The hall may, in the country, rejoice in sylvan trophies of the chase - antlers - the fox's head and brush; - old carved oak cabinets may fill in recesses, and within them may repose a collector's treasures. The carved oak chairs and table, the umbrella-stands like them in material; the blazing open grate in winter, the same full of bunches of evergreens or large pots of hydrangea or azalea in summer, frequently renewed, may make it a pleasant place to linger in. In London there is a conventional type of table, seats, stands, etc., which must necessarily be followed, chiefly for want of space.

Carpets

The carpet of a room should have a quiet and negative effect, giving an impression of flatness; there should be no strong contrasts of light or shade in it. The leading forms should be composed so as to distribute the pattern over the whole floor, not up and down the breadths. The forms should be flat, without shadow or relief, whether derived from ornaments, flowers, or foliage. The ground should be of a negative colour, generally low in tone, and inclined to the tertiary hues - i.e., the greys.

* Furniture may be hired for twenty per cent, on its value if quite new; for example, if furniture, which to purchase would cost 150l., is hired, you would pay 30/. a year for the hire. Secondhand furniture is let at ten per cent distinguished as russet, citrine, and olive; - leading forms of the pattern should be expressed by the secondary colours, purple, green, and orange - primary colours should be seen in small quantities. Such, according to the principles of true taste, should be a carpet; and the nearer we get to these suggestions the better the style of our rooms will be, but at present few carpets accord with these rules, and we are compelled to make the best choice that we can from those to be had.

Let us now see what are the different kinds of carpets, that we may judge of the value and expense of these necessary articles of English household furnishing.

Turkey and Persian carpets have a cut surface of wool, and are always made in oblong squares, with a border round them. They are suited for dining rooms, being warm to the feet, and bearing much wear and tear. Their colours are generally a rich and fanciful pattern of red, blue, and green, or yellow. When much worn, Turkey carpets may be shorn carefully, and will then be as good as new; they are expensive. Our Axminster carpet is an imitation of the Turkey, but surpasses it in value and richness. The pile is thick, and the colours brilliant. This carpet also is very expensive. The Wilton and velvet pile carpets have a velvety surface, resembling that of the Turkey carpet, but they are liner and thinner, and the pile will not clip. They soon grow dirty, and look bad. Brussels carpets are woven on a foundation of flax thread, but their pile is not cut as the Wilton is. They are called three-thread when each loop consists of three woollen threads, and two-thread when the loop consists of two only. These last carpets are cheaper, but do not wear well.

An old Brussels carpet worn quite bare to the foundation will sell well, as it is then used for making oil-cloth on.

Tapestry carpets are woven like Brussels, of woollen threads, but they are dyed in short lengths, or now, we believe, stamped with colours. Their colours are much more brilliant than the Brussels, but they do not last well, and are not cheaper in the end, though they cost less at the moment of buying. Nevertheless, for a room not much occupied, they answer extremely well.

Kidderminster and Scotch carpets are woven all of wool, and have two sides, so that they can be turned, but they are of no substance, and soon wear and cut out. They do for bedrooms pretty well, but will not stand much wear.

Dutch carpets are made on the same principle, but have a woof of flax - consequently they wear better.

Venetian carpet has a woof of flax, and a web of woollen threads, which shows on both sides. It is only used for strips by the bedside, or for stair-carpets.

Drugget is a coarse kind of woollen carpeting woven like flannel, which wears pretty well as a common carpet, but is chiefly used for covering better carpets. It is printed.

Felt is wool of a short staple matted together, not woven. It is printed, often very prettily, and catches the eye, but wears very badly indeed, the colours rub off, and it is soon useless.

Cocoa-nut matting is very durable and cheap. It is used for offices, halls, and kitchens, and is of all widths.

India Matting is made from grasses, and is used for covering carpets in bedrooms and dressing-rooms on spots where the wear is very great -i.e., before the toilet-table, washing-stand, etc.