Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-01-30

HORIZONTAL. TREATMENT OF LINES, TO GIVE
THE EFFECT or LOWERING TOO HIGH
CEILING ..
feet of shadow, or lot of romantic associa-
tions. But some of those things can hardly
be had to order, and an attempt to initiate
the accidental picturesqueness Of old country
dwellings is likely to result in anything but
the wished for effect exteriorly, while in the
interior, in addition to the various sorts of
discomfort which it entails, it has led to an
entire disregard of proportion and of the ex-
pressiveness-when properly managed-of of
architectural lines.
Theowne of modern cottage, or even of
an expensive residence, is as likely as the
occupant of the most ordinary house to be
troubled about what to do with his i'll pro-
portioned and badly arranged rooms. Some
thing can generally be done, though in the
former case a satisfactory cure is often i'm
possible. Usually the difficulty is that the
room is too high or too low, too long or too
narrow, and these faults can easily be REM
edied when they are not complicated by
irregular jogs and bays, by window and
door castings of unequal height and similar
unlocked for results of the modern architects
plan of working from the outside in. In deal
ing with these complications their victims
must rely on their own ingenuity; but the
greater obstacles overcome, it may be found
possible to reduce the lesser, or, if not, to bear
with them. A few typical examples will help
us to understand the principles involved.
Take the case-very common in modern
houses-of room being too high for its
floor space. The obvious thing to do would
be to provide il with both friese and dadO,
and to make both of exceptional depth. But
perhaps the builder has already put in a
dadb of the same height as in other low
studded rooms, and the chances are that he
has made doors and windows so high that q
deep frieze is impossible He may also have
aggravated the difficulty by fixing over the
mantel tall mirror reaching to the cornice
still, there is no need to despair. The prin.
ciple to act upon remains the same. 1t is to
multiply and accent the horizontal lines, tc
subdue and efface somesof the perpendicular
ones. Thus, if the cornice should contain O
row of tall palm fronds, in the Empire taste,
one should abstain frsm picking them Out
with gold, or otherwise drawing attention tc
them; but tho longitudinal holdings, in
stead, should be so distinguished.
The narrow frieze may be decorated witt
oblong panels or may have running or
nament whose curves approach the hor
izontal Sofas and other oblong pieces Of
furniture may be disposed where they
will do the most good, and the current
fashion Of decorating purtieres and heavy
window curtains with broad horizon
tai bands may be followed with advantage
The effect of the tall mantel and mirror may
be neutralized in part by treating the franz
of the latter differently from the mantel it
self, regilding it, for example, and by cover
ing the mantel shelf with deep lambrequin
The paper should be of diaper pattern. Ii
the opposite case, all this should be reversed
The figures on the wall paper should be dis
posed in vertical stripes; the frieze should b
emitted or made very narrow; no horizonta
bands should be allowed on the curtains
which should hang in straight folds; sofa