FASHIONS IN FURNITURE.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1788, 13 November 1879, Page 4

FASHIONS IN FURNITURE.

[“Detroit Free Press.”!] Tables with the meandering, outspreading legs are extremely fashionable, A beautiful design for a screen is of black velvet, embroidered -with scarlet honeysuckles. Colors for library tables are in the natural colors of Sea Island cotton, enlivened by embroidery of gay colors. Bjzantino point is n new, showy cotton imitation, for curtains, that washes well and imitates antique lace to perfection. Chairs with arched back and matching cross-pieces carved, are being polished up and covered with citron or crimson embossed velvet. . , ■ The English dressing tables are especially liked in ebony or in ash wood, with square swinging glass veiy -simply framed, smallsized drawers for luces or linen, and a place to rest the feet while the lady sits at her toilette. Piano covers barely cover the top, and are made of yellow 'bronze or else citron-colored silk and bordered with yellow olive, Sevres ' blue and crimson worked into a flower pattern of roses, or perhaps tulips ard Easter lilies. . , , . A lady's parlor, dev.sed for a brunette, has its walls hung with buttercup yellow, covered with clear white muslin fluted from top to bottom. The chimney piece of black velvet, and the furniture of black velvet with | yellow fringe and buttons. Happy are the people who have odd furniture with elephant’s trunks or lion’s heads, for Hindoo models are now coveted. Old families are mounting their lumbering sideboards and sofas with brass, and trimming up their bedroom seta with ash. The low furniture, o£ walnut, is universal for chambers. The bed is low, with straight head and foot-board, and the bureau has low drawers, with a largo square mirror. There is sometimes a dressing-table to match the suite, and often ia an odd piece. Dark green silk curtains are used in place of white shades to darken the rooms in summer, where inside blinds are used. Two long flawing curtains of tapestry, plush or rich fabric, bor;ered across the top and bottom to match the furniture, are chosen for drawing-rooms or parlors. For small parlors the upholstering is done in plain plnsh, bordered with wide cross bands of contrasting colors, or else figured stuffs are used of mixed silk and cotton; these are recommended because moths will not eat them, and reps are abandoned because they ate all wool and soon devoured by the moths. The newest designs for dressing stands have no drawers at the sides. The mirror reaches to the floor. Two marble slabs adorn the sides, and on them are figures of brass holding “ Psyche ” glasses. Below and out of sight are sockets, intended for the enormous tapers of ware which when lit give a softened yet dazzling appearance. _ In furnishing a sitting room nothing is set or regular. All the pieces are odd, with the same color running through all for harmony, but with each piece different shape and color. The sofa and chairs have low, wide seat?, straight backs, and square corners. With these should below chairs and rockers, willow, ebony, gilt, or lacquer. Batiste curtains are very pretty for the sitting-room or chamber. This is a soft, muslin fabric in square meshes, Hke grenadine, and with wide, lace-like stripes-; they are trimmed with antique lace, or are bound with colored velours borders. Batiste draperies are inexpensive, and far preferable to Nottingham or other cheap laces Mantelpieces are very high, and the effect is good if China, crackle, or Japanese ware, especially the grotesque, are placed upon them. The brilliancy of color given in these wares and their originality are very attractive against the sombre background. If yon line with plaques on the lower shelf there must not be placed any ornaments in front. The “ old-time ” closet mantel-pieces are being revived. The style consists of a double door introduced into a mantel-piece which extends to the ceiling. The mirror ia thus done away with. In the closet thus formed are porcelain plaques, which are fully displayed by opening the silver-hinged walnut doors. These are richly carved and of graceful form.

Ladies who have a mania for many colors, ar« nxlng J»paucoc X»uo Xur Ocooxntiijg lliclr own special room. Sometimes the entire room is surrounded, just below the ceiling, with these fans spread open and fastened with tiny gold-headed nails; or two or three fans may be grouped above the pictures or door. They give a picturesque appearance to a small and cosy room.