‘Household Elegancies’ Archives
A Victorian Window Flower-Box
A Window Flower-Box, From The Cottage Hearth, 1876 Given fresh mosses or leaves, a few trailing creepers and two or three spikes of flowers, and the effect will be charming in a window box made after any of the following descriptions. These methods are all cheap and feasible for securing the effect desired. The box may be made of zinc, [...]
A Victorian Window-Screen
A Victorian Window Screen, from Ingall's Home Magazine, 1877 The foundation of this window-screen is made of woven netted lace, on which white woven braid is hemstitched in lattice-shape with black split zephyr worsted. The braid is ornamented in herring-bone stitch with similar worsted. Stretch this foundation in a frame of varnished black [...]
The Value of a Scrap-Book
Source: Household Hints and Recipes by Henry T. Willams and “Daisy Eyebright” 1884 Every one who takes a newspaper containing various items connected with housekeeping, the toilette, etc., will often regret to have it torn up, on account of some little scrap in it which was of importance to them; but, if a scrapbook was only at hand, [...]
How to Serve Meals
by Alessandro Filippini, head chef of the famous Delmonico’s in New York, 1889 Nearly every family of means is in the habit of giving a few dinners to its friends during the year. As a matter of course, the members of the family are, in return, invited to “dine out.” If you invite your friends to a dinner, you should not wish them to [...]
Make a Victorian Braided Rug
Those acquainted with the manner of making the "quilled braid," as it was called in the old days, can apply it to the manufacture of beautiful and serviceable rugs, for parlor or sitting-room floor. The materials required are wide, woolen braid or strips of cloth of two or more colors, a piece of canvas or carpeting for the foundation, and strong [...]
Beautiful Back Windows
To shut out a disagreeable view from a back window, the glass may be rendered ornamental, and the obnoxious objects shut out, by a very simple plan, which makes a very fair imitation of ground glass. This is effected by cutting out stars or diamonds upon a piece of white muslin, tarlatan, or common tissue-paper, which is then gummed or pasted on [...]
