HOUSE’AND GARDEN CORRESPONDENCE 
CONVERTING A DINING-ROOM INTO A 
LIBRARY 
I wish to convert a dining-room, in a small city house, 
into a den and library. This room must also serve for 
occasional chafing-dish supper parties. One side of 
the wall has built in book-shelves. I would like you to 
furnish me with a suggestion for a corner cupboard, a 
portion of which can he used as a small wine closet that 
can be locked. Also, I would like a suggestion for a 
movable book-stand to be used in the same room. The 
woodwork of this room I am having stained with English 
oak wood tint, and the finish dull with Dead-lac. I 
would like these pieces of furniture finished in the same 
way. 
What shall I use on my floor as a covering ? I have 
two Navajo blankets of excellent quality and beautiful 
weave. These are bright scarlet and white with some 
black and orange in the design. Could I use these on 
my floor ? 
Kindly give me a suggestion for wall covering and 
color. The room faces east and has one small south 
window. What would you advise for curtains ? The 
dimensions of the room are 10x14 feet, the height 9^ 
feet. I would also like to introduce a couch of wicker 
if this would be harmonious. L. S. 
H|I think you can make a very attractive and livable 
room from the dining-room you describe. 1 am glad 
to furnish you with some suggestive drawings for your 
corner cupboard, movable book-shelves and also long 
willow chair, which is really a steamer chair. This, 
however, if furnished with upholstered pad cushions 
about six inches thick, can be made into a most attractive 
and comfortable piece of furniture. 1 his pad should 
be upholstered and caught in with buttons to gain the 
best effect. 
Cover your wall with heavy fibre paper in two tones of 
dull green. This to show an almost invisible stripe. 
Your ceiling should extend to your picture railing which 
will be in line with tops of windows and doors, the ceiling 
of picture rail to be tinted in a strong shade of cafe au 
lait; that is, it must show much yellow. 
You can use your Navajo blankets effectively as rugs. 
The windows will look well hung with East India cotton, 
something showing red, dull blue, and orange figures 
picked out with black against an ivory ground. I bis 
