The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-09-18
asritulturul.
How to Paint Our Houses.

yau,s recent book on agriculture il
full of practical good taste and wisdom, and
we copy what no says on an important
point;
"rhe question Of color is a most interest
ing one in any design for q country house,
and seems at present but little understood
IN America, but far the greater number OF
houses being simply painted white, with
bright green blinds. BY this means each
residence is distinctly pro,ruded from the
surrounding scenery, and instead Of group
ing and harmonizing with it, asserts right
to carry ON separate business on Its own
account; and this lack Of sympathy between
the bailding and Its surrounding is very dis
agreeable to an artistic eve. Even harsh,
vulgar outline may often pass without par
ticular notice, in view of rural scenery, II
the mass is quiet and harmonious in color !;
while u very tOlerable composition may in.
jure materially the views near it, lift is
painted white, the human eye beng so con.
stituted that it will be constantly held in
bondage by this striking blot Of crude light
and compelled to give it unwilling atten-
ton.
In country houses, the design has to be
adapted TO the location. and not the loca-
ton to the design; for it is undesirable, and
generally impracticable, to make the nasu-
raj landscape subservient, TO the architectu-
raj composition. Woods, fields, mountains,
and riy, rs will be more important than the
houses that are built among them and
every attempt to force individual buildings
into prominent notice is an evidence either
of vulgar desire for notoriety at any sacri-
fee, or ofan ill-educased eye and TASTE
The colors ofrural buildings should be care.
fully varied. They should be often cheer
ful and light, sometimes neutral, seldom
dark. and never black or white and there
is, fortunately, no end to the combinations
of tints that may be used in painting a
house. The constant recurrence Of abou,
the same requirements will, Of course, lead
TO such similarity in plan, particularly IN
small buildings; but the monotony that
this would occasion may be asroeably re-
lieved by variety in color, both in the inte
rior and exterior. Different patterns Of pa
per will make two rooms Of the same pro
portions no longer look alike and the same
result will be observed on the exterior, by
adopting different tinss for the walls ant
the woodwork. Another important poin
TO be considered is, that IL is entirely insoi
feient to use only one or two shades OF col
or for each house. Every rural building re
quires four ,in,s to make il pleasant oh
ject in the way Of color; and this variet,
costs but little more than monotonous rope
titiou. white IL adds much to tho complete
ness Of the eject. The main wall shoulS
be Of some agrceable shade Of color; th,
roof trimmings. vera ndas, and other wood
work, bong either ofa different color, or o
q different shade Of the same color, 50 tina
contrast, but not q hard one, may be o.
tabiished. The third color, not widely dill
fereut from the other woodwork, should b
applied to the sohd par. Of the Venetian
blinds, and the movable Stats should be paint
ed Of the fourth tint. This last should b
by FAR ths darkest used on the premises, 70
the eHsc, ofa glass window or opening in
wall n always dark when seen from dis
tance; and IL this natural tac, Is not remem
bsrsd, and the shutters are painted the sam
color rs the rest Of the house, q blank, IN
interesting eject will be produced, f,r whe
the blinds are closed, which Is generall
the case. the house, except toa person YER,
mar il, willappear to be without any win
d,ws at all. This error Is often fallen into
aud requires 10 bs carefully guarde
against