The Art of Interior Decoration

133 Pages·2012·0.499 MB·English

by  Grace Wood

1
CHAPTER I.
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER III.
CHAPTER IV.
CHAPTER V.
CHAPTER VI.
CHAPTER VII.
CHAPTER VIII.
CHAPTER IX.
CHAPTER X.
CHAPTER XI.
CHAPTER XII.
CHAPTER XIII.
CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XV.
CHAPTER XVI.
CHAPTER XVII.
CHAPTER XVIII.
CHAPTER XIX.
CHAPTER XX.
CHAPTER XXI.
CHAPTER XXII.
CHAPTER XXIII.
CHAPTER XXIV.
CHAPTER XXV.
CHAPTER XXVI.
CHAPTER XXVII.
CHAPTER XXVIII.
CHAPTER XXIX.
CHAPTER XXX.
CHAPTER XXXI.
2
CHAPTER XXXII.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
CHAPTER XXXV.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
CHAPTER XL.
CHAPTER XLI.
CHAPTER I
CHAPTER II
CHAPTER III
CHAPTER IV
CHAPTER V
CHAPTER VI
CHAPTER VII
CHAPTER VIII
CHAPTER IX
CHAPTER X
CHAPTER XI
CHAPTER XII
CHAPTER XIII
CHAPTER XIV
CHAPTER XV
CHAPTER XVI
CHAPTER XVII
CHAPTER XVIII
CHAPTER XIX
CHAPTER XX
CHAPTER XXI
CHAPTER XXII
CHAPTER XXIII
CHAPTER XXIV
CHAPTER XXV
CHAPTER XXVI
CHAPTER XXVII
CHAPTER XXVIII
CHAPTER XXIX
CHAPTER XXX
CHAPTER XXXI
CHAPTER XXXII
CHAPTER XXXIII
CHAPTER XXXIV
CHAPTER XXXV
CHAPTER XXXVI
CHAPTER XXXVII
CHAPTER XXXVIII
CHAPTER XXXIX
CHAPTER XL
CHAPTER XLI
The Art of Interior Decoration, by Grace Wood 3
The Art of Interior Decoration, by Grace Wood
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Title: The Art of Interior Decoration
Author: Grace Wood
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Language: English
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THE ART OF INTERIOR DECORATION
PLATE I
There is something unusually exquisite about this composition. You will discover at a glance perfect balance,
repose--line, everywhere, yet with it infinite grace and a winning charm. One can imagine a tea tray brought
in, a table placed and those two attractive chairs drawn together so that my lady and a friend may chat over the
tea cups.
The mirror is an Italian Louis XVI.
The sconces, table and chairs, French.
The vases, Italian, all antiques.
A becoming mellow light comes through the shade of deep cream Italian parchment paper with Louis XVI
decorations.
It should be said that the vases are Italian medicine jars--literally that. They were once used by the Italian
chemists, for their drugs, and some are of astonishing workmanship and have great intrinsic value, as well as
the added value of age and uniqueness.
The colour scheme is as attractive as the lines. The walls are grey, curtains of green and grey, antique taffeta
being used, while the chairs have green silk on their seats and the table is of green and faded gold. The green
used is a wonderfully beautiful shade.
[Illustration: Portion of a Drawing Room, Perfect in Composition and Detail]
THE ART OF INTERIOR DECORATION
The Art of Interior Decoration, by Grace Wood 4
BY GRACE WOOD AND EMILY BURBANK
ILLUSTRATED
NEW YORK DODD, MEAD AND COMPANY 1917
DEDICATED TO A.M.M.
At the age of eighty, an inspiration to all who meet her, because she is the embodiment of what this book
stands for; namely, fidelity to the principles of Classic Art and watchfulness for the vital new note struck in
the cause of the Beautiful.
FOREWORD
If you would have your rooms interesting as well as beautiful, make them say something, give them a spinal
column by keeping all ornamentation subservient to line.
Before you buy anything, try to imagine how you want each room to look when completed; get the picture
well in your mind, as a painter would; think out the main features, for the details all depend upon these and
will quickly suggest themselves. This is, in the long run, the quickest and the most economical method of
furnishing.
There is a theory that no room can be created all at once, that it must grow gradually. In a sense this is a fact,
so far as it refers to the amateur. The professional is always occupied with creating and recreating rooms and
can instantly summon to mind complete schemes of decoration. The amateur can also learn to mentally
furnish rooms. It is a fascinating pastime when one gets the knack of it.
