Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1910-03-24

pie are paying at this time approx
imately s100, 900, 900 year for what
is exclusively an amusement.
The injunction proceedings brought
for covering the walls. Rather than
a right and wrong of certain methods
We have the advantages which our
kind of treatment has over another,
judged from the standpoint of wheth-
er or not it is effective. The white
| plaster wall takes on a new life and
an appropriate place in the scheme
of things with a coat of distemper
or fresco. The wall paper world,
tho 1T is fun of many things to be
avoided, possesses just as much that
is charming in design and color, if
we will but demand it. Rough plaster
has found an important place In the
decorative whole and with it, the
burlaps and canyasses. The effec-
tive results obtained by the use of
these Latter materials are due chief
ly to the roughness of texture, pro-
ducing softened tones, by the play
of lights and darks, impossible in
the unbroken surface of smooth plas-
ter or wall paper. In addition to
their charm of color these same ad-
vantages of textures heighten the
value of Japanese embossed papers,
hrocades and old tapestries. The
brocades and tapestries, because of
their prohibitive prices are associat-
ed with luxury and not considered
In relation to present house decora-
ton.
One of the most popular modes of
wall treatment is papering. It's vir-
tue Lies in the fact that the price
Is within the reach of all, besides
doing service toward covering up inn
projections. It is also true that the
great variety in color and design
give US ample scope from which to
choose something harmonious. Sc
lection of good wall paper calls for
discrimination in regard to designs
as we'll as color. Color sometimes
has the grace to fade into oblivion,
but the design frequently stays with
US. There is much to be said in
favor of good design, and much to
be said against poor design, but the
limitations of word pictures prevent
a very close study of the subject
We have agreed wall paper usually
serves its function as a background
and it may or may not adhere to
to this, trust according to the de-
sign used. Every good design is
made in relation to the shape and
purpose of that of which it is a part.
The wall paper covers a surface a.
gainst which we place objects or hang
pictures, PLAQUES and the like. and
our design should suggest nothing
which by its form would defeat this
object. The climbing roses, so life
like that We can pluck them from
the wall, make an unstable resting
place for the pictures or heavy
mirror hung against them. Lack of
repose is a characteristic of these
naturalistc patterns which cannot
| help but create the feeling of sew
1rfo Il so4,1
to the purpose for which the decor
! alton is chosen. Under the same
| ban is placed the combination of con-
ventionalized and naturalistic de-
| sign found in the gold scroll combine
with clusters of flowers. | do not
mean that flowers must be eliminat-
ed from wall patterns, in fact a
great many of our motifs have as
basis a flower form, which has been
so modified as to become a part of
that which it decorates and not
something added to it. Neither in
color nor value should it present
strong contrast to the general schem-
of the whole.
The size and shape Of the walls,
the part to be covered by the paper,
influence the choice of pattern. The
large room with large unbroken areas
j admits of more size in design, while
for the small room or broken wall
spaces the more minute pattern is
appropriate The best background
results from the use of paper in
conspicuous in it's color or value
contrasts, while the pattern used
primarily as a friege against which
pictures are not hung, or in room
of little other ornament may be more
elaborate in it's arrangement. For
the background the brocade effect
or monotone is pleasing; for the
friege we choose more contrast in
value and color.
In connection with the walls we
think of the stencilled border, also
the decorative friege which had its
beginning so many centuries ago,
but still retain its charm. The tint
ed bedroom wafi becomes doubly in