SIMPLE MANTELPIECES

Evening Star, Issue 19666, 20 September 1927, Page 2

SIMPLE MANTELPIECES

Not so many years ago tho mantelpiece fitted into the small house was of a somewhat elaborate nature, with a prolusion of ornament and mouldings which were unfortunately ofttimes lacking in good taste owing to their being carried to excess. Nowadays, however, either owing to the necessity of keeping down costs or to a better appreciation of the artistic, a greater simplicity of style has been evolved, and, happily, one which is more pleasing to the eye, and which also harmonises with the plain nature of the finishings commonly used at the present time in the small house. A tile and wood surround is still the commonest form of decorative treatment for the fireplace. in selecting tiles for the surround their color will, of course, depend upon the scheme of decoration to be carried out in the room, but with regard to appearance hand-made tiles arc to be recommended in preference to those made by machine, which, with their mechanical appearance and dull regularity of surface, compare very unfavorably' with the texture and reflecting glare of tho handmade tile. The effect of an attractive mantelpiece can bo readily spoilt by the use of an ill-proportioned or badly'-designed grade, and in this connection it behoves one to make a careful selection and to avoid those over-ornamental patterns which are familiar to us all.