me, a very wonderful one, is being worked out on the plan
suggested, that is, the first floor is decorated in the period of the
exterior of the house, while the personal rooms on the upper floors
reflect, to a certain extent, the personality of their occupants.
Remember there must always be a certain relationship between all the
rooms in one suite, the relationship indicated by lines and a
background of the same, or a harmonising colour-scheme.

CHAPTER II

HOW TO CREATE A ROOM

One so often hears the complaint, "I could not possibly set out alone
to furnish a room! I don't know anything about _periods_. Why, a Louis
XVI chair and an Empire chair are quite the same to me. Then the
question of antiques and reproductions--why any one could mislead me!"

If you have absolutely no interest in the arranging or rearranging of
your rooms, house or houses, of course, leave it to a decorator and
give your attention to whatever does interest you. On the other hand,
as with bridge, if you really want to play the game, you can learn it.
The first rule is to determine the actual use to which you intend
putting the room. Is it to be a bedroom merely, or a combination of
bedroom and boudoir? Is it to be a formal reception-room, or a
living-room? Is it to be a family library, or a man's study? If it is
a small flat, do you aim at absolute comfort, artistically achieved,
or do you aim at formality at the expense of comfort?

If you lean toward both comfort and formality, and own a country house
and a city abode, there will be no difficulty in solving the problem.
Formality may be left to the town house or flat, while during
week-ends, holidays and summers you can revel in supreme comfort.

Every man or woman is capable of creating comfort. It is a question of
those deep chairs with wide seats and backs, soft springs, thick,
downy cushions, of tables and bookcases conveniently placed, lights
where you want them, beds to the individual taste,--double, single, or
twins!

The getting together of a period room, one period or periods in
combination, is difficult, especially if you are entirely ignorant of
the subject. However, here is your cue. Let us suppose you need, or
want, a desk--an antique desk. Go about from one dealer to the other
until you find the very piece you have dreamed of; one that gives
pleasure to you, as well as to the dealer. Then take an experienced
friend to look at it. If you have every reason to suppos