r this material--bright
or dull--is that if you would have your chintz _decorate_, be careful
not to use it too lavishly. If it is intended for curtains, then cover
only one chair with it and cover the rest in a solid colour. If you
want chintz for all of your chairs and sofa, make your curtains, sofa
cushions and lamp shades of a solid colour, and be sure that you take
one of the leading colours in the chintz. Next indicate your intention
at harmony, by "bringing together" the plain curtains or chairs, and
your chintz, with a narrow fringe or border of still another colour,
which figures in the chintz. Let us suppose chintz to be black with a
design in greens, mulberry and buff. Make your curtains plain
mulberry, edged with narrow pale green fringe with black and buff
in it, or should your chintz be grey with a design in faded blues and
violets and a touch of black, make curtains of the chintz, and cover
one large chair, keeping the sofa and the remaining chairs grey, with
the bordering fringe, or gimp, in one or two of the other shades, sofa
cushions and the lamp shades in blues and violets (lining lamp shades
with thin pink silk), and use a little black in the bordering fringe.

PLATE VIII

Shows an ideal mantel arrangement, faultless as a composition and
beautiful and rare in detail. The exquisite white marble mantel
is Italian, not French, of the time of Louis XVI.

Though the designs of this period are almost identical, one
quickly learns to detect the difference in feeling between the
work of the two countries. The Italians are freer, broader in
their treatment, show more movement and in a way more grace,
where the French work is more detailed and precise, hence at
times, by contrast, seems stilted and rigid.

Enchantingly graceful are the two candelabra, also Louis XVI,
while the central ornament is ideally chosen for size and design.

The dull gold frame of the mirror is very beautiful, and the
painting above the glass interesting and unusual as to subject
and execution.

The chair is a good example of Italian Louis XV.

[Illustration: _Example of a Perfect Mantel, Ornaments and Mirror_]

If you decide upon a very brilliant chintz use it only in one chair, a
screen, or in a valance over plain curtains with straps to hold them
back, or perhaps a sofa cushion. Whether a chintz is bright or dull,
its pattern is important. As wi