The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, April 29, 1923, HOME EDITION, PART FOUR, Page 2-D, Image 35

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    Music Corner Easily Made
in Average Modern Home
Selection of Fittings Offers Interesting Possibilities
to Home Owner Even From a Purely
Decorative Standpoint.
(Copyright, 1S2>.)
It is safe to gay that comparative
ly few home* are without provision
for music of some sort, and it In
teresting in this connection to dis
cuss the bearing which this has upon
interior decorating and furnishing.
There are three conditions to con
sider—the entire room given over as
a music room, the large alcove or
bay equipped for music, and the liv
ing room which includes In Its fur
nishings some provision for music.
The first, from its nature, Is not so
usually met with as the second and
third Instances, but presents excep
tionally Interesting decorative possi
bilities. These resolve themselves na
turally Into the selection and place
ment of furniture, the question of the
color scheme, the lighting and the
decorative accessories. If the music
room Is to be carried out in a period
style, this may even be a factor In
the selection of the piano case Itself;
as some of the more prominent mak
ers maintain studios for the design
of special cases In such styles as
Adam, Louis XV and Louis XVI.
From their nature these cases are
necessarily expensive, and to be con
sidered only In the distinctly elabo
rate* muslo room.
Today, however, there Is more lati
tude In the choice of woods and fin
ishes In standard piano cases, and the
Inevitable highly polished black is no
longer Inevitable. Here a word about
the piano stool, which may apply
wherever there la a piano to be con
sidered. Certainly the old revolving
stool is not an ‘‘artistic" object, and
the duet bench Is now much more
favored, and Is a better looking piece
of furniture In Itself—and from the
practical point of view, it accommo
dates one player or two, while the
old stool accommodates only one.
Lightness and Grace.
Tn selecting other pieces of furni
ture, a general eharacteriatlo of light
ness and grace should be the govern
ing factor—and this naturally leads
the choice Into the rearms of Sheraton,
Hepplewhlte or Adam. Louis XV or
Louis XVI muslo room furniture
should be considered only In cases
where It Is possible to carry out an
entire scheme In the period, with
special rugs, hangings and lighting
fixtures to match—not to speak of a
specially designed piano case. The
18th century English styles are not so
exacting as to their environment, and
are In easier keeping with standard
piano cases. An Interesting muslo
room with black lacquered furniture
Is Imaginable, though there Is the
danger of the whole effect being too
sombre. A better choice Is the new
black and Ivory furniture, or for a
cheerful and festive scheme, decorat
ed furniture. Generally speaking, the
chairs should be light and easy to
move from place to place, according
to individual preference# ea to the
most agreeable distance from the
piano.
There Is a wide variety In muslo
cabinets, a type to be recommended
having sliding shelves, which save
much destruction resulting from
sheet music being crowded Into sta^
tionary shelves. Small tables are al
ways suitable In the muslo room, aa
well as Jardlnlers. It Is well to have
a small table conveniently placed to
look over sheet muslo as It Is taken
from Its cabinet. The old careless
habit of having uneven slacks of tat
tered sheet music op the top of the
piano 1b beyond the pale of considera
tlon.
Contains Phonograph
Naturally the music room of today
usually contains a phonograph, or a
player attachment for the piano
which creates the problem of neatly
and conveniently keeping rolls and
disc records. The demand has created
an admirable supply of well-designed
devices, with simple hut efficient fil
ing systems to insure the quick find
ing of a given selection.
The design of the phonograph case
Itself has advanced to a high degree
of excellence, embracing a variety of
period styles—the most recent is de
signed in the form of a graceful side
table or console, betraying its musical
mechanism in no visible detail.
The music room affords an excep
tional opportunity for the selection of
lamps in wide variety. Too much
light is not desirable, and the gener
al Illumination of the room should
therefore be subdued.
The color scheme as well, should
be subdued, though not at all sombre
or "neutral." Pale greens, blues, yel
lows, graya or tans are good general
hints—any pronounced and "loud"
color like red or deep blue Is discon
certing to the senses, and Interferes
with the finest enjoyment of music.
