THE HOME BEAUTIFUL

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 849, 18 December 1929, Page 16

THE HOME BEAUTIFUL

Modernise your present home ! Bring your house up-to-date ! Domestic science has made great strides in recent years—enjoy the advantages—increase the value of your property and make yours the Home Beautiful.

(By

"PENATES")

LIGHTING FACILITIES The first essential in room comfort nowadays is the provision of a sufficient amount of light for all occasions, and enough cutlets to permit the attachment of occasional electric appliances at points desired. This is only achieved in a home with adequate wiring installation, more and more coming to be accepted as standard in the modern dwelling. To plan a room in all its details, to buy furniture, floor and wall coverings, draperies, pictures and objects d art, and with them create out of an empty box-like space a place of enchanting beauty and charm, affords a satisfaction closely akin to that produced by the achievement of a fine painting or sculpture. As a matter of fact, such a room is just as much a result of creative instinct and ability as any painting.

SILVER PLATE ' Features of Queen Anne Style Queen Anne plate is a term descriptive of the Avork of the silversmith during the greater part of the eigh-

teent.h century, and does not necessarily mean plate that was actually made in the reign of that queen. It is possible, of course, to fix the. date of any old piece of English silver by the hallmark, but that correctly known j as Queen Anne might not actually | have been made between 1702 and 1714, but may belong to a. later reign. The chief characteristic of the Queen Anne style is massive simplicity, and appears to be a reaction from the redundant ornamentation of a previous period. Queen Anne spoons are very rare. Genuine specimens have thin, flat handles, and, not being of a very convenient shape, were unpopular. The three-pronged forks of the same period were well adapted for their purpose, however, and therefore the probability is that the forks were kept in use by people unaware of their value, while the spoons have long since passed into the hands of collectors. Both coffee and chocolate pots were in vogue during the Queen Anne period, the former being usually tall, tapering vessels with cap-like lids. The chocolate pots differed from them in being of circular instead of octagonal shape. There w r ere, however, both coffee and chocolate pots made in England during the Queen Anne period which do not answer to this description, but these were in a style adopted by the French silversmiths, and are easily recognisable. It is rather curious to notice that, although cocoa has become sUch a popular beverage during recent years, there is no modern silver substitute for the elegant chocolate pots of the days of Queen Anne. The candlesticks of this period are rather plain, and have usually a square base, but another characteristic of the times was simplicity of outline and beauty of form rather than ornamentation. Contemporary French silversmiths appeared to have combined both ideals in their work, but the simplicity of the Queen Anne -style has a distinct appeal, which will always be appreciated. Most of the best specimens of old silverwork have been preserved, and the originals or copies can still be seen by those interested in such things. Although the hallmark on silver is a good guide to value, the appraisal of any old specimen must be made by an expert, as much depends upon the workmanship, and even the forgery of a hallmark is not altogether unknown. Table silver of a kind not even in use at the time has been sold as Queen Anne, and such a mistake is quite easy to make. Silver spoons and although common enough now, were used only by the wealthy when Queen Anne came to the throne. This being the case, it follows that larger articles such as tea kettles, coffee pots, and tankards could not have been made in any great quantity. It is probable that there is more so-called Queen Anne plate in exist-' ! ence today than was seen during the I period that created the style. NEW REFRIGERATOR : ICE-CREAM WITHOUT GAS OR ELECTRICITY 1 Silverdale, where neither electricity nor gas is available, is the first town ! in New Zealand to be supplied with an ice-cream cabinet that makes use of a petrol lamp. Recently Mr. G. L. Stead, for the j Electrolux Company, installed an icei cream cabinet for Mr. Green at Silverdale, and. in a few hours, from the time the petrol lamp was lighted, the motorless machine showed a temperature below freezing point. This is I a wonderful invention, and makes for refrigeration beyond the reaches of I electricity.

I STAIRCASES Frequent Mistakes Made in Treatment "In small houses the tendency is to tuck the staircase aw;ay in a corner I out of sight, and to utilise the space

that it would occupy for some other purpose, generally to give additional floor area to a hall or lounge. The tendency, indeed, is to simplify the staircase in every way, and to reduce It to a mere adjunct of utility,” states an English writer. “Nevertheless, with correct treatment, the staircase in even the most unpretentious of cottages can be made an interesting feature; and this, I think, should always be aimed at. It is, of course, a matter of planning and design. Just lately I visited a house that is quite charming in its elevation and arrangement of rooms, and particularly in the vistas that are to be obtained at different points from both doors and windows. But the staircase, which is of quite ordinary form, is brought down into the hall in full view of the front door in such a manner that the stairs almost seem to be a continuation of the doorstep. This treatment gives an impression of crudity at the very entrance which rather tends to detract from an otherwise delightfully-planned house. “The staircase with a solid balustrade formed of concrete, surmounted by a wooden hand rail, is one of the latest developments in the building of the labour-saving house. In such a staircase there are no interstices in which dust can collect, and the constant rubbing of the hand rail by those passing up and dowrf the stairs is, in itself, almost sufficient to dispense with the housemaid's attentions in this respect. “In a hall with a staircase of this kind which I saw recently, the walls are distempered in a cream colour, and the woodwork, including the stairs, skirting and doors are painted stone colour, the whole effect being bright and cheerful. “In its variety of material, methods of construction and decorative treatment, the modern staircase shows unfailing interest and often considerable beauty. At no time has the range of types been greater than It is today, for in addition to the period styles of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, there are almost inexhaustible possibilities in the evolution of a new style of domestic architecture suggested through the inherent qualities of modern materials, and the conditions imposed by modern methods of construction. “This does not mean, however, that the old-world style of house, with half-timbered walls and ceiling and Jacobean oak staircase, is ever iikely to lose its charm. Indeed, some of the new staircases in the Tudor style which I have seen recently have been among the most delightful in all my experience. The other day, for example, I saw an oak staircase which, in common with the oaken beams in the ceiling and other details in various rooms, had been brought down to a pleasing silver grey tone by liming. To harmonise with this silver grey background, a blue stair carpet was used. This staircase had been placed in an inner hall so as to be out of sight of the front door—an arrangement always to be secured where possible. “The bungalow has eliminated the staircase altogether; but it is gratifying to reflect that although much of the glory of the stairway has departed, careful thought is still being given to its treatment in the better class houses of two or more storeys, and that there are still among us designers who are not unmindful of the traditions of past centuries.”

TO CORRESPONDENTS In the columns of this page “Penates” will reply to queries. He will do his best to see that ail advice given is sound and free from prejudice. All inquiries will be welcomed, as they are usually of general interest.

TRIPLE TRAYS The triple tray is an up-to-date invention which provides convenience, j service and comfort in the home beyond that given by an ordinary onepurpose tray. Its first appearance is that of the usual tray with a handle at each side. If it is required for invalid use or the luxury of breakfast in bed, then a compact framework is unfolded and becomes two pairs of legs, so that the tray rests firmly upon the bed. If the invalid wishes to write j or is too languid to support her hook. ! the centre of the tray may he raised S and fixed at a suitable angle. ! Reading in comfort is also assured ; | when sitting in an armchair. .The ends of the tray extend to rest upon i the arms of the chair and provide acI commodation for cigarettes and cup j and saucer, at the same time as the middle is fixed at book-rest angle. The ! latter movement is optional, and the ends may be extended while the centre ; remains flat, which is the best posij lion if the user is at needlework or i playing patience. The tray may be had made in oak. j mahogany or walnut.