Correspondence 
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FURNISHING A BEDROOM 
A. B. C. writes: I have a bedroom the walls of which are 
covered with an expensive paper, this shows clusters of pink roses 
shading to a deep old rose. I have window draperies of cretonne 
which have also a rose design, but the roses are smaller than those 
on my wall. These curtains have never been satisfactory as they 
seem stiff; they have been carefully made with an interlining, and a 
lining next the glass of sateen, and are trimmed with a balled fringe. 
They are caught back with cords matching the pink and green of 
the design on the curtains; the ground is deep cream, 1 may add 
that the background of my wall-paper is purely white. The 
furniture of the room is mahogany and I have used a pink cover 
with lace over-cover on my bed. I he tiles in my fireplace are 
pink and green. Kindly give me some suggestions as the room is 
highly unsatisfactory. The exposure of the room is south. 
Answer: It is very evident that you must change either your 
wall covering or your curtains. If the paper is an attractive one I 
suggest that you retain this. 1 he difficulty lies in the lack of har¬ 
mony in your window draperies and wall covering, not to speak of 
the introduction of the lace bed cover which is a bad feature. 
Remove your curtains which, by the way, should be made with¬ 
out interlining, and reserve these for use in some room where the 
wall covering will be plain. Hang white embroidered muslin 
curtains next the glass of your window; these should be made with 
frills across the bottom and up the front edges; these frills to be 
about three inches in width; the curtains to be tied back on either 
side with strips of muslin three inches in width; over draperies 
of crinkled thin silk in a shade of green exactly matching the green 
of the leaves of the foliage shown on your wall-paper. These over 
draperies should be run on a slender brass rod set on the frame of 
the window; they should be run by a casing on the rod, and fin¬ 
ished at the window sill with a three-inch hem; this silk is called 
Priscilla silk, it is 34 inches wide and sells for go cents a yard. 
These curtains should be well pushed back on either side, simply 
forming an outline for your window. Change your tiles if possi¬ 
ble to unglazed dull green ones. 
Keep your bed purely white, using a good quality of Marseilles 
spread with white linen slips for your pillows. 
You do not mention your floor covering: since your wall is cov¬ 
ered with a figured paper showing a variety of color your best choice 
in floor covering would be a two-toned rug in shades of green. 
With these changes I think you will find your room much more 
to your satisfaction. 
DECORATION OF A DRAWING-ROOM 
A Western woman writes: Will you kindly give me some 
suggestions for decorating my drawing-room, 18 x 28 feet ? It has 
three windows facing north, two facing east, and a large double 
door opening into a room, the walls of which are covered in old 
blue. I would like to have the wall-paper, furniture covering and 
hangings correspond with a set of old-fashioned rosewood furniture 
if this can be done without having too stiff an effect; what would 
you suggest for the woodwork in this room ? It has been painted 
and must be done over again. The floor is of hard wood. 
Answer: Choose a paper showing on a creamy ground forma) 
bouquets or baskets of flowers of pastel tones; roses and forget- 
me-nots would look well in your drawing-room where the wood¬ 
work should be enameled ivory white. This will make an excel¬ 
lent setting for the rosewood furniture, and have a pleasing effect 
in contrast with the adjoining room papered in the old blue. 
I he paper you choose must be of a formal design. Use draped lace 
curtains next the glass of your windows and over drapery of dull 
pale blue brocade. Choose a brocade that will be firm enough 
for upholstering purposes and use this for your chairs also. An 
oval framed mirror in gilt, and sconces to match upon your wall, 
will add to the charm of a room of this kind, which, when completed, 
should suggest a delicate water-color. Use Oriental rugs upon 
your floor which should be kept light in tone. 
INTERIOR DECORATION OF A HOUSE 
Colonial says: Please give suggestions for interior decoration 
of a house which we are now building. The house is medium 
sized, Colonial style, the hall in the center. The parlor is on one 
side and is quite small; the dining-room back of that but not 
connected. On the other side of the hall is the living-room with 
one end arched off for a den, and a fireplace at the back of the 
den with a brick chimney in dull red. There is a bay window 
in the front of the living-room and two side windows. I would 
appreciate a color scheme including woodwork and furnishings 
for this first floor. The standing woodwork is all of yellow pine. 
Answer: I would be able to help you much more practically 
had you given me the exposure of your house. Lacking this 
knowledge I would advise you as follows: In your small parlor use 
ivory eggshel white enamel for the woodwork, choosing a French 
Colonial paper for the walls. Formal drawing-room pieces of furni¬ 
ture, light in line and of mahogany or Italian walnut would look well. 
The dining-room, if well lighted, could be done in strong blue 
fiber paper, matching the brightest shade of blue to be found in 
Delft china. Your woodwork here could be stained in weathered 
oak effect. Draperies of blue and white satin damask, or if 
something less expensive is desired, a blue and white Chinese 
crepe could be used at your windows; these to hang straight, over 
curtains of clear white fish-net. All curtains to end at the window 
sill. The central hall should be papered with the two-toned yel¬ 
low striped paper. The furniture to be of mahogany. All ceilings 
should be tinted the shade of ivory used for your woodwork. 
Oriental rugs are advised for the floors. 
JAPANESE FURNISHINGS 
Mrs. G. B. writes: I am anxious to know where I can obtain 
the Japanese furnishings for a tea-room modeled upon the one you 
have described recently in the Correspondence Department of 
House and Garden. Will you kindly supply me with the address 
of the firms carrying these goods. 
Answer: We regret that you failed to send a self-addressed 
envelope, in which case we would have been pleased to supply 
you with the addresses requested. As no firm names are men¬ 
tioned in the columns of House and Garden it is impossible to 
comply. If you will write me later it will be sent you promptly. 
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