Friday Back When.

"Furnishings in an eclectic s style are drawn from many sources. Ideally, only the best and truest are taken from each source and combined into a satisfying whole. As American families are more traveled, more knowledgeable, and more sophisticated in a style sense than in the past, eclecticism is a natural out- growth. The days of buying an all-of-a-kind "suite" of furniture are past; this is an era of mixing styles, periods, materials."

"Our present eclecticism does not, however, reflect an interest in mere acquisition of oddments and fragments of styles. There is a genuine design, particularly among the young, to acquire furniture and accessories to express their individuality."

"In buying furniture, today's younger homemakers want more than a style label; they want an understanding of antecedents."

"It follows that while there is freedom to choose the best, there is also inherent danger in eclecticism. It must be carefully controlled to be successful, or it will result in a confusion of miscellany. Control can be accomplished by the wise use of color, arrangement, and background. Singly and together, these decorating elements can unify seemingly unrelated furnishings in a harmonious whole. A play of rich color against neutralizing white can be the catalyst, as in the interesting room pictured (above)."

XX,

Jamie

Friday Back When is a weekly feature highlighting images and text from vintage decorating books. Today’s exert is from The Practical Encyclopedia of Good Decorating and Home Improvement Volume 1 A-AME

Friday Back When- Memorial Day Edition.

Today's Friday Back When is brought to you by Memorial Day. It's time to start grilling & hanging out on the patio. It's easy to forget to consider design on you porch or patio, but it's such an easy place to add some fun elements that you may not be comfortable adding inside. I hung a disco ball over my porch swing, I think it's divine. Have fun! It's only decorating after all, you can always remix things when they start getting tired. Have the best weekend!

"With the emphasis on outdoor living, no home landscape is complete without an outdoor living area- a patio. And probably the two most important rules for planning your patio are to make it big enough, and as private as you can. Its accessibility is nearly as important- the more parts of your house that open onto it, the more enjoyment your family will derive from it. Another thing to keep in mind is that relaxation is the whole point of any patio, so plan yours with low maintenance foremost in your mind. A major planning consideration to take into account is the exact function you intend for your patio. Is it going to be used primarily for outdoor cooking and entertaining? If so, then you should include a barbecue of some sort. Or is the patio only to be a nice cozy nook where you can relax, get some fresh air and escape from the hustle-bustle of everyday living? Is so, then plan your patio accordingly."

"Building an outdoor living area can be a good investment. A carefully planned outdoor patio with landscaping can boost the resale value of your home by much more than what the improvement cost you. A landscape architect (or ahem an interior designer- yes it's true I can layout outdoor spaces as well!) can design a plan for your particular lot, one that not only enhances the looks of your house but also your yard. The biggest expense is, of course, labor. And this is where you can save yourself some money- by doing the work yourself, just a little at a time."

XX,

Jamie

Friday Back When is a weekly feature highlighting images and text from vintage decorating books. Today’s exert is from The Practical Encyclopedia of Good Decorating and Home Improvement Volume 1 A-AME.

Friday Back When.

"To help eliminate some confusion about style names and antecedents, here's a look at the nine major influences that are most signifigant contributors to the design of today's furniture. They are: French, English, Italian, Oriental, Spanish, American Traditional, German, Scandinavian and American Modern."

"Furniture styling tends to follow social history. In past centuries, furniture was made by cabinetmakers serving royal courts or by country craftsmen who translated the elegant court styles into crude but pleasant provincial adaptations."

"Traditional styles often took their names from reigning monarchs or monarchies: Louis XV, Queen Anne, Jacobean. Or they borrowed their names from styles of government-Directoire, Regency. Country styles are usually named for their place of origin: Italian or French Provincial, English Country or Early American.

Few can afford truly authentic antiques but all can have the handsome reproductions and adaptations of earlier designs that are available in today's furniture."

XX,

Jamie

Friday Back When is a weekly feature highlighting images and text from vintage decorating books. Today's exert is from The Practical Encyclopedia of Good Decorating and Home Improvement Volume 1 A-AME.