Evening Star Newspaper, September 25, 1930, Page 62

12 % PAPERT PRAGES .. HOME OWNER Finds Furnishing of Local Dwellings Reveals High Cultural Level. ASHINGTON homes reveal a higher level of good taste than those in most cities of the country, in the opinion of a nationally known authority on furniture and decoration. “Because of the high cultural level of the average Government worker, and because of the many surrounding sources of inspiration, such as Mount Vernon and the Lee Mansion at Arling- ton, Washingtonians have surprisingly attractive homes,” he sald during a trip to this city last week. “The homes I have visited here in- dicate that good taste predominates throughout the city. Attractive fur- nishings are not so much a matter of the amount of money expended on them as they are of the intelligent thought put into them.” D. C. Heritage Cited. Even the row houses here are far superior to the group houses of other cities, he pointed out. Instead of monotonous rows of brownstone or brick-front homes, there is a refresh- ing and intelligent variation. “It is Washington's heritage to choose attractive furnishings,” he continued, “It was in this section of the country that the finest of Georgian styles first appeared. American Chippendale blos- somed into its full glory here. The vas estates in the surrounding com- munities were owned by men who ap- preciated gracious backgrounds. The Colonial styles here have a charm and dignity which were impossible of achievement in the first New England gettlements. Those early American creations, simple and sturdy as they are, lack the distinction of the de- signs of the Federal era in and about ‘Washington. “A score or so of years ago, I am told, } it was necessary for Washingtonians to send out of the city for furniture which met their requirements. This situation has been changed entirely to- day. The stores of the Capital contain the choicest pieces made by American manufacturers, and the decoration ad- vice obtainable at these places is not to be improved upon elsewhere.” Room for Improvement. “While Washington does surpass other cities, there is still a great op- mity for its population to improve f,” it was pointed out. “In nearly every home I have seen the doors of rooms were closed. I am cer- tain that this was because the home- makers felt that these rooms, fur- nished with relics of by-gone days, did not measure up to other furniture in other rooms. “Recent surveys made by the Na- tional Retail Furniture Association and the National Association of Furniture Manufacturers show that retail furni- ture prices have hit rock bottom. They at the lowest level since 1915. In- uch as manufacturers haye cut their #'8 %o the bone, there is little chance they will . ‘The last three West Coast Merchants Rent Parking Space At Nominal Charge A merchants’ parking associa- tion in a West Cout'clty has provided five parking lots on which more than 30,000 cars a month can be handled at an average cost of 5 cents each, ac- cording to an account in the Retail Ledger. Some of the lots permit free parking for one hour and some for two. Traffic rules are rigidly enforced and a charge made for additional time. The tickets are validated by member stores, each being charg- ed according to the number of tags it validates. No down-town department store is over a block and a half from one of the lots. The association, which has 70 members at present, is open to any local merchant. Practically the only office expense is said to be for the salary of one clerk. It is claimed that the parking pro- visions have made it possible for greater numbers to shop in down- town districts. COLONAL PIEGES FIND POPULAR LSE Simple and Charming De- signs Used to Convert Attic Into Den. MERICAN furniture, in design, reminiscent of the early colo- nial times, finds a particular use in the popular movement | to convert attics and basement rooms into dens, play rooms and lounging Tooms. Pine, maple and cherry in these sim- ple and charming designs are quite in keeping with an insulated partition so inexpensively erected as to make these spaces attractive. Many of the owners of the smaller homes in Washington are finding that they have neglected possibilities for the use of these inexpensive furnishings. Hooked rugs, ships, lanterns, inexpensive cretonne and chintzes in American pat- terns add a touch of color against the neutral background of the rough wall materials which is very pleasing. Museum Displays Pleces. In the designs of these cruder pieces one finds a wealth of history as the fur- niture manufacturers in recent years have turned their attention to the third floor of the Metropolitan Museum, American wing. The authentic New England furniture in the