Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-10
CONCERNING FLOORS.
How They Can BE Covered to the Best
Advantage.

Advantage.
From the Philadelphia Times.
The shaped and fitted carpet has very
wisely been superseded, to a great extent
by the bordered square, which is a much
more economical means Of covering the
floor, and decidedly advantageous from
hygienic point of view
The square carpet is less expensive to
make, 1t Is easily taken up and relaid, thus
being kept free from dust, it be turned
about in order to equalize the wear, and
can always be adapted to serve in another
room.
Much of the effect of the square carpets
depends upon the surround, that is, the
treatment of the margin of the floor and it
IS very necessary that in selecting we bear
IN nina the TACT that We really want a good
background for the carpet something that
VIII show UP the colors well as the de-
sign.
For this reason plain materials are the
best. and the color should be as unobstru-
slVe as possible. The usual depth of the
margin IN room of medium size is from
fourteen to twenty-five inches, but in
small room twelve inches will be sufficient
depth, otherwise it dwarfs the apparent size
OF the apartment. One of the very incest
margins is of thin parquet, which is exactly
like the solid parquet in appea rance but
much less expensive, being from cents per
square foot. 1t can be laid over the exist
ing floor without any preparation, and can
be easily relafd and removed when neces-
sary. For a dining or morning room it is
specially appropriate and looks exceedingly
We'll as surround to Turkey or any orr
entail carpet
There are now many Hnoleums made In
the parquet designs and there are also ex-
cellent margins slightly less expensive than
the thin parquet or plain cork carpet; very
effective, and about the same price When
TINS Is used the color chosen should be the
same as the predominating dark tone in the
carpet, never lighter, or it becomes too no.
ticeable. Felt is very often used as a sur
round, but its dust-collecting propensities
make 1t very unsuitable for the purpose
and an equally good effect can be got with
halmuc, material made of jute which Is
quite inexpensive and much more easily
kept clean.
AS d very rich surround plain Wilton car
pet may be used, but this, Of course. is de
luxe. Mattings of various kinds such as
string, Chinese and Japanese, are all very
nice margins. the last named for preference
as 1t is the finest and wears the best For
ped rooms these are particularly appropri-
ate, as they look so fresh and Clearly and
they can be kept nice with such a small
amount of labor by simply wiping with a
damp cloth every morning
Light Hnoleums in mating designs are
good Tor the purpose and only slightly more
expensive the extra wear compromising for
the difference in price. The most econom-
zeal margin is stain and varnish which
looks very we'll indeed if the floor boards
are in good condition. The combined stain
pose, or We may have something more dur
able II We use homemade mixture, such
as the following:
One quart of cold drawn lfnseed oil, half
an ounce of rose pink and four ounces of
aKahet root Let the mixture stand three
or Tour days by the fire. stirring well occa-
slonally, and it will then be fit for use
After the floor has had a coating of thin
glue water, the stain should be applied with
a large Whitewash brush. and. when the
nrst application is thoroughly dry, not be-
fore. second coat may be given and so on
until the required color is obtained The
ponshing is then done with flannel and
beeswaN Sometimes fluid is used as
stain. but 1t does not give quite the effect
OF oak or mahogany, or any of the various
WOODS which the prepared stain initiates so
successfully. a parquet effect can be OBJ
tanned by staining the margin in geometri-
cal designs with transparent stain and
aiterward vanishing. and this treatment is
very durable and Decorative.
In bed rooms. where the woodwork is
painted white the margin of the floor NAV
be treated in like manner, but with dark
paint 1t Is entirely out Of the question