THINGS IN HARMONY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 405, 14 January 1909, Page 3

THINGS IN HARMONY.

■ Some people appear to have a particular . .' knack ot- choosing 'just'the;one wrong thing - in • their'endeavour to lend, effect to their. rooms (says a writer- in. the- " Lady's. Pio- ..- '. tonal"), and it has often'puzzled, me. why, when they are so specially anxious to have ; their rooms as pretty as possible, they should select something which they, are sure not to • like, and then -try to remedy tho -mistake when it is too-latej-Prevention vis always ... better than -cure, and a; few hints on things to\be avoided may. provo-helpful to, those . who are contemplating any . change in- fur-: : nishings for the coming season. ' iSVith'- self- ■. coloured walls it is :'a - safe rule to 'choose • patterned materials for curtains, and upholstered chairs) -whereas, if. the iwall-paper, is :. ~of bold design'nothing/ looks so well-88 hangings of plain cloth,-'serge, or velvety but these , be. trimmed-with border bands of floral tapestry, antique braid, or lace, if required. Many people ,'confuso : monotony with har-.l ■ mony, and in trying •to achieve an effective I decorativo' result 'strive- to "match" carpet -i . and hangings -with the' wall-paper, 'and' will even go so far as to buy small table-covert ■ and lamp-shades,.of the' same: colour, -which , . 'must, necessarily spelj failure..' 'For instance, a littje while ago I called,on a friend who had. just: smartened . her',, drawing-room . by supplying' all the. chairs and sofas .with fresh cretonne covers. .. :I have always been glad i : that-she'did . not ;take ;my,_6piniori . suit,'for it was anything'butflattering-to her idea of .taste.: The walls; were a pale yellow, and ,the carpet, avery light fawn aground . ■ with yellow: and faint: green design, .and with -i theso she had actually chosen a buff-coloured cretonne,-, patterned.,with yellow daffodils; :' Anything more:uninteresting I could not well. ■ imagine, and mentally I re-covered the chairs ! with a pretty. green ground, cretonne, where , graceful.,.trails:, of, .-old-fashioned flowers in : softly subdued colours,- including, mauve and . yellow, carelessly, arranged. Then soft: mignonett-e-gre-cri curtains..trimmed with; . mauve-floral'; borders,,"together with table-' covers and a .cushion .or two of mauve silk i on the chairs and settee, • I could picture the room in a, more ,refreshing, aspect, and longed ,; to be; able to put my- thoughts into effect:' Contrasts are'generally'desirable, even in such .' . ,small; mattdrsjas ■ cushionsj : : and I frequently j notice 'that-, of a patterned material ■ are often rendered • ineffective. by competition with cushions of a much-patterned material, . : whoreas.a perfectly, plain contrasting colour I v , for., the cushion cases would add materially i to the-, effect*. For library, morning room, .- or hall sit'ting : roqm, lounges,, ; plain.' velvet cushions are most effective, and long endur- : ing, whilst tho softness', of tho-velvet makes i thorn exceedingly comfortable and • restful. These may; appear very unimportant trifles, but they; make all the difference in obtaining an effective ensemble, and careless treatment •'j -. of details','-such as lamp-shades, : sometimes ,' ;Spoil, an'otherwise.good.effect.