If this is unprotected it must be treated as a porch and only materials undamageable by weather employed. We shall therefore consider that which is properly a room, it being provided with glazed sash.

Let us get from such a practically out-door room all possible service - general lounging use and the serving of meals as often as convenient. Nevertheless, for the former purpose all traces of the latter should be absent. A gate-leg table in sensible dark oak, or, as will presently appear, preferably painted or lacquered in brilliant black, will supply a centre-table or may be stood back against the wall if there is dancing, or when room is required for other purposes. Japanese cocoa-matting or other such rugs with a black border will be excellent, accompanying these with a wicker settee and such easy chairs as the Chinese hour-glass and the very low extraordinarily deep wicker varieties. Luxurious cushions may be covered with something of the nature of the black-ground French linen with carmine-red and touches of cream and grey-blue shown in Plate 40. We read much of the cool colours for country use; there is an abundance of green outside; what is needed here is contrast. The black will hold down the red. On the table use crossed strips of heavy linen crash banded either with black or a strip of carmine, and place at the centre an attractive plant or bowl of congruously hued flowers.

PLATE 40. Black ground with flowers in gorgeous carmine red.

Smaller portions of design in cream and grey blue.

Three-fourths of breadth shown.

This table will of course answer in its season for the serving of meals, and dishes, linen and other requisites may be stored in an attractive cupboard or closed cabinet likewise in oak or brilliant black, set against the wall. On this may be placed a lamp or a few colourful odd ornaments. If a lamp is preferred, a Japanese bowl-lamp with wicker over the pottery will be appropriate. This might be of grey, cream or carmine-red and a Japanese paper shade to agree, with black edging. With the red lamp a grey shade will be best. An excellent lighting-facility is the lantern over an electric light appearing in Plate 59A.

All napery and china for outdoor use should be attractive but informal.

But let us supply an alternate colouring. Note, for instance, the strong, rich blue linen with black and white zigzag stripe shown in Plate 38. This would be admirable for cushions, and other details should then agree. But the shading for a light should never be blue, as its effect is ghastly: cream, linen-colour, yellow, or orange is there correct, though any of these may contain some decorative notes of blue.

PLATE 38. Linen white flowers on grey-blue background.

Notes of tan-brown and dark-brown.

Half breadth shown.