Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 240, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1911 — SUGGESTIONS FOR MAKING THE HOME BEAUTIFUL [ARTICLE]

SUGGESTIONS FOR MAKING THE HOME BEAUTIFUL

Many Little Things Which Count For Much in the General Effect. THERE ARE HUNDREDS of little items that go toward making the home a house beautiful. Indeed, the :hief attraction of one’e home can generally be laid to the thousand and one little things that many housewives consider not worth painstaking attention. But the up-to-date wives of today—those trained to use modern methods—a-w quick to recognize the fact that the little things are all important To select the furniture for a home In a sort of haphazard manner is little abort es criminal. The simple designs seem to be much in favor at the present time, mlsaio* furniture, in modified style, being quite popular. The only way to select furniture properly is to take each room in turn, adout a certain style for it and adhere to this set style. In case the dining room ia to be mission the whole effect will me marred if the massive table is surrounded by spindle-legged chairs, even though these chairs themselves are quite pretty. The same unpleasant effect can be obtained in a mission dining room if, for example, the serving table is bright golden oak and the remainder of the furniture in the dark wood finish. Nothing ia easier than to spoil the whole effect of a library by thrusting a golden oak bookcase alongside other pieces in Flemish oak. This tdead holds good vrith other rooms of the home, and all Bet schemes should be carried out as fa? as the housewife can go. Even the picture frames play an important part, and their selection can be made to conform with or spoil the room fittings. There is quite a fad at present of picking np old style furniture for the drawing room. The. Florentine and Renaissance styles can be reproduced most attractively nowadays, and if one is so fortunate as to own a few Revolutionary heirlooms an especially attractive Colonial parlor can be made. Brocaded upholstery tabes away the somber effect of ib&hogany furniture to a certain effect Some of the new ’waved oaks make pretty and attractive rooms. Oilt furniture looks well In many homes, yet it is not as popular as it once was. For those who admire the styles of the French Louis the gilt furniture is quite appropriate. One of the necessities of a home is the cozy comer, where the head of the house can hie himself after his day’s work is finished. This cozy corner, an old idea with American home builders, is appropriate for all homes, and does more to make the home thoroughly enjoyable than probably anything else. It can be arranged according to the ideas of the housewives, but it must be so arranged that It will be a comfortable lounging place. The fact that Americans are taking ieal Interest in their homes is shown in the demand for more expensive lines of curtains. As a consequence the local markets now contain patterns and designs in moderately expensive curtains that a few years ago came only within the reach of the wealthy. It is now possible to get the best, either in the original lace or in exquisitely wrought replicas of the same. All sorts of pretty draperies are being shown, and some of the effects are so attractive that this form of curtain bids fair to have an extended vogue. One honaekeper has dented a tiny V at the top of/the wire carpet beater and used it to slip under pictures sires, to lift them from the wall. This rontrivance is also used to replace them. Most pictures can be lifted down in this manner. Such a device Is handy for women, who are in danger when climbing up and down stepladders during housecleaning season. To insure the proper hanging of curtains the frames to which they are stretched should stand straight. Carefully stretched, the next special feature is "the pressing. All points are carefully pressed, the edges being ■team-dampened by using the iron over a wet cloth. Hook holes along the plain edge are obliterated by dampening and working between the fingerk. A taped edge, made wavy and irregular by the hooks, is straightened out by working the steam-dampei curves outward with one hand, while pressing with the other. Any slack or tension of material may be steamed out with a wet cloth and iron. The 6ame process, using several thicknesses of cloth, will remove traces of unfortunate scorching—a fact not generally known by housewives. An old tennis racquet, threaded with stout cord, will make an attractive flower rack for trailing plants. Cut off half the handle, sharpen the end and drive it into the flower pot. Clothes sprinkled with boiling water instead of cold water will dampen much mors rapidly, and, in consequence. can be ironed more quickly. To dean windows and mirrors dab over thoroughly with whiting, tied up In a piece of muslin, and smooth with a damp doth. Follow with a lather, rubbed an freely, and wipe off with justed to different heights to save martin. An old piano stool may be found useful in the kitchen, as it can be ad-, backaches. A good carpet cleaner may be made by shading a pure white soap in a gallon of water, allowing it to boll until dissolved. To this add an oubce of ether and scrub the carpets thoroughly with the mixture, later rinee with fresh water. Anl varniah-oovwred wall paper may be wiped with a damp doth, but for other papers soft bread ia the best cleaner. Heavy, solid colored papers may be lightly gone over with fine sandpaper to remove the smudges. To Insure finely flavored coffee heat the dry ground coffee before adding boiling wnter.