A vine is much better for bed-
chambers than a blocked or scroll pattern, though the latter are quite
pretty for the dining-room and should always be used in the hall.
Dark papers are better for the hall, and some of the delicate wood
shades are pretty for the dining-room.
The ceiling of any room may become an object of great beauty by
frescoing it in delicate tints and good design. The dark, rich colors
are still used in wall paper, and if a dado can be used with gilt molding
top and bottom, it has an elegant effect. The dado should be about
one-third the height of the wall, heavier than the paper, and, as a rule,
arabesque, as carved in design, and woody in coloring. But if the ceil-
ing is disproportionately low, a dado should never be used, but the
ARTISTIC WALL PAPERS. 143
figures on the paper should incline to perpendicular lines, preferably
light in effect, and nicely contrasted to that of the ceiling. Columns
on wall paper give height and dignity to a large room ; used with a
dado the general effect is Gothic and massive, requiring an elaborate
ceiling and heavy furniture, which, however, should be carefully placed
and sparsely used.
Do not choose eccentric or grotesque paper designs, for one quickly
tires of them, and one that charms the eye at first sight may weary the
eye after a few weeks of contemplation. To many colors in the ceiling
or walls of a room also tire the eye, in place of resting it. If possible,
select but three colors in a wall paper for any room, and have the bor-
der or dado to correspond with these tints, however different the pat-
tern may be. Wine-colored papers or tinted walls show pictures to
good advantage, making a rich, warm background that is effective in
bringing out their good points. But this is a trying color for a common
room, as one is not able to use the pretty scarlets that give so much life
and color to the home room.
Among the prettiest designs is an olive green tint, with daisies and
wheat-heads ; a dark olive with reddish vines and sprays ; light, golden
shades, with designs of small berries and fruits, with flowers and
foliage ; also festoons of fruit and flowers, on light shaded ground. All
these are pretty and not so pronounced that they are likely to soon go
out of style. For more expensive rooms are the damask papers, looking
like velvet ; antique tapestry is also imitated in wall paper, and another
has bronze and copper effects on an olive ground ; with the first is used
a freize that has lines of china blue, and with the latter, Indian red.
Page 125
Presented as published in 1886. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
A vine is much better for bedchambers than a blocked or scroll pattern, though the latter are quite pretty for the dining-room and should always be used in the hall. Dark papers are better for the hall, and some of the delicate wood shades are pretty for the dining-room.
The ceiling of any room may become an object of great beauty by frescoing it in delicate tints and good design. The dark, rich colors are still used in wall paper, and if a dado can be used with gilt molding top and bottom, it has an elegant effect. The dado should be about one-third the height of the wall, heavier than the paper, and, as a rule, arabesque, as carved in design, and woody in coloring. But if the ceiling is disproportionately low, a dado should never be used, but the
ARTISTIC WALL PAPERS. 143
figures on the paper should incline to perpendicular lines, preferably light in effect, and nicely contrasted to that of the ceiling. Columns on wall paper give height and dignity to a large room ; used with a dado the general effect is Gothic and massive, requiring an elaborate ceiling and heavy furniture, which, however, should be carefully placed and sparsely used.
Do not choose eccentric or grotesque paper designs, for one quickly tires of them, and one that charms the eye at first sight may weary the eye after a few weeks of contemplation. To many colors in the ceiling or walls of a room also tire the eye, in place of resting it. If possible, select but three colors in a wall paper for any room, and have the border or dado to correspond with these tints, however different the pattern may be. Wine-colored papers or tinted walls show pictures to good advantage, making a rich, warm background that is effective in bringing out their good points. But this is a trying color for a common room, as one is not able to use the pretty scarlets that give so much life and color to the home room.
Among the prettiest designs is an olive green tint, with daisies and wheat-heads ; a dark olive with reddish vines and sprays ; light, golden shades, with designs of small berries and fruits, with flowers and foliage ; also festoons of fruit and flowers, on light shaded ground. All these are pretty and not so pronounced that they are likely to soon go out of style. For more expensive rooms are the damask papers, looking like velvet ; antique tapestry is also imitated in wall paper, and another has bronze and copper effects on an olive ground ; with the first is used a freize that has lines of china blue, and with the latter, Indian red.