The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-14
HOME-MAKING- HELPS
Here Is a Lovely
Sanitary Way to
Decorate Walls
By WANDA BARTON

"HE fad for painted walls is grow
ing every day. In less enlightened
Il years, only the walls Of cabins or
tenements and Institutions Of correction
were painted Cheapness in mainten-
ance was the reason.
Then hospitals began to insist upon
perfectly sealed and well-painted walls.
Sanitation was the idea behind the de-
mand- The doctors carried the sugses-
ton into homes whose walls were be-
lieved to breed disease within the some
times half-a-score layers of wallpaper
Fashion began to sit up and notice
the charming effects OF beautifully
"a inted walls Architects began to
specify walls so perfectly plastered they
would take the finest effects the brush
OF what became a new art. could apply
And now painted walls have behind their
use all sorts OF advocates from sci
eutists to artists
The newest paints for wall decoration
are composed of non-poisonous pig
ments, and are so prepared that not
only are they sanitary. but they are
made waterproof. so that the walls may
be washed frequently without damaging
Them in the least. There is also avail
able a wide range of tints. Delicate
French grays. light buns, cream and
ivory white are especially popular for
bedroom use
done it is economical to hire a gooF
painter who understands his job one
should see to it that he mixes the right
proportion of zinc with his lead. be-
cause the correct mixture maHes the
pafnt cover more surface, look better
and last longer. II II is impossible -
hire the expert. it is wiser for home al
ent to depend on the prepared mixed
paints.
No matter what the finish Is to
/ be. the first step is to use a fat oil paint
on the wall for a printing coat This
should be used as it comes from the
can, but IL it should need n fttle thin
| ming. a qGarter-pint OF raw linseed oil
may be used to quart OF the paint
Amply the paint as smoothly as possible,
and allow at least three days for his
| coat to dry and harden The next coat
may be a glossy finish. OF a dat one II
| two shades OF color are used, the side
walls NAV have a glossy finish while tie
| dado or border may be duly hnlshed-
| MANY stencils are to be purchased reaay
| cut. or special ones may be cut in any
desired design
n .he home decorator has an old wall
| 10 deal vvith-one which has formerly
| been papered-then all the paper must
| re removed. This may be done by going
over the wall with hot water and
vhftewash brush. Four ounces Of Gly-
cerine to a gallon of f.water Will keep the
water from drying out before II has
softened the paper sufficiently Allow
the wall to remain wet t-for half an hour.
then scrape off the paper with a three
] inch nat SCrapeT. may nc u
at any paint store Wash OF all the
raper and paste that seems to stick.
| then go over the whole wall with a
sponEe and warm water Let thls oty
| for three days Then proceed with the
| priming coat
Roughly speaking. a gallon OF paint
! will cover three hundred square feet
, with two coats
In painting. always begin at the top, then
no drippings will spoil the appearance OF
the lob Paint only on dry surfaces and
/ in dry weather. as moisture is rEinous
to paint Fail is the ideal season for
this work indoors as well as outdoors In
rainting follow the sun Begin on the
sunny side of the room and follow the
sun in its course as far as possible
The cost Of painting is chiefly in the
labor. II the man OF the house has a
good deal of time he will save by doing
his own painting. Dent be afraid that
the paint will be too well worked into
the surface, as this cant be done FL
bow grease and good paint make a good
job. The novice will do well TO avoid
the use of BOILED of' and dryers
These are only for experts who under
stand their use. as there is enough OF
the dryer used in the prepared paint
Where there are dryers present.
boiled oiI' is an unnecessary addition
A wall well painted this fall may be
washed down during the spring clean
ing days and touched up with a single
coTt 4 II is shabby anywhere next fall
-ne all viii then be as fresh and
pro ty as when it was first done.