The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-04-15
Latest Styles in
Wall Decorations.

Quoting eminent authority, the gener-
al rules may be summed up thus: "For
drawing rooms and parlors, light colors are
used. Much of the best work is done in
panels. For halls, libraries and dining
rooms, strong color, convincing designs and
bold effects prevail and for bed rooms del
icately tinted effects in airy, graceful de-
signs"
There is less gilt used now, indeed, 1t
rarely appears except as a means of touch
ing up the high lights where the color is
too pale to give them force.
French may be said to be the style and
standard of perfection for most apart
-ments although the bold, sterling character
of English patterns is well liked for libra
res, halls and dining rooms. The newest
French designs show q riot of color, yet
they always artstically applied. Green
in various shades, lilac, violet and lavender
are softly blended with pearl, cream, dull
pink and fawns. Red, with lighter red, or
brilliant grass green, with lighter or more
subdued tones, are found in English pieces.
The grounds are as varied as the designs.
The most popular come under the head of
"satins;" they are smooth and glittering as
the term would imply. Some are silky
looking, and others are exact copies of
fabric effect.
FREEZES come with all the new papers ex-
cept the cretonnes and tapestry effects.
Cretonne is imported with the paper, and
reproduces the patterns. Real silk, satin
and other fabrics are also employed for
elaborate rooms
Among the high-grade papers, the enam-
els are beautiful and durable. They are in
all the prevailing colors, and are suitable
for many apartments. Those which are
printed in the manner of oil paintings are
almost startling In the life-like manner in
which the design is apparently lifted from
the ground.
One of the most signal achievements in
Initiating fabrics Is the reproduction of
hand-woven tapestries. We may now have
library and dining rooms hung in paper,
which, if 1t does not give all the pleasure
of real Gobelin is, at leaSS an admirable
substitute. Figure and 6Dra1 pieces are In
the rich low tones and forms of the best
periods of French weaving. They come in
rolls of both panels and continuous pat
terms.
Plain walls are now more seen In new
furnishings, unless in the dining room,
where the vivid color Is intended as back
ground for rich hangings of handsome carv-
ings, and to surround the wainscoting,
which is very fashionable. This latter is
usually of Lincrusta- Walton, and is painted
in imitation of carved wood majolica or
pressed thing, and is never less than 80
inches or feet in height, sometimes run
ming up to feet In lofty rooms. TIL dining
room and hall must be cheerful, and pre-
sent an air of welcome. The hall is rarely
occupied for long at time, and Is, there
fore, striking in the nature of its wall COW
ering, or 1t will produce no impression
whatever. Heraldic designs are often Sc
lected, but the correct style of architect
ure shown in the front of the house, thus
continuing the impression, even though inn
perceptibly. Leather papers are still some-
times seen for dining room or vestibules,
but they are less popular than heretofore.
The handsomest parlor papers are OF
beautiful Persian rose, to be used with old
ivory woodwork. Napoleon greens with
bird's-eye maple is also finding much favor
In well-furnished homes.
Fresco work is very fashionable, and calls
for exquisite handiwork In the way OF
beautiful panels and ceilings. The CARTON
pierre treatment is In the best possible
taste as borders for panels, as frieze, dado
or ceiling effects. The design stands out in
high relief, heavily raised. The molds In
which it is made are chiselled by hand by
a sculptor. It Is a mixture of sweet oil,
chemicals and powdered substance, which
hardens like marble, but is of soft.
smooth surface like polished ivory. Lin
crusta- Walton, it's rival, is coarser and
cruder in finish.