September, 1909 
House and Garden 
105 
living-room should be suggestive of that delightful period. 
Appropriate wall covering for such rooms is not difficult 
to find, as to-day there are on the market many reproduc¬ 
tions from the old blocks, and one may only hesitate between 
the two-tone stripe of dull blue, Colonial yellow or shades 
of neutral gray or fawn color, which are so typical, or the 
landscape papers, or those of large floral designs. 
It is much easier for the amateur to furnish to the first 
style of background, as the clear, clean lines of Colonial 
mahogany furniture show attractively against the simple 
unworried wall. Figured materials of appropriate design 
may introduce variety. Linen taffeta, cretonne, glazed 
chintz, or any of the simple cotton prints may be chosen for 
the less elaborate type of Colonial room, while for a richer 
effect select silk and linen, or wool damask, silk brocade 
or cut velvet for over-draperies and furniture covering. 
While the living-room furnished after 
the Colonial style should be kept free from 
incongruities in the way of furniture or 
decoration, comfort and livableness should 
not be sacrificed to what a well known 
decorator has called the “period microbe.” 
When this attacks the amateur house decora¬ 
tor the effect is apt to be disastrous. Comfort 
is ruthlessly sacrificed by the self-elected pu¬ 
rist — no easy lounging places, no reclining 
chairs, no beguiling cushions are provided, 
for she holds that in the true Colonial room, 
modeled as it often is from rooms in the 
rehabilitated houses of that period, is 
now to serve for exhibition purposes. 
Where a period idea is to be carried out 
in a house it must be pure and consistent. 
The exterior of the building must proclaim 
the character of the rooms within. The arch¬ 
itectural detail of the interior must provide 
the characteristic setting for the decoration 
and furnishing, which must be such as will 
bear close analysis. Years of study and re¬ 
search will fit one for such work, but it 
is not for the amateur. Her aim and desire 
must be to make the interiorof her house con¬ 
sistent and harmonious,—particularly trueof 
“the heart of the home” as the living-room has been fitly 
called. The precept of William Morris to “have nothing in 
your house which you do not know to be useful and believe to 
be beautiful’’ should be borne in mind, and in addition care 
must be taken that only that which is suitable to the house 
and its occupants should be selected. 
The illustration on this page shows a living-room in 
which mission or craftsman furniture has been used. The 
plain tinted rough-plastered walls, with the darkly stained 
and dull-finished wood trim, provide an excellent setting 
for the sturdy and comfortable pieces of furniture assembled 
here. The mantel and its tile facing is a good feature. 
The placing of the large central rug gives balance to the 
room. The figures in this together with the couch cover 
and the pillows on the couch provide sufficient variety 
without disturbing the restful quietness of the whole room. 
Several styles of furniture are used, although good construc¬ 
tion and comfort is the idea in all pieces, and the variety 
assists rather than detracts from the success of the room. 
What to do this Month about 
the House 
BY M. H. MILLER 
r I A OWARDS the end of the month take down the screens 
^ from windows and doors. Number them, and their 
locations to match, so that in the spring you will not be 
carting them all over the house trying to make them fit. 
You can buy pairs of numbered metallic tags to make the 
neatest kind of a job. 
Better have the furnace men look into the condition of 
the heater and pipes; do not wait until a fire is required 
in a hurry. 
When taking down the screens it will be well to have 
weather stripping or storm sash put in place. If you find 
the latter necessary on exposed portions of the house, see 
that one or two panes in each window are arranged to slide 
open for the sake of ventilation. 
Lay in a stock of cord wood for the fireplaces and do 
away with the necessity for intermittent heater fires, which 
voraciously attack the winter coal pile. 
While the house-cleaning fever is at its height, it might 
be well to freshen up dust-soiled window shades. Lay the 
shade out on a large table and sprinkle over it some hot 
corn meal. Rub this about with a circular motion of the 
hand, then wipe it off with a soft dry cloth, and you will 
find that the dust and grease have been absorbed by it. 
Fall is one of the two best times to do any necessary 
painting. The freshly covered surfaces are then not so 
liable to blistering from the sun, and the woodwork is well 
fortified against the ravages of winter weather. And, by 
the way, do not try false economy in buying paint; good 
white lead and pure linseed oil cost money, but they are 
good investments. 
A living room that shows an effective combination of tinted rough-plaster 
walls with dark du 11-finish woodwork 
