The Art of Interior Decoration

The Art of Interior Decoration, by Grace Wood

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Title: The Art of Interior Decoration
Author: Grace Wood
Release Date: December 8, 2004 [EBook #14298]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE ART OF INTERIOR DECORATION
PLATE I
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 walls 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.
[Illustration: Portion of a Drawing Room, Perfect in Composition and Detail]

THE ART OF INTERIOR DECORATION
BY GRACE WOOD AND EMILY BURBANK
ILLUSTRATED
NEW YORK DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY 1917

DEDICATED TO A.M.M.
At the age of eighty, an inspiration to all who meet her, because she is the embodiment of what this book stands for; namely, fidelity to the principles of Classic Art and watchfulness for the vital new note struck in the cause of the Beautiful.

FOREWORD
If you would have your rooms interesting as well as beautiful, make them say something, give them a spinal column by keeping all ornamentation subservient to line.
Before you buy anything, try to imagine how you want each room to look when completed; get the picture well in your mind, as a painter would; think out the main features, for the details all depend upon these and will quickly suggest themselves. This is, in the long run, the quickest and the most economical method of furnishing.
There is a theory that no room can be created all at once, that it must grow gradually. In a sense this is a fact, so far as it refers to the amateur. The professional is always occupied with creating and recreating rooms and can instantly summon to mind complete schemes of decoration. The amateur can also learn to mentally furnish rooms. It is a fascinating pastime when one gets the knack of it.
Beautiful things can be obtained anywhere and for the minimum price, if one has a feeling for line and colour, or for either. If the lover of the beautiful was not born with this art instinct, it may be quickly acquired. A decorator creates or rearranges one room; the owner does the next, alone, or with assistance, and in a season or two has spread his or her own wings and worked out legitimate schemes, teeming with individuality. One observes, is pleased with results and asks oneself why. This is the birth of Good Taste. Next, one experiments, makes mistakes, rights them, masters a period, outgrows or wearies of it, and takes up another.
Progress is rapid and certain in this fascinating amusement,--study--call it what you will, if a few of the laws underlying all successful interior decoration are kept in mind.
These are:
HARMONY
in line and colour scheme;
SIMPLICITY
in decoration and number of objects in room, which is to be dictated by usefulness of said objects; and insistence upon
SPACES
which, like rests in music, have as much value as the objects dispersed about the room.
Treat your rooms like "still life," see to it that each group, such as a table, sofa, and one or two chairs make a "composition," suggesting comfort as well as beauty. Never have an isolated chair, unless it is placed against the wall, as part of the decorative scheme.
In preparing this book the chief aim has been clearness and brevity, the slogan of our day!
We give a broad outline of the historical periods in furnishing, with a view to quick reference work.
The thirty-two illustrations will be analysed for the practical instruction of the reader who may want to furnish a house and is in search