Our ideal house was above the average of ordinary houses
— with fairly good woodwork, good sanitary conditions,
and no obstacles in the shape of offensive wall decorations
and stationary furniture.
Until a new era dawns in domestic architecture the
woman who knows the good from the bad, but is compelled
to live in rented flats will meet with many discouragements,
and will be forced to exercise all her ingenuity and philoso-
phy in making the best of it.
The First Thing to be Done. — Having chosen the least
objectionable house we can find, we will attack the floors
and woodwork, fill up the dust-holding cracks and make
all as clean and smooth as x^ossible.
Dealing with Obstacles. — If there is a long narrow entry,
or rooms of similar shape to deal with, we must study what
furnishings will best modify the unpleasing proportions.
If the walls and ceilings are covered with an objectionable
figured ]3aper, somewhat dark, a pale carpet will lower the
stud and produce an impression of top heaviness and gloom ;
whereas a dark, rich carpet will do much to lighten the
effect. If we have a light carpet that we must use, some-
thing will be gained by staining the floor, making the light
carpet into a rug and using as little of it as possible.
We may further relieve the effect of an obtrusive paper
by using plain masses of color in hangings and furniture
cushions. Using the same color and materials in hangings
and furniture produces an impression of unity and tends to
give an air of spaciousness.
THE HOUSE BEAUTIFUL 21
Right Principles in the Selection of Color. — Select for each
room the color that will best accord with the background of
floor and wall and let that be the dominant tone, making
all else accord with it. So far as possible use warm colors
for north and west rooms, and cool colors for south and east
rooms. The fewer colors used the more pleasing and rest-
ful is the impression produced.
If a papering is very bad in color or pattern take it off
and repaper the walls. It is not difficult work, and many a
woman has done it.
Aids to the Cultivation of Taste. — In general, avoid deco-
ration schemes offered in the papei's and magazines. Master
the few principles of good taste and test your individual
likings by them. We do not always, without training, like
the best. It would be a good plan to turn from time to
time to Owen Jones's "Grammar of Ornament" and read
over the " General Principles in the Arrangement of Form
and Color." They are easily understood and many of them
apply directly to the decoration of the home.
A Word to the Teacher. — The process of house furnishing,
which is really a simple and intelligible thing, has been
complicated by the endeavor to follow the fashions prevail-
ing at various times. At present a feeling of more indepen-
dence is growing up; do all in your power to strengthen
this feeling in your pupils.
Necessary Lessons. — The lessons should include instruc-
tion in the systematic care of the house ; they should also
embrace the subject of materials to the extent of giving the
housekeeper such knowledge as will enable her to tell good
quality from bad, and to know the best way of caring for
each article of furniture and adornment.
22 HANDBOOK OF DOMESTIC SCIENCE
TOPIC X
The Use and Abuse of Oknament
Page 14
Presented as published in 1900. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
Our ideal house was above the average of ordinary houses — with fairly good woodwork, good sanitary conditions, and no obstacles in the shape of offensive wall decorations and stationary furniture.
Until a new era dawns in domestic architecture the woman who knows the good from the bad, but is compelled to live in rented flats will meet with many discouragements, and will be forced to exercise all her ingenuity and philosophy in making the best of it.
The First Thing to be Done. — Having chosen the least objectionable house we can find, we will attack the floors and woodwork, fill up the dust-holding cracks and make all as clean and smooth as possible.
Dealing with Obstacles. — If there is a long narrow entry, or rooms of similar shape to deal with, we must studyy what furnishings will best modify the unpleasing proportions.
If the walls and ceilings are covered with an objectionable figured paper, somewhat dark, a pale carpet will lower the stud and produce an impression of top heaviness and gloom ; whereas a dark, rich carpet will do much to lighten the effect. If we have a light carpet that we must use, something will be gained by staining the floor, making the light carpet into a rug and using as little of it as possible.
We may further relieve the effect of an obtrusive paper by using plain masses of color in hangings and furniture cushions. Using the same color and materials in hangings and furniture produces an impression of unity and tends to give an air of spaciousness.
Right Principles in the Selection of Color. — Select for each room the color that will best accord with the background of floor and wall and let that be the dominant tone, making all else accord with it. So far as possible use warm colors for north and west rooms, and cool colors for south and east rooms. The fewer colors used the more pleasing and restful is the impression produced.
If a papering is very bad in color or pattern take it off and repaper the walls. It is not difficult work, and many a woman has done it.
Aids to the Cultivation of Taste. — In general, avoid decoration schemes offered in the papei's and magazines. Master the few principles of good taste and test your individual likings by them. We do not always, without training, like the best. It would be a good plan to turn from time to time to Owen Jones's "Grammar of Ornament" and read over the " General Principles in the Arrangement of Form and Color." They are easily understood and many of them apply directly to the decoration of the home.
A Word to the Teacher. — The process of house furnishing, which is really a simple and intelligible thing, has been complicated by the endeavor to follow the fashions prevailing at various times. At present a feeling of more independence is growing up; do all in your power to strengthen this feeling in your pupils.
Necessary Lessons. — The lessons should include instruction in the systematic care of the house ; they should also embrace the subject of materials to the extent of giving the housekeeper such knowledge as will enable her to tell good quality from bad, and to know the best way of caring for each article of furniture and adornment.
TOPIC X
The Use and Abuse of Oknament