Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/179

 157 WOMAN'S HOME FURNESeiNG ON THE COLOUR-SENSE IN FURNISHING Continued from pa^e J, Part i By HELEN MATHERS The Hall Gives the Keynote to the House, and Should be Arranged with Reference to the Rooms which Open out of it— Taste is a more Important Factor than Money— Thz Halls of Flats are more Difficult to Arrange I f DEMAND onl}' of a hall that it strikes a note of warmth, of welcome, to the incoming guest. It is really the keynote of the house, and the first impression it makes on you, good or bad, remains, no matter how charm- ing (or the reverse) the rest of the house may be. Many people arrange their entresol without reference to the rooms that open out of them, thus you will see a hot red hall and a piece of green just beyond, through an open door, or vice versa ; you may even see two rooms beside or opposite with clashing wallpapers, and stair-carpeting chosen with- out relation to either. If, when the front door is opened, you do not have an instant feeling of pleasure, something is wrong, or it is all wrong, and on studying the details that have gone to make up this disagreeable whole, you will realise how easily it might have been right. It is the usual mistake — choosing colours haphazard without regard to one central idea, one dominant note, to which all others are subordinated. That comfort, combined with the restfulness which harmonious colours bestow, is the first consideration in a hall that is used constantly as a living-room, no one will deny. You want plenty of easy- chairs 'of the quietest pattern, some small tables, a carved chest, a tall oak dresser with some good blue on it, and a thick Turkey carpet or some Persian rugs look well, and everything, in short, that is good to use and look at, and in character. A square hall, how- ever, is by no means within the reach of everyone. There is, however, nothing ex- pensive in the very simple but tasteful ingle- nook at the end like the accompanying illustra- tion, devised by Mr. Harry Finn, of St. Albans. The colouring is de- ... l j i „i,.f..i 1- ,,, 1 T J -1 1 n An mgle'nooK IS a delightful lightful — red tiled floor, photograph briquette fireplace in various tones of rich deep green, cushions in keeping with last, woodwork, oak, dull, wax-polished ; wall- paper warm cinnamon brown, curved ceiling of lower level than that of room, large cupboard bookcase behind figure, coloured leaded lights, catching the morning sun, and kerb and fireplace fittings, hammer- marked copper. I have in memory another hall, of quite a different type, that I remember with pleasure, because on either side of the front door were small windows rather high up, that lit the hall beautifully, and did away with the usual groping effect. A cabinet or two, some high bronze jars, a rich Japanese screen, and some rugs sufficiently furnished it, and at some distance down was a white gate that swung open as you passed through, and that closed behind you. I have always wondered why architects do not devote more attention to the lighting of halls — in this instance, no mistake had been made, and the result was delightful. It is safe to lay down the axiom for a hall that you do for a room. Once get your walls, and carpet, and few hangings into harmony, the furniture, so long as it is addition to a hall which is occasionally used as a sitting-room. This shows a fireplace in various tones of rich deep green