1 HOUSE AND GARDEN 
December, 
igog 
223 
my library, and in the other rooms I will use 
mahogany. The wood trim is very deep 
ivory, almost brown in the shadows, and 
simple in detail, so I hope that you will feel 
dark oak will look well with it. I want some 
effect in golden-yellow, bronze and old blue 
for the wall covexing. The bookshelves ex¬ 
tend almost entirely around the room to the 
height of 6 feet. My real problem in this 
room is the floor covering. I particularly 
want Oriental rugs, but fear they are too 
costly for us to purchase at present, as we 
have but $500 to put in the floor covering in 
this room. The room is 16x18 ft I 
realize that an old Chinese rug would be most 
satisfying in this room, but I know that such 
rugs would be quite beyond me. What 
would you suggest? In the hall from which 
the library opens, the walls are treated with 
dull blue grass cloth, and I hope to find an 
Oriental runner showing some old blue, dull 
rose, and other tones. 
One of the largest importing houses 
in New York has this fall shown some 
very unusual effects in Turkish rugs. 
The designs of 
these rugs are 
suggestive of 
the Mahal, 
though the 
weave is closer 
and finer, and 
the pile deeper; 
h o w ev e r , the 
color in these 
rugs is their 
chief recom- 
mendation. 
They show dull 
b e autiful 
browns, dull 
blues and tawny 
yellows; in fact, 
the coloring is 
highly sugges¬ 
tive of the 
Chinese rugs, 
but in price they 
differ greatly, as 
such a rug as 
we have de¬ 
scribed can be 
purchased in 
about n x 14 
feet size for 
$400. Such runners as you describe can 
readily be picked up. If you will send 
the dimensions of your hall we will 
be glad to supply you with prices, 
addresses, etc. 
A light for the hall 
that would har¬ 
monize with the 
living-room fixture 
on the preceding 
page 
We are sending under separate cover 
some samples of wall coverings which 
we feel will interest you. One of these 
corresponds closely with the description 
you give in your letter of the paper you 
would like to use. 
Wood Boxes 
ttaving recently moved to a southern 
A A climate I find myself quite without 
ideas regarding the appurtenances of a real 
fireplace, as my past experiences have been 
Among the many arrangements for holding wood logs at the side of the fireplace are these 
receptacles in repousse brass 
confined to gas logs and steam heaters. How 
does one take care of wood for daily use in the 
open fireplace? In many of the homes of my 
neighbors I see it piled on the hearth, but this 
does not appeal to me, and I would be glad of 
suggestions from House and Garden. 
We are pleased to publish some 
illustrations of various styles of recep¬ 
tacles to hold firewood. These articles 
are in repousse brass and are given 
the delightful finish known as “ fire 
bronze.” It is possible to have these 
same shapes made with less ornament, 
the body of the holder to be of plain 
beaten brass with claw feet; this is 
especially attractive. There are also 
excellent wood boxes, which, used in a 
room fitted with heavy oak furnishings, 
would be decorative and effective. 
A Harmonious Color Scheme 
C OLOR plays the most important 
part in the successful furnishing 
of the home, and the first impression of 
a room usually depends upon the walls. 
If these are well chosen, it is easy to 
make everything else harmonize. 
Ihere are special lines which govern 
the application of 
color. It should be 
chosen with reference 
to the quantity and 
quality of light which 
pervades the room. 
'lhe number, size, and 
position of the win¬ 
dows will greatly affect 
the intensity of color 
to be used. Therefore, 
it is necessary to con¬ 
sider all colors, both in 
a strong light and in 
shadow. Artificial light 
tends to darken a room. 
It is well to have the 
strongest color in the 
room on the floor. 
The ceilings in all cases 
must be lighter in tone 
than the walls, so as to 
give reflection of light. 
Some rooms give a feeling of welcome 
while others give a feeling of homesick¬ 
ness. 
One of the pleasantest rooms I 
know is full of color harmonies, and 
yet the home feeling is the strongest 
impression one receives on entering the 
room. Before the room was furnished, 
it was distinctly commonplace, but a 
thorough understanding of harmony and 
proportion have made it into a really 
livable room. 
It is long and narrow, with a door 
opening into the hall on one side, one 
window on the front of the house, with 
two windows on the side. The rear 
end of the room opens into the living- 
room. 
The predominant colors are tan, 
green and red. The woodwork is 
painted a rich ivory. The wall is 
divided by a photograph rail. Below 
this is a dark! green felt paper, while 
above it a soft Morris paper, with a tan 
ground, and an Indian ied and green 
design introduces a charming color 
scheme. 
The floor is entirely covered with an 
olive green filling, while on this are some 
(Continued on page xii) 
This very commonplace room was redeemed by a carefully 
planned color scheme and appropriate hangings 
