Here is embodied the spirit of home. From the time you cross the
threshold you feel at ease ; rooms well lit, not darkened with draperies,
and yet such cool, shadowy, restful light. The beautiful soft rugs, the
easels and bookcases with their rich, dark woods, give an air of richness
and subdued luxury. It is not so much the wealth here as the good
taste displayed that makes this home so charming. Easy comfortable
chairs of willow, rocking chairs made to rock in and not to sit up straight
without any comfort to tired, wearied bodies ; a divan couch with soft
pillows — all making a place of comfort instead of one to be tortured in.
This home can be easily copied by those who do not want any " set "
parlor, library or sitting room, but want the three combined, as is so
often desirable in the ordinary city house. If the house can be well
heated in winter, it is an improvement to take off the doors that lead
from hall to parlors or dining room, and in their places put heavy por-
tieres. These give the effect of the whole house being one room, and
in going up the stairs or through the hall one gets a glimpse of all the
rooms near or beyond. These portieres in a small house make it appear
very much larger, besides giving a luxurious effect to the whole house.
INEXPENSIVE HOME ROOMS.
The rooms heretofore described are in reach of most of those who
are building and making homes for themselves and family, and yet they
do not meet the wants of the vast army of those who earn but little
beside' the bare necessaries of life. In them is engrafted the same love
of beauty as is given to their wealthier sisters, and yet without the
means to gratify it. For these are the following words written :
INEXPENSIVE HOME ROOMS. 161
Make the home bright, cheery and comfortable. Buy simple chintzes,
in fast colors, that can be washed often, without detriment to material
or color. Purchase but few things, but have them plain, substantial and
above all comfortable. Have nothing cheap-looking and gaudy, but
aim at durability, plainness and neatness.
First commence with the walls ; have them tinted a delicate gray or
papered with a light gray paper — it matters not how cheap — it's the
color you want, and because there are so many new patterns in wall
paper, one can get the light gray or that with small delicate running
vines, very cheap, and if you can put it on yourself you will hardly feel
the cost of it. Get a border, if possible with panels, shading on the
gray. Or a border can be made by buying a roll of paper with wide
stripe of flowers, vines, or scroll patterns, and trim each one with a
sharp pair of scissors until only the pattern is left, with the background
or margin cut off ; if one vine does not make a deep enough border,
take two, or even three, and paste one above the other, and you have
a border beautiful in its effect and yet not expensive. Also a very
handsome paneled border may be purchased by the roll in wall paper,
and then cut into bordering ; usually it comes in three strips and cuts
to advantage for a border. Or for one who is fond of the oak tints, if
the room is finished in natural wood, get a buff tinted paper and a car-
pet of oak and green ; it is warmer looking in winter and can be toned
down with a deal of white in summer. The wood tints can be brought
out in the border and all harmonize.
Page 142
Presented as published in 1886. 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
Here is embodied the spirit of home. From the time you cross the threshold you feel at ease ; rooms well lit, not darkened with draperies, and yet such cool, shadowy, restful light. The beautiful soft rugs, the easels and bookcases with their rich, dark woods, give an air of richness and subdued luxury. It is not so much the wealth here as the good taste displayed that makes this home so charming. Easy comfortable chairs of willow, rocking chairs made to rock in and not to sit up straight without any comfort to tired, wearied bodies ; a divan couch with soft pillows — all making a place of comfort instead of one to be tortured in.
This home can be easily copied by those who do not want any " set " parlor, library or sitting room, but want the three combined, as is so often desirable in the ordinary city house. If the house can be well heated in winter, it is an improvement to take off the doors that lead from hall to parlors or dining room, and in their places put heavy portieres. These give the effect of the whole house being one room, and in going up the stairs or through the hall one gets a glimpse of all the rooms near or beyond. These portieres in a small house make it appear very much larger, besides giving a luxurious effect to the whole house.
INEXPENSIVE HOME ROOMS.
The rooms heretofore described are in reach of most of those who are building and making homes for themselves and family, and yet they do not meet the wants of the vast army of those who earn but little beside' the bare necessaries of life. In them is engrafted the same love of beauty as is given to their wealthier sisters, and yet without the means to gratify it. For these are the following words written :
INEXPENSIVE HOME ROOMS. 161
Make the home bright, cheery and comfortable. Buy simple chintzes, in fast colors, that can be washed often, without detriment to material or color. Purchase but few things, but have them plain, substantial and above all comfortable. Have nothing cheap-looking and gaudy, but aim at durability, plainness and neatness.
First commence with the walls ; have them tinted a delicate gray or papered with a light gray paper — it matters not how cheap — it's the color you want, and because there are so many new patterns in wall paper, one can get the light gray or that with small delicate running vines, very cheap, and if you can put it on yourself you will hardly feel the cost of it. Get a border, if possible with panels, shading on the gray. Or a border can be made by buying a roll of paper with wide stripe of flowers, vines, or scroll patterns, and trim each one with a sharp pair of scissors until only the pattern is left, with the background or margin cut off ; if one vine does not make a deep enough border, take two, or even three, and paste one above the other, and you have a border beautiful in its effect and yet not expensive. Also a very handsome paneled border may be purchased by the roll in wall paper, and then cut into bordering ; usually it comes in three strips and cuts to advantage for a border. Or for one who is fond of the oak tints, if the room is finished in natural wood, get a buff tinted paper and a carpet of oak and green ; it is warmer looking in winter and can be toned down with a deal of white in summer. The wood tints can be brought out in the border and all harmonize.