The FASHION REVIEW

Putaruru Press, Volume VII, Issue 297, 18 July 1929, Page 2

The FASHION REVIEW

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SUZETTE

The Home Beautiful.

“ Homemakers,” sighed my studio friend from the top of a step bidder, while emphasising each word j with the hammer, “ are born and not made.” “ Don’t you believe it,” I said, al- : though this room rather seems to prove it. Every normal weman is born with the homemaking instinct. She either develops it or lets it atrophy.” “ Diable 1 That’s the third t.me I’ve hit it.” “You from a hotel to a flq,t and expect to get the home atmosphere right away. You’ve got to practice—” “ I wish I’d had green hangings now—”

“ And that’s another thing. The real home is built by forethought.”

“ Absurd ! If you put some women I know in a tent they’d make a home out of it in 20 minutes.” “ Yes, but it took them considerably longer than 20 minutes to acquire that art.”' “ I suppose it’s true ”—— ruefully. “This room certainly seems to prove that. Where shall I begin? ”

A few first principles for cottage, castle or flat, is this loom sunless 7 I Then we’li use the gold of daffodils to give it the illusion of sunshine, wita it the brightest colours of an herbaceous border—then will nature be indoors ; or perhaps we’ll bring into it atl the colour magic of the Orient in rich hangings, shaded lights and divans. Does it receive the full glory of the sun’s rays ? Then we’ll subdue it with lovely pastel shades, soft greens, greys and blues. Is it spacious? Panelling, .pictures, tapestries and carpet from wainscot to wainscot will reduce all risk of bare cheerlessness. Is it a tiny room ? Plain walls, stained floor and one or two pictures and objects d’art—and there you have the illusion of size. Here are three rooms from “ the house that forethought built”:— One a small sittingroom, walls and ceiling of which are painted a light apple green, has its furniture covered in grey linen, the curtains of silver grey repp hanging to the floor. Pottery and cushions add touches of vivid colour. Can’t you see it?—a reposeful room. A lilac bedroom is decorated in mauve and green. These colou-s have a wonderfully-recuperative effect on a tired mind and body, and the whole appearance of the room is exquisitely dainty. The furniture is a deep ivory colour, the curtains of green silk net. The lilac bed soread is heavily frilled, and on the handpainted lamp shade are sprays of Then the kitchen ah, if I had such a kitchen ! White tiled walls meet the floor. Underneath the electric cooker tiles are let into the floor, forming a kind of raised tile mat. Fireproof casseroles are the favourite cookery utensils. The furniture is white and treated so that all that is necessary to wipe it clean is a damp cloth. Special ventilation takes away the odour of cooking. A moment for windows. The eyes of the home, they hide and reveal a great deal. Only a windc"’ that looks out on a brick wall ouclit ever to be completely curtained. The introduction of a low window "seat into a room overlooking a beaut’’ful view or garden will render manv a tedious mending or darning hour unutterably pleasurable. And, finally, the house that lacks books, pictures (I have seen them), and the gracious personality that should belong to its mist’ess, is like a body w’thout a soul. Do you not think so ?