INTERIOR WORK

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 173, 12 October 1927, Page 9

INTERIOR WORK

THE DECORATOR’S ART. TWENTIETH CENTURY STYLE Modern interior decorating is so manifold in its Latitude tnat it offers to the decorator unlimited opportunities and privilege:, to display his artistic ability. In .he first place, if we sciutinise the architecture of our modern homes, we find that our architects have, in the majority of cases, not confined themselves to the severe period styles of the past centuries. They have intelligently sacrificed period architecture for modern home comfort and habitablcness, which has given ns homes second to no other country. On account of the liberty in design which has been taken by architects in their conception of our modern homes, it has been found necessary, in keeping apace with the times, to become creative and distinctive in their treatment.

The art of interior home decoration is most successfully carried out when Llie mechanical labour is concealed to create an artistic effect. To produce this effect, wall coverings and applied textures and their colourings, furniture, draperies, fleor coverings and light effects, both natural and artificial, must be given careful study and consideration.

The treatment of Ceiling, walls and woodwork of a room is generally accepted as a complimentary effect to the contemplated decorative furnishing scheme. They should provide an appropriate and effective background Doth in colour and design for the general setting. Here, texture, design, and colour should be given most careful consideration, because without their harmonious aid no decorative scheme can be suitably carried out. In the treatment of rooms in our modern home, the colourings, designs, and applied textures on walls and ceilings are most important. In living rooms, dining-rooms, and hall, rough or semi-rough textures, suitably coloured with hardwood or painted and antiqued wood to harmonise with the furniture, recommend themselves. Living rooms in subtle subdued deep colourings on ceilings, sidewalls and woodwork with furnishings in glowing, exotic colourings are commendable. Bed rooms, colourful and cheerful in their furnishings, with subdued walls and wcodw’ork, lend tone and comfort to the home and the introduction of a cheerful bathroom with colour in walls, woodwork and tile is a pleasing innovation.

For a period of about five years we have successfully combining Italian. Spanish and English types of period furniture and using them with pleasing decorative results in livingrooms, dining-rooms, and halls. Draperies and furniture coverings of rich colourings in velours, damasks, brocades and tapestries have been used with them, disregarding their period design to some extent, but more seriously considering their colourings. Very effective decorativelj-painted valances and carved cornices have been much m demand.

Bedroom furniture painted, decorated and antiqued, as well as plain and inlaid hardwood, have helped to make cur homes exceptionally attractive. The use of ornamental iron, copper, pewter and brass in the form of grilles, railings, doors, electric fixtuies and lamps of every description have been a most successful decorative medium in our modern home. A feature which should receive the most careful consideration by the decorator is the proper distribution of light both in volume and quality. The volume should me sufficient to properly light the rooms, while the quality and tone should be such as to create an atmosphere of comfort and ease to the general decorative scheme. Living as we are in the greatest fad age the world has ever experienced, we are realising the return of the French periods which are asserting themselves n our newest fabric and furniture designs. The marvellous exhibition of Modern Decorative and Industrial Art. held in the City of Paris in 1925 produced creations which mav be considered a forerunner of the twentieth century style. Although still in its infancy, Europe’s most capable architects, decorators and designers are putting forth untiring efforts to perfect and develop this new creation.

As might bo expected, there are miles of window curtain material being sold daily in the big shops just now, for it is when “at all Earth’s portals knocks the importunate Spring” that we housewives want window curtain renewing.

Now that crystal is so popular, from cut crystal toilet services to tahlo candlesticks and to the transparent fireproof kitchen-ware, the glass ashtray will probably find a ready sal* 9 . The newest ones are made with the figures of sportsmen—lawn tennis players, footballers, and so on—carved on the back of the trays so that they stand out in semi-opaque relief against the clarity of the rest of the tray. They should be very popular In the homes of the sportsman or sportswoman.