HOME ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19154, 21 August 1930, Page 3

HOME ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION NOTES.

Contributed.) In spite of the f'r.ct that the weather on the evening of Friday, August 8, was such as to make “one’s ain rireaide” even more delightful than usual, a very lnrge audience assembled to listen to Miss Cherry Smith’s illuminating discourse on the “House Beautiful.” The stage of the Y.M.C.A. concert hall is not exactly the foundation one would choose upon which to arrange a boudoir, but with the aid of .. cleverly arrange*? couches, cushions, armchairs, footstools, dressing-tables with crystal iittings. gay cretonnes, beautiful rugs and lovely bowlfuls of roses and licac. Miss Smith succeeded in creating one which tempted every woman present to break the commandment against coveting one’s neighbour’s property. Miss Wardle introduced Miss Smith and said that, now spring cleaning was looming so closely ahead, we were all particularly anxious to get new ideas about home decoration. Miss Smith said that the furniture of a home had such a tremendous effect on the life, comfort, happiness and health of its inmates that it Is worth talcing a good deal of trouble to get it just right. A home may be beautifully furnished without a great deal of expenditure: it is possible to combine comfort and effect at a moderate cost. If money is no object and you can have everything bright and new your task is an easy one, but a great deal can be done to freshen up a room without discarding all your old furniture. In buying cretonnes to re-cover chnlrs and cushions be sure to choose a colour that will tone with the furniture that must be retained Remember that lack of balance always results In lack of harmony. With a giddily gay carpet you must have more quiet tints for cretonne and Care and thought should be given to the exterior of windows; different coloured curtains for different rooms, seen from the outside, give a patchy effect. Many people think that to get good effect** with curtains you must spend lavishly, but this is a great mistake. Simple dainty muslin and organdie curtains always look pretty and give a good exterior effect. The modern rods on which curtains run vith the slightest touch are very superior to those on which you have to give a strong pull. When starting to furnish, begin with the carpet and build up from it. It is best to have the fireplace a neutral tint because then there is no trouble if you want to change the colour of other furniture. It is a good plan to have the coverings of the furniture bring out one tone of the carpet. Be careful to get harmonising tints in your curtains and cushions, and be restrained in ornamentation generally. Rack of care and taste in this particular may spoil your whole room. The trend of modern taste is towards lovely colourings and. .simplicity. It is possible to furnish a modern fivo-roomed house for £l5O. The hall ma£ have the floor stained and a hair, cord or felt *ug. A cheap half-moon table and a chair costing at least £3 will also be necessary. The diningroom may have a rug carpet, and will need little else except table, chairs and curtains. The general Jiving room is the most important room in the house and its furniture must have the best of springing even if you have to use ciieap floor covering. For the walls c.h iose a paper with not much pattern, or have tinted walls. These latter make ir so much easier to put your other things together. Bedrooms must be furnished

to suit the taste of those who are going? to use them. The kitchen should Im cheerful and bright. Paint a bit on your own. and see what a brighteningeffect clean fresh paint lias. In reply’ to questions. Miss Smith saitf that under any carpet the best and thickest of floor underfelt should b« used. The front outside of your house should show all the same colour at the windows. Organdie wears better tlutn voile and is cheaper. Curtains should not be ironed across, always straight down. Those who buy expensive futurist carpets would find it only a passing phase and would regret their purchase. At the conclusion of her nddress. Mis* Smith was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. The next public meeting of the H.E.A* will be held on the evening of Thursday (not Friday), September 11, when Miss Gee will give a talk on “The Spring Hat.” All communications Intended for this column should be addressed to Miss Saunders, 69, May's Road, kapanaL