Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1877-02-24
HOW TO FURNISH A HOUSE.

ture, that it cannot, asa general thing. be
sat upon nor covered up, but il is the very
point in furnishing that is the most fre-
quently open to criticism. Wall papers
are seldom " hat they should be; and
many "sweet things" at the paper-hang-
ers are transformed into unexpected ug-
Illness by hanging. Looking at paper in
the roll is such a different matter from
seeing it on the wall, that, to prevent .
disagreeable surprise, several widths of
it should be held side by side in the room
for which it is intended, before the paper
is decided upon. 1t is apt to look darker
when on the wall. For hall, the palest
of greens and browns is usually the most
pleasing effect; or the walls may be pan
eled artistically.
Paper is a very important item in the
furnishing of n room, and should be selec-
ted with great care, to harmonize with
the other appointments. Plain papers
that have the effect OF painting are gener-
ally the most satisfactory; and they
should contain just the least suspicion Of
the tint to be aimed at. The palest of
plnks with lines of vivid crimson in the
corners, and narrow band of it Just be-
low the moulding OF dead gold, is beau
tiful for parlor where the prevailing
tone Of the furniture is gray. II furnish
ed in crimson or blue, the wall paper
should be OF pale gray or cream color.
A panelled paper for halls may be made
by covering the whole surface with pa
per Of the body color, and then taking .
darker shade of the same color to form
the dividing lines.
"Fallen-leaf shade is recommended, by
a good authority, for dining room-par-
.icularly If the pictures there are in gilded
frames But the tint is only to be distin-
guished from white by laying sheet of
pure white paper on it, 1t is further ad-
vised that the "wood-work of the room so
papered should be of dark oak or black
walnut; and just under the cornice, and
two inches from the woodwork, should be
fine ribbon-like line. cut out of paper,
of pure and bright primary red about
one-sixth of AN inch wide. The corners
may be enriched by giving to the lines
some curving knot or rectangular fret; a
little ingenuity and sharp pair of scissors
will produce them as fast as wanted"
This is intended to'give the effect of fresco
or oil painting at small expense.
Another authority says that paper-hang-
ing should never cover the whole space
of wall from floor to ceiling; but that
"dado," or plinth-space, of plain color,
either in paper or distemper, should be
left to the height of two or three feet from
the floor. A light wood moulding, stain
ed or gided should separate this from the
paper above. A second space, or frieze,
just below the ceiling. filed with ara
besque ornament painted on distemper-
ed ground, is always effective-but, of
course involves some additional expense.
An unrivalled pattern of monotonous de-
| sign, or plain paper continued over an
entire wall, has very dreary effect, as
the eve Graves rest in travelling over Q
large space.
The wonder is. that people don't do
more pretty things with their houses when
| there are so many to be done. For who,
while extending the cordial invitation of
Madame Arachne, can supplement- it as
| she did:
.'ris the prettiest little parlOr that ever you
did spy"
Not people who furnish in "suites,n and
have their ornamental things in pairs,
like the cotents of toy arks but. possibly.
some unacknowledged poet, or poetess,
who has to save and consider, and get
things by piece-meal. 1t is blessing in
disguise to people when they cannot get
everything they want at once, nor get 1t
at the same place. Picking up here and
there at odd times, produces charming re-
| suits; and furniture thus obtained has an
individuality and a meaning which the up
holsterer, who makes to order and fails
to give 1t.
People who are not In slavery to the
carpet idea can do great things with q
little money; while those who are, need
expect nothing beyond the orthodox yards
of flowers and foliage. or geometrical
patterns done in wool. A room with a
grand new looking carpet in il, and very
little else, is dreary place enough; while
one with scarcely any or no covering at
all, but plenty of other things, can be
made cosey and delightful. Let Il be
straw mating and home rugs or
painted floors and ditto; but until a par
lor is provided with a few good pictures,
flowers either cut or growing, and, at
least, white-clay figure, or group Of
some kind, it has no right to q carpet
These things educate, and the carpet does
not; no one ever called carpet . loop
hole of the soul
Very few carpets are properly used ;