MODERN FURNISHINGS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 112, 17 June 1914, Page 4

MODERN FURNISHINGS.

In tliese days, when simplicity, brightness,, and comfort are the chief considerations when furnishing, it is pleasing to note how much one is aided by i designers and the general furnishing 1 establishments (writes Queen Bee in the j "Australasian")- Everything is designed and made to lessen work, and at the same time the most artistic and beautiful effects are obtained. It does not matter whether the house is large or small, the one idea is uppermost ! with builder, decorator, and furnisher, i and that is curtailment of elaboration in detail and utilisation of every inch of space. Other lands than ours have .been the great factors in aiding to make our surroundings more up to date, and certainly much more liveable. The decorator and the furnisher borrowed ideas from the Eastern lands long before they dawned on the dress designer and the milliner. Take the gold, white, and black notion, for instance, which now adds such picturesque effect to our home interiors. These are morelv repetitions of cool and effective schemes seen everywhere by travellers in the houses and temples of the Par East. So are the still more gorgeous ideas of decorating rooms in many tones of one colour, such as light to deep cream and yellow," violet, or blue. These all recall Oriental notions, enhanced by the details of furnishing in black, gold, or red lacquer, used very sparingly, but with most telling results. Then, again, the abundant use of cushions now made in all comfortable sitting rooms is distinctly an Eastern idea, where they are considered more' necessary than any other item. Many lovely revivals are being introduced in the latest productions of materials for loose covers, hangings, and draperies. In these black plays the most important part, especially in printed cotton and chintz fabric. The black is most effectively combined with soft tones of blue, pink, green, and brown. The idea is to make these materials harmonise with a white and black room, lor one carried out in any of the colours,. The beauty of all these materials does not lie only in the colouring, but in the fact that they are by no means expensive, and for that reason can be brought into request when spring renovations become one of the many household troubles.

A house furnished without any thought in these days never gives any notion of pleasure, either to the owner or the onlooker. On the other hand, the house that displays taste and method is a great pleasure to all. The new idea of covering all the floors of the best middle-class houses with oilcloth is one of the most artistic notions and one of'the most labour-saving ones for our climate. Such beautiful floor coverings can now be had in white, or in white and some delicate colour, which can easily be matched with small rugs for centre or bedside use. It is surprising that all-over carpets ever lind space in our homes in these days, when

they eause so much unnecessary work. This also applies to furniture that requires much brushing and cleaning. How much more pleasing are the things that can be taken off and sent to the wash! In most houses there are always odd pieces of furniture that have been covered in the old-fashioned style, and hat quarrel with newer things that have been added from time to time, but .they have remained as they were, because their coverings were very costly iu the first instance. It may be a wrench, but is it not far better to part with them and buy something less costly and less troublesome? Very frequently it will be found that they have brought more at a sale than the new and more up-to-date articles have cost. This applies especially to carpets, richlycovered chairs, chesterfields, and articles with much mirror and carving, that entail a lot of cleaning.

The heavy and elaborate bedroom suite is also one of the mistakes for the best middle-class home. How much more charming are the newest ideas of light wooden furniture, that can be moved about without difficulty and can be cleaned underneath. Even its outside aspect is of the most inviting character. Painted white, grey, pale blue, or green it lends itself to charming schemes of colour for white or self-coloured bedrooms. For those who like something more elaborate, there are new ideas in lacquered wood bedroom furniture, which is decorated with Chinese designs, that, like all other painted furniture, admits of being washed with soap and water. Wicker furniture is becoming a very charming variety for our sitting rooms, on account, of the comfort that is now to be found in chairs and lounges that are not only artistic in design, but are painted in delicate colours and softlv cushioned.