Democratic Sentinel, Volume 13, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 December 1889 — Artistic Furnishings. [ARTICLE]

Artistic Furnishings.

“One of the most essential points in furnishing,” remarked a careful housekeeper, “is to see that you get good carpets—carpets that will wear well and that will not soon go out of style. This, of course, is on the supposition that you do not propose to change your carpets with every slight change of fashion, but may desire to practice a perfectly comfortable economy. Good wearing quality and good taste do not, necessarily mean that the carpet must be expensive. In choosing,take subdued colors—neither extremely light nor dark—and small patterns are best in the long run. Then come the curtains, which are very important, because you have to think not only of interior but also of exterior effects. When curtains and carpets are bought, if your means are moderate, you can then buy your furniture slowly, adding to it carefully, redressing and covering old furniture, thus economizing as much as you please.” Tapestries and ingrains seem to be the best carpets for people of moderate means; and now that all grades of them are so beautiful in design and colorings, the housekeeper of refined taste, though not wealthy, can easily gratify them in this direction. Among ‘curtains, especially among the richer fabrics, there is a great deal of brocade, and the flowers are quite as apt to be overshot as woven into the goods. Old roses and pink tints are much used this season, and they combine finely with grays and browns. In colors there is nothing better for wear and a good general effect than Madras. It comes forth this season as popular as ever, and some new grades have been added. One handsome Madras set was silk striped, with a dash of tinsel. It was very heavily fringed, which added much to its beauty. Muslin curtains are becoming more and more popular. Irish point excel, too, as they have a rich appearance even when not costly. Among white curtains Irish point and Nottingham lace are the most satisfactory, unless one pays a very high price.— New York Star.