Many of the dining rooms in our modern country or suburban homes are of such limited proportions that it becomes a difficult task to find suitable furnishings. For instance, in apartment dining rooms, it is often impossible to use a sideboard at all unless one can be found of small dimensions. Fortunately, the manufacturers of good furniture have now come to this realization and are placing on the market good designs in dining room furniture which are intended to be used in small rooms. The illustrations which are shown picture one of these sets, especially designed for such rooms.
Furniture Design
The various pieces are made in plain oak, stained a medium shade of brown, in a dull waxed finish. They are substantially constructed and are unusually quaint in their simplicity of design.
A suggestion for the treatment of a dining room in which this furniture is used appears on page fifty-six.
Wall Covering
The walls are covered in an oyster white oatmeal paper costing Thirty-five Cents a roll, which is carried from the baseboard to the cornice moulding. At the top of the page are shown two designs, one in printed linen and one in cretonne which would be appropriate to use as hangings. The printed linen shown in the left hand illustration is the one which is actually shown in the interior view of the room. This is an imported English pattern of excellent design in dull orange, maroon, sage green and yellow on an ecru ground. The sash curtains are of ecru net and drop straight to the sill.
Woodwork and Floor
The woodwork is stained the same medium shade of brown to harmonize with the furniture and the floor is a deeper shade of the same color.
Carpet Rug
A plain tan carpet rug with a deeper tone in the border is in harmony with the general color scheme. Simple electric fixtures in antique brass are used.
A small dining room furnished and decorated in this way has a distinct individuality.
Cleverly Designed Sideboard
This cleverly designed little sideboard measures four feet and two inches in length and one foot and eight inches in depth. The natural colored cane panel at the back corresponds to the seat and back panels in the chairs. A cupboard is arranged at each end, and the center drawer is lined with purple velvet and arranged for storing the table silver. The sideboard can be.
Arm Chair and Side Chair
The arm chair and side chair which match this set of furniture are made with cane panels in the backs and seats. Some people have an erroneous idea that cane is not a durable material in chairs. There can be no foundation for such a theory for cane has excellent lasting qualities, and will be as durable as the average upholstered seat. The arm chair is priced at Ten Dollars and Fifty Cents and the side chair at Seven Dollars and Fifty Cents. It is a great relief to see an inexpensive oak dining chair so simple and graceful in design, a decided improvement on the old fashioned jig saw variety.
Gate Leg Table
The gate leg table is English in its origin, and is, undoubtedly, an interesting piece of furniture because of its clever arrangement of legs. This table is oval in shape and measures fifty-four inches in length and forty-two inches in width. It will comfortably seat six people. On the following page will be seen an extension table which matches this set. I feel that the extension table will give greater satisfaction for general use. The gate leg table can be purchased for Eighteen Dollars.
Extension Table
The extension table shown above measures forty-eight inches round and can be had to extend to three different lengths, six, eight, or ten feet. The six foot size costs Twenty-seven Dollars, the eight foot size Thirty Dollars, and the ten foot size Thirty-three Dollars. It depends on the size of the dining room and the number of guests which one might be apt to entertain as to which of these sizes would be more advisable. The table, however, is exactly the same in design no matter which size is chosen.
Selection of Ornaments
The various ornaments which are used in any dining room should be carefully and intelligently selected. The old fashioned idea of crowding the sideboard with numerous pieces of cut glass, silver, and china is no longer in vogue. The dining room should not appear as an exhibit of china and glass. A few well selected pieces in harmony with the general character of the room will produce a far more tasteful result. Crowding the dining room with an array of nondescript objects is in extremely bad taste and should be strictly avoided.
In the dining room illustrated, two pottery jars and two decorated plates occupy the ends of the mantel shelf. In the center space a copy of a part of the “Choir Boy” frieze by Luca della Robbia is used. This cast comes in the antique finish, measuring twenty inches in height and fifteen inches in width. It can be purchased for Five Dollars and Fifty Cents, and will add a charming note of interest to the room.
On the sideboard, two brightly colored jars hold laurel leaves. Three pieces of silver occupy the center space, and on the wall above is hung a German color print showing an old castle and its surroundings in soft colors. This print can be purchased unframed for Two Dollars and Fifty Cents.
The selection of appropriate ornaments in any room is just as important in its way as the choosing of appropriate furniture.
Lamps and Lamp Shades
“Where can I find a good lamp?” is a question often asked, and by a good lamp, what do we mean? A lamp has the definite function to fulfill of giving light; this is the first consideration. If it is placed on the center table it must give good reading light and the shade so arranged that it does not shield the light too much. The second consideration is the fact that it must be a pleasing design in keeping with the general character of the room.
Choosing a Lamp
As we enter the Lamp Department of any store, we are confronted with a bewildering array of them, and this is the time to be careful. You will probably find that about nine out of every ten of them are inexcusably ugly. The standards are highly ornamented with an over-abundance of cheap scroll work and detail. The shades are often worse. A great many pieces of small colored glass are put together forming a kaleidoscopic effect. Sometimes natural flowers are worked out in the design. When the lamp is lighted a riot of colors in odd shapes and sizes greet the eye.
It is a great mistake to buy a lamp just because we happen to like it in the store. Always remember that the lamp should be considered as a part of the general furnishings of the room just as much as the rugs or curtains, and a careful selection should be made so that it will be in harmony with its surroundings.
Evolving an Attractive Lamp
One of the best methods of evolving an attractive lamp is to choose a good pottery jar and have it converted for oil or electricity. In this case you can choose a shade, whether it be of silk or cretonne, which will harmonize with your room. By so doing, you will at least have a lamp in keeping with the general character of the other furnishings.
There are also many excellent designs made in mahogany or oak, for the living room and library or painted ones for the bedroom. These designs, for the most part, are simple and the color, size and shape of the shade can be selected to meet your fancy.
Again, there are Chinese lamps, some with pottery bases and paper shades, others with metal bases and wicker shades, various combinations which, if carefully chosen, will add a decided charm to the room. The selection of a lamp and shade depends on one’s ability to take an appropriate design which will be in keeping with the other furnishings.
On page sixty-four are shown a number of good lamps and shades. They have been made from odd pottery bowls mounted for oil or electricity.