the colours in the room. This can
be done through the piano factory; but in the case of redecorating a
room, one can easily get some independent artist to do this work, a
man who has made a study of the decorations on old spinets in
palaces, private mansions and museums. Some artists have been very
successful in converting what was an inartistic piece of furniture as
to size, outline and colour, into an object which became a pleasing
portion of the colour scheme because in proper relation to the whole.

You can always make an ebony or mahogany piano case more in harmony
with its setting by covering it, when not in use, with a piece of
beautiful old brocade, or a modern reproduction.

PLATE XIII

Another side of same Italian Louis XVI salon. The tea-table is a
modern painted convenience, the two vases are Italian pharmacy
jars and the standard for electric lights is a modern-painted
piece.

[Illustration: _Another Side of Same Italian Louis XVI Salon_]

CHAPTER IX

TREATMENT OF DINING-ROOM BUFFETS AND DRESSING-TABLES

A dining-room buffet requires the same dignity of treatment demanded
by a mantelpiece whether the silver articles kept on it be of great or
small intrinsic value. Here, as in every case, appropriateness
dictates the variety of articles, and the observance of the rule that
there shall be no crowding nor disorder in the placing of articles
insures that they contribute decorative value; in a word, the size of
your buffet limits the amount of silver, glass, etc., to be placed
upon it.

The variety and number of articles on a dressing-table are subject to
the same two laws: that is, every article must be useful and in line
and colour accord with the deliberate scheme of your room, and there
must be no crowding nor disorder, no matter how rare or beautiful the
toilet articles are.

CHAPTER X

TREATMENT OF WORK TABLES, BIRD CAGES, DOG BASKETS AND FISH GLOBES

Every bedroom planned for a woman, young or old, calls for a work
table, work basket or work bag, or all three, and these furnish
opportunities for additional "flowers" in your room; for we insist
upon regarding accessories as opportunities for extra colour notes
which harmonise with the main colour scheme and enliven your interior
quite as flowers would, cheering it up--and, incidentally, its
inmates! Apropos of this, it was only the other day that some one
remarked in our hearing, "This room is so