The first step is to determine precisely the sort of furnishing desired, or possible. There are three modes in which the home of moderate dimensions may be treated:

I. The Modern Style

This is a thoroughly practical and in its simpler form inexpensive yet satisfactory mode, suitable for either the house or apartment, and where well managed results in a home of charm and beauty as well as usefulness and sterling wearing qualities. It is a very adaptable style that may be made fully expressive of one's tastes and individuality; and it is also exceedingly "various", so that there is no likelihood of premises furnished in this manner tiresomely resembling others treated in the same style.

The furniture employed is simple in character but of excellent design, and the textiles used are inexpensive but beautiful in colour and pattern. Overcrowding is strictly avoided, and, the ideal being simplicity and charm, the home is easily cared for and drudgery becomes unnecessary. Certainly this manner of furnishing has much to recommend it.

PLATE 2. AN INEXPENSIVE LIVING-ROOM IN MODERN STYLE.

DESIGNED AND PAINTED BY THE AUTHOR.

The effect is in no way dependent upon the furniture and nearly every family will already have such simple pieces as those employed in the back of the room.

Colour-Scheme Of Blue, Rose, And Buff

See pages 64-6 and 147-9 (See Plate 2). But the Modern method is also capable of affording homes of little if any less elegance than the period styles, and this phase of the mode has likewise, therefore, received extensive attention and will be found more fully developed by the present writer then has hitherto been done.

The style is also capable of supplying much novelty (Plate 3). The whole system is fully described and treated in Part II of this book, and in three grades, with detailed directions as to its management, and illustrations are given of the work of those who have made a specialty of designing interiors and furniture in this style.

PLATE 3. A NOVEL DINING-ROOM TREATMENT IN MODERN STYLE, CARRIED OUT IN A NEW YORK CITY APARTMENT.

Colour-scheme, cream, grey, tan, and emerald green.

The Aschermann Studio, New York.

II. Liberal Period Furnishing Of Modest Elegance

The word "liberal" as here applied is a new term. Period furnishing in past years was considered as being a close reproduction of the style current during some particular epoch in some one country. As the walls were an intrinsic part of, and indeed the basis for, such treatment, and as they were, with some exceptions, panelled or made ornamental in other expensive manners, it is plain that it is difficult or impossible to carry out this project under many existing modern conditions. Furthermore, the decorative influences which produced a certain style were not confined to one country but spread through other civilised nations, so that a narrow adherence to the mode of any one is unnecessary and productive of monotony. "Liberal" Period furnishing therefore indicates a broader outlook and an adaptation of this method to the conditions of to-day, not forgetting the principles, characteristics, spirit, colour and design of the particular period chosen as best suiting our tastes and desires (Plate 5).

PLATE 4. LIBERAL PERIOD FURNISHING IN A REMODELLED FARM HOUSE IS PENNSYLVANIA.

By Courtesy of Mellor & Meigs, Architects.

Central table, Italian; Gate-leg table, English; Joint stool, Pennsylvania German; and Chairs, American.

SIMPLE PERIOD FURNISHING IN BREAKFAST-ROOM OF AN OLD FARM HOUSE AT LANGHORNE PENNSYLVANIA.

Remodelled by Duhring, Okie & Ziegler.

PLATE 5. A FINE EXAMPLE OF NEO-CLASSIC LIBERAL PERIOD FURNISHING.

The table at left is of Sheraton type: the chair and table at right are Italian eighteenth century.

Howard Major, Architect and Decorator.

In all past ages there undoubtedly were homes such as we are now considering - the smaller houses, made "beautiful within," but in a far less expensive and less ornate style than the palaces, châteaux, villas, and "seats" which have been preserved. Such homes of modest elegance may be realised to-day, and the best methods of treatment will be given and illustrated in Part III.

III. Ornate Period Furnishing

Size is not the determining factor in elegance. There are those of cultivated tastes and means abundant to gratify them who may prefer to live in apartments or houses of modest dimensions; and with the difficulties of securing adequate service these are likely to increase in number. There is no logical reason why these homes should not be in accordance with the wishes of their owners, provided that overcrowding with artistic objects is avoided and the furniture chosen is proportionate to the size of the premises. Such furnishing will also, therefore, be treated in the present volume, as in many cases it may be successfully carried out by the householder. If elaborate wall-treatments are decided upon then the services of an able interior decorator are required, and, in order to familiarise himself with the various details, and so be capable of intelligent co-operation with the decorator, a person contemplating such work should study "The Practical Book of Interior Decoration," wherein all styles of decoration are fully treated. Much general information of the sort is nevertheless given here.