The Editor’s Talks and Correspondence 
supply of sample shingles. A reliable paint house will semi 
samples from which to select a harmonious shade for clapboarding 
and porch as well as trim. Extremely effective doors can be 
purchased ready to be used it one so desires and hardware may be 
selected from cuts if one is unable to find something suitable in 
their own town. Even before the foundation is started, the entire 
color scheme for the exterior of the house may be settled and all 
who have noted the jarring and unpleasant color effects one so 
•often finds in the small house, will realize the advantage of set¬ 
tling these points for themselves in the beginning. 
FURNITURE MATCHING WOODWORK 
R. D. writes: Where can I have furniture made to match the 
wood trim in the rooms of my house ? I want something unique in 
design and also absolutely simple. Do you approve of the long 
narrow dining-tables, which one sees occasionally with benches 
instead of chairs ? 
Answer: If you will send me a self-addressed envelope I will 
send you the addresses of firms from whom you can obtain the 
desired furniture. In regard to the long dining-table and benches 
for seats, these can only be successfully used in rooms where the 
architectural detail is entirely in keeping with this. Sometime 
in the near future House and Garden will contain an article 
on the refectories of some old-world monasteries. In the 
illustrations, these tables will be seen in their proper settings. 
REMODELING A LIBRARY AND DINING-ROOM 
W. A. R., writes: We are thinking of doing over the library 
and dining-room of our old-fashioned square house, the hall run¬ 
ning through and dividing the drawing-rooms from the library 
and dining-room, and we are looking for pretty and suitable 
designs. My idea of an effective dining-room is one with a very 
high wainscot and beamed or coffered ceiling, the three feet of the 
side-walls covered with imitation of leather or tapestry. The 
room is quite large. My idea of a library is one that is severely 
plain but rich, with low bookcases, hardwood floor, rugs, etc. 
Woodwork of oak except in drawing-rooms. 
Answer: Your ideas in regard to effective treatment for dining¬ 
room and library are very good, and the suggestions I offer you 
will be on these lines. I note that your hall divides the drawing¬ 
rooms from library and dining-room; also that the woodwork, 
except in drawing-rooms, is of oak. In these latter rooms I imagine 
you will use an ivory enamel, as this will give you the most elegant 
effect. The hall should have the oak woodwork stained with 
weathered oak, which is rather gray in tone. Cover the side 
walls with Japanese grass-cloth in a shade of gray-green, which 
will harmonize perfectly with the weathered oak. Use tapestries 
against this as wall decoration, and door curtains of rich velour 
in dull Gobelin blue. The drawing-rooms should have the walls 
covered in a brocaded silk, showing French Colonial design of 
baskets of flowers in two tones, a pale shade of yellow would be 
effective. Drape your windows with Brussels lace curtains with 
over-draperies of brocade, the ground work to be the same 
as the wall covering, but the garlands and bow-knots to be 
in pastel colors of the natural flowers. The rugs should be 
Oriental in this room, the furniture, Italian walnut, the seats 
and backs of chairs of gilded wicker, some with loose cushions. 
For your dining-room with the high wainscot, a rich brown stain, 
like old English oak, is suggested. The side wall from wainscot 
to ceiling line to be covered in a tapestry fabric, showing a sugges¬ 
tion of foliage against a blue gray ground. The tint of the rough 
plaster between the heavy beams in this room should be taken 
from the background of this tapestry. Door curtains and over¬ 
draperies should be of this same tapestry. Next the glass, curtains 
of Arabian net and lace should hang. The furniture should 
match the wood finish and be heavily carved. The upholstered 
chairs should have high backs, the seats and backs covered with 
the tapestry. A Wilton velvet rug in shades of dull blue, brown 
and gray, should be used on the floor. For the library a gilded 
burlap is suggested for the wall covering, this to be finished by a 
frieze, showing a stag hunt, with dogs and stags, and trees against 
a gold sky line. I bis is hand-blocked and very beautiful, its 
price being one dollar per yard. The draperies should match 
the green of the foliage in the frieze, the same color to be 
carried out in rugs, lamp shades, cushions, etc. 
SAMPLES OF MATERIALS 
R. L. asks: Is it out of order for me to ask the favor of some 
samples of material. I am refurnishing my library and wish to 
retain my portieres. I need new window draperies to go with these. 
The portieres are red and dull green in color and of cut velour. 
Answer: If you will send me a sample of your door curtain 
and a self-addressed envelope, I will forward you samples of fabric 
suitable for window curtains. It is quite in order to ask this 
service of this department. 
REDECORATING A SITTING-ROOM 
Mrs. J. L. writes: Being a subscriber to your paper I feel very 
much interested in the correspondence on remodeling a residence. 
I enclose a plan of my room and a self-addressed envelope; kindly 
help me to make a pretty room. The room at present has a paper 
of delft blue ground with large white embossed figures on it; the 
carpet is a white ground with large blue designs; the woodwork, 
which is very handsome, is cherry; the room is extremely sunny, 
having the sun all day and on account of the bay window it is a 
very handsome, light room, but all the above things are faded and 
I would like to ask what you would advise me. The house is 
three story and basement and this is the second floor front room 
which I would like to use as a sitting-room. I don’t want a hard 
wood floor, I have several already, and would get a carpet and 
draperies to match the decoration. 
In the rear of this room is my bedroom, at present in two-tone 
yellow with cherry wood. The sun never shines in this room; 
what would you advise for the wall covering. I have a very hand¬ 
some red velvet carpet in here and would want to use it again. 
Also, could you tell me in what manner to decorate a room for 
a boy of seven, a hall room; what color would look best; the 
room is very sunny. If I have asked too much kindly pardon me, 
but the answers in the April number are so fascinating that I 
thought I would ask you before I consulted any one else. 
I like blue very much and if you think you could use it in the 
front room, you can let me know. The present blue is very deep, 
but everything fades in that room; perhaps we could try something 
else. 
Answer: If you desire a decided change in your sitting- 
room, I would advise a dull, silvery green lower wall of Japa¬ 
nese grass-cloth which sells for eighty-five cents a square yard; 
or of fibre paper in similar color, which costs $1.00 a roll of 
eight yards. The upper third of wall to ceiling line to be covered 
with a figured paper showing dull and light mahogany colored 
conventionalized poppies on a dull green ground formed of the 
leaves in tapestry effect. This will look well with your cherry 
woodwork. The carpet could be in several tones of green, or show 
a very small pattern in dull reds and black on a green ground. 
Use ecru net at your windows with over draperies of green raw 
silk, the latter costs $1.50 per yard, thirty-six inches wide. Door 
curtains, if required, should be of cut velour, matching the wall 
covering in color; this material costs $2.35 a yard and is fifty 
inches wide. 
For your own room of northern exposure, the yellow walls 
should give you an effect of brightness. With cherry woodwork and 
crimson carpet it would be impossible to achieve a satisfactory 
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