October, 
19 22 
71 
MAKING THE FLOOR COUNT 
A Substantial Part of a Room’s Furnishing Depends Upon 
Harmonious Rugs and Carpets 
MARGARET McELROY 
N O one article of furnish¬ 
ing so quickly gives a 
room distinction as just 
the right rug, and nothing so 
soon throws a whole scheme of 
decorating entirely out of key 
as inharmonious floor covering. 
In planning for this most 
important article, three things 
should be taken into considera¬ 
tion—the amount and kind of 
usage the rug will receive, 
whether it is to serve as back¬ 
ground, or, by its unusual color 
and beauty of design, is to be¬ 
come the main decorative ob¬ 
ject in the room. If all the 
interest lies in the design of 
walls, hanging's or upholstery, 
then the rug should be chosen 
for its color value to bring out 
and complement the other fur¬ 
nishings. 
If, on the other hand, the 
walls are painted or papered in 
a neutral shade, devoid of any 
In a hall that is enlivened 
with a figured paper, rugs of 
an all-over design or good 
Orientals will harmonize. 
Clara J. Hukill, decorator 
The room that has figured 
hangings and furniture cov¬ 
erings should have no other 
pattern. A plain rug is am¬ 
ple. Wm. Adams, architect 
striking design, and the furni¬ 
ture done in velour or damask 
of a rather indefinite pattern, it 
becomes necessary to introduce 
design as well as color into the 
floor covering to key up the 
room and keep it from being 
pitifully monotonous, lacking 
in any definite interest. 
In creating an entirely new 
interior the problem is simple. 
Walls, floors, hangings and 
upholstery can be considered as 
a whole and planned accord¬ 
ingly. But where one decides 
a new rug is imperative but the 
curtains and furniture covering 
simply must last another year, 
it is not such an easy matter. 
In this case the floor covering 
must be considered in relation 
to the other furnishings and 
should not be selected in a hap¬ 
hazard manner. 
It is a healthy sign that vivid 
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Gillies 
