OUR WINDOWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21098, 4 February 1932, Page 3

OUR WINDOWS.

THE EYES OF THE HOUSE. ST DELrs. I was perusing a novel of late Victorias davs. and came to what was. no doutt, considered a clever piece of work on the part of the heroine -when she hid herself in the curtains of the window recess, thereby overhearing and eventually frustrating the dastardly plan oi: the villain to ruin her father and the hero. Gazing around the room, I had to smile to think how very much more clever the heroine would need to be to conceal herself present-day curtains. Most of us can recall, one's more youthful days, the long, white, so carefully starched lace curtains, the doing up of which. represented verv nearlv a whole day s work. These were invariably flanked by heavy art serge or chenille curtains and. which were, just as invariably, of a most depressing shade of red or green. The whole was suspended by rings fastened on to a great cylinder of wood or brass with huge fancy knobs and called a curtain pole. It is no small wonder that it very nearlv' required a block and tackle to hoist the curtains into place, and that there were any number of painful faus from rickety stepladders and chairs precariously placed on tables. If the idea of the wbole arrangement was to successfully shut out the air and the .sunlight, then the object was achieved adnitra-bly. Probably we have the advent of tha casement windows to thank for the abolition of the heavy side curtains and for the innovation of pretty sunlight-admit-ting nets and other flimsy materials we affect to-day. Banished for all time, we hope, are the monotonous hangings of past periods. Curtains do much to emphasise the attractiveness of a home, and they indicate to the passerby something of the character and home-making instincts of the presiding genius within. Has it ever occurred to you that a person may pass your house regularly for years and never know more of Its interior" than what he or'she can judge by its curtains ? The windows and their drapings repr&ser.t the eyes-of the bouse. Indeed, the eyes of a shop are now considered so important thatjrindow dressing is no longer a casual atiair, but has achieved a place among the arts. Windows are the one thing that belong

siinilarlv to the inside and to the outsid* of the house, and untidy hangings detract as much as an ill-kept garden plot. In a gentle breeze, dainty curtains fluttering through wide-opened casements not only suggest health and cleanliness within, but are a charming sight. In these days of shrunken purses, it is comforting that erpensiveness is not an essential "to decorative drapings. Certainly there are the most exquisite and fascinating silk fabrics, which are to be had for mnch money, but their place is in the more formal room, the drawing room, whilst simplicity can safely be made the keynote of furnishings elsewhere. Originality and handiness go a long way in contriving something pleasing, and I may say here, that perhaps one of the most enchanting set of curtains I ever saw were fashioned of cheap, liiac-ealcured cotton crepe appiiqued both sides with tulips in varying mauve shades. What could have been cheaper, mere serviceable and more effective '! Curtains may, in these- better days, be taken down, washed, ironed, and placed in position again without any fuss ana tother. A great aid to variety are the dyes with directions for tinting so simple, that it is an easy operation to restore to their pristine freshness curtains that dv reason of fading have become shabby and dejected. Even a new colour scheme may be attempted by this means.. _ Bright, fresh curtains are as good a tonic as tan _ be got for any dreary room, and a little trouble will he?p to tone it up wohdex* Blinds. t°o. hitherto prosaic and strictly utilitarian, have begun to frivol somewhat. Scalloped edces. silk fringes, fancy pleatinjjs—all these are present-day features, and it would not be surprising if within a short time it will be necessary to nave blinds in accord with the colour note of n room. At all events it is important to ihe cutside appearance, and equally to the inside. just what efforts are made in dressing the eves of the home.