Milford chronicle., 1930-09-05
REMODELING WITH PAINT
Dorothy J. Miller

Dorothy J. Miller
When a house begins to show its
age, appearing out-dated and glOo-
my, it is time for some form of re-
juvenation. Structural remodeling is
usually the first thought because re-
moving a partition here or adding a
window there often greatly improves
a house. But such reconstruction
work is expensive so that home own
ers who feel that they cannot afford
to put forth any large sum in re-
modelling would be wise to turn to
paint as a medium for undermining
and freshening up their houses.
For example, an old-fashioned
house where the first floor had been
divided into four rooms, instead of
the three that the space actually
permitted, had two living rooms,
connected by an archway. Each
room was dark and uncomfortably
small. The owner, not wishing to
add any windows or to tear down
the dividing wall, because of the ex-
pense this work would entail, de-
cided to repaint the dark tan walls
a pale buff. Immediately the rooms
appeared lighter so that the lack of
sufficient windows was not so ap-
parent. Finished alike, the two
rooms no longer resembled two
stuffy boxes. When the wood trim
of the arch between the two rooms
was finished in ivory white enamel,
IF ~ ri
division between the rooms was
even less noticeable.
Paint will also go far in making
ill-propOrtioned lines in a room
seem less pronounced. If a room ap-
pears too high in comparison with
its length and breadth, a picture
may be- placed low and the
ceiling color carried down to the
On the other hand, a sunny room,
that seems even hotter than the tenn
perature would indicate, will acquire
a more pleasing atmosphere if its
walls are painted a cool tint, such
as pale green, blue or a soft gray.
Poor flooring makes a room look
shabby despite nice furnishings.
Wood that lacks attractive grain or
ooloring, or that presents a rough
surface which no amount of sand
will remedy, is not hope
less, because paint will conceal
.hese faults at the same time it
brings new color to the room. Paint
IS also excellent for concealing a
liscolored or marred floor. No paint
1ut floor paint should be used for
his purpose, it is important to re-
Floor lacquer or stain is |
llso recommended for the floor that |
S not of the type to have its natural |
beauty enhanced by varnish. One or |
wo coats of varnish should be given |
/ floor after it has been painted or
stained to insure longer wear and |
o simplify cleaning. .....
Fashions in kitchen and bathroom |
have changed in a mark |
ID degree in recent years, so that
he room that was the latest word |
n interior decoration fifteen years
go may seem dowdy today. AS |
ong as the plumbing in either of |
hese rooms is in working condition,
extensive and expensive repairs
iced not be made to bring about the
netamorphosis that will produce
$50 room. Walls and woodwork
hat are finished in white or a dark
olor, treatments once considered
ighly practical, may be enameled in
ONE pleasing color to modernize
hese. two rooms.
This sort of "remodeling" may be
xtended to the exterior, too. Elabo-
ate carving, that belongs to the era
,hen gingerbread" decoration was
ot frowned upon, will appear less
if it is painted in col
r that does not call attention to it.
elf, but that blends instead with
he coloring of the house. Consid-
rable work is required to remove
UGH appendages as cupolas or cor
ices and frequently their removal
polls the architectural lines of the
ouse. Like the carving, these dec
rations may also be painted neu-
raj shade, while the whole house is
reated with subtle color scheme
o that the eye is not attracted to
ny one feature. -