The Business Of Decoration Previous Page (11)
The moment the decorator sits down in an office he undergoes a certain change. He undertakes certain responsibilities, if only the responsibility of paying his rent and the salary of his assistant who answers the telephone, types his letters, and perhaps does some of his shopping. He changes from the man who depends exclusively upon his own services for support, and requires only sufficient income in return to satisfy his own personal demands, to a man with certain definite obligations to meet, and one who requires, therefore, not only compensation for his own time but also enough over and above this to pay his expenses.
In the most limited conceivable position this decorator has only a tiny office, with perhaps a desk and a drawing board, a few books and photographs. In most cases he is not satisfied to remain in this position, but
Page 14a
A dance hall in which blue and rose are the prevailing colors. The columns are covered with small mirrors. The ceiling is of fabric, intercepted by bands of Ornamentation.
Page 14b
The author's own studio, a room with flooring of black and white marble tile effect, walls hung in loose mulberry fabric
and ceiling of dull gold.
Page 15
DECORATORS AND DECORATORS 15
soon determines to surround himself with more attractive things which will illustrate his skill in decoration in his own working home. He fancies a certain lampshade that he has been dreaming of putting in some delightful room that has not yet materialized; he finds an article of furniture, perhaps a beautifully carved or lacquered cabinet that he feels he must acquire before it is sold to some one else, so that he may be ready with it for the next job that he is commissioned to take care of. Then he discovers that in attempting to do all the shopping for his clients and to make such little drawings for them as he thinks will express his or their ideas, he is occupying such a large percentage of his time that he has no opportunity to think up new schemes and to find new clients, or even to confer with the clients that he already has. His occupation grows and he hunts up larger quarters, perhaps engages a designer to carry out his plans, and possibly a young lady to attend to some of his purchases.
The Business Of Decoration Next Page - (13)
Bed In A Bag Sets Books - The Business Of Decoration
