Home Sweet Home

Insufficient lighting is a problem in most basements. You can add more light and get better ventilation by enlarging basement windows or adding new ones. Even with larger windows you will need supplementary lighting, perhaps illuminated ceiling installations. Wiring is not a job for amateurs. Your electrical contractor will tell you if your wiring is adequate and meets building-code specifications or, if not, what should be done. He will also recommend

What to do about moisture control

If your basement is damp, this should be corrected before you start redecorating. First, determine the cause of the dampness. It may be a poorly graded lot, bad tiling, or any one of a number of factors. Whatever the cause, it should be remedied before applying waterproofing material to walls and floors. (more…)

Designs cut from vinyl-coated wallpaper or fabric used elsewhere in the room can be appliquéd to window shades. To prevent raw edges of material from raveling, spray the back of the fabric with a clear acrylic spray before cutting out design. Use a small sharp scissors for cutting out design motifs and arrange them on the shade in exact position. Apply glue to the reverse side of each cutout, making sure that the entire surface is covered, then press it into position. After adhesive has dried, the face of cutouts is best protected by an extra coating of acrylic spray. (more…)

There are countless ways that bead hangings can make that all-important decorating difference in your home. They can create a dramatic division and, at the same time, keep space free-flowing. Although they are revivals of the very ornate period of Victorian styling, today’s adaptations are equally at home in traditional, country, Mediterranean, or contemporary settings. They can be used to curtain a window, disguise a nonview, and at the same time allow light and air to filter through. As a divider, they take almost no space, yet give a feeling of semiprivacy in each of the separated areas.

Along with beauty and versatility, there is another factor in their favor—beads require no dry cleaning, laundering, or pressing; all you need to do is wipe them with a damp cloth to restore them to their original appearance. (more…)

The most personal room in your home—the master bedroom—can and should have the stamp of the homeowners’ own individuality. This is the one place where you can let your imagination go wild, be as daring as you like with vivid colors and patterns, and mix or match furniture styles and finishes to your own taste. Bedroom basics are, as ever, comfortable beds, adequate bedside tables or counters, plenty of storage space, and an arrangement that makes the most of available floor space.

The most important investment is the best quality mattresses and box springs you can afford so that you will sleep well and awaken refreshed. They are an investment in health and contentment. Supersize beds and bedding will assure you of comfort in both length and width. Choose a mattress and spring combination that will give even support for your spine, no matter what position you usually sleep in, whether you turn and toss, or lie quietly throughout the night. (more…)

Where do you find a guest room? In most homes there is some area that can be converted to this special use. A remodeled and redecorated basement or attic may be your answer, may give extra living space as well. If you are planning a master-bedroom addition to the house, turn the old master bedroom into a spacious teen-ager’s room, let the smaller nursery be your guest room. Even an unused storage space in the basement or on an upper level will serve, if you make it cheerful through lavish use of light and color. Do try to locate it near an existing bath, or provide lavatory space. (more…)

Biscuit or Bisque

In ceramics, pottery or porcelain fired without the application of a glaze. The method was introduced by Jean Jacques Bachelier about 1753 at the Vincennes-Sevres works in France. By omitting glaze and color, a resemblance to white marble was achieved. Modelers also sought to imitate the sharp modeling that could be obtained in carving marble. The process was used largely for modeling figures, the first of which were created in Vincennes in the early 1750’s. Biscuit ware produced at Vincennes and later at Sevres was especially noted for its fineness of grain and smooth finish. The illustration is The Little Dead Bird made in 1770 at the Bellevue manufactory. (more…)