September, 1914 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
139 
The revival of the art of weaving and braiding rag rugs is a 
boon, for the wearing quality of the rugs is remarkable. Xo 
other rug is so easy to keep clean, and none better adapted to 
the consistent following of a given color-scheme. 
Superabundant draperies should be conspicuously absent from 
the windows of a young man’s room. Perhaps were the mas¬ 
culine owner’s tastes considered, the windows would be quite 
guiltless of hangings. If, however, this idiosyncrasy is to be 
overruled and hangings provided, they should be of sill length 
only, so arranged that they may be readily drawn to and fro. 
A valance as a finishing touch is always pleasing. Scrim, in the 
natural linen color, is one of the best materials to choose. It is 
a fabric which hangs gracefully, and one which cannot be sur¬ 
passed for stenciling. Provided the walls be plain, a figured 
chintz, cretonne, or Japanese toweling would be a good substi¬ 
tute for scrim; and of unfigured materials, linen taffetas, pon¬ 
gee, or art denim would prove no less satisfactory. 
The standing woodwork plays 
such an important part in a room 
that its treatment demands careful 
consideration. There is a unanimity 
of opinion as to the desirability of 
ivory-enameled woodwork in the 
bedroom. There may, however, be a 
diversity of thought as to its suita¬ 
bility in a young man’s room, owing 
to the somewhat dual nature of that 
apartment. Nevertheless, one can¬ 
not go far astray in selecting the 
enamel finish, as it is both easily 
cleaned and permanent. It has the 
additional merit of combining agree¬ 
ably with any other finish which may 
be selected for the furniture. If, 
however, a natural wood finish be 
desired, it should correspond exactly 
with the furniture; varnish should 
be eschewed, and the surface well 
waxed. As a general rule, painted 
standing woodwork other than white 
is not attractive, but an exception to 
this rule is found in a Canadian home. 
The room is a small, well-lighted 
In this combined bedroom and study, simplicity and repose are acquired by the stained 
studs, burlap walls and neutral tints 
A railroad tie mantel looks at home in this 
sportsman s study 
library. The walls are hung with a 
soft brown crepe paper, having a 
conventional frieze of brown and 
dull pea-green. The woodwork, to 
correspond with the specially de¬ 
signed furniture, is painted the pea- 
green which appears in the frieze. 
The effect is so unique and charm¬ 
ing that the idea set forth might be 
transferred with gratifying results to 
a young man’s room; provided, of 
course, other colors be excluded as 
far as possible from the furnishings. 
In another room, although the 
owner’s love of virile sport is strong¬ 
ly indicated, the fact is not unduly 
thrust upon chance visitors; and, 
without in any sense being severe, 
the room remains both orderly and 
thoroughly livable. The fireplace is 
interesting here, through the use of 
a mantel-shelf formed of ordinary 
railroad ties, stained blue-black to 
match the balance of the woodwork 
and furniture. Old time candle- 
holders furnished the motif for the specially designed gas- 
fixtures, which add so much to the attractiveness of the room. 
As most of the furniture was also designed specially, complete 
harmony has been maintained throughout. 
Good results have been achieved in a third room through a 
strict adherence to neutrality of coloring. The bungalow, of 
which this room is a part, is unique through the frank manner 
in which the constructive framework has been utilized as a 
basis for the interior decoration. Thus the studs create a pan¬ 
eled effect, and the ceiling is formed by the attic floor, with the 
joists exposed. Between the studs the unplastered walls are 
covered with natural burlap, the tone of which blends admirably 
with the gray-brown stain used upon all the woodwork. Similar 
stain was employed to finish the furniture designed and built 
for the room. The neutral color of the burlap reappears in the 
unbleached linen-crash curtains, counterpanes and bureau run¬ 
ner —these fitments being relieved from any monotony by very 
narrow conventional borders, embroidered in primary colors. 
Prior to its redecoration, one boy's room had been allowed to 
(Continued on page 166) 
Built-in desks appeal to the 
amateur craftsman’s skill 
