International studio (53.1914)

Modern" Interior Decoration in American Homes

One of the photographs shows the large living
room, the main colour of which is gray, to suit the
taste and preference of the owner. The walls are
papered a light gray, the spaces being nicely di-
vided into panels by heavy black and orange lines;
in the centre of the small panels is a solid black
square, and in the centre of the large panels is a
decorative conventional black basket containing
orange flowers.
There are no pictures in the room, in fact, but
one or two throughout the house. The owner had
no good pictures, and assuredly it is better not
to hang poor ones for the sake of filling wall
space—so in this case most of the rooms have been
treated so that none are required—yet at any
time they can be admirably hung in the centres
of the panels should the owner come to possess
something worth while. At present, however,
the room is quite complete without them, and the
average layman would not even notice their
absence.
The woodwork is stained a silvery gray, and the
large centre table has been finished to match it
exactly; the ceiling too is gray, but of a lighter

tone, and the large rug is a mottled black and white
which gives the gray effect. Most of the furni-
ture is gray, though some of it has been stained
black, and the two large fireside chairs are stained
a bright orange. The chairs have seat cushions
of brilliant orange or emerald green, and the gray
upholstered davenport has cushions of orange and
black striped velvet. The window and the book-
case curtains are of the same intense orange, fin-
ished with a wide black edge.
The black standing lamp is an interesting note
in the room, especially when lit. The shade is of
gray silk lined with orange, and the conventional
flower design is appliqued in orange and green.
The same design and colours are used on the
shades of all the dull silver wall brackets, and the
effect is most interesting.
The whole atmosphere of the room is very rest-
ful and pleasing, the colours used are bright, and
the glow throughout the room is made warm by
the light streaming through the orange curtains,
yet withal the effect is quiet and restful.
Another photograph shows a different view of
the living room, looking out to the sun parlour,


DINING ROOM, SHOWING SUN PARLOUR

LX XXII