THE suggestions made in the following pages, are offered as such. No authority, however high, can fix rules which will be followed by those whose originality leads them to decorate and furnish their homes in good taste without regard to fashion.

The Hall

A very recent and trustworthy writer says: "The entrance of a house indicates the character of the entire building, the lower hall and vestibule often furnishing the key-note to the whole interior. This key-note addressed to the eye should be pitched low; there should be no striking brilliancy of color, although warm tones are admissible, but a leading up, as it were, to the richer hues and more elaborate adornments of the sheltered apartments."

Ordinary halls are too small for much display, if here were the place for display. Where the dimensions of the hall will permit, a hall table, made of such material as will suggest strength and durability, flanked on each side with chairs of like design, are not out of place. A small bracket, supporting an antique jar or other bric-a-brac, is often very appropriate, as is also a neat holder for whisp or brush, these being valuable adjuncts to any hall.

Fig. 63.

Where the hall is small, a mirror framed in such a way as to admit of pegs for hats and coats is, perhaps, as appropriate as can be wished. Fig. 63 gives a very pretty design. Such a design may be cut out with a scroll-saw or by your own carpenter, and ebonized according to the recipe given in this work, and furnished with a mirror, at little cost. Ebonized wood for such furniture is quite popular.

Fig. 64.

A more commodious, and of course, more costly, style of hat, coat, and umbrella rack, with mirror and drawers, is shown in Fig. 64.

The floor can be treated as the means and taste of the owner dictate. Tiles have been suggested already, but less costly material may be selected, as oil carpet, or Lineoleum, - a thick, durable covering resembling oil carpet, but made of ground cork. A plain or stained floor with a neat rug often makes a pretty appearance.

The Reception-Room, Parlor, And Library

The question of first importance in the furnishing of the drawing-room, parlor, or in fact any room, is whether the floor, ceilings, and walls are to be the background for decorative objects, or are themselves to furnish the decorative features. If the walls and ceilings are covered with costly and showy paper, and the floor carpeted with brilliant colors, no furniture, however costly, will show off to good effect, as opinions on the subjects are very decided. Then let this question first be settled before a single step is taken toward furnishing the room. Under chapters I to VII, will be found practical suggestions upon the treatment of walls, ceilings, etc.

Regarding carpets, much might be said and with little effect, as opinions on this subject are very decided. One who gets glimpses of many parlors, has observed that in the average home the carpet is too costly for the other furnishings of the room.