Distinctive New Furnishings 
THE REVIVAL OF INTEREST IN COMPLETE DECORATIVE SCHEMES—MODERN WORKMANSHIP 
ALONG PERIOD LINES - COMBINATIONS OF FURNITURE, HANGINGS ^AND WALL PAPERS 
by Lydia LeBaron Walker 
Photographs by the Author and at the courtesy of the manufacturers 
D ecorative style is molded 
by historic events. This is 
true to-day as of old. Just as the 
incursions of Napoleon into foreign 
countries brought new ideas to 
France, so the revolution in China 
and the vicissitudes of the Ottoman 
Empire are not without their in¬ 
fluence even in the quiet of our dis¬ 
tant drawing-rooms. Italy, having 
played her part in these events, in¬ 
fluences us again through the me¬ 
dium of the Adam style, which was 
before associated with Italian ar¬ 
tistry. And she has also further 
decorative messages more distinctly 
her own. 
The Chinese motif was used by 
Chippendale and by others in his 
time; the classic patterns drawn by 
Adam, with their hint of Italian 
frescoes, of course are not new, but 
these designs are being revived this 
year. There is a recurrence of the 
feeling for strictly harmonious com¬ 
binations of hangings, wall-papers 
and furniture. Although the styles 
suggested in this article do not con¬ 
form exactly to any particular mas¬ 
ters of the periods they are very 
well applicable to complete success- 
f u 1 equipment of present - day 
rooms. 
A suggestion of Adam, a touch 
The combination of wall-paper and wainscoting here is a 
modern adaptation of Adam ideas and shows classic 
ornamentation in a restrained and effective manner 
This chair is built along the lines 
of Queen Anne furniture with 
Chinese decorations 
of Chinese 
colors and de¬ 
signs, Italian 
motive s — 
these we find 
to be the most 
prominent impulses this season. 
They run into one another more 
or less, so one can hardly lay down 
a strict line of demarcation, but 
it may be said generally that the 
present wall-papers, upholstery, 
drapery fabrics and furniture 
are closely following these in¬ 
fluences. The most pleasing and 
correct effects are secured by 
maintaining uniformity of de¬ 
sign between furniture cover¬ 
ings, hangings and wall-papers. 
In wall-papers there are in¬ 
teresting developments. O f 
these the new lacquered paper 
is certainly the most startling. 
It follows the black wall-paper, 
which it easily eclipses. It had its 
inspiration in one of the conceptions 
of that old craftsman, Chambers. 
Thus it has the stamp of a decided 
individuality. The ground of black, 
which first came into prominence 
last year, forms the background of 
the Chinese embossed design exe¬ 
cuted in the dullest of old gold. The 
nice handling of this wonderful cre¬ 
ation involves the best skill of the 
trained decorator. Simpler uses for 
it are found in its application to 
screens and trays. 
As to weaves, the latest is an 
effect of raffia cloth. It is in line 
with grass cloth, of which it is a 
pleasing variation. Naturally it 
strikes a stronger note, and is said 
not to fade. Various fabrics are 
also closely simulated. Fillet lace 
backgrounds are among the novel¬ 
ties. They appear alone or with 
stripes, seeming to be worked in 
cross-stitch with soft old wools. 
Good home-like papers to live with, 
these. Against the plain papers, 
there is a noticeable reaction. We 
can now enjoy a wide variety of 
charming self-toned papers, plain 
enough in effect, yet freely pat¬ 
terned. This is accomplished by 
weaves, rubbed suede, polychromat¬ 
ic treatment and 
the like 
play of variety 
is really amaz¬ 
ing, and can 
hardly be ex¬ 
pressed by means of the medium of words. 
In sharp contrast with the above are the 
papers presenting post-impressionistic or Bul¬ 
garian colorings. These are brilliant to the 
point of being almost garish, and the 
colors are uniquely blended. It may 
be said generally that there is a re¬ 
vival of gold treatment, dull in the 
better papers and used conservative¬ 
ly. In the tooled papers one notes 
the perfection with which they re¬ 
produce ancient leathers. 
As the hangings and upholstery 
take their cue from the papers, we 
need not pause to consider them fur¬ 
ther than to observe that reproduc¬ 
tions of antique fabrics are eagerly 
The lacquer chairs are de¬ 
sirable for their rich 
colors and gold designs 