While listening to music, the eye and
mind should be rested from thought
of ail else, for which reason it is de
sirable to avoid a profusion of Ornv
ments or intricate figure in wall pa
per, draperies or floor coverings.
There are many instances in which
the plan of the house logically aug
gests that the piano and other
musical accessories shall occupy an
alcove, and this calls for decorative
^treatment In accord with the decora
tion and furnishing of tlie living room
j or reception room which the alcove
adjoins. Such an arrangement places
! music In the home on a more informal
and more generally enjoyable basis,
! as less effort is involved than iH re
| auired to bring guests or family Into
a room devoted exclusively to music.
Music Alcove.
The music alcove, or the piano and
I phonograph occupying a place in the
I living room itself are certainly most
i characteristic of the American home
of today, and the informality of such
an arrnngemejit is conducive to more
frequent performance of such music
as the household enjoys.'
The question here resolves Itself
largely into one of placement, and of
selection of music and record cabinets
! which will best conform with the
| other furnishings of the room. In
| no case should an upright piano be
j placed direct against a wall, because
at least a foot of space allows the
wall to become a sounding-board.
The grand piano Is usually of such
proportion In relation to other furni
ture In the room that its natural place
Is In a corner. Few living rooms are
too small to accommodate the “baby
grand" piano, and a still smaller In
strument is now made, patterned
after the graceful old spinet, and ad
mirably adapted to restricted space.
There is a prevalent idea that the
grand piano, or even the "baby
grand,” requires too much space for
any but a vgry large room. Nearly
always, however, the application of
Ingenuity and study In placement will
devise a corner which will comfort
ably accommodate the piano. It is a
fairly safe generality to say that the
apparently restricted space In many
interior* Is due most often to lack of
study in the placement of the fur
niture* which. cleverly disposed,
would add surprisingly to the open
area of the room.
Impair I’iano Tone.
A wbrd about the habit of placing
"things” on the piano top.-" If there
is a clutter of photograph frames,
vltees, bowls, and what not, these un
deniably Impair the quality of the
piano's tone if left on the piano top
while playing, or are a nuisance to
remove for every performance. They
are much better placed elsewhere,
and the beat decoration for the grand
piano is a piece of some rich brocade,
velvet or tapestry', not too large, and
perhaps a bowl of flowers. These and
the cover are easily removed when
the piano Is to be used.
It is the only room devoted exclu
sively to music which is the problem
in decoration—the introduction of the
piano, phonograph and music and
record cabineis In the living room
calls rather for an appreciation of
good taste, conformity and the lm
portan*s of placement. And considera
tion of placement should not pro
ceed only along lines of "what looks
best,” but due thought should be giv
en of the player’s comfort with re
gard to both natural and artificial
light. Nor should a piano be placed
In such a manner that people must
constantly pass behind the player, as
this is very distracting to most peo
ple. It Is most desirable. In fact to
arrange the piano so that the player
may face the room, which la usual
ly possible with a grand.
Perhaps the most noteworthy con
tributions of modern furniture design
for the music lover are the present
tendencies toward variety In piano
forms and Improvements In music fil
ing devices.
Excellent example* of good
l ante and refinement In thene
living and dining rooron from a
home In the colonial atyle.
S
Tiles Can Work
Wonders With.
Old Residences
Amazing Transformations May
Be Wrought by Addition
of Glazed Work
Decoration.
y
An amazing transformation modern
ization can l>e brought about with
tit las in the remodeling of old houses.
Tiling an old bathroom, alone, aften
makes a modern home out of an
old house. Such changes may be car
ried out at a reasonable cost, and
without serious disturbance and up
heaval. ifiie money’ spent for such
alterations is well Invesled. since the
real estate value of the home will be
enhanced fay beyond the actual cost
of the tile-Work.
