Decorating with screens
Published 6:18 pm Sunday, July 9, 2017
Elizabeth Partridge Goldsmith’s home is decorated with oriental elegance, including this antique screen, a gift from her mother-in-law.
Homeowners love to display keepsakes that bring back great memories of loved ones. Lake Charles native Elizabeth Partridge Goldsmith cherishes a beautiful screen painted by her uncle, Karl Krause. Karl was the son of Rudolph, Sr. (1863 – 1944) and Della Sherad Krause (1869-1951).
He practiced interior design in New Orleans and Houston with Billy Stone, according to Goldsmith.
“I remember him as being very talented, pleasant to be around and a wonderful piano player,” Goldsmith said.
The screen Krause painted is art, sentiment and function, all rolled into one. Goldsmith makes use of it to decorate her dining area and also uses an antique oriental screen in her open living and kitchen area. Her mother-in-law gave it to her.
Screens have been used for thousands of years in the Far East. They are handy for making a private dressing space, separating living spaces, adding beauty and may even hide a creative workspace or ironing board.
Screens aren’t just elaborate and hand-painted. Today’s screens are available in many styles. Do-it-yourselfers can make their own screens. A screen, if waterproof materials are used, can even be used out of doors. Doors can be used hinged together to create a screen.
The following ideas for using screens are from a 2005 edition of the magazine Decorating Solutions:
1) Use a screen to float a furniture arrangement, rather than shoving furniture against the wall.
2) Add color, pattern or a favorite fabric with a screen, rather than refinishing an entire wall. When you’re tired of it, change it again.
3) Use a screen to display favorite photos or keepsakes.
4) Create a foyer to hide coats, etc. and separate the living space from the entry way in rooms that have no foyer.
5) Use a screen for a headboard or to separate a shared bedroom space.