March, 1913 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
181 
The comfortable armchair before the fireplace and the well equipped dressing table with its good form of mirror will be appreciated by guests. 
There is an interesting treatment of the radiator that suggests a successful way of hiding this ugly feature 
odds and ends that anyone is apt to want at any time but will 
very often do without altogether rather than put a hostess to 
the bother of getting for them. 
Another piece of furniture that 
should always be included in the 
equipment of a guest-chamber is 
a table desk provided with sta¬ 
tionery both marked and plain 
and all the necessary writing 
paraphernalia. A reasonable sup¬ 
ply of postage stamps ought not 
to be forgotten. It is well to in¬ 
clude telegram blanks in the list 
of things desirable, for a man 
while visiting has often to attend 
to important business concerns at 
the same time and greatly appre¬ 
ciates all such facilities. A waste¬ 
basket is also necessary. Details 
in the preparation of the guest¬ 
room are not of the greatest im¬ 
portance, but scrupulous care in 
even the smallest trifles will add 
to the welcome of the visitor and 
show him that some thought has 
been taken in his behalf. And there are many occasions when 
such trifles become of the highest importance. No omission 
is excusable that may cause the guest a moment’s annoyance. 
Either on one end of the table desk, if it is large enough, or 
better still, on a separate table, there should be a reasonable num¬ 
ber of books—novels of the day, classics, semi-classics—to suit 
all tastes and needs. It is well, likewise, to have some magazines 
—not a year old—in the same place. A comfortable reading 
lamp will, of course, accompany 
this outfit. The appropriate 
reading lamp leads one on to a 
reminder about easy chairs, of 
which there should be more than 
one. On the reading table or on 
the table desk it is a graceful at¬ 
tention, if the guest be a lady, to 
have a bowl of flowers. They 
breathe a welcome in a way that 
nothing else can. Your men 
guests will always be pleased to 
find a box of cigarettes on desk or 
table, and forget not at the same 
time to have ash-trays. Ash-trays 
of glass or some washable mate¬ 
rial are preferable to metal or 
substance that will either tarnish 
or stain. 
There ought either to be a hat 
and boot cabinet of some kind or 
else some special provision should 
be made for them in the closet. A 
lounge or reclining couch is also a desirable adjunct to the fur¬ 
niture of a guest-room, and can often very fittingly be placed at 
the foot of the bed. When it is not placed there it is a good idea 
to have a slatted trunk rack or stand set there for the arriving 
guest’s trunk so that it may be easily unpacked without uncom- 
(Continued on page 203) 
A very simple bedroom, but one planned with various guest¬ 
room conveniences 
