“All these small rooms being intended for recreation of the mind, nothing should be neglected to render the decoration fine and gay. It is here that genius may soar and abandon itself to the vivacity of its caprices, whilst in the apartments de parade it must restrict itself to the most rigid rules of conduct and good taste, and not fall into the unrestrained liberties of the carving of to-day, which should be banished with all the more reason that true architects scarcely tolerate them in the rooms we are now describing.
“This play-room leads into another one where coffee is served. Here Indian and Chinese plants and figures have full licence to take part in the decoration: here they are naturally befitting; and, in my opinion, this is the sole place where they should be admitted.
“Next we enter a cabinet en niche, oval in form, which is lighted by a glass door that leads into a little bosquet, which serves as a private promenade for this chamber. Opposite this door is a chimney-piece in an arcade which matches the arcade in which the lit en niche is contained, and opposite which another of the same form is imitated, or the door leading into this room. In this doorway is a staircase leading up to the entresols that are over this room and a little room behind it, which are intended for the servants’ sleeping-rooms.
“From the coffee-room you enter a gallery that terminates the right side of this building. This gallery is symmetrically decorated, and the spaces between the windows are enriched with mirrors and consoles on which are placed various curios, such as bronzes, crystals, porcelains, etc.
“From this gallery you enter the garden.
“To the right of the Salon is a billiard room of a shape appropriate to its use. Ornaments, mirrors and pictures rarely form part of the decoration of this kind of a room on account of the accidents incidental to this game; and the walls are simply covered with large panelling.
“This billiard room leads into a room which in turn leads into a chambre en niche; it may be ornamented with tapestries above a wainscot. As for the chambre en niche, its walls should be covered with carpentry work all the way up. This will preserve it from the humidity it might have, being on the ground floor, and which always attacks apartments that are not constantly occupied. The decoration is perfectly symmetrical. To combine pleasure and convenience, I have arranged close to it a small garde-robe that is lighted from and opens into a little court. On each side of the niche that contains the bed, there is a door; one serves as a passage into the garde-robe, and the other opens into a recess for keeping the linen in and keeping under key whatever the master desires.
PLATE XXXII
“The little court communicates with the kitchens.