The long-handled Japanese fan, or the fan-shaped one, can be arranged on a background in some pretty pattern, like a wheel or cres- cent. The deep plush paper that comes with wall paper for decora- tion makes a rich and beautiful screen for a fire-place ; it looks the same as velvet, and is bought by the yard. This, with a wide border of paper, the same that is used for dados or friezes on the walls, is beau- tiful indeed. 12 178 HOUSE FURNISHING. DRAPERIES AND VALANCES. If heavy window curtains or portieres are unatainable, drapery effects are still possible. An embroidered curtain may run on a few feet of gilded gas-pipe in front of a low book-case. A bit of rich material, an old crape shawl, for instance, may be flung on an easel. An old scrap of Oriental embroidery, with its gleam of dull gold, may catch on the corner of the piano or a tall carved chair back. A Roman scarf may be forgotten on the shelf in some dark corner, or be tossed in haste on an ebony cabinet. A painted or embroidered silken curtain may hang beneath a bracket. In all these hanging masses a stiff material is to be avoided. Noth- ing serves better than the new wool draperies, which come very wide and in all the soft rich shades. By laying broad bands of contrasting but carefully chosen hues upon the body color and feather-stitching them on with large stitches of old gold or dull red, these draperies may be made to blend the discords of the most ill conceived rooms. Where the wall-paper is elaborate in pattern with a dark background, little curtains of a dark rich shade may be hung against the wall for a plaque or vase to rest against. These may be of a deep maroon, twenty-four inches one way, by eighteen the other. If this is divided diagonally from the upper right-hand corner to the lower left-hand one, the upper section being of self colored striped material, plush and silk, and the lower half of plain plush or silk, the effect is very good. This little curtain is held by brass nails at the corners, and runs on a rod or ribbon. Or a loosely held mass of dark olive or plum-colored satin may be placed against the wall, and a light-colored pitcher hung on it, with a pretty knot of the same material passed through the handle and over a large nail. Very effective Chimney Board Valances and curtain borders are made in appliques — a work which requires nice taste, but no great technical skill. The colors should accord with those in which the room is uphol- stered. The material is plush, and the appliques are satin in the hand- somest designs, but Canton flannel, with appliques and flannel are very pretty. The appliques are sewed down upon the edges by a nar- row silk passementerie ; the scallops at the edges are buttonholed and ornamented with fringe to match. Curtain draperies for- cabinets or a double row of shelves, are often cut diagonally from the upper right hand corner to the lower left hand corner, and the one-half of silk and the other half of plush. The effect of these is very good. They are put on with gilt-headed nails. These shelves are pretty to put under mirrors to hold an old vase or two, a plaque, a bronze piece or china plate. Mantel Lambrequins are considered a necessary article nowadays. A lovely one can be made of black satin with a design of strawberries, flowers, leaves and fruit of all kinds, buttonhole-stitched on.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

The long-handled Japanese fan, or the fan-shaped one, can be arranged on a background in some pretty pattern, like a wheel or crescent. The deep plush paper that comes with wall paper for decoration makes a rich and beautiful screen for a fire-place ; it looks the same as velvet, and is bought by the yard. This, with a wide border of paper, the same that is used for dados or friezes on the walls, is beautiful indeed. DRAPERIES AND VALANCES. If heavy window curtains or portieres are unatainable, drapery effects are still possible. An embroidered curtain may run on a few feet of gilded gas-pipe in front of a low book-case. A bit of rich material, an old crape shawl, for instance, may be flung on an easel. An old scrap of Oriental embroidery, with its gleam of dull gold, may catch on the corner of the piano or a tall carved chair back. A Roman scarf may be forgotten on the shelf in some dark corner, or be tossed in haste on an ebony cabinet. A painted or embroidered silken curtain may hang beneath a bracket. In all these hanging masses a stiff material is to be avoided. Nothing serves better than the new wool draperies, which come very wide and in all the soft rich shades. By laying broad bands of contrasting but carefully chosen hues upon the body color and feather-stitching them on with large stitches of old gold or dull red, these draperies may be made to blend the discords of the most ill conceived rooms. Where the wall-paper is elaborate in pattern with a dark background, little curtains of a dark rich shade may be hung against the wall for a plaque or vase to rest against. These may be of a deep maroon, twenty-four inches one way, by eighteen the other. If this is divided diagonally from the upper right-hand corner to the lower left-hand one, the upper section being of self colored striped material, plush and silk, and the lower half of plain plush or silk, the effect is very good. This little curtain is held by brass nails at the corners, and runs on a rod or ribbon. Or a loosely held mass of dark olive or plum-colored satin may be placed against the wall, and a light-colored pitcher hung on it, with a pretty knot of the same material passed through the handle and over a large nail. Very effective Chimney Board Valances and curtain borders are made in appliques — a work which requires nice taste, but no great technical skill. The colors should accord with those in which the room is upholstered. The material is plush, and the appliques are satin in the handsomest designs, but Canton flannel, with appliques and flannel are very pretty. The appliques are sewed down upon the edges by a narrow silk passementerie ; the scallops at the edges are buttonholed and ornamented with fringe to match. Curtain draperies for- cabinets or a double row of shelves, are often cut diagonally from the upper right hand corner to the lower left hand corner, and the one-half of silk and the other half of plush. The effect of these is very good. They are put on with gilt-headed nails. These shelves are pretty to put under mirrors to hold an old vase or two, a plaque, a bronze piece or china plate. Mantel Lambrequins are considered a necessary article nowadays. A lovely one can be made of black satin with a design of strawberries, flowers, leaves and fruit of all kinds, buttonhole-stitched on.

The household (of the Detroit free press)