I have seen so many bewildered people
whose spacious doorless downstairs rooms were a joy in summer, shivering
all winter long in a polar atmosphere. The stair well seems to suck all
the warmth from the living-room, and coal bills soar.
Above all, don't try to make your hall "pretty." Remember that a hall is
not a living-room, but a thoroughfare open and used by all the dwellers
in the house. Don't be afraid of your halls and stairs looking "cold."
It is a good idea to have one small space in your house where you can go
and sit down and be calm and cool! You can't keep the rest of the house
severe and cool looking, but here it is eminently appropriate and
sensible. The visitor who enters a white and green hall and gets an
effect of real reserve and coolness is all the more appreciative of the
warmth and intimacy of the living-rooms of the house.
After all, for simple American houses there is nothing better than a
straightaway staircase of broad and easy treads, with one or two
landings. There may be a broad landing with a window and window-seat, if
there is a real view, but the landing-seat that is built for no especial
purpose is worse than useless. It is not at all necessary to have the
stairs carpeted, if the treads are broad enough, and turned balusters
painted white with a mahogany hand rail are in scheme.
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