The home may ha>'e every other
convenience but unless the bathroom
is tiled it js not complete. Tiles
provides the most fitting and satis
fying finish for the bathroom. The
use of tiles adds a degree of con
venience and comfort that is not
obtained in any other way. The tiled
bath lias become a feature of the
modern home. It lends that note
of dignity; that touch of superiority
and attractiveness, to our home
which Is so pleasing and desirable.
Tiling of the bathroom assures
the maximum of cleanliness, dura
bility and attractiveness, and com
bines with it a minimum of routine
labor In cleaning and freedom from
upkeep expense. There is no main
tenance expenditure of any kind con
nected with tilework. Its rich col
ors and delicate glazes are abso
lutely permanent and retain their
original shade and brillancy.
Porcelain bathroom accessories,
built into, tiled walls, are the
final touch of modernity In the
bathroom. These are made for
every purpose in sizes and shapes
to work in without cutting tile or
breaking pattern designs.
Numerous Uses
for Tea Wagon
Contrivance Boon to House
wife In Saving Steps When
Maid Out.
Ths many oiu to whloh the popu
lar taa cart or taa wagon may ba put
mora than justlflaa auoh a purchaaa.
Besides being an aid at tea time,
when it will hold all the raeded ar
ticles for this hospitable custom, it
may ba used to carry Iced drinks to
the porch In the evening when gueete
drop In, or to carry plates and sand
wlchss about tha rooms If the young
people are entertaining, as well as
more homely tasks.
The evening when the maid Is ''off,**
the salad course and tha desert may
be placed on tha tea wagon, rolled
to mother's aide, and the plates of the
main course placed on the under shelf
and the salad placed on the table.
Moreover, the soiled dishes may all he
placed on the wagon and rollpd into
the kitchen or butler's pantry, where
ever they are to he washed.
Nor is the usefulness of this article
of furniture at an end then; tf the
dishes ore washed In the kitchen, the
clean dishes may be wheeled Into the
pantry, the silver wheeled to Its rest
ing place, making one trip do where
several trips would he necessary If
one were obliged to do this work with
out the aid of the tea cart.
If the family la away from home at
luncheon time, what would be easier
than to arrange the luncheon for the
lady of the house on the cart and roll
It to her In the living room, or on the
porch. If the weather permits? It
would save work for the houseworker
and be a Joy to the one served.
Why shouldn’t one place the work
basket and sewing on the tea cart
and wheel It onto the porch, from one
room to another—In fact, take It
where one needs It with the least
amount of effort.
It Is not a lasy thing to save steps
and effort, It Is the thing large man
ufacturing plants strive for, and le
called by them "efficiency.” Why
should not the housekeeper strive for
tho things which are so necessary to
the outside Industrie? Housekeeping
la a profession, as truly ss medicine
or law or Journalism, so why not
make It as effeclent as Is possible.
Save stepe, make the most of It and
be a happier, healthier housekeeper
Add Some Bluing.
Tour cut glass will lie clear and
sparkling If you add a little bluing
to the sud» In which you wash It.
.A smart turban Is mnda entirely of
folds of green moire ribbon and trim
med with a folded bow that break*
the severe line and adds a certain
touch of frivolity.
Here h What On*
Thin Dime Will Do
the Electrical Way
- -- -- ■
Bomeons with a penchant for statin
tics has figured that a dime's worth
of eleotrlcity, baaed on a price of 10
cents per kilowatt hour, will perform j
the following services In the house
hold;
Operate a 16-eandlepower lamp for '
about a month.
Operate a six-pound flatiron for one
month and a half.
Do a washing equivalent to tO sheets
each wpek for about two months and
a half.
Operate a raouum cleaner long
enough to clean about one-tenth of an
acre of carpet.
Operate a sewing machine for 10
oonsecutlve hours.
Drive an electric fen four hours s
day for nearly a week.
Brew two and a half gallons of eof
fas In an electrle percolator.
Operate a heating pad for from one
half to one week, depending upon the
heat used.
Operate a foot warmer five consecu
live hours.
Operate a water pump long enough
to raise 100 gallons 1,100 feet.
