FoodNet

A manual of home-making

1919

Page 54

Presented as published in 1919. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
The hall is the threshold of the house. It serves as an intro- duction. This first impression should be one of welcome and dignity and, above all, of order. Good light, genial colors on the walls and floor, a sense of free space for the passage of per- sons, an aniple provision for the necessary wraps and umbrellais in a tidy and concealed form, are the essential characteristics of a well-coasidered hall^ regardless of its size. If a regular coat closet is not provided in the hall, a generous rod with coat hangers arranged in an angle behind curtain or screen ls far neater and more satisfactory than some form of mongrel hat rack eA^pose<:l to vicw\ The moval)le furnishings necessary to equip the hall of a dw^elling for its use are very few, a rug on the floor, carpet on the stairs, a chair or seat, a well-liglittHJ mirror, a clock perhaps, and a small stand with drawers for gloves, time-tables, pad and pencil, and other incidentals. Decorative touches may Ije intro- duced by a figured wall paper, a potted plant, or a spray of flowers. The character of the modern living-room should unite the dignity of the old-fashioned parlor and the genuine homely quaUtie^s of the old-time sitting-room. The lai^ge living-room of the modern house is an attempt to amalgamate into a single space the interests formerly representerj by separate rooms, such as reception-room, music-room, parlor, sitting-room, and library. Its character should accordingly repi-et^ent dignity, hospitality, comfort, and recreation. This room must be gen- eral not personal, in its decoration and furnishing. Walls and Fio. 32- — Top. a room ahowijift the effect in furnishing of one larnc rug, a ftreplfice in the center of ono Joiik inside watl, und ihv other furnUh* ing» wpU related to these. Bottom* a room abowing a good urrangie* nictit of two niBs: o fircpliice io tlie »horl injido wall, and tlic furniture weiJ orrangeil in occti(>ational venters. nrpfn V .Jl I li Plate IX — Sinirjl^- nnd aerv^c^aliJc typpa of bedroom furniture that may be developeti iu ditlpreDt woods suitable for TOtmis with varying finish.. HO^fE FURNISHING 97 rugs sufficiently neutral in color to form a good background, hamionioys furnishings adjusted to the spacn and sixitalily arranged for the interests to be at'commodated, and a method of comfortal>le lighting both by day and by night are the essen- tial consideratioa.s. The position of such struetoral pieces as the fireplace and the locatioo of the windows give the cue to the general arrangement for the room. The selection of the furnishings in each case will depend on %vhether the main interests of the household are youthful or oiaturcj studious or musical, intkistrial or social. One or two large rugs are more appropriate for tlie living- room than a number of small ones. Small rugs in a living- room are an aggravation, I>ecaujse of the tendency to slip about, turn up at the cornei*s, and give a scrappy appearance to a floor.