The seat cushions may match the draperies or may be in a harmonizing solid color. Informal rooms may have the color in the short curtains: figured red, for instance, at the windows and plain red for the seat cushions or vice versa. Or they may match. Single windows may have straight or looped back draperies. The draperies may have pinch pleated heading or may be hung from a wooden cornice, or from a straight or shaped valance made from the same or contrasting material. Other windows in the room should be handled in the same way, whether they are single or group windows. Continue reading »

Another type is the shallow bay window shown below. In many of the newer one story houses of ranch type, bamboo shades, in soft neutral tone of beige are both smart and practical. They may be raised or lowered to suit the needs of light. A bright afternoon sun is nicely screened, for instance, if they are lowered and, of course they are a protection at night. The group is full of suggestions: the placing of the modern two tier table the standard lamp, the sofa, the excellent, inexpensive and practical rug, with a slight pattern are all note worthy. The rug, a clean informal floor covering is a type which comes in many soft colorings and standard sizes and is a blend of wool and carpet rayon. Or where a more formal treatment is wishes in a colonial house, the suggestions given below could be followed. Or again over bamboo or Venetian blinds, use full length curtains of one of the rayon or chintz. Continue reading »

But since windows differ and need varying treatments, here are curtain arrangements for groups of windows. Group of windows should be treated as one. Two different types are shown on the opposite page. The double windows in the altogether delightful dining room with walls of green and white striped wallpaper (lower picture) offers all short of interesting and economical turns and twist in decorating. An inexpensive bamboo screen, such as is used for porches is hung on the window frame across both windows. It rolls up and down on a cord and the cost is comparatively small. The draperies are in a bold green and white pattern the green deeper than the stripe of the paper. For these good sunfast washable chintz or crash in fifty inch width is reasonably priced. Continue reading »