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CHAPTER VI
WINDOW SHADES AND AWNINGS
The first thing to consider in selecting window shades when furnishing
a house, is whether their colour harmonises with the exterior.
Keeping this point in mind, further limit your selection to those
colours and tones which harmonise with your colour schemes for the
interior. If you use white net or scrim, your shades must be white,
and if ecru net, your shades must be ecru. If the outside of your
house calls for one colour in shades and the interior calls for
another, use two sets. Your dark-green sun shades never interfere, as
they can always be covered by the inner set. Sometimes the dark green
harmonises with the colouring of the rooms.
A room often needs, for sake of balance, to be weighted by colour on
the window sides more than your heavy curtains (silk or cretonne)
contribute when drawn back; in such a case decorators use coloured
gauze for sash curtains in one, two or three shades and layers, which
are so filmy and delicate both in texture and colouring that they
allow air and light to pass through them, the effect being charming.
Another way to obtain the required colour value at your windows is the
revival of glazed linens, with beautiful coloured designs, made up
into shades. These are very attractive in a sunny room where the
strong light brings out the design of flowers, fruits or foliage.
Plate X shows a room in which this style of shade is used with great
success. It is to be especially commended in such a case as Plate X,
where no curtains are used at windows. Here the figured linen shade is
a deliberate contribution to the decorative scheme of the room and
completes it as no other material could.
Awnings can make or mar a house, give it style or keep it in the class
of the commonplace. So choose carefully with reference to the colour
of your house. The fact that awnings show up at a great distance and
never "in the hand," as it were, argues in favour of clear stripes, in
two colours and of even size, with as few extra threads of other
colours as possible.
PLATE XI
Shows a part of a fine, old Italian refectory table, and one of
the chairs, also antiques, which are beautifully proportioned and
made comfortable with cushions of dark red velvet, in colour like
curtains at window, which are of silk brocade.
The standard electric lamps throw the light up only. There are
four, one in each corner of the room, and candles light the
table.
The wall decoration here is a flower picture.
Corner of Dining-room in New York Apartment, Showing
Section of Italian Refectory Table and Italian Chairs, Both Antique
and Renaissance
All awnings fade, even in one season; green is, perhaps, the least
durable in the sun, yellows and browns look well the longest.
Fortunately an awning, a discouraging sight when taken down and in a
collapsed mass of faded canvas, will often look well when up and
stretched, because the strong light brings out the fresh colour of the
inside. Hence one finds these rather expensive necessities of summer
homes may be used for several seasons.
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