White woodwork and paneling is particularly effective This forest frieze and the repeating landscape opposite 
against the mahogany furniture, dark floors and banisters v Hi __ Lj are examples of good hall paper after old models 
B Y H. D. E B E R L E I N 
U PON taking possession of a house, either new or old, painting 
and papering are among the very first things that have to 
be thought of. On the wise selection of paint and paper depends 
a large degree of decorative 
success. Furthermore, 
paint and paper are such 
important factors in achiev¬ 
ing a truly livable, comfort¬ 
able interior that a satisfac¬ 
tory result fully justifies 
any degree of preliminary 
labor and thought expend¬ 
ed. Of course, what has 
been or is about to be said 
in no way applies where the 
architectural style requires 
a natural hardwood finish. 
In deciding paint and 
paper questions, the first 
thing to be considered is 
the future use or function 
of each room about to be 
dealt with. In the olden 
days white paint was al¬ 
most exclusively used 
throughout the house, and 
it is beyond all doubt the 
most generally applicable 
and a d a p t a b 1 e to all re¬ 
quirements. To be sure, white paint is not regarded as a labor- 
saver, but it is so cheerful and fresh and clean looking that it will 
always maintain its popularity. 
It is universally suitable for every place in the house, from the 
linen closet to the drawing room. Indeed, one very neat and par¬ 
ticular housewife had her trunk room done in white to brighten 
it up and intensify the light that filtered through a tiny window. 
For a hall, what is more 
charming than white panel¬ 
ling? It is at once sugges¬ 
tive of freshness and makes 
a suitable and neutral back¬ 
ground for the few pieces 
of furniture to be placed 
against it. The same thing 
also is true of the other 
rooms. In every case there 
is one rule that must be 
strictly observed — use only 
the best of white lead paint. 
Another thing that must 
be remembered is that in 
painting white pine, es¬ 
pecially new white pine, the 
wood must be given a coat 
of orange shellac before 
any paint is applied. Other¬ 
wise the resin or pitch in 
the pine is almost sure to 
come out in blotches and 
discolor the paint. The 
woodwork should have at 
least four or five thin coats 
before a final coat of enamel is put on. Each coat should be 
allowed to dry thoroughly and then be well rubbed down before 
the application of the next coat. A much better and more durable 
surface will be secured in this wav than if fewer and thicker coats 
Use the pictorial landscapes which cover a whole wall with extreme caution. They must 
be considered as pictures are, and all bric-a-brac dispensed with. There should be little 
furniture and of a simple sort 
( 188 ) 
