ible. A cathedral, or the rotunda of the Capitol, must have height
to produce an overpowering effect. But in an ordinary room of ordinary
size, comfort, convenience and prettiness are more to be sought after
than height."

[Illustration]

Ordinary woodwork must be painted in such shades as will debar it from
occupying the prominent position to which positive beauty is alone
entitled. Give it a similarity to the ground of the paper, but a
little darker, and the rounded surface of any fancy moldings, a shade
or two darker. Paint the doors the same, except the panels, which may
be decorated, in which case they must be painted the tint of the
furniture as a background for the design. This may be very simple, a
band of color, a vine in outline or flat color. Trace the outline of
wild vines, or ferns, anything graceful. Originality is not demanded.
There are good reasons why window casings should start from floor or
base, since in this way a visible means of support is given to the
entire window, which otherwise has a suspended, insecure look. The
panel underneath may be of wood or plaster.

Doors.

Doors are the greatest problem in a room. They monopolize the space on
the floor and wall that should be free for pictures and large articles
of furniture, and otherwise completely demoralize the apartment. To do
away with this inconvenience substitute heavy curtains whenever an
impassable barrier is unnecessary; closet doors, for instance, and
those between parlors. Again, doors that are much open may be made to
slide into the walls. Then, for ornament and as a screen, the doorway
may be furnished with hangings, costly or not, as the purse may
dictate.

The outer doors are intended as a defense from intrusion from without.
It is not really good taste to have these doors of plate glass as that
militates against the primal idea of strength and protection.

A Door Divan.

Chairs and sofas we have without end in variety and beauty. Every
alcove and nook in every possible sort of room has been thought of and
provided for except the one place that exists in almost every house
and is the one place where people are always wanting to sit--that is
the doorway itself. Folding doors between communicating rooms are
seldom closed. An ordinary chair within a few feet of the space never
looks well. It shows its back to one room or the other and is in the
way.

A divan is an addition to any decorative arrangement of either room.
I