Correspondence 
-*Q> 
TREATMENT OF ROUGH PLASTER WALLS 
Mrs. A. B., of Kansas City, writes: 
What do you advise as the best treatment for walls where the 
side walls are of rough plaster and the ceiling to picture rail is of 
plain hard plaster ? I have tried certain mixed tints, which are 
largely advertised, in one small room, but thought it most unsatis¬ 
factory as the color is not clear. 
Answer: 
I would suggest that you tint your lower wall with a color 
mixed under your own supervision—you can have the color 
added to the whiting and obtain the exact shade you desire; your 
workman, if efficient, should be able to do this successfully. 
Have him try out the mixed color on a piece of sandpaper and 
dry thoroughly, you can then get the effect that the finished wall 
would show. Vary the monotony of your wall by introducing 
friezes in some of the rooms from picture rail to ceiling line; there 
are many most attractive ones now of conventionalized design 
showing wind-blown trees against a sky line and many other 
equally decorative effects. The ceiling should be tinted a lighter 
shade than your side walls show, or in some instances, an ivory 
white. 
FINISH FOR WOODWORK AND WALLS 
Mrs. M. B. L., of Pittsburgh, writes: 
Could you tell me how to best treat the woodwork of a room 
in which I must use the much despised golden oak furniture. 
I have a dining-room set of this of excellent design, a table, chairs, 
sideboard, glass closet, all heavily carved. I have used it in my 
town house, where the woodwork is also golden oak, and the walls 
are covered with crimson fabric, but even used in that way I did 
not care for it. Please suggest some finish for woodwork and 
walls in my country house dining-room that will look well with 
this furniture. The standing woodwork is of chestnut, the floor 
maple; there are three French windows and two small high 
windows over the sideboard. The room is of southeastern 
exposure, and there is an alcove which I should like to use as a 
small conservatory; it opens off of the hall where the standing 
woodwork- including five foot wainscot—is of oak. I would 
like to use yellow as a wall covering in the hall. Kindly tell me 
what to do with the woodwork. 
Answer: 
I would suggest that you stain the woodwork of your dining¬ 
room with Mission oak wood tint; this stain on chestnut gives a 
beautiful soft brown shade showing much darker in the open grain 
of the wood. This makes an excellent setting for the golden oak. 
Cover your walls with Japanese grass-cloth in a shade of yellow 
brown, which will combine perfectly with the furniture and stand¬ 
ing woodwork. Tint the ceiling to picture rail a harmonious 
shade of caje-au-lait. For door curtains use raw silk draperies of 
the same tone as at your windows. Upholster the seats of your 
chairs with a figured tapestry, showing shades of tan, dark brown, 
golden yellow, dull blue and red, in fruit and flower design. By 
this treatment you will compose a setting for your furniture which 
will render it entirely unobjectionable, in fact, its color will be 
an important part of the decorative scheme. 
On your French windows you should set small brass rods at 
the top and bottom, running the silk on these rods by a narrow 
casing at the top and drawing it tautly in place. At the small 
upper windows this same silk should be used, run on a single 
rod at the top and finished with hem at the sill. These curtains 
should be well pushed back on either side of the window, simply 
framing and outlining it. 
For the oak of your hall I would suggest English oak wood tint 
as being most desirable; this will show several shades darker than 
the Mission oak, but will harmonize. Select a yellow, two-toned 
striped flock paper for use above the wainscot to ceiling line, tint 
your ceiling a much lighter shade. Draperies of the same tapestry 
as you use in your dining-room might prove acceptable in the 
doorways of this hall and serve as a medium to bring these rooms 
together. 
If this department can be of further service to you, it is hoped 
that you will not hesitate to write again. 
FURNISHING A LIVING-ROOM 
A Western woman writes: 
I have determined to refurnish the living-room of my house in 
a way that is correct and artistic as well as durable, therefore I 
appeal to House and Garden for advice. I have thrown two 
rooms into one and am changing the woodwork, putting in ash 
and using beams on the ceiling. The room is 18 x 26. The 
detail of the wood trim is heavy and simple. The height of the 
ceiling is ten feet. The exposure southern and western with a 
square bay at the southern end, with leaded glass in the upper 
part of the window and the lower part single panes. One large 
center window and two small ones on each side, over the window 
seat, and two single windows on the western side, light the room 
fully. The floor is of oak and I wish to keep it in the natural 
color. I have a number of good Oriental rugs in rich, rather 
dark shades. In the large one, purplish crimson predominates. 
It is called a Khiva, I think. The hardware and fixtures are in 
dull brass. The mantel is heavy, plain and rather low. The 
tiles a dull finish, ecru in color. I wish to use some over mantel 
decoration that will be appropriate to the room and yet not too 
costly. I do not wish a mirror. I would appreciate full descrip¬ 
tion and price of furniture you would recommend, and other 
suggestions for wall decoration, etc. 
Answer: 
Your letter has stated so clearly the requirements of your room 
that I think I shall be able to help you practically. To begin 
with the woodwork, I would suggest a medium brown stain for 
this, finished with dead-lac, which presents a quite dull surface. 
Over your mantel I advise you to set a portion of a plaster frieze, 
something showing figures in action in bas-relief. The plaster 
can be treated with wax and some brownish stain, so that it is 
softened in color. It should be framed heavily in the ash and 
treated as the woodwork of the room, taking the top of the frame 
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