There is something unusually exquisite about this composition. You will discover at a glance perfect balance, repose-line, everywhere, yet with it infinite grace and a winning charm. One can imagine a tea tray brought in, a table placed and those two attractive chairs drawn together so that my lady and a friend may chat over the tea cups.

The mirror is an Italian Louis XVI.

The sconces, table and chairs, French.

The vases, Italian, all antiques.

A becoming mellow light comes through the shade of deep cream Italian parchment paper with Louis XVI decorations.

It should be said that the vases are Italian medicine jars - literally that. They were once used by the Italian chemists, for their drugs, and some are of astonishing workmanship and have great intrinsic value, as well as the added value of age and uniqueness.

The colour scheme is as attractive as the lines. The walk are grey, curtains of green and grey, antique taffeta being used, while the chairs have green silk on their seats and the table is of green and faded gold. The green used is a wonderfully beautiful shade.

Portion of a Drawing Perfect in Composion Detail

I Portion of a Drawing-room, Perfect in Composition and Detail (Frontispiece) . . vi

II Bedroom in Country House. Modern Painted Furniture...........7

III Suggestion for Treatment of a Very Small Bedroom............13

IV A Man's Office in Wall Street ............................21

V A Corner of the Same Office................................29

VI Another View of the Same Office.....................37

VII Corner of a Room, Showing Painted Furniture, Antique and Modern ...............................45

VIII Example of a Perfect Mantel, Ornaments and Mirror...........................................................57

IX Dining-room in Country House, Showing Modern Painted Furniture .... 65

X Dining-room Furniture, Italian Renaissance, Antique...............75

XI Corner of Dining-room in New York Apartment, Showing Section of Italian Refectory Table and Italian Chairs, both Antique and Renaissance in style..........................85

XII An Italian Louis XVI Salon in a New York Apartment..........93

XIII Another Side of the Same Italian Louis XVI Salon...........101

XIV A Narrow Hall Where Effect of Width is Attained by Use of Tapestry with Vista . 109

XV Venetian Glass, Antique and Modern............ 117

XVI Corner of a Room in a Small Empire Suite. 125

XVII An Example of Perfect Balance and Beauty in Mantel Arrangement.....159

XVIII Corner of a Drawing-room, Furniture Showing Directoire Influence.....169

XIX Entrance Hall in New York Duplex Apartment. Italian Furniture.....179

XX Combination of Studio and Living-room in New York Duplex Apartment ...................187

XXI Part of a Victorian Parlour in One of the Few Remaining New York Victorian Mansions . . . ......217

XXII Two Styles of Day-beds, Modern Painted .. 229

XXIII Boudoir in New York Apartment. Painted Furniture, Antique and Reproductions.... 239

XXIV Example of Lack of Balance in Mantel Arrangement ............................ 247

XXV Treatment of Ground Lying Between House and Much Travelled Country Road ........255

XXVI An Extension Roof in New York Converted into a Balcony........263

XXVII A Common-place Barn Made Interesting....273

XXVIII Narrow Entrance Hall of a New York Antique Shop.........281

XXIX Example of a Charming Hall Spoiled by Too Pronounced a Rug.......297

XXX A Man's Library........307

XXXI A Collection of Empire Furniture, Ornaments, and China ..........319

XXXII Italian Reproductions in Pottery After Classic Models.........333

"Those who duly consider the influence of the fine-arts on the human mind, will not think it a small benefit to the world, to diffuse their productions as wide, and preserve them as long as possible. The multiplying of copies of fine work, in beautiful and durable materials, must obviously have the same effect in respect to the arts as the invention of printing has upon literature and the sciences: by their means the principal productions of both kinds will be forever preserved, and will effectually prevent the return of ignorant and barbarous ages."

Josiah Wedgwood: Catalogue of 1787.

One of the most joyful obligations in life should be the planning and executing of beautiful homes, keeping ever in mind that distinction is not a matter of scale, since a vast palace may find its rival in the smallest group of rooms, provided the latter obeys the law of good line, correct proportions, harmonious colour scheme and appropriateness: a law insisting that all useful things be beautiful things.