WINDOW SHADES

Those who have white shades and are tired of them can easily have them colored a deep red for the more common rooms, bath-room, back hall and back windows. A rule of household art is that shades should be the same color as the outside of the house, and every one alike. For instance a red brick with white finishings should have white shades at the windows ; a white house, white shades ; a gray house, shades of the same tint as the stone mountings, etc. Brown shades are an abomi- nation even in a brown house, and the rule may be deviated from here, and a delicate buff be substituted.

The most expensive and at the same time the most beautiful shades are those of soft silk, shirred through the center and at the sides, form- ing two scallops at the bottom, and trimmed with fringe of the same color. These are usually lined with a contrasting color, as sea-green with pale pink, maroon with pale blue, or pale blue with rose-pink, etc.

As a variety from white window shades many ladies are embroidering in outline work with filoselle or crewel, gray or buff shades, in linen or Holland. A simple pattern, such as morning-glories or wild roses, is worked in shaded silks or crewels, or in a deep brown and crimson Roman key or scroll pattern, and finished with linen guipure or linen fringe. Shades with drawn work borders are handsome. Gray

152 HOUSE FURNISHING.

and cream colored linens are much used with a thick band of embroid- ery a couple of inches from the edge, and finished with antique lace. Some of the handsomest shades have a band of wide guipure lace set in the center, finished with the same lace edge, or set in, a couple of inches from the bottom and finished at the edge with the same. Buff linen with brown silk embroidery is considered good taste ; also, striped, gray and white Holland shades, which g^ve a soft and clear light, par- ticularly the buff ones.

The question of Holland window shades is generally settled by the colors of the room. Crimson is desirable for a north light, but soon loses color in the sun. For a sunny room green and buff are recom- mended, with a preference for buff. Green Holland, though making agreeable shades, turns bluish by exposure to the light. Buff shades keep their color the best, and while admitting more light when pulled down, they keep out the red or hot rays, and the blue or growth pro- moting rays, and admit only the yellow rays, which are non-active. The bright, soft light of a room whose windows are shaded by buff Holland blinds is the most agreeable for working that one can have, allowing ample light but no glare. Physicians especially recommend buff shades for the sick-room.