Timely Suggestions and 
Answers to Correspondents 
HHBHHI 
' 
The editor will gladly answer queries pertaining to individual problems of interior decoration and furnishing. When an immediate reply is desired, 
please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope 
Lamp Shades 
N O sooner has the problem of lighting 
a room been solved than the ques¬ 
tion arises how to shade the light so as to 
make it agreeable to the eyes and, at the 
same time, produce a sufficient glow for 
reading. A little experience of personal 
interest may not be amiss here to illustrate 
how this difficulty was overcome. Two 
lamps were purchased to light a good-sized 
room, with gas as a side consideration. 
The shades were of the impossible variety, 
needless to describe here, so attention was 
at once centered on how to give a good 
light and, at the same time, reduce the 
glare to a glow. Two old Japanese lamp 
shades made of wood and painted black 
were unearthed, and at once produced the 
foundation for the new idea. Stencils 
were cut on regular yellow brown stencil 
paper in a Japanese design, fitting each 
design to the section in the shade, ten in 
number. After the sections had been cut 
to fit, a cream rice paper was pasted over 
each section as a glare reducer, and this 
formed likewise a background for the 
stencil. Then, pasting the stencil over the 
rice paper, the desired effect of the soft 
yellowish light showing through the sten¬ 
cils was secured. 
With the black wood painted with a 
glossy finish preparation, the yellow sten¬ 
cil cut in a Japanese design, and with the 
rice paper as a background, the result was 
most pleasing and quite in keeping with 
the foundation which was a real Japanese 
frame. 
Room Papering 
HE words “room papering” cover 
such a vast field that we may simply 
take a little corner of this field and fill it 
with several suggestions that may be of use 
to those about to venture forth to struggle 
with this problem. In one case, a fair 
sized room was taken and, the walls were 
rubbed till absolutely smooth. After the 
preliminary sizing, the ceiling was covered 
with a very light cream egg-shell paper, 
soft and pleasing as a canopy. The walls 
were covered with a gold paper, quite gold, 
with rather a rough surface. Over this was 
put a thin white rice paper, allowing the 
gold to show through. The effect was 
charming and most unusual. 
Another room was papered in a dull sil¬ 
ver and varnished, the varnish giving a 
soft yellow that, with the silver, made a 
delightful combination. A chintz paper, 
varnished until it resembled old yellowed 
parchment was the treatment for another 
room. Still another had Japanese prints 
pasted against a gray brown paper and 
varnished. The effect was unique and was 
heightened by a narrow black band around 
each print suggesting a frame. 
Bungalow Fittings from Japan 
VX7'E wonder just what we are to sub- 
* ' stitute on our bungalow side-board 
for the silver salvers and cut glass salad 
and fruit bowls that remind us of winter’s 
Bowls and platters carved from wood by the 
Japanese can now be secured 
more formal city life. Already, the 
problem is solved. 
Far away in quaint homes, the wood 
carvers of Nikko, Japan, have anticipated 
our desires. Their factories are these 
same homes; their instruments, sharp 
knives of two or three varieties fashioned 
to each special need. Squatted on the 
floor, these carvers work, drawing their 
tools ever toward them, and whether the 
task be cutting, sawing or planing, the 
wood, made soft by steaming, is steadied 
by means of the feet. 
The wood most often used in Nikko is 
the kuri or chestnut wood from the blue- 
blossomed horse chestnut trees. Every¬ 
where in Japan are the trees tended with 
particular care, not alone because of the 
financial and artistic values that may be 
carved from them, but because the 
Japanese recognize them as contributors to 
the ever fresh beauty of the country. An 
inherent reverence for beauty is character¬ 
istic of these people. 
Let us look then at their work. We find 
articles of usefulness and charm in 
lacquered and unlacquered finish. We will 
look first at the unlacquered. There is a 
nut or fruit bowl, heavily cut and of 
beautiful grain and luster. Its design may 
be the historic dragon, the iris, the lotus, 
the chrysanthemum, perhaps even the tiger 
lily. Another item is the large tea tray, 
twenty by thirty inches. Only the border 
is carved, and the ample center space, 
showing the beautiful grain of the wood, 
remains free for the full tea service. We 
find, also, other trays; a small oblong 
sandwich tray, a round serving tray, and 
the banana leaf on which the after dinner 
coffee set just fits. A small bread board, 
handsomely carved, does away with the 
repugnance we used to feel at the sight of 
that big round one of old-fashioned days. 
We wish to replace it by this graceful 
model. 
In the lacquered work of the carvers, 
we note with eager interest a salad set. In 
its dark red highly polished surface, we 
are reminded strongly of the richest 
mahogany. While the outside lacquering 
is the finest done, the lining of the bowl 
requires an even more delicate lacquer 
preparation to insure its perfection against 
the ingredients of the average salad. The 
(40) 
