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The Cornell Reading-Courses 



and pictures a well-selected pattern seems to furnish the place without 

 getting in anybody's way. 



Borders, friezes, picture moldings, etc. — The joint between ceiling color 

 and side wall is usually covered by a molding, and may be further accented 

 by a decorative band or border, which greatly relieves otherwise plain 

 walls. The reason for the frequent omission of borders in decoration 

 lately is not because the principle is wrong, but because most borders are 

 so poor in design. A simple stenciled border, or a band of color cut from 

 striped or plain paper and used as a border on plain tinted or papered 

 walls, makes them more interesting and gives a more finished appearance. 

 In a low room this border would be merely a narrow band placed against 

 the picture molding that is fastened in the angle between ceiling and wall, 

 in order to avoid breaking up the height of the room. 



Fig. 15. — Good striped papers 



Borders representing a continuous scene are often good if not too real- 

 istic. Combinations of plain wall in the lower two thirds or three fourths 

 of the room and figured wall above are good, if the room is high enough 

 to be thus divided. The plain wall thus answers as a background for 

 pictures and furnishings, while the figured paper is in reality a very deep 

 border or frieze and occurs high in the room where it does not conflict 

 with the furnishings. Foliage papers, soft in color and indefinite in design, 

 are excellent used in this way or used with wood paneling below. 



Ceiling color carried down on to the side walls and finished with molding 

 and border makes a high room look lower. Picture moldings in this case 

 should line with tops of doors or windows. 



What to use for plain walls. — In old houses in which the plaster is uneven, 

 plain walls are often impracticable as they show up all imperfections. 

 Loose places in an otherwise good wall may often be kept intact by apply- 



