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The luxurious atmosphere suggested in this room is not as costly as it might seem. Shop around for the mirror on the dressing table. The triple mirror is priced according to size. The carpet rayon draperies and chintz may be what you choose, and there are luxurious qualities in carpets at fairly reasonable prices. If you want the mirror effect spend more on it and less on materials color contemporary furniture is now being designed along simple lines and is less severe than the pieces of recognize modern style. To the right is an example of a very attractive blond wood group which would fit charmingly into a small room. The proportions and even style, though it is simplified, recall Sheraton, a great cabinetmaker of the 18^th century. The wood however is the blond or bleached mahogany we find so attractive today.

Dressing table and windows: the dressing table of this group is similar to the ponderous of the 18^th century, of either French or English type, with the hinged mirror which may be closed to make a flat top. The deep center section that this gives is a handy place Read the rest of this entry »

Also modern building has something to do with it. In modern apartments –and lots of us live in them- ceilings are low; there are groups of casement windows, which are a joy; but there are objectionable breaks in the room caused by structural beams. These must be minimized by the use of the valances over the tops of the windows; use them in plain colors or stripes to give height. To some people contemporary decorating is a compromise between period and modern styles. There is some truth in this, but contemporary seems to me to be new colors and fabrics, used with greater simplicity, with period furniture. As I have often said, the modern have cleared away a lot of clutter for us and turned our taste toward straight forward furnishings. Therefore, contemporary decorating combines period furniture with new colors and new fabrics and such materials as mirrors and the new plastics, Lucite perhaps for tables or chairs. The room opposite is an example. Fine mahogany Chippendale beds, a massive mahogany bureau, a Sheraton bench before the dressing table, a crystal chandelier all in the 18^th century style, blend pleasantly with a draped dressing Read the rest of this entry »

Frames are invariably simple and frequently of light woods. Speaking in generalities, put together furnishings of the same sort and the result is a unified room. Inform yourself, however, of new trends in such matters as height of lamps for instance, which today are of large scale. They are a feature in decorating. Another point to watch is window treatment. Draperies are hung from ceiling to floor, due to the immense use of glass. Inside shutters, which have come from the hot, sunny climates of the country, are very smart, as well as useful. Modern windows are high and wide. When you need to increase either width or height it can be done by having the inside blind made higher or wider. The solid drapery hangs over the wall sections and leaves all of the light from the window exposed. Read the rest of this entry »