Beautiful things can be obtained anywhere and for the minimum price, if one has a feeling for line and colour,
or for either. If the lover of the beautiful was not born with this art instinct, it may be quickly acquired. A
decorator creates or rearranges one room; the owner does the next, alone, or with assistance, and in a season
or two has spread his or her own wings and worked out legitimate schemes, teeming with individuality. One
observes, is pleased with results and asks oneself why. This is the birth of Good Taste. Next, one experiments,
makes mistakes, rights them, masters a period, outgrows or wearies of it, and takes up another.
Progress is rapid and certain in this fascinating amusement,--study--call it what you will, if a few of the laws
underlying all successful interior decoration are kept in mind.
These are:
HARMONY
in line and colour scheme;
SIMPLICITY
in decoration and number of objects in room, which is to be dictated by usefulness of said objects; and
insistence upon
SPACES
which, like rests in music, have as much value as the objects dispersed about the room.
The Art of Interior Decoration, by Grace Wood 5
Treat your rooms like "still life," see to it that each group, such as a table, sofa, and one or two chairs make a
"composition," suggesting comfort as well as beauty. Never have an isolated chair, unless it is placed against
the wall, as part of the decorative scheme.
In preparing this book the chief aim has been clearness and brevity, the slogan of our day!
We give a broad outline of the historical periods in furnishing, with a view to quick reference work.
The thirty-two illustrations will be analysed for the practical instruction of the reader who may want to furnish
a house and is in search of definite ideas as to lines of furniture, colour schemes for upholstery and hangings,
and the placing of furniture and ornaments in such a way as to make the composition of rooms appear
harmonious from the artist's point of view.
The index will render possible a quick reference to illustrations and explanatory text, so that the book may be
a guide for those ambitious to try their hand at the art of interior decoration.
The manner of presentation is consciously didactic, the authors believing that this is the simplest method by
which such a book can offer clear, terse suggestions. They have aimed at keeping "near to the bone of fact"
and when the brief statements of the fundamental laws of interior decoration give way to narrative, it is with
the hope of opening up vistas of personal application to embryo collectors or students of periods.
CONTENTS
FOREWORD
CHAPTER I. 6
CHAPTER I.
HOW TO REARRANGE A ROOM
Method of procedure.--Inherited eyesores.--Line.--Colour.--Treatment of small rooms and suites.--Old
ceilings.--Old floors.--To paint brass bedsteads.--Hangings.--Owning two or three antique pieces of furniture,
how proceed.--Appropriateness to setting.--How to give your home a personal quality.
CHAPTER II. 7
CHAPTER II.
HOW TO CREATE A ROOM
Mere comfort.--Period rooms.--Starting a collection of antique furniture.--Reproductions.--Painted
furniture.--Order of procedure in creating a room.--How to decide upon colour scheme.--Study values.--Period
ballroom.--A distinguished room.--Each room a stage "set."--Background.--Flowers as decoration.--Placing
ornaments.--Tapestry.--Tendency to antique tempered by vivid Bakst colours.
CHAPTER III. 8
CHAPTER III.
HOW TO DETERMINE CHARACTER OF HANGINGS AND FURNITURE-COVERING FOR A GIVEN
ROOM
Silk, velvet, corduroy, rep, leather, use of antique silks, chintz.--When and how used.
CHAPTER IV. 9
CHAPTER IV.
THE STORY OF TEXTILES
Materials woven by hand and machine, embroidered, or the combination of the two known as
Tapestry.--Painted tapestry.--Art fostered by the Church.--Decorated walls and ceilings, 13th century,
England.
CHAPTER V. 10
CHAPTER V.
CANDLESTICKS, LAMPS, FIXTURES FOR GAS AND ELECTRICITY, AND SHADES
Fixtures, as well as mantelpiece, must follow architect's scheme.--Plan wall space for furniture.--Shades for
lights.--Important as to line and colour.