The present writer yields to no one in his love for beautiful period furniture (though not as too often employed) but is nevertheless emphatic in stating that in many cases an undue proportion of the funds available for furnishing has been spent upon it to the detriment of the complete result. As has already been said, simple furniture is often far more practical, is, when well designed, beautiful and is frequently more appropriate for particular purposes than elaborate pieces.

It is also to be remembered that seating furniture is but an attractive framework, and that the beauty of the article as a whole is therefore dependent quite as much upon the covering as upon the woodwork. It is upon textiles that simple furnishing depends for its charm, and it does not depend in vain. Probably four-fifths of all the Americans who buy simple furniture do so not because they want it but because they must. They have not realised what the writer hopes to show them - how attractive interiors may be made where it is used. The result in Plate 2, for instance, is scarcely at all dependent upon the pieces of furniture there appearing. It is asked that when we are done with even this present most inexpensive mode of furnishing the reader try to visualize it to himself. When he has finished Part II and has seen what may be accomplished by the use of the various grades of Modern furnishing, he will probably join the other fifth in recognising that in itself it is an excellent mode.

Let us see, therefore, what is available in the direction of simple, modern, non-period furniture.

What is said in the foreword is carefully re-iterated here with emphasis. Mere general description and "chat" regarding that exceedingly various thing Modern, simple furniture, is of no value whatever to the householder. The writer was therefore compelled to be concrete and to show in these pages actual existing furniture. Numerous other styles will be found in the stock of one dealer or another, and if these be preferred they may be purchased by the householder. Even in that case the examples here illustrated will afford an excellent general guide, and if these be considered the more desirable they may be bought; but it is to be understood that they are given for the sake of helpfulness to the reader and that he is perfectly untramelled in the exercise of his personal choice.

In England some special furniture has been designed for the meeting of present-day needs; but, as suggestive colour-schemes have also been furnished for their use, consideration of these and other pieces will be deferred till rather later, so that all may be given attention together: we will therefore proceed to American products.