International studio (56.1915)

The Cosy “ Den

door construction is an excellent example of
those “little touches” that mean so much.
Above-stairs, a few pictures are used, including
fine Japanese prints of Yei-Zan and Mrs.
Sumner’s portrait-studies of John Bigelow and
George Meredith.
The servants’ quarters, with living-room and
bath, are in the rear extension. Here also are
the kitchen, store-room and pantry. When Mr.
Sumner decided to shift the cellar stairs, he
solved the problem by building a bulkhead
across the opening, and this bulkhead may be
used as a serving-table. The cellar, like those of
most old and long-neglected farm-houses, re-
quired thorough renovation.
It must be admitted that the charm of these
interiors is enhanced by the furnishings. The
quaint dresser, the gate-legged tables, the Queen
Anne stand, the Charles First settee, the exten-
sion-back Windsors, made long ago
Of yew wood, of true wood,
The wood of English bows.
these all adjust themselves most agreeably to the
general scheme. And they contribute to that
blending of Old and New England of which I
have spoken, since they remind one of those
colonial days when Old-World household treas-
ures were brought across leagues of sea to grace
New-World homes.
But these things are, nevertheless, not es-
sential. The essential matter is the spirit and
skill with which Mr. Sumner has rejuvenated
this ancient habitation. He has caused it to
utter the beauty of which it was capable. The
repose and taste of Old England find meet expres-
sion amid the entourage of this New England
valley. Long ago, some settler did what he
could—carried the task as far as he might,
according to his lights, hampered by rude con-
ditions. One may almost fancy that now at
twilight his wraith steps in—not as into the
dwelling of a stranger, but as a man enters his
own home; and with satisfaction murmurs,
“Well, this is what I dreamed of, after all.”
HE COSY “DEN”
BY CHARLES ALMA BYERS
Convention may be permitted to
rule, more or less queenly, over all
other rooms of the home, but she is rarely al-
lowed to cross the threshold of the “den.” The

“den” is instead invariably ruled by individual-
ity. It is one room of the home at least that
permits the exercise of personal taste to any ex-
treme. For this reason the “den” is becoming
extremely popular with home builders. Pri-
marily, it was intended as a sort of man’s room
—a study, a private retreat of some kind—but
now even many women are adopting the idea,
finding it more to their liking than the delicacy
of the real boudoir.
The “den” of to-day is variously used, de-
pending entirely upon its owner. If the owner
is a writer or lecturer, it is his study—his work
room. If he is a down-town business man, it
constitutes a sort of retreat, wherein he may
read or study in private, or to which he may
invite his friends after dinner for a smoke and a
chat. The woman, of course, uses her “den”
for very much the same purposes. Again, it is
frequently used as a sort of evening gathering
place for the entire family, when there is no
company, as it is usually more cosy and com-
fortable than the living-room. It is almost in-
variably equipped with book-cases, taking the
place in the small home of the library, and
is therefore an especially inviting room of an
evening.
Whatever may be the individual purpose of
the room, the “den,” I think, should always
contain a certain amount of shelf space for books,
for reading and study always seems to be more
or less associated with it. The book-cases are
frequently of the built-in kind, and when they are
thus made a permanent fixture, the space should
be ample, rather than stinted, for it is difficult to
increase it later. The “den” should also possess
a good fireplace, even if it also be heated from a
furnace. Nothing gives so much cheer and
cosiness to a room as an open fire, and even if
it is not solely depended upon in midwinter,
there are many chilly days and evenings, when it
will prove especially desirable. A “den” with-
out a fireplace is extremely rare.
The lighting of the “den” is also quite im-
portant. The principal lighting fixture should
not be too strong and glaring in its diffusion of
light, for there will be many evenings when a
soft light will be quite sufficient and will produce
a better effect. There may be several wall lights,
and there should be the proper connexions for a
table lamp, so that the lighting can be satisfac-
torily regulated for reading when desired.


LXVIII