Above this hung a black Chinese lacquer mirror of Queen Anne type. An inexpensive Chinese rug of blue with gold figures covered the centre of the floor, which had been properly varnished and waxed. Some Canton willow chairs with a low table of the same, cushions of plain Chinese blue and of brocades in Chinese design of blues, old golds and black carried out the idea of color. The room was made so attractive that it was decided to place the piano there. The windows, being small and many-paned, were hung to the sill with sheer sash curtains against the panes and soft old gold silk at either side of the window, all pulled back so that the vista into the gardens might not be obscured—a vital point in a country house.
In one corner stood an oleander bush which reached to the ceiling—a distance of only nine feet—but imagine the glow of color, the light streaming through the old gold curtains and bits of gold, blue and black everywhere against the cream-painted background. A standing lamp of wrought iron whose parchment shade was banded with blue and gold, lighted the piano. It all welcomed you most charmingly. An entrance like this must express a happy, cheerful household. One had a sense of pleasure and expansion at once on entering.... Then close your eyes and think of the red paper and yellow varnish. What a comparison!
The living room, opening off directly to the right, had its walls done in a soft Colonial yellow flat tone with cream trim; old mahogany furniture was covered in soft brown and dull old greens; an Oriental rug of great beauty and unusual coloring in golds, browns, tans and blues covered the floor. A piece of old brocade hung flat against the chimney breast, against which was hung a long oblong antique Colonial mirror. A pair of old brass candlesticks stood on the mantel with a bowl of laurel leaves reflected in the mirror in the middle; brass andirons and fender—all gave sparkle and life to the room. A wing chair with a low table at its left, on which stood a reading lamp, was placed beside the fire and gave a very inviting touch. There were no fixtures in this room, but many lamps all with gold colored silk shades. The rooms all opened so closely into one another that it was felt best to employ the same colors, though differently expressed.
The trim, throughout the entire house, which was small, with very low ceilings, was kept in the soft creamy tones. The wainscoted dining room had the same soft creamy paint, with a very quaint old black-backgrounded paper above the wainscoting, which was part of the original old house. Old brass sconces made into fixtures added another quaint touch, with soft yellow silk shades lined with deep rose to give a glow of color when lighted. Old mahogany table, chairs, sideboard and corner wall cupboard fastened high up into the corner. The floor, which was finished in a very dark stain, varnished and waxed, was covered with a dark brown—“tête de negre”—seamless chenille rug. None of it expensive, none of it done in a “scheme,” yet all harmonious, happy and unobtrusive.
The loveliest rooms are those that grow from one thing to another as the suggestion is developed. Of course, if your house is so pure in style or period as intelligently to call for only the period furniture of its type, that is a different proposition. We are dealing here with the ordinary conditions of thousands of our American homes—houses and apartments that have no special architecture or “period” background to work up to.
The guest bedroom contained a motley collection which would have cost much to replace with desirable and attractive furniture. An inexpensive copy of a French chintz paper in lovely soft blues and red pinks was found to cover the walls. The trim was painted creamy white. Then, as an inspiration, it was decided to paint the furniture, and a soft dull blue which was in the paper was decided upon. Everything—brass beds, bureau, chiffonier, desk and chairs, all were painted old blue. The dressing table had a much too ornate cheap mirror which was removed entirely and a small antique mahogany shaving mirror was stood on the dressing table in its place. Copies of old hardware handles, etc., replaced the common commercial variety. A red mulberry carpet rug (also one of the tones in the paper) made a wonderful background for the blue furniture, the floor having been properly done as to finish, varnishing, etc. At the windows were organdie curtains ruffled and looped back—no other hangings. The whole made a most charming room.
The same thing was done with another bedroom, in which a soft green instead of blue was used. The trim was done in the same creamy white; a green and white striped paper covered the walls. Again everything, beginning with the brass beds, was painted. An inexpensive English block print chintz was used in this room for curtains. A chaise longue was upholstered in this same chintz which had pink and soft mauves to offset and balance the green paint. Bed spreads with a full gathered valance covered as much of the ugly brass bed as possible. A dark green carpet rug was used,—and so another room was transformed by a coat of paint, at small expense, using what one had and painting all to bring it together happily. A few pieces of old mahogany or walnut can always be used in a room with painted furniture and they relieve the hardness which sometimes occurs with certain types of this kind.
In another old house in New Jersey, the large living room had an old cupboard with a wonderful green on the panels of the doors. This made the starting point for that room. The color was copied and all the trim, doors and cornices done in this tone. The walls were painted a flat cream. A very simple type of wicker furniture, painted black, was used, with old gold cushions of very inexpensive material. Portieres of this same material were hung. The fireplace was painted black—mantel and all—and black wrought iron lamps with parchment shades of cream with old gold bands and black lines were used. Ruffled curtains of organdie looped back were at the windows.... And, at a very small outlay, simply the application of color and paint, a really delightful room was evolved.
It is always best to keep to the simplest types in furniture, avoiding cheap adaptations and the kind of wicker furniture that is full of scrolls and fancy loops.