Show House household holA hints by BETTY WELLS I 1 ES a newspaper man buthe but he H HES 1 take front page se piously rlou riou sly so hes a quiet sort doing a good job ind and finding life too plea pleasant s to be hard bol boiled led about it which Is 13 probably why hed bother to ask us about a problem in his hii living jiving room that is concerning him and his wife these winter nights he enclosed a sketch of the room with these questions where should a pickled pine mantel be placed what would be the best f furniture urn iture arrangement should the two fireside chairs have matching covering what color should draperies be to begin with they have an oriental rug that Is predominately rust the walls are white and the balance of the furniture Is walnut with a rust sofa we suggested that the mantel A go on the long unbroken wall with A 04 j fi CD D cc CT their problem was one of arrangement the two fireside chairs B flanking it and the coffee table C between them the sofa D could then face the fireplace with the end table E at one end and the drum table F at the other end in front of 0 the double windows the secretary G wed have at the end of the room and the radio H as indicated side chairs 1 D I and an extra easy chair J could be added As for colors we suggested either jade or turquoise for draperies in a plain fabric and draped widely to one side the long part coming in the corner of the room the fireside chairs could be in this same clear plain color and the extra easy chair J could be in a stripe repeating the other tones in the room for accessories we advised big dramatic pieces of copper and for flowers fine clear yellows in fact the odd corner of the room would be a grand place for a table K to hold a big bowl tor for yellow flowers political reverberations napoleon did as much to fashions in furniture as he did to the map of europe for as furniture and decoration have been doing since the beginnings of civilization they reflected under napoleon the politics of the directory and the empire after the short lived pi rectory period it became smart to be warlike even in furnishings spears and shields were seen everywhere in gilded metal ornament or wood bedrooms became soldiers tents with great lengths of m material draped on walls and over beds to simulate a canvas shelter bedposts were surmounted by greek helmets tables and stools were drums some stools having drum cords stretched around yellow hide there was another influence at work too in the minds of men and in the decorations of their abodes they were over and done with thi the soft lovely curves and elegance of the louis they were through with comfort and ease their furniture therefore was was ang angular ularand and it must be admitted extremely uncomfortable A wit of the time said A thousand precautions are needed to avoid being bruised by the most gentle use of your furni we W napoleon left his mark on furniture dont luckily have to worry much about discomfort today even the most angular napoleonic bed will yield gracefully to the wonders of a good spring and mattress the empire period designers and fontaine Font alne gave more than a nod to the classical greeks so fum furniture iture appeared with C crossed swords and spears triumphal palms and victory shown with widespread wings napoleons campaign in egypt was reflected in the furniture upright cobra symbols I 1 flourished in chair and bed legs the goddess isis was seen in motifs on furniture caryatids supported chairs and tables there were lion heads beads and huge paws and egyptian winged animals mahogany and ebony were the popular woods and painted furniture wis was all the ragel bronze decorations were seen everywhere painted a flat jilt gilt the empire period can can fit into our modern modem picture lf if we can pick and choose there wont be any war ilour in your livin living groom room if you se select elect lect the best bestif of this period and it has a way of fitting in ati nicely naly with other period furniture too as a well a as with m modem 0 by betty bettj wells well service |