Milford chronicle., 1929-08-16
DECORATED FURNITURE EASY
TO HAVE
By Helen 3. Amas

say what you will about the free
dom OF summer, there are man,
days when the sun is so glaring thai
the inside of the house is far moro
inviting than the grounds or the
porch. And much can be done tc
make it a cool and refreshing re.
treat if color is judiciously used in
the furnishings. Hangings and rugs
are of course reduced to a minimum
in hot weather and we must depend
on the furniture more than the back
ground to supply the color note. But
painted furniture is within the reach
of everyone nowadays. If we cannot
afford the exquisite reproductions of
venetian and French pieces, we can
always resort to the paint pot.
Almost any type of furniture can
be bought unfinished and decorated
with the desired color at very little
cost. Or worn and dingy chairs and
table may be converted into a
breakfast set, and old bedsteads and
bureaus may also become part of the
prevailing color scheme. In fact. IT
is SO easy to achieve a sprightIy and
cheerful atmosphere for summer in
ter1ors that even the unervating
weather is a poor excuse for neglect.
Those who make this plea of Iazi-
ness should realize that the law of
compensation brings ample return
for the small amount of energy ex-
pended. When the work is done the
finished piece not only creates a
feeling of aesthetic satisfaction but
eliminates considerable amount of
household drudgery. Painted furni-
ture requires little busting and no
polishing-only an occasional wip-
ing with damp cloth.
Unfinished furniture is often pre-
pared for painting before it is sold,
but it is well to make sure that this
has been done, since open-grained
woods, such as oak, walnut, mahog-
any and chestnut, require a paste
wood filler whatever the finish. And
this applied to old wood of this type
as well as to new. The filler is
brushed on and allowed to set for
about half an hour. Then the excess
is wiped off with excelsior, after
which period of twelve hours must
elapse before it is hard enough for
painting. Finally it is sandpapered
and wiped clean with turpentine. 1t
is now ready for the printing coat.
New wood must always have pri-
mer. This penetrates the wood and
supplies a groundwork for the sue
coats. In this case, a special
enamel undercoating was used for
he two undercoats, with a final fin
sh of enamel. For old pieces that
ire marred and SCARED, fiat paint is
| better vehicle for the undercoats
BECAUSE of it's marvellous hiding pro-
)erties.
Lacquer also gives very artistic
inish, and is practical as we'll, since
is possible to use a lacquered
,iece within half an hour after the
york is done. For new wood, the
is the same as described
or enamel finishes. Old surfaces
must be clean and the wood hard,
Try and unblemished. Lacquer is
eldom used with success over a
stain, as this is likely to
bleed" through and destroy the ap-
of the new color. One coat
S sufficient to cover a surface that
S already coated with the same col
r, but two will be needed for wood |
hat is badly scratched and mar
ed. Furniture that has never been
nished will require two or three
publications. of lacquer, according to |
he nature of the wood.
In addition to stencilling, simple
lethods of decoration vary from all
yer antique effects to decalcomania
transfers. which may be bought at
ny art store. Even stripping if the
olors are we'll chosen will give an
ldividual touch to plain painted
hair, a modest little table, or any
ther piece of furniture, for that
latter.A single line of black is often
cry effective, but the latest thing
q stripping is four or five rows of
armonizing colors. And if, per-
hance, you have someone in the
,miIy with a talent for free-hand
you may have a truly
istinctive piece, rare achieve
tent, which will make you the envy
{ all your friends.
Painted furniture should not be
onfined to the summer season-it
attractive at any time of the year.
! iii