14 
HOUSE & GARDEN 
velvet, the table cover in tan stretched across 
the low coffee table with its black and white 
service. Surely this is a sufficient variety 
in a small space, but the harmony is satis¬ 
factory, though one must note that, as fre¬ 
quently happens, the contrast between the 
pale cream ceiling and the deep ivory walls 
is greater than it ought to be. 
The second living-room has certain inter¬ 
esting features, among them, the effect of 
wood paneling provided on the wall by its 
treatment of squares made with wood 
moulding and then painted and enameled. 
There are bookcases at both ends of the 
sofa, only one showing in the photograph, 
and this comfortable piece and its armchair 
are both blue velvet, against a blue rug and 
blue overcurtains. Close to the window is 
(Continued on page 64) 
For cards or to serve as a reception room this little corner is expressive and yet simple. 
Thoroughly modern in decoration and yet moderate in cost. The furniture is white with 
black decorations. Walls and rugs are orange 
as well as for a gown or a person’s vocabu¬ 
lary. 
The rooms which form the illustrations 
for this paper are pronounced to be of this 
sort by the folk who live in them and with 
their consent are published here for the 
first time. They speak for themselves. 
Crystallizing Personality 
It may be a matter of interest to attempt 
to construct the personality of people from 
the photographs of the rooms which they 
use, hut it is one of those things that lies 
outside the function of this magazine. 
Naturally crystallizing personality is a proc¬ 
ess which the decorator must continually 
employ, and he must be considerable of a 
psychologist to do it successfully. After 
all, the only means at his command for solv¬ 
ing the puzzle of his clients’ characters are 
their conversation, their dress, their friends 
and the quarters they are living in when he 
meets them. Most of his deductions must 
be based upon the last named source, and 
even this may be a cause of error, for hun¬ 
dreds of people live in houses they abomi¬ 
nate and amid surroundings created for 
them years ago when the development of 
their taste was in its infancy. 
However, all these questions are techni¬ 
cal and lie beyond our province. It must 
be sufficient if we present to readers strong¬ 
ly personalized dwellings, and let them set¬ 
tle what they will with regard to the per¬ 
sonalities expressed. A small portion of 
such a home is, I think, illustrated in the 
foyer corner, with its two floor candlesticks 
and Renaissance chest. These are in light 
blue, decorated with gold, against a floor 
of black and ivory, giving the effect of mar¬ 
ble tiles, but really painted directly on the 
inlaid floor provided by the apartment. The 
candlesticks are partly velvet covered. The 
chest is decorated in the front with a colored 
panel and surmounted by a mulberry pillow, 
while over it hangs an engraving by Pira¬ 
nesi, attached to the picture moulding by 
One of the interesting features of this living-room is the effect of wood paneling afforded 
by treating the walls with moulding. Arm chairs and sofa are in blue velvet. The rugs 
and curtains are blue. Gold Japanese gauze has been used against the windows 
a blue silk cord with tassels. We can find 
in this hallway at the same time a sufficient 
suggestion of formality, and yet an element 
of informality that is interesting. 
The corner in the paneled living-room is 
a characteristic patch by itself. It shows 
an inlaid William and Mary table with gold 
candlesticks and a polychrome Italian bust, 
two tiny pictures on the wall, a floor lamp 
with a striped taffeta shade, a linen covered 
violet wing armchair, a violet velvet foot¬ 
stool, a low child’s chair, covered in blue 
.4 strongly personalized foyer. The floor 
is painted black and ivory. Floor candles 
and chest are light blue and gold 
