Formal Background
In usage it is rather like our Early American maple but it may be used as in the manor houses of 18th century France in a formal background similar to that in the photograph opposite. This flexibility is part of its charm; it has a way of always being at home. In a formal room ivory, warm gray and gray blue painted walls are becoming colors to use as background for its walnut tones. But it looks equally well against toile or papers of close all over patterns. The danger lies in using too much pattern, since the carpets, fabrics and wallpapers to be used with this style are all beguiling. Of them all, the French provincial toile of pastoral scenes in the two toned effect give the most atmosphere. These were originally designed to go with the furniture and you cannot go wrong in using them either as draperies or as upholstery. But if you use them for both, be sure your walls are plain and the carpet in a fine, indefinite design. Toile, of course, is the French word for linen; but cotton for these patterns made by our American mills is given this name. Read the rest of this entry »
This room is full of interest and charm in color and arrangement. Another view showing the bay window and the mantel with its collection of jars, the corner cupboard of old design is just another point of interest. The scalloped edges of the shelves provided the motif for the modern valance at the windows. The woodwork like the cupboard is painted pale blue to match the walls. But on the interiors of cupboards imagination can have full play. They may be papered in some small quaint design, and the shelves painted a contrasting color; or they may be painted in two tones, one for the background and another for the shelves. Usually the background is the contrasting color and the shelves the predominating color of the walls. Just follow your own wishes in picking up color; there is no rule. But do consider a built in cupboard in keeping with the style of the room. Here the furniture is antique 18th century mahogany; the chandelier is of the toilet design in Chinese red, so the inside of the cupboard matches it. 
Mahogany furniture of Sheraton type is used in this formal dining room which shows paneled walls painted white. Strong color introduced by a painted frieze at the ceiling line matches the deep red rug, upholstery of the chairs and the interiors of the built in cabinet at the entrance to the room and those on either side of the sideboard. The cabinet shelves are plate glass.
