Imperial Valley press., 1930-04-14

Millions of cubic feet of attic
space are being wasted, all because
many of those great rooms under
the roof have never been finished.
Their uninyiting walls and exposed
rafters are seldom considered ex-
cept at house cleaning time. Conse-
quentlv, most attics are suitable for
storage purposes. When a piece of
furniture gets worn or out of date,
when garment becomes outgrown
or out of season, up into the attic
it goes!
If that neglected area were con
vcrtcd with wall board and beau
titled with paint, how soon it would
become one of the most popular
places in the whole house, instead
of junk room. Sister would want
one of those rooftop rooms for her
very. own; brother would plead for
a corner where he could spend quiet
hours reading or experimenting with
his chemical set, and the younger
children would clamor for a play
room where their noise would not
annoy the rest of the family. In
large attic, every one of these
wishes could be granted by cutting
up the space with wall board.
The advantages of wall board
are many, first, it can be painted
a lovely shade. Tie decorator
should select one that will reflect
the natural light and appear at all
times cheerful. Cream, soft yellow,
and shell pink would all be charm
ing, and they would prove good
background for practically any type
of room.
BY way of decoration, the wall
may be treated with stencil de
signs or borders, or moulding. The
moulding can nc painted in some
bright, contrasting color, such as
mandarin red, marine blue, or Il gay
green, any of which would be es-
pccially attractive on cream walls.
The moulding, of course, should be
painted before it is fastened to the
walls, whether it is to be used as
a picture moulding or paneling.
Wall board can also be given mot
tied or scrambled treatments or any
other finish that is given to plas-
ter wall.
Not only will the room, or rooms,
thus created, be pleasing to the eye,
but the wall board will prevent loss
of heat, due to its insulating quail
ties. 1t is as easily adapted to
ceiling use as to walls, and there,
too, its practical points are readily
seen, as it prevents the escape of
needed heat through the roof. 1t
will also insure Il rooier house in
simmer, The ceiling may be tinted
to blend with the walls, or painted
ivory.
With the walls completed, attcn-
tion quite naturally turns to the
floors. AS attic floors are seldom
of the finest quality of lumber,
they should be given an opaque fin
ish. a good grade of floor paint
will hide poor grain or blemishes.
Color can be introduced on tho
floors, too, according to the color
scheme or use that the owner has
in mind for the room when com
plcted. All of the floor paint col
ors, such as tan, green, gray or
blue, are excellent for attic use.
Stencil borders, preferably of a pat
tern similar to that used ON the
walls, will give a distinctive touch
to the floors. If in good condition,
as the unused attic floor probably
will be, it will only need cleaning
and sandpapering in preparation
for the paint.
To be bit more explicit about
colors one suggestion might be
somewhat like this: walls of a
creamy tint; paneling of jade green
with window trim to match; floors
of tan, restful color, yet practi-
cal where the heavy soled, and
sometimes muddy shoes of small
boys are destined to tread its sur
face. A coat of varnish over the
paint will give further durability.
There is certain charm about
the windows that are usually found
in an attic-dormer windows OF
various sizes that give quaintness
TO the room. How charmGg they
will look with crisp gau2e curtains
In all probability, the new rooms
will be SO inviting that Mother her
self will claim one of them, to be
used as a sewing room, cheerful
isolated nook where she can keep
her sewing supplies intact.
And don't forget the stairway
leading to the attic. This should be
painted regularly. The continual
tread of many feet will wear
beaten path, as the whole family
will need the magnetic call of the
rejuvenated attic.