tion: PRINTED LINEN CURTAINS OVER ROSE-COLORED SILK]
Many women do not feel the need of inside curtains. Indeed, they are not
necessary in all houses. They are very attractive when they are well
hung, and they give the window a distinction and a decorative charm that
is very valuable. I am using many photographs that show the use of
inside curtains. You will observe that all of these windows have glass
curtains of plain white muslin, no matter what the inside curtain may
be.
Chintz curtains are often hung with a valance about ten or twelve inches
deep across the top of the window. These valances should be strung on a
separate rod, so that the inside curtains may be pulled together if need
be. The ruffled valance is more suitable for summer cottages and
bedrooms than for more formal rooms. A fitted valance of chintz or
brocade is quite dignified enough for a drawing-room or any other.
In my bedroom I have used a printed linen with a flat valance. This
printed linen is in soft tones of rose and green on a cream ground. The
side curtains have a narrow fluted binding of rose-colored silk. Under
these curtains are still other curtains of rose-colored shot silk, and
beneath those are white muslin glass curtains. With such a window
treatment the shot silk curtains are the ones that are drawn together at
night, making a very soft, comforting sort of color arrangement. You
will observe in this photograph that the panels between doors and
windows are filled with mirrors that run the full length from the
molding to the baseboard. This is a very beautiful setting for the
windows, of course.
It is well to remember that glass curtains should not be looped back.
Inside curtains may be looped when there is no illogical break in the
line. It is absurd to hang up curtains against the glass and then draw
them away, for glass curtains are supposed to be a protection from the
gaze of the passers-by. If you haven't passers-by you can pull your
curtains to the side so that you may enjoy the out-of-doors. Do not lose
sight of the fact that your windows are supposed to give you sunshine
and air; if you drape them so that you get neither sunshine nor air you
might as well block them up and do away with them entirely.
To me the most amazing evidence of the advance of good taste is the
revival of chintzes, printed linens, cottons and so forth, of the
Eighteenth Century. Ten years ago it was almost impossible to find a
well-designed creto
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