New-York tribune., 1921-11-27
Use Of Woods
In Building
Home Interior
Selection of Proper Kinds
More Important Than
Economy, Says Expert
in Giving Suggestions
By H. II. Hobart
Curtis Conspanies. Inc,

Among the things that will come M
Ter consideration when the plans for =
new home are being made is the kind
oi wood TO be used for the interior fin.
ish. In this manner, as in most of the
others, there are number ~ tb;rcs
To be taken into consideration stimuli
raneously. There are those whose hank
balance sheet justifes them in TAKING
the various booklets that the postman
brings to "those about to buiId,, and
choosing from among the various woods
individually exploited that one which
seems most beautiful, or most in har~
mony with the heirlooms or imported
treasures that are to be set off apa;nst
the interior. Fer such, there are the
iasciuations OF American walnut. of
redwood. OF mahogany. ash, cypress.
oaA' o1 southern pine and gum, and a
aozeh otners- But for those of us who
rather proudly class ourselves ne
average" Americans, the choice ;s "a.
strlcted by several other considers
tions
Perhaps the first thing that should
oe taken into consideration Is annro-
pfiateness This is really more i'm
portant than economy, for what nos
slnle pleasure could be derived from
purchasing material, however chean
Whica constantly grated upon YOU.
etcrnaily unfit? Besides. apnropr;sts'
ness is not usually confined to one ma
Feriai, so that having determined upon
which sorts of finish are suitable, there
Is often the possibility of Choosing
among them one which is also eco
nomical.
For instance, if you have chosen 81
Colonial house nothing could be more
appropriate than painted woodwork, or.
II you prefer, painted trim with doors
ana permanent furniture of mahogany.
ror paint 1T Is not necessary to have
wood that displays beautiful grain,
as the grain Is covered by the paint.
IN that cases one may as we'll choose
the most economical wood, or the wood
most economical to finish The close
grained woods-pine, maple, cherry.
alreh, whitewood, gumwood and cy-
press-cost less to finish, because with
l, l9em 1t Is not necessary to use paste
nlier. OF these white pine is especially
desirable and has the additional ad-
vantage of being obtainable in stock
items of doors and trim, of Colonial
inspiration. Birch is another desirable
wood for painted or enamelIed finish,
which Is also used as q stock material
for standardized Colonial woodwork.
birch may also be stained to simulate
mahogany with excellent results Ii
has double possibilities therefore.
Harmonic Woodwork
On the other hand, if your house is
English, you will want to choose oak
woodwork, to make the interior of your
house harmonic with the exterior de-
NElnnmanf an6 rf CO ,a
stained and waxed to bring out the
matchess grain of that time -honored
wood. And SO on down the line of Span
ish, Italian and all the other correct
architectural types from which you
may have selected your home. (Of
course, we cannot suppose that any
average" American these days will
choose a type that does not have archi-
tectural merit)
Always, whatever the architectural
type of the housee, or the material of
its carefully designed interior wood
work, the latter, like the walls, ceilings
and floors, must be held down by sub
dued mat or eggshell finish, if it is to
take its part as background for the
furnishings and occupants of the room.
Such finish also tends to bring out
the forms of the holdings and show
more clearly the quality of the wood
work.
Another point that must be borne in
mind is that the woodwork, as it is de-
livered to your job, must be properly
taken care of. 1t is delivered Gin the
white" unpainted, unvarnished and
without filler of any kind, in
order that it may be finished to suit your
Individual taste. Unfinished wood, no
matter how carefully selected and we'll
built, absorbs moisture readily. For
this reason the woodworlr shou1d pever
be left in a damp room nor fitted in
nlace hefnre the mi ster is fhorounhl. "