The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-04-20
How to Select Wall Paper.

The spring is pre-eminently the season
for repairs and reconstruction as well as
the beginning of new buildings and the
starting of new enterprises.
With such work in contemplation all in
telligent people generally are interested in
new and practical ideas for the perfection
Of their work. - - -
First of all select for your patronage one
who has by his works established himself
as one who understands his business.
Nowadays the sale of paper hangings is
special avocation like that of the artist or
architect.
Wall paper as an article of merchandise
can no longer be successfully handled as
merely one of store full of different items.
The dealer in furniture, dry goods or other
lines can hardly be expected to keep much
of a variety of stock or know much what he
does keep. It is easier and safer to patron
ize the one who has adopted as an avocation
business now recognized in its full extent
as not only speciality but an art. The pur-
chaser wants to be helped, not Kindred, in
making up his mind what to buy; only those
who have education and experience in this
matter can aid him.
For the blind to lead the blind in art il
as bad as bad can be. A voluminous varie-
ty is perplexing enough, but add to it the
ignorance or stupidity of a salesman. and
little wonder the walls suffer and ache from
DISCOUNTED decoration. y
First learn, or have your decorator learn
Tor you, the size, shape, and general char
! acter of the room, the. number and position
of the doors and windows, the form of the
fire place, the height of ceiling and style of
cornice, the amount of sunlight the room
receives and the direction whence it comes,
Indeed all circumstances and conditions of
k1,o oho ,1l1 no l. \ =
The use to which the apartment is put
should then determine much concerning
the quality and style of paper to be used,
Still further limit the latitude of your
choice by your wish to Tighten the room if
1T be gloomy, or to subdue it if it be too
glary.
These principal points settled proceed to
follow your own taste if you can trust your
self, or that of the decorator if meriting
your confidence. Pick out the body paper
for the walls first, and then grade
or match up all else to it. Nine
rooms out of ten are spoiled or
seriously marred by the ignorance, indie
purchaser who wants land from a business
standpoint, ought to have, his own way.)
Many statesmen act as if customers had no
| rights to be respected. Diversity and differ
,ence of opinion on the part of the purchaser
| should be given full sway. It is the bust
| ness of a successful salesman to ''catch" the
direction of the customers wants, and then
aid in finding just what suits, subject to the
| conditions of use to which the article is to
be put. In the selection of paper-hangings
the personality of the purchaser should not
be subverted.
There are small, odd-shaped halls and
hooks where it is impossible to properly
decorate with paper, in such cases it is nee
essary to give special treatment in fresco or
other methods. To all who have any
thoughts of decorating we would recon-
mend them to call on Mr.. o. j. Holmes, at
his place of business, % North Main street,
whose advertisement appears on page 2.