The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Theory Of Decoration

All of these types and many more besides are used today. It is only necessary to retain harmony by using the cruder, heavier type of fixtures in the cruder type of rooms and the more finely finished type in period rooms recalling the styles after 1750. In the old candle fixtures, shades were never used, but today where electricity substitutes for the candle the light is so strong, it is necessary to use shades. The texture of the shade should harmonize with the back plate. Mica or coarse parchment are used for wrought iron brackets. Finely designed parchment and silk shades were used for finished brass, bronze, and silver fixtures. Quaintly designed shades are used for informal Colonial fixtures.

There has been a great step in advance in the design of lighting fixtures for "modernistic" rooms. The theory is that electricity 5s a new material which creates opportunities for design that are not adaptable to candle and lamp light. The theory is correct and interesting effects may be introduced by following it. General illumination may be carried out by using a great number of low wattage electric bulbs, distributing them evenly in all portions of the room and hiding them in mouldings or underneath shades and reflectors. Soft direct lighting is obtained by using wall fixtures designed in modern shapes and made of glass, thin marble slabs, etc., which completely hide the electric bulbs.

Examination Questions

1. What are the usual fixed architectural features in every room?
2. What may be the various elements of a "wall composition" as the term is used by the decorator?
3. If a colored pictorial wall paper is used in a room, is it advisable to use an Oriental rug?
4. What textile weaves are harmonious with rough plastered walls?
5. What kind of upholstery material would you use on a shield back satinwood Hepplewhite chair?
6. What curtain material would be suitable in an Early American pine panelled room?
7. Mention two materials for a lampshade for a Sevres vase. Mention two for a majolica jar.
8. Why is it necessary to draw a furniture plan in planning the decoration of a room?

Note to Student

This lesson completes the preliminaiy instruction in the Practical Training Course. The student should be ready by this time to do some constructive work in developing a decorative treatment for a complete room. Having a knowledge of suitable textiles, furniture and accessories, the next steps should be some actual attempts to make proper selections of various objects that harmonize with each other. These steps should be in the application of the general principles and rules learned during the course.

For this purpose, the next four lessons consist of definite problems in furnishing complete rooms. The student will submit suggestions in much the same way that an actual decorator would be obliged to submit a scheme to a prospective client. An actual decorator would, of course, collect as many samples or photographs of objects that he could obtain and would then fill in the rest of the scheme by a verbal or written description.