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bright bud or berry peeping out here and there, could be 

 outlined with the aid of pasteboard patterns, and the 

 colors neatly laid on with small brushes. A few feet of 

 this bordering finished each day, would be no great tax 

 on her time, and when all was completed she would have 

 a charming artistic relief for the plain, softly-tinted 

 walls. 



Such decoration should not be attempted, however, 

 unless one has a genuine "knack" for it; but in its 

 place can be laid on plain bands of color, or the common 

 paper borderings can be used, taking pains to select those 

 that will have an agreeable effect. For example, for 

 gray and stone-colored walls, use warm reds and golden 

 greens ; for bluish walls, dark blues and blue-greens, 

 brightened with either lemon-yellow or rose-pink ; for 

 lavender or lilac walls, borders of golden-yellow and rich 

 green ; for buff and pale brown and straw-tinted walls, 

 black and gold, with scarlet. 



Very rich and beautiful designs are now seen in wall- 

 papers, the prevailing idea being imitations of the tapes- 

 tries of olden times tapestries that probably never fig- 

 ured very much in farm-houses, however ; and it is 

 likely these papers would seem out of place on walls that 

 are at their best when they are genuinely plain and un- 

 assuming, and adorned in a manner befitting quiet rural 



surroundings. 



WOOD-WOKK. 



"Walls of kitchens and dining-rooms are generally 

 finished in wood to the hight of two and a half or three 

 feet from the floor. This is a good style, not only be- 

 cause it saves the breaking and marring of plaster, but 

 because it gives a look of comfort and solidity to the 

 apartments. Halls, and even parlors, might be finished 

 in the same way, and thus add to the warmth of the 



