Summer Calls for Wicker

It's summertime, and the porches of America, from Nantucket toNewport, are filled with wicker and rattan furniture. Some of thewicker is white and decorated with bright and colorful cushions.Some of the wicker is painted dark green, and sparkling with greenand white awning-stripe cushions. And some of the wicker isnaturally colored in a pine hue.

This natural wicker is the favorite of many decorators,including myself. It can be used anywhere in the house, all yearround. A pair of natural wicker chairs, with seat cushions in asimple green ivy vine on white, are sure to enhance a living roomwith English furnishings and rich salmon walls and sofas.

The natural rattan pieces of the '40s have found their way backinto the auction houses of America, and the prices of interestingpieces with rolled arms and legs are bringing top dollar. The piecesbring even higher dollars when they have seats covered in '40s prints- those big prints of calla lilies, leaves and trellis, colored inrich rose, dark green, white and chartreuse. If you ever have achance to visit the eccentric shops in SoHo, that trendy New YorkCity neighborhood, you'll surely see some of these designs.

When decorating a room in your house, whether it's a library,sun room, living room or guest room, consider adding a contemporaryrattan piece, preferably one crafted in the Philippines or in Italy.These pieces reflect modern styling, but also whisper echoes from thepast.

As I decorate an old sugar mill in St. Croix, I will be usingnatural rattan pieces upholstered with contemporary tapestry fabrics.Using new rattan as opposed to old rattan guarantees durability andlong use.

Q. It's time to redecorate our master bedroom/bathroom area.Everything will be new, except the beige carpeting. I have encloseda sketch of the rooms and a carpet sample. Please give me some ideasthat will help compro mise my love of seashells and the shore with my husband's desire forcherry bedroom furniture.

A. You definitely can combine seashells with cherry furniture.Begin by finding a shell design wallpaper that coordinates with thesand carpeting. The shell pattern might be corals, sands and whiteson a rich sea-blue aquamarine background. Make certain you select awallcovering that has a coordinating fabric. Use the fabric on seatcushions of classic wicker chairs pulled up to your bedroomfireplace, if your bedroom has a fireplace. A cherry butler's-tray table would add a lot to this setting.

Q. My living room measures 17 feet by 13 feet, and the carpetand curtains are tan. My sofa and love seat have a beige backgroundwith bold mauve and green stripes, and smaller blue and gold stripes.I also have a mauve wing chair. The end tables are oak with smokedglass. My pictures have a gold frame with flowered matting in thecolors of my couch. The ceiling is vaulted. My furniture is largefor the room. I want to repaint and add color. What would yousuggest?

A. For your living room, I would suggest walls of a rich coingold. Paint all your woodwork and trim white. For throw cushions onyour striped sofa, use gold fabric and pipe the cushions with arich-green braid. Perhaps you can make your tan draperies come alivewith some gold trim. Also I would suggest you add some shiny brassaccessories to your room, perhaps a pair of lamps or an ash tray ortwo.

Questions should be addressed to Carleton Varney, ChicagoSun-Times Features, 401 N. Wabash, Chicago 60611.