pillow and Background 
MARY H. NORTHEND 
T here are several pages of interesting 
history behind the day-bed. It might well 
be termed a lounge, and yet it is not so in 
reality, for it has many features in its design 
that are not comparable with that piece of 
furniture as it has developed through the 
centuries. 
It was during the Renaissance that the 
Classic style so strongly affected furni¬ 
ture. At this period the sleeping couch, 
with raised ends, came inta its rightful 
name, which was derived from the French 
‘‘chaise longue” or long chair. In reality 
it was an elongated seat with a large 
chair back and body equal in length to 
the seats of three chairs. 
During the Protectorate this fascinat¬ 
ing piece of furniture went out of 
fashion, only to be revived later on by 
Charles II, who transplanted French 
Fashions into English homes. He had a 
lighter nature than his forerunners, and 
we seem to see an evidence of gaiety in 
the furniture of his day. Gay colors 
were much in vogue during this merry 
monarch’s reign. 
Queen Anne Types 
In the time of Queen Anne we find 
examples of the day-bed, many of which 
are still treasured in Colonial homes. In 
the Royal House in Bedford, Massachu¬ 
setts, built about 1641, there is still a 
rare day-bed after the Queen Anne 
style, the cane bottom being covered with 
rich upholstery, as was the fashion of 
that day. 
So in the ups and downs of history 
this comfortable adjunct in house fur¬ 
nishing repeats itself continuously. After 
the upheaval of the French Revolution, with 
the passing of the Reign of Terror, Classic 
influence again came into the ascendency, and 
from the Egyptian ruins motifs were dug out 
that were woven into the furniture. This is 
particularly shown by David’s painting of 
Madame Recamier reclining on an Empire 
couch, from which modern examples have been 
evolved. 
It acquired great popularity during the 
reign of Napoleon, when the beautiful 
women of the Directoire, as well as the 
artists of the day, recognized its graceful 
charm. 
For studio use, or in a small apartment, the day-bed 
supplies room for an extra guest. Here the covering 
is soft blue silk and the hanging a foreign peasant 
fabric in bright colors 
Day-Bed Uses 
A couch has always been indispensable 
in a comfortable bedroom, but as it has 
always been a problem to make it at¬ 
tractive, we welcome the return of the 
day-bed. Its use, however, is not con¬ 
fined to the bedroom, for in the living 
room it can serve as a couch or window 
seat, and is a much better solution of the 
extra needed bed than the dangerous 
folding bed, or unsightly rug-covered 
cot. Its graceful design and practical 
utility make it a most appealing piece 
of furniture. 
In decorated enamel it fits delightfully 
into the furnishing of the sun parlor, and 
with cushions and pillows of gaily pat¬ 
terned cretonne it imparts a sprightly 
cheerfulness so welcome when the hand 
of winter bears hard upon the land. The 
Empire type, usually of mahogany and 
cane, is particularly adaptable to the 
apartment living room, where an adjust¬ 
able box mattress may be drawn out to 
make a fulTsized bed. Simple cushions 
can be covered with rep, velour or 
tapestry, or a small Oriental rug may be 
thrown over it. A variety of available 
textile stuffs are suitable for coverings, 
ranging from the intricate brocade and 
