“My House In Order"

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, Issue 205, 13 August 1927, Page 5

“My House In Order"

The Inevitable “Spring Cleaning ' rs <HE TIME is now here for the performing of that mysterious function which yearly results m a complete upheaval in all self-respecting families; when everything is in a state of chaos and nothing in its place: when home is not a home, and husbands seek refuge in clubs until the old comfortable peace is restored and the household affairs pursue the even tenor of their ways on well-oiled wheels,—l mean springcleaning. WORTH THE ENERGY <fc TROUBLE. After puzzling over it, I have come to the conclusion that it is as inevitable as the migration of birds at a certain season of the year, and the development of mumps and measles in children at some early stage of their career. It affects all the housewives of the English speaking races, and allows vent for tremendous energy. When at last the deed is done, and the housewife sinks back tired but triumphant, the family creeps back to find everything new and clean and shining, and the old familiar treasures gone. There are wrathful queries for old gardening “bags” that were prime favourites, and which have gone never to return again, and multitudinous little things that were kept long after their value had departed. Yes, it is just as well this domestic upheaval takes place, or the home would be cluttered up with things dearly beloved but useless, which no one but a strong-minded determined housewife would have the heart to turn out. WISE FORETHOUGHT. Before the actual process takes place it is wise to make a list of all the new household furnishings and goods that are required—curtains, mats, bed and table linen, etc., so that as each room is thoroughly cleaned and renovated the new furnishings can be put in and you can feet that that roqm is finished with, and the whole house will not be in a muddle of incompleteness. THE LIVING-ROOM.

This room, as the common meeting point of the whole family should be a cheery, light room. A good idea is to choose a definite colour scheme and a good model to work on is the colouring of the wallflowers. It would be a joy to have meals in a room with creamy golden walls and cream ceiling, warm golden brown wainscoting and woodwork, floor stained the same rich colour, with brown and orange rugs, cream curtains appliqued with orange and lemon and a touch of dull green, and one or two fat cushions in the last mentioned shade. Now that coloured table linen is so popular a lemon tablecloth would be spread and the final note of sunny cheerfulness would be centred in an orange bowl filled with wallflowers, nasturtiums or Iceland poppies, as any of these flowers tone with the room. In such surroundings even breakfast, usually the most sorrowful meal of the day—everyone has unwillingly left a cosv bed and faces the cheerless prospect of a long day’s work—even the breakfast meal will be quite merry and bright and the bacon and eggs and toast and marmalade will be tackled with fresh enthusiasm.