Make 100 slices of toast.
The average rate In Minneapolis,
per residential eectlon. Is about 7
per cent per kilowatt.
Curving Designs Are
Latest for Curtains
While you, yourself, rnayichoose to
follow "the straight and narrow
path,” you may prefer that your cur
tains do quite otherwise! If straight
edged curtains seem monotonous,
there Is delightful variety offered you
In graciously curving designs. The
group of windows In a "bay" is given
Interest by the deeply curved valance,
ho cut that one deep curve comes
over each window and one over each
drapery. At the right, the draperies
themselves have long, flat scallops,
hound with plain French blue to
match the bed covering and lo repeat
one of the dominant tone* In the fig
ured material of which the draperies
nnd the pillow cover me made. The
valance above the bed Is likewise of
French blue; from the renter of each
of Its short scallops depends a tassel.
And by the way, this is an excellent
example of "reforming" an awkward
alcove.
Oriental Riir Pattern*
Duplicated in America
! Yankee Ingenuity has caused Atner
1 lean rug manufacturers to duplicate,
through human.like machinery, many
of the handsomest of handwrought
pattern* found In oriental rugs of
great value. Then* rugs are produced
In domestic hrAssela and velvets, nf
fording excellent floor coverings, Kurh
a rug !» more regular, more perfect
i uhd Ilea flatter on tin flout.
Bright and (harm
ing la the effect In
this delightful bed
room furnished for a
colonial house
Concrete Output
Now 113,000.000
Barrels a Year
Vast S^opc Brings Large Scale
Maniifarture—History Re
veals Development in
Last Century.
"Probably no other Industrial devil
aliment in history ran surpass the re
markabla achlevrnenta of Portland ce
ment during the 99 years since It wss
patented In Kngland by Joseph Aapdln,
"the brlrklayer of T^ eds,' " says Frank
H Altman, director of the Portland
Cemept association, In the northwest
"There had been cements of various
kinds, from the time of the Tinmans
on down. Hut all of them depended
upon the use of natural cement stone
for manufacture. Aspdln discovered
how to make a manufactured cement
which possessed greater qualities of
permanence by mixing, burning and
grinding raw materials.
113,000,040 Barrels a Year.
"Today the cement mills of America
alone produce more than 119.000,000
barrels annually, and none ot It is
‘consumed.’ Almost without excep
tion every barrel of the billions that
have been made and sold In this coun
try since the first American plants
were built, still serves a useful pur
pose.
"in the form of concrete, Abe basic
building material of which Portland
cement la the essential frlgradient. It
has made great cities, fertile farms,
vast water courses, aqueducts, darns,
subways, skyscrapers. Its use can
equally well be adapted In the making
of a minute bit of ornamenatlon about
the home or a massive project that hf
facts the wellbeing of thousande.
"Our farmers have only recently
learned through a costly war What
part of our national waste they are
responsible for; have only Just hnd the
lesson of thrift and Investment brought
home. They are Interested In perms
nent buildings, better agriculture, all
around general efficiency on the
farm, end particularly in tIn profit
that results from Introducing and
maintaining these efficiency meagures.
Farms Hotter Equipped.
"On the farm today all-around gen
eral efficiency has lta hlgheet repre
sentation In permanent, fire-proof,
sanitary concrete building*.
"The railroads turn to concrete for
a myriad of uses. Wherever they
have a construction project, be It
bridge, abutment, culvert, retaining
wall or grade crossing — they util
ize It.
"Almost without exception, concrete
bridges are lower In first cost thsn
i hose built of other materials, while
with respect to ultimate cost, there Is
no comparlslon. Concrete te free from
those maintenance enpenses that soon
make other type of bridges more e*
penslvs In the end, regardless-of first
cost.
