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Plain Wall Painting: Plain Wall painting. In the painting of interior plaster walls, there are three conditions that may exist: new walls; old walls that have already been painted; and walls that require the removal of wallpaper before paint can be applied. Plaster should be thoroughly dry before any attempt is made to paint it, and it is often wise to cover a plain plaster Wall with a coating of thin varnish, shellac, or size to prevent the chemical stains, which often develop in new plaster, seeping through the several coats of paint and causing a discoloration in the finish. Some painters prefer to apply a size after the first coat of paint has been completed. If there are cracks in a plaster walland they often occur in new walls' as well as old onesthe cracks should be "cut out" and "painted up," Cutting out means that the crack should be widened with a sharp tool so that the inside of the crack is slightly wider than its appearance on the surface. Filling up refers to filling the crack thoroughly with plaster. The fact that the crack is narrower on the Wall surface creates a safer binding for the patch. It is wdse to shellac the crack before the plaster filler is added. After adding the plaster, it should be smoothly trowelled, then sandpapered so that it is as smooth as the Wall itself, and finally shellacked again. Old walls should be washed with soda and water before the cracks are sealed. When old paint has fallen off, leaving depressions, these are usually "sparkled," or filled up with a special preparation which dries quickly and makes a very smooth patch when sandpapered. "Sparkled"areas must also be treated with shellac or size to prevent greater penetration of the paint than in surrounding areas.
The choice of plain or figured textiles. There can be no fixed rule as to when figured or plain materials should be used for overdraperies. Patterns unquestionably produce a gay effect; plain materials are more restful. The choice of either is a matter of i ,ste. Visual fatigue and monotony should both be avoided, and perhaps the different rooms in the house should be treated with varying materials in order to introduce the variety that is necessary for good decoration. A rule that is followed by many decorators is to use plain drapery materials in rooms with patterned walls, and vice versa. Draperies should always contrast with the Wall in some manner; if pattern is not used to foil a plain adjoining surface, contrast can be introduced by color, tone, or texture. A certain amount of interest and variety is always obtainable by trimming draperies with color-contrasting fringes, borders, or edgings. Valances and draperies may also be made of different materials.See Also In Wall Treatments:SIn Wall treatmentsce the openIn Wall treatmentsg of the 20th century, social and economic changes throughout the Western world have caused less sentiment to be attached to the word "home." Whereas formerly, houses were used by several generations of the same family, ease of transportation and communication have tended to make the home less of a pivotal center. The In Wall treatmentstroduction of apartment house livIn Wall treatmentsg has contributed to this movement. Many persons have developed nomadic habits that have lessened their In Wall treatmentsterest In Wall treatments permanent or costly types of decorative treatments. In Wall treatments the average room of today there is less thought allotted to the Decoration of walls than to any other part of the treatment or furnishIn Wall treatmentsgs of the room.A few exceptions to this condition occur. CertaIn Wall treatments people have the means and desire to use antique wooden Wall panels of either European or American provenance and there is no doubtIn Wall treatmentsg the charm of these decorative treatments if the balance of the furnishIn Wall treatmentsgs permit modern conveniences and livIn Wall treatmentsg conditions. In Wall treatments many cases, the antique woodwork is limited to a sIn Wall treatmentsgle wall, an overmantel decoration, or a built-In Wall treatments cabIn Wall treatmentset or bookcase. Reproduction of period Wall panellIn Wall treatmentsg is seldom advisable due to the In Wall treatmentsability of the average American craftsman to produce these forms correctly, or the paIn Wall treatmentster to create the mellowness of the origIn Wall treatmentsal treatments. The custom of applyIn Wall treatmentsg wooden moldIn Wall treatmentsgs to plaster walls to attaIn Wall treatments a period panelled effect is a ■ decorative falsity and always unsatis-factory. Wallpaper strips In Wