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The Dining Room
"A separate room for serving meals is one of the luxuries of modern life. Even a generation ago old-fashioned people in England and America used their dining rooms as living rooms. In the Middle Ages the nobleman and his servants ate in the hall. The tables consisted of boards resting on trestles. The seats were narrow benches or stools so made that they could be easily carried away when the meal was over. The meals eaten in private were served in the lord's chamber. The mediaeval chamber developed into a private suite of living rooms, the outer one of which came to be used as the family dining room. Now a dining room is a part of the house plan of even the workingman's home." (Wharton and Codman.) As meal time is practically the only occasion in the average American home when the whole family is gathered together, the room where these meals are served, whether it be a separate dining room or one end of the kitchen, should be as cheerful and attractive as possible. Not only should the room and its appointments be pleasing but each member of the family should do his or her share in making the hour at the table the cheeriest, brightest part of the day. Aside from the enjoyment to be gained from a pleasant supper hour, scientists tell us we profit physically as well. Our food digests more readily when we are cheerful and contented.
Decoration of the Dining Room.
Mainly plants and flowers.
Few pictures.
Few ornaments.
No hangings except light, washable curtains.
Furniture.
Plain, substantial furniture of good design should be usedall of the pieces harmonizing with each other and with the general decoration of the room. Necessary Pieces of Furniture. 1.
Extension table. 2. Dining chairs. 3. Buffet or sideboard. 4. Serving table. 5. China closet.
Floors.
Hard wood if possible, or Soft wood with the cracks carefully filled and the floor painted with some good floor paint.
A rug on which the dining table stands is the only permissible form of carpet. Daily Care of the Dining Room. 1. Before starting the breakfast, open the windows and air the dining room. 2. Set the furniture in place and put fresh water on the flowers. Then close the windows and go to the kitchen and start the breakfast. 3. While the breakfast is cooking, set the table. 4. After breakfast, clear the table, brush the crumbs from the floor and rug and wipe the floor around the rug with a dust mop or with a Canton flannel bag slipped over the broom. 5. Dust the furniture with a piece of clean cheese cloth. Be careful to gather the dust into the cloth and not scatter it about the room. Have windows open while dusting. meal. 6 Set furniture in place, close windows and adjust shades. 7. Brush up crumbs around table and air room after each Weekly Cleaning.
Once a week clean dining room thoroughly. 1. Open windows, close doors and see that all food and flowers are taken from the room. 2. Remove linens, cover tables and sideboard with cotton covers kept for the purpose. 3. Roll up small rugs to be cleaned outside. 4. Dust chairs and take into next room. 5. Brush walls with wall brush or bag slipped over broom. 6. Wipe plate rail, tops of doors and window casings. 7. Push dining table to one side of the room, dampen the broom in a solution of borax and water and sweep rug. To keep dust from flying, sweep with short strokes and do not lift broom at the end of each stroke. If center rug is small and easily handled it can be more satisfactorily cleaned out of doors by beating it on the wrong side and then sweeping both sides. 8. Sweep floor with broom and wipe with a clean mop or bag on broom. 9. Wash windows and mirrors with warm water and ammonia. Wipe with soft cloth and polish with soft paper. 10. Remove covers from table and sideboard, take out of doors, shake out the dust, fold and put away. 11. Dust furniture and woodwork with soft cloth. 12. Put out fresh linens, wash and put in place any pieces of china or glass used on the plate rail or sideboard. Avoid an array of glass or china in either place. It is better taste to have the pieces displayed few in number and simple in arrangement. 13. Bring in chairs, set furniture in order, close windows and adjust shades.