"Quick, certain and , economical
movement of food and oth»r products
from farm to town, of raw or partly
finished good* between widely sepa
rated plants, rapid and dependable In
ter communication between city and
town, state and state, are required by
the new conditions under which we
live, and these demand highways ahls
to withstand any kind of traffic 165
days a year. Concrete highway
bridges and concrete paved roads are
serving this need. Concrrte is Indeed
'a civilising force ' "
Beautifying
the Kitchen
Why not beautify your kitchen? A few ran*
of white enamel, new linoleum on the floor,
a few inexpensive, changes and you have the
setting for a beautiful white porcelain gas range.
Ever realise how many hours you spend in
your kitchen to rook three meals n day, and an
orraaional baking? You take pleasure in a
bright glistening snow white kitchen.
Simplex Gas Ranges
have many netable features'which you will ap
preciate. The bright, shining, guaranteed rust
proof oven linings, smooth white porcelain aur
faces, clear glass oven doors are all character
istic features of these celebrated ranges.
Twenty-five Different Styles
$27.50 and Up
$5.00 Down Puts One in Your Home
Midwestern Appliance Company
411 South 15th St. (Opposite Orpheum Theater)
Real Need Met
by Eleetrical
Iron for Waffles
t
More Than One lea Shop
Reputation Built Up on
Waffles—Most Men
Like ’Em.
Perfectly respectable husbands are
often seen at large about the many
tea shops that (sprinkle the business
district of any city. They are gen
erally observed at lunch hour, and
knowing a strong man's distaste for
'.feminine stuff" which Includes (in
his mind) tea. delft blue decorations
and sour cheese and fruit salads, one
wonders when they see such sights ss
a large masculine sitting at some lit
tle gatelegged table with a dainty
plate of something or other before
him.
The fact that many of the large
city buildings In which some tea shops
flourish will not allow commercial
cooking In their sacred precinct Is an
answer to the question of why more
substar.ltal food Is not served In
them. What electricity can do on an
electric grill, In a percolator, or on a
toaster pnd waffle iron Is permissible.
The popularity of the two unit waffle
iron is great in Just such tea shops,
and the secrets of why husbands leave
heme for tea shops at noon has an
answer here. There Is not one hus
bgpd or sweetheart out of a hun
dred that doesn’t like waffles. The
shy looking large men that have gone
Into tea shops and cannot escape from
out the crowds of women and who
sit so disconsolately at spindle legged
tables and eat sandwiches have come
Into those places In search of waffles;
f!ot finding them they have relapsed
Into helplessness and munch sand
wiches.
The electric waffle Iron has bull!
more than one tea shop repute’lon.
Out of a survey of 18 business men,
IB said they had fallen victims to tea
shops at noon through searching for
good waffles.
Decide early how much ground you
will use and what you will plarH.
Lawn and Garden
F urniture
Is as much a part of a better
home as are your interior deco
rations.
Manufactured of concrete they
are built for the life of your
house.
A visit to our display room or
even a glance at our catalogue
will assure you on the point of
artistic beauty.
Bird Baths
Porch Boxes
Flower Vases
Sun Dials
Seats and Benches
We alto manufacture “Star Brand” Ce
ment Block*, unexcelled in price or quality
for foundation work.
Ideal Cement Stone Co.
CONCRETE PROD UCTS
manufacturers of
Artistic Concrete FuRNiWRf
Office and Display Room
31st and Spaulding Sts.
Phone Ke. 0456
• I
“Beauty is Truth
—Truth Beauty ”
—KEATS
TODAY we are amazed by the miracle of
Art and Science which achieves, in public
and. private performance, the exact *re-cnact
merit of the touch of a great-pianist. We
hear on all sides
The
CO
“Re-enacting* the Artist”
(•Caprrtfftit 'tr. Awnrw Dm* C*J
Rut more than this, we find that the Truth of such a
're-enactment produces supreme Beauty, the ideal music
for our homes, increasing the appeal of its personal charm
the longer it remains a part of our daily life.
THE AMPICO once heard is never forgotten. Do not
make the mistake of selecting an inferior instrument.
Before you make vour final choice, hear the AMPICO in
"CHICKERING"
urgess-Nash Company
'EVERYBODY5 STOBU*
la ____LJ