THE MODERN BEDROOM

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 112, 9 February 1928, Page 17

THE MODERN BEDROOM

DEVELOPMENTS IN BRITAIN TYPICAL EXAMPLES “Gone are the days of beflowered wallpapers and whitewashed or white papercovered ceilings,” says Mrs. Robert Ascroft, in an article on “The Twentieth Century Bedroom” in the ‘ldeal Home.” AValls are covered with plain toned papers, witii perhaps a faint stripe in a low ceilinged room, while panels sufficiently large to form a background to the various pieces of furniture are outlined in either a paper bordering or, better still, in a wood beading carried round at a suitable height to form a picture rail. “Ceilings are tinted in pastel colours; perhaps the blue of the sky in a south room, and primrose yellow in a dark room to give an illusion of a sunshine that is not there. Sometimes a black or gold ceiling is wonderfully effective in a room furnished with lacquer and hangings of embroidered Oriental silks. One black ceiling I have seen had the stars of the Milky Way painted on it in gold. The effect was quite good in artificial light, but how dreadful to wake in the morning to see bright sunshine pouring into the room under a black and starry sky! “Grandmamma would be surprised to see no pictures, or at most just one or two very choice water colours in her granddaughter’s bedroom; and perhaps she would be a little worried at the complete absence of that collection of family portraits which was so carefully treasured in her day. “The bed is generally the chief piece of furniture, and strikes the keynote of the scheme of furnishing. A low divan consisting of a box spring mattress fitted with short legs and an overlay of hair, or hair and wool, is a practical arrangement in a bedroom which is also a boudoir or a study. A l.ed cover of taffeta or velvet, trimmed with gold lace or silver galon, or perhaps of cretonne with boxpleated frills, will be draped over it iu the daytime, with a pile of brightlycoloured cushions arranged in luxurious profusion. “Of an entirely different type is the bedstead of beautiful figured walnut or mahogany, the headpiece and foot rail having panels to match. “A walnut wardrobe similarly figured and lined with oak will accompany this bed, and they are typical of the best bedroom furniture in England to-day. “A low walnut dressing-table with three mirrors—a central one showing the full-length figure, with the two adjustable side glasses to give the three-quarter length, set on a low chest of small drawers —may be used in this room with a dressing stool fashioned of the same wood with a seat covered with fine tapestry or silk damask. This furniture is seen to the best advantage in a room with hangings of damask of a rich tone with self-coloured design or of velvet edged with gold galon, with no pictures on the walls, and, preferably a plain carpet of a deep shade of blue, purple or green.' “A bedspread and a hanging drapery on the wall behind the bed, in the same plain, rich shade, emphasise the beautiful graining of. the-wood of the bed panel. Chests of drawers,, tables and chairs in the same fine wood complete a room which will go down in history as an example of our best taste in modern furnishing. “The toilet arrangements in a modern bedroom arc generally conspicuous by their absence, or are disguised effectively with a screen or an arrangement of curtains. If a dressing-room is not available, perhiips the bathroom is adapted for this purpose, or, failing both, a hot and cold basin is fitted in an alcove or corner of the room, out of the way as far as possible. “Not only is the saving of labour an important point, but nothing is more calculated to spoil the appearance of a room which also serves occasionally as one’s boudoir than a wash-stand complete with chinaware.

"Some of the modern-painted furniture is most effective in a bedroom. The best is made of well-seasoned wood, painted in beautiful a-at. er colourings and decorated in quaint "■.• signs either handpainted or stencilled. Used in a room with plain painted or distempered walls, it is quaint and pretty, and representative of the presefit-day love of bright colour.

‘Electrical appliances are a very noticeable feature in the modern bedroom. and an arrangement of wall-plugs whereby the position of the furniture can be altered at. any time while still providing good lighting is most useful. The dressing table and bed can have the lights actually fastened to them, and the cords attached to a wall plug nearby. A very attractive silk-shaded reading light can be fastened to the head of the bed, which may be moved from one position to another without affecting the position of the light. “Another type of bedroom which is delightfully modern, though essentially a product of a bygone period, is the one arranged with built-in furniture. A fitting consisting of three or four divisions built into a recess arranged to take the entire wardrobe of the owner is a feature of many a modern bedroom. . . . A dressing table may be built into a bay window or arranged as flap table underneath it. “The bed itself may also be a fixture. A low platform about one inch wider than the box spring, arranged with a raised ledge to hold it firmly in place, is built up from the floor. This is some-

times fitted with cupboards and drawers on both sides to hold shoes and other small articles; Chests of drawers are inset on either side of the bed in the recess, and tlie top of each forms a bedside table to hold a reading lamp and the small things one likes to have at hand during the night. A room such as this reduces the matter of daily cleaning to a minimum, the only movable furniture m the room being the chairs. “There is no doubt that houses built and equipped with such fittings will be an important feature of the coming years.”