MODERN HERE TO STAY

Evening Star, Issue 22202, 3 December 1935, Page 2

MODERN HERE TO STAY

When you step into a, bedroom that spells repose and rest you have found one that is expertly designed. Such are the modern bedrooms. In them everything possible to create an atmosphere of rest and relaxation has been done. There are no jarring colour notes, all the furnishings are simple, restful, and beautiful. Because modern furniture is designed for comfort and utility does not mean that it suffers a loss in charm. Quite the contrary. You have but. to walk through the displays of modern bedroom furniture in any good store to be at once impressed with the suitability of this type of design to rooms intended for rest. It is a far call from the high dark wood beds of Victorian days with their meaningless carvings to the simple restful lines of a bed designed in the modern manner. Smooth surfaces repel dust and dirt. Colours are soft and harmonious. The construction is substantial and sturdy throughout, assuring long service. Prices are comparatively moderate. IN CENTURY OF PROGRESS. The bedroom suite illustrated above was exhibited at A Century of Progress Exposition in Chicago, and played an important part in oho of the prominent model homes. it was designed by Donald Desky, of Radio City fame. The beautifully grained wood is matched so that a design that accords with the line of the pieces is created. In furniture, so simple there is little opportu-

nity for inferior workmanship. Everything must be precise, exact. For this reason the cabinetwork is of high quality. The contrast of dark bases and handles serve to emphasise the design. The round mirror in direct contrast to the square lines of the pieces gives a smart effect. And mirrors, by the way, play a very important part in creating the attractive effect in modern bedrooms. Often they are' unframed—the gleaming surfaces serving to reflect the colour of the room. Sometimes etched borders or cuttings are used. Some pleasing full-length threepanel mirrors, like screens are usedThese have panels or decorations in cut glass. NEW CONVENIENCES.

Any woman would appreciate the comfort and conveniences of a _ dressing table such as is included in the suite above. The mirror is contained in the top of the table, so that when it is lowered a smooth, unbroken surface is presented. When lifted it discloses a generously well-planned space for cosmetics. There are two ample drawers on either side for feminine fripperies. .See how effective the drawer pulls are: —simple, yet with just enough design to give relief from the very severe lines of the table.. There arc many other types of dressing tables. Some have round mirrors set in square wooden bases that . stand on top of the table. Others Have triple mirrors handed in chromium or copper. Many times bedroom furniture is furnished in rich enamel in pastel tones or in white. These are apt to be finished with banding in contrasting colour or deeper tone. In order to be consistent in the treatment of the room, simple hod spreads arc used. Coarse grained cloths like monks’ cloth or heavy ribbed materials are favoured—sometimes with pipings or handings in contrasting colour. Heavy beige silk is a favourite; taffeta with pleated flounces that lie very flat may be used with smart effect. FLOOR COVERINGS. Floor coverings in bedrooms done in the modern spirit are highly important. Naturally they must fit in with the rest of the decorative .scheme. Hence you will find oval or round nigs—some-

Bedroom Suites in This Motif Continually Multiplying by the Thousands

times in plain pastel shade, again banded in wide shades of contrasting or deeper colour. Some very effective door coverings are made of sections of chenille carpet cut and joined to create a design. The idea is somewhat the same as the matched linoleum floor coverings. Linoleum or cork floor covering is a highly practical- type for modern rooms. There are so many possibilities for the creation of striking designs by the use of vividly contrasting colours. Stars, circles, squares, and bands evolve designs that are at once amusing and beautiful. WHITE IS FAVOURED. White is important. Often whole rooms are done in white—even to the rugs. One especially ' smart floor covering was created by joining long bands of heavily tufted white carpeting to form a sort of parquetry effect. The furniture of this room was also upholstered in white with thick white fringes. The curtains were edged in turquoise blue, and there were a few small boxes and lamps with touches of this colour to relieve the pure whiteness of the room.

A lovely bedroom was furnished in grey stained maple. Tlie furnishings consisted of a high chest with beading of wood in darker grey between each drawer. The top was also in the jdarker tone. The beds, extremely simple in line, had curved footboards and a straight headboard finished at the top

with a curving band of the darker maple. The dressing table had three very wide drawers with chromium drawer . pulls, and was topped by a very large, round, untrained mirror, A small night stand had space for books. A low, round maple stool stood in front of tho dressing table, it has a cushion of deeply tufted pale grey satin. The bedcovers were, also of satin piped in green. Two small chairs were covered in white linen with green pipings, they were finished at the bottom with box pleated flounces. Curtains of sheer white organdie were caught back with huge bows of grey and green striped ribbon. MARKED ACTIVITY. $ '“This is a very gratifying increase in the rating power of the borough.” said the Mayor of Mount Albert, Mr 1!, Eerncr, at a meeting of the Borough Council, when the building returns were being discussed. The returns showed that for tho 10 mouths of this year 227 permits to a value of £47,239 had been granted, as''compared with 180 permits to a value of £23,539 for the first 10 mouths of last year. In tho last three weeks 1.4 permits, totalling £4,362, had been granted.

THE PIONEERS’ HALL. , The Otago Early Settlers’ Association lias resolved to accept the tender of Messrs Loan and Watson for alterations to the Pioneers’ Hall. Tho work will be put in hand immediately, and alterations are to be completed before March 23 next. The hall, when enlarged, will provide adequate accommodation for all those who wish to attend the celebrations on tbe occasion of the eighty-eighth anniversary of the province of Otago. SHORTAGE OF TRADESMEN. Auckland reports indicate that tradesmen in that district are very hard to get, and, as there are still many more large buildings to be erected in the near future, it would seem that before very long carpenters wilt be iu receipt of the boom rate of 2s 6d an hour. Some builders at tbe present time, the report continues, are offering 2s 3d an hour for long hours. As far as Dunedin is concerned, tradesmen have also been in greater demand, and the general tendency is for building costs to rise.