St. Landry democrat., 1891-08-22
ARTISTIC
How to Select WALLPAPER that Is Cheer.
fui and Effect We.

fui and Effective.
The highest art is nov displayed in
the designs for Wallpapers, and there Is
no discounting the magnificent appear
ances of some of these latest patterns
when properly placed on the sides OF
the room. Large figures in old gold,
especially scroll work in borders, are
used. In selecting wallpaper it should
be chosen i'll accordance with good taste,
aud The most important question to de-
eide i whether it is to form a decOra-
ton ~ Il; elf or whether it is to be-
tD"c a mere background for pictures.
In either case tie c0ioTs should be sub
dued in tone, and two shades OF light
drab Or siiyec-Sray will be found the
most appropriate fer this purpose.
Where water-co,of drawings are Lung
IL a dfaWlug-room paper Of embossed
white or cream color, with very small
spots of gold, viii not be amlss. The
patterns should also be selected with
reference to the place. When a large
part of the wall is to be presented to the
eye a greater play of lire in the pat
terms nay be attractive but in all other
situations tue atterns should be com
paratlvely simple. 1t is a mistake to
make the WALLPAPER decorations Of the
same color OF the furniture. Instead Of
repeating the color Of the furniture and
hengings it should oppose it. Contrast
Is as essential as simplicity to good
taste in household decoration.
In selecting papers for the walls one
should not trust simply to the pattern
books. 4 paper that has been ordered
will often look darker or lighter after it
is hung than it did in the pattern-book.
In order to avoid disappointment in this
respect it is advisable to take several
lengths Of the paper and suspend them
side by side on the wall, and notice
carefully the general effect it has upon
the eye and the room. The leaves of
certain plants cOnventionally treated are
very effective decorative forms. The
ivy, maple, oak and fig leaves are beau
tifully adapted to this purpose, and
they come in large and small designs on
wall paper Where two shades of the
same color are employed, and the quiet
ness of effect is especially desired. the
oyerlaid tint should be but very little
darker than tie ground; and if draw
lngs and other things are to be hung
upon it the pattern should be hardly
d~l5cernlble from a little distance.
The most dreary method CT decorat-
ing the wall of a sitting-room is to cover
it all over with an unrelieved pattern OF
monotonous design. Yet many house
wives who are careless about such mat
tiers, or probably do not know the secret
OF the art, will do this every spring that
their paperis changed. Paper-hanging
should in no case be allowed to cover
the whole space OF a wall from skirting
to ceiling. A plinth space of plain
color, either in paper or distemper.
should be left to a height of two or
three feet from the floor. A light wood
moulding, stained or gilded, should
separate this from the paper above. A
second space of frieze, left just below
the ceiling and filled with arabeslue
ornament, is always effective. but, of
course, always involves more expense.
Gold, when injudiciously introduced, is
al ways a valuable adjunct in the design
paper hangings, but it frequently
doubles and sometimes trebles the
of q piece.