Omaha daily bee., 1909-05-02
FIXING UP THE OLD House
Transformation Wrought by Color
Directed by Good Taste.
FINE EFFECT OF STENCIL WORK
Location and Purpose Of Rooms n De-
termining Factor In Planning a
Color Treatment-sOme VAL
liable Suggestion.

the most fascinating problems of our pres
ent-day endeavors. Fortunately. this work
Of altering the appearance Of the home is
not a mere matter of dollars and cents, but
rather u detail of good taste and wise Sc
lection.
There is no room so wkward that it is
impossible to transform it into an artistic,
satisfactory apartment. Nor 10 it a matter
Of carpentry OF masonry-but rather a mat
ter Of wise taste, as well as careful judg-
ment in the selection Of wall colors and
care In their use.
Ten years ago little thought and prac-
tically no attention was given to the treat
ment of the wall beyond the lath and
plaster stage. Now, with due attention,
the bare walls and the barn-like appear
ance can easily be transformed into an
attractive. artistic room, full of coziness
and comfort.
The use of a room has much bearing
upon the scheme of decoration. II it is to
be used as a study, for a quiet hour, II
certainly should be given quiet colors
and soft, delicate treatment. II the room
is a bed room. as far different treatment
and so through the house.
Then, too, the location OF the room is
essentially II factor in planning a color
treatment, for, obviously. rooms with
fsouthern exposure require colors that will
, soften and modify the excess of sunlight
which is bound to come into the room.
So, too, with the west room. while, on the
other hand, north rooms insist on warmer
more Observation-Disclosures and in this
east rooms also share.
NGuv for tba artuaI Work Of raaIy an,
bellishing a room, so that 1t will be a
thing of beauty as well as a joy forever.
We do not need to tear down the walls
to lower the ceilings If they appear toe
high and give a bare, unfinished effect.
Not at all. BY the use Of color, we car
give walls the effect of advancing or OF
receding at our pleasure.
Dark tones advance the wall or ceiling
toward us-lessen the apparent distance
and decrease the effect OF size. For ex.
ample. a large woman lessons her apparent
size by wearing black gowns, and a slight,
slender woman looks larger in white
gowns; so in walls, dark walls lessen the
apparent size of a room and light walls
Increase the apparent size.
Making High Ceilings Appear Low
Suppose the ceiling is too high. Use a
moderately dark tone for the ceiling and
carry It down the side wall at least fifteen
inches-twenty-four is better for a twelve.
foot c~eiling-then you have lessened the
height materially.
Patterns, such as conventional figures
or floral designs which are frequently
found In wall papers-were used to relieve
an otherwise flat surface. not because II
was the best way, but because II was the
only way which seemed possible for the
ordinary purse.
Now there are better ways to overcome
the fiat appearing spaces on side walls,
for at present We wear our ceiling plain in
one single mphotone. Chief among the
better ways is the use Of stencil effects
which. II desirable designs are used are
effective and decidedly modish.
But there is such a thing as a rule OF
decorative proportions. and its arithmetic
stops at three. We nave one, two or three
colprs in a room. but no more: we NAV
have one, two or three tones Of a single
color but no more; we may have one, tive
or three designs of stencil. in one, two o,
three widths but no more; we may, IL wa
choose, break out flat wall panels, nc
matter what the size of the wall.
Now, to wise choice in color and befor,
you finally decide, bear in mind the rela,
ton Of the rooms. as well as their use
for a green room with a blue for next door
neighbor would be an denomination OF Root
taste. for they would never be on speakins
terms.
When ceilings are not too high-wher
rooms have large openings into and from
each other, 1t is a good plan to use a ricf
ivory white tone for all the ceilings anc
harmonizing colors for the side walls.
For example, use a warm. rich. brownisf
side wall for living room; then suppose
the reception hall is on the north side, her,
a cafe-au-lait, or yellow tan side wall with
ivory ceiling will give a decidedly charming
defect.
Now comes the use of the stencil. and
here is the opportunity for breaking ava,
from the conventional stereotyped friez,
and border and the achieving Of an indi
vidual artistic embellishmcnt.
The use Of a conventional four-inch stem.
ell design following about four inches abov,
the standing woodwork, reaching oveI
doors. following over baseboards and goinl
up over the window frame, is unique, indi
vidual and very effective, and is being uset
with great success by the best decorator!
In New York and Chicago.
The otherwise Ions line OF the perpendicu
lar side wall is also frequently broken b,
a plate or photo rail two-thirds up the sid,
wall, and below this. the same conventional
design in stencil. then from the ceilinI
line is dropped a twelve-foot design IN stem
ell adopted TO the use of the room, sucl
as fruit pieces for dining room-conven
tionalized flowers for living room, or Sc
geometrtc figure for hall,
The effect is stunning when done in
darker TOM Of the side wall color or IL
darker contrasting color.
A very pleasing stencil effect for us.
on a dull green side wall is the use o
IVORY white for the patterns with a blacl
outfiOe.
Having decided on the color scheme anC
having also chosen its form. the really i'm
portant thing Is to choose the vehicle o.
medium Of color, for unless a material b,
chosen hat has permanent colors and non