crude settings, brought to the museum and made a part of the structure, are characteristic of life at that time. These pieces of furniture have nearly all been repro- duced, therefore, in addition to being suitable in design and construction for attic and basement dens, a bit of history is available, so that such a room, even though inexpensively constructed, can acquire a charming atmosphere. Naturally pine, maple and cherry, without the high polish of the woods ths of 1930 will offer the consumer greatest number of cents' worth of furniture for the dollar that Peter 2. Public has had since the war.” the becom! long the hoydenish bob and the passing of grotesque and freakish furniture les are evidences of the return of Ameri- can taste from the radical byways, t0 the sane American traditions. most popular in period furnitu: The eighteenth century saw the golden age of furniture design. Chippendale, Hep- plewhite, Sheraton and the brothers Adam created their immortal furniture in that time. The Louis XV and Louls XVI styles in Prance appeared at the same time. American designs adapted the European forms, and since that era nearly 70 per cent of all formal igns may be traced to that age. FURNITURE TWINS REPORTED POPULAR Dealers Find Buyers Are Seeking “Two of a Kind” in Home Equipment Plan. One of the fashion trends in home to be displayed and empha- sized at the National Home Furnis] Style Show, to be opened here Septem- ber 26 and continued through October 8, is the increasing popularity of twin Ppieces of furniture. ‘The vogue in this style of furnishings started at the Summer furniture mar- kets and has been gaining in favor, deaiers report. Pler cabinets are an instance of twin feces. Two of these cabinets, identical #ize and styie, may be effectively used ” home. On either side of S they add a decorative note and inorease the usefulness of the room. ‘They may aiso find a place on either side of a window or doorway. A pair of console tables will enhance the appearance of the dining room, the living room or the hall. These may be of the very simplest line and design or the more elaborate styles. Often the hall is too small to accommodate & large table, but may easily have two| small ones in it. Frequently the beauty | and efficiency of the dinirig room may be increased by a pair of consoles. Twin lamps add to the charm of the lgbting equipment of the living room or the bed room, experts report. These may be either floor lamps, junior lamps or table lamps. A pair of end tables may be used at| the end of the sofa or davenport and | & pair of lamps placed on them. Twin chairs add a decorative note to the living room, and twin beds have long| been popular because of their comfort and attractiveness. These and many other twin pleces will be shown at the ' style show. 1 GIRLS APPRECIATE HOME | Those at “Sweetheart Age” Desire | Neat Furnishing i used in later designs, do not show scratches and scars to the same extent, 80 that when the children use these bemd one may feel that little harm can lone. ‘Wagon Seat Forms Table. Tllustrations are seen in one of the more recent” Star Model Homes where an old-fashioned wagon seat is used as a cigarette or coffee table and where many pieces have interesting - A little desk by the door is in the basement shop of the Metropolitan Mu- seum but in such bad condition that it Belie! type and opmrf to perpetuate the de- sign. an American manufacturer ob- tained permission to measure up the old worm-eaten parts and reproduce uwwduk. so that it could go in ry. < CORNER CUPBOARD BACK IN VOGUE ONCE AGAIN Quaint Old Piece of Grandmother’s Day Is Now Proud Container of Dishes or Books. “Never put a plece of furniture in & corner unless il is made to be put there” is the rule laid down by an au- thority on furnishing. ‘The corner cupboard, that quaint old iece which served as a catch-all in the useholds of our grandmothers, has come into vogue again and is now the proud container of everything from fine china to rare volumes. It is easy to understand why this plece of furniture is again so popular. The utility of it | simply cannot be overlooked. There is | no room so small that will not accom- modate & few shelves across one corner. | And there is no house or apartment so spacious and roomy that all the corners can be wasted. Reproductions of corner | cupboards in several period styles are seen and those of the early American type are particularly attractive. | ‘Then there is the corner seat—if you | must put something in the corner and do not need a cupboard. This gives an | opportunity for getting in some quaint | effects in upholstery material, or in| bright and unusual sofa pillows. { lgomer arrangements of several pleces can be effectively