Swiss curtains, cretonne, chintz, bunting, cheese-cloth and many
other light colored or sheer fabrics are used for curtains, and are dainty
and light draperies. Antique lace or pleatings of the same is used to
trim those of thin fabric, and the cretonnes are trimmed with fringes or
they may be made plain. They are suspended on poles from the ceiling,
draped back with ribbons and with shades underneath that can be
rolled to top of the window during the day, and let down at night.
One or two oblong boxes are convenient, covered with cretonne, and
BED ROOMS. 169
should have lids attached to them by hinges. These should be cush-
ioned with fine excelsior, overlaid with cotton batting. These boxes
may have castors added to them, and will serve as receptacles for shoes,
parcels or bed-linen, while at the same time they are both comfortable
and ornamental seats. Placed near the windows, they are fashionable
and attractive.
For this room there should be a low couch to drop down upon dur-
ing the day, without disturbing the bed, a large rocker, a small sewing
chair, a work basket, footstools, a toilette table prettily draped with
curtains, or a dressing-case, brackets for vases, pots for flowers, vines
or pictures, or other ornaments, hanging shelves for books and small
articles of value, and a table to hold the student lamp, papers, and also
to write upon.
The washstand should have a large embroidered towel, with colored
fringe hanging low at the sides, covering up the marble, and deadening
the noise when articles are set down upon it. One to match should be
put on the wall, for a wall protector, and fastened with brass rings and
nails, or, instead, a strip of linen with embroidered edge run upon a pole
at the back, in the same way the curtains are put up.
If there be no mantels in the room, a shelf and bracket, arranged with
mantel draperies, may be added to the chamber at a cost which is but
trifling when its uses and attractions are considered.
If there is no dressing-room, a screen is a very desirable part of the
bed-room furniture, of sufficient height and number of valves to com-
pletely inclose the person behind it. This screen may be made up at
home, with the help of a carpenter, in a simple frame like that of a com-
mon clothes-horse, although with exceedingly slender sticks and long
and narrow leaves, and with stout cotton or silk stretched over it ; on
this base all sorts of pictures and bits of color are to be carefully
arranged with gum-arabic, the interstices painted in with bright flowers
and butterflies and birds' wings, the whole afterward sized over and
varnished in a suitable tone.
If a rug is placed in front of the bed and dressing-case, it will save
the carpet and give a look of warmth and comfort. A rug of tiger,
bear, or fox skins is a charming acquisition to this room, and adds an
Oriental effect. Pictures of one's dearest friends seem to find a suit-
able resting place here. Knickknacks, oddities, wall-pockets, and in
fact all the many little things that do not seem to find a place else-
where, can always find a niche in the bed-room — the place of retirement
and rest after the toils of the day.
170 HOUSE FURNISHING.
HOME-MADE FURNITURE.
Page 150
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
Swiss curtains, cretonne, chintz, bunting, cheese-cloth and many other light colored or sheer fabrics are used for curtains, and are dainty and light draperies. Antique lace or pleatings of the same is used to trim those of thin fabric, and the cretonnes are trimmed with fringes or they may be made plain. They are suspended on poles from the ceiling, draped back with ribbons and with shades underneath that can be rolled to top of the window during the day, and let down at night.
One or two oblong boxes are convenient, covered with cretonne, and
BED ROOMS. 169
should have lids attached to them by hinges. These should be cushioned with fine excelsior, overlaid with cotton batting. These boxes may have castors added to them, and will serve as receptacles for shoes, parcels or bed-linen, while at the same time they are both comfortable and ornamental seats. Placed near the windows, they are fashionable and attractive.
For this room there should be a low couch to drop down upon during the day, without disturbing the bed, a large rocker, a small sewing chair, a work basket, footstools, a toilette table prettily draped with curtains, or a dressing-case, brackets for vases, pots for flowers, vines or pictures, or other ornaments, hanging shelves for books and small articles of value, and a table to hold the student lamp, papers, and also to write upon.
The washstand should have a large embroidered towel, with colored fringe hanging low at the sides, covering up the marble, and deadening the noise when articles are set down upon it. One to match should be put on the wall, for a wall protector, and fastened with brass rings and nails, or, instead, a strip of linen with embroidered edge run upon a pole at the back, in the same way the curtains are put up.
If there be no mantels in the room, a shelf and bracket, arranged with mantel draperies, may be added to the chamber at a cost which is but trifling when its uses and attractions are considered.
If there is no dressing-room, a screen is a very desirable part of the bed-room furniture, of sufficient height and number of valves to completely inclose the person behind it. This screen may be made up at home, with the help of a carpenter, in a simple frame like that of a common clothes-horse, although with exceedingly slender sticks and long and narrow leaves, and with stout cotton or silk stretched over it ; on this base all sorts of pictures and bits of color are to be carefully arranged with gum-arabic, the interstices painted in with bright flowers and butterflies and birds' wings, the whole afterward sized over and varnished in a suitable tone.
If a rug is placed in front of the bed and dressing-case, it will save the carpet and give a look of warmth and comfort. A rug of tiger, bear, or fox skins is a charming acquisition to this room, and adds an Oriental effect. Pictures of one's dearest friends seem to find a suitable resting place here. Knickknacks, oddities, wall-pockets, and in fact all the many little things that do not seem to find a place elsewhere, can always find a niche in the bed-room — the place of retirement and rest after the toils of the day.