A manual of home-making

Fiuiiiturc* slioulil he seleeted of a material that will harmonize with the woodwork. Oak is the best choice for a room fmished in oak or in the woods hnished in a color similar to oak, asftsh, chestnut, or even cypress. The modern market produces such a wide range of design in oak furniture of difl'erent finishes and prices as to make an appropriate choice for such a room com- paratively simple. Mahogany or painted or willow furniture afhliates better than does oak with painted woodwork, especially if painted in ivory or white or light toners. Oak aiul mahogany are so at vari- ance in character and texture that they will not mix. Willow and paintcil furniture afTording great variety in form and color will hi well together. Pictures Contrary' to the usual belief, pictures ai-e not indii^pensable in a well-furnished room. 1 f (hi* wall spaces are not too large and bare» if the walls are paneled or have an interesting covering, or if the draperies in ihe room are noticeably decorative in color or pattern, pictures ntay be superiluous. However, if, as often hapix?ns in i*ooms with plain walls, a problem is presented l>y targe empty spaces, a wise use of gtxnl pictures presents a solution. Such pictui^s Ix^ing steady com- panions should be selcctcfl for their intrinsic* worth of subject, color, and composition. Good photographs in brown or gray tones of most of the world's masterpieces may l>e obtained for a reasonable price. Some good color prints from both old and new masters ai'e also available. Even a groi^p of magazine I I I I Platk VIIL— a few excellent types of mirrore and footr«tool» that Are botJi serviceable and d[K»>rative. I HOME FURNISHING 89 prints, similar in size and tiarnionious in color, may l>e a worthy contribution to the decorative scheme of the room. These are far better than amateur efTorts with paints or crayon. A gtxjti pie to re deserv^&s a gow! frame. The frame serves to protect the picture and to enhance its appearance, but should never be so large^ ornate or obtrusive as to assert itself at the expense of the (licture. A frame for a mirror may appropriately be more decorative; the eontrollinp: thought in selecting such a frame is its fitness to the wall and other fyrnishings. The width, style^ and color of the frame must be suited to the picture. Light picture.s, like etchings and many water colors, look best framed in iigld, delicate moldings, with or without a mat, as the case may ret^iiiire. Photograi>h.s in gray or brown tones stand a heavier, darker frame tooed to accord with the picture. Colored pictures often look well in gilt frames, but the gilt should be dulled and, hkc the frame of wood, should be toned to harmonize with the picture. If the frame aloiie floes not eufficiently isolate the picture, a mat of !iarmonizing color may be used. Strong contracts between frame, mat, and picture, such as is frequently seen in photograph or engraving surrounded bj^ a white mat and black frame, should he avoided; they are too assertive to take a place in any color scheme.