worked out for the, fairly spacious corner. A kneehole desk. a mirror hung above it, a ladder- | back chair and a lamp make a delight- ful group for a hall or living room cor- ner. Just be careful not to put any of the pieces right in the corner or directly across 1t, | HOLLYWOOD HOUSES | SHOW STAR'S TYPES Clara Bow's Home Reflects Her | Colorful Youth—Arlen’s Bunga- | low Reveals Love of Comfort. ' | Hollywood, home of movie stars, offers | an _interesting study in home decora- | tions. The furnishings of the homes | reveal the interesting personalities of those living within them. Clara Bow’s home reflects a_bright, gay, colorful youthfulness. Richard Arlen's Spanish adobe bungalow repre- sents the warmth and love of comfort, | as well as the good taste of Arlen and It's when they reach the “sweetheart | his wife, Jobyna Ralston, also of the age” that girls begin to appreciate the value of better homes, sociologists say. “Each year a million and a half are added to the throng of young people. It’s at that age when the home in- fluence is most important. Don't think for & moment that your daughter is satisfied if you have a moth-eaten living room suite and a threadbare, faded rug. She isn't. —_—— Chair and Lamp Are Cozy. A chair and a floor lamp often form a cozy, rather secluded corner group. If | flickers. The dainty Fay Wray has chosen _eighteenth century styles. Charles Mack, carkest of the Two*Black Crows, has furnished his house with the dynamic modernist furniture, DESIGN DRAWS EYE Radio Cabinets Built More and More on Plan of Period Pieces. Radlo is now furniture, and the pur- chaser should pay as much attention to #the corner needs something and you | the design of the cabinet as he does ' ican's tell just what, try a tall screen (with a chair and small table in front of furnitute other w! the mechanical perfection of the set. Cabinets are being constructed more more on the plan of fur-~ and hould be taken that line and wood in home furnishings. THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1930. At Mayer & Co. are Sl'\own tl'\e TRADITIONAL STYLES of furniture Wlliclrl live on an(l on In tlle Mount Vernon Home of Washington 18 tlfxe original of the Sideboard of this Group 1930 may well turn back the clock to the 18th Century for charm- ing style and beautiful creations in furniture. Part of an 18th Century type Dining Group is illustrated above. This is fashioned from handsome mahoganies. Especially interesting is the Side- board—a design of about 1780—which is a reproduction of one now in the home of General George Washington, Mount Vernon, Virginia. Ten pieces in this Dining Group with rare and unusual beauty of woods and craftsmanship that bespeaks the skill of the artisan who made them. Complete, $1,250. Shown now at Mayer @ Co. Many other Ginely Made 18th Century type Groups Popularly “Priced PRECIOUS AMERICAN HIGHBOY OF ABOUT 1770 The magnificent American Highboy illustrated at the right can be only partially appreciated from the pic- ture. The original of this piece was made in Phila- delphia about 1770, and is an outstanding example of an American-made highboy of Chippendale influence. The typically Chippendale brasses are most unusual and were made specially for this fine reproduction. Until 1921, the original highboy was owned by the Van Pelt family of Philadelphia. It was sold from the collection of Howard Riefsnyder at the American Art Galleries, New York, in April, 1929, and brought the record price of $44,000. This reproduction in mahogany is at Mayer % Co. now at the modest price of $875. LIFETIME) Seventl'l Street fURNITURE R.eProcluctions And A(laptations That Wil Interest You in the Mayer & Co. Exhibits To choose furniture that will be good taste always, your selection should be based on true art and true Period inspira- tion. A selection based on these principles will insure lifelong satisfaction and style of unending charm. The reputation of the store should be considered, too, when I, you make your selections. Englis]‘l - - Tudor Jacobean - - Qak Cromwellian -~ - William a.ml Mary -~ Queen Anne -~ - Wulnut Georgian - ~ Sheraton -~ ~ Hepplew]mite - -Adam - - Cl’xippemlale - - Phyfe - - Empire ~ ~ in Beautiful Mahoganies - Directoire - - Baroque - - Rococo - - French Provincial - - Nco-classic Our Studio of Interior “Decoration You are assured of correct selection at Mayer 8 Co. Including our staff of specialists in interior decoration, are more than 20 graduate decorators at Mayer % Co. to aid you with your color schemes, arrangements and selections. %ree “Parking Service No parking difficulties at Mayer ¥ Co. Leave your car at Ott's Garage, 621 D Street, without charge, while you shop here. This is a Mayer 8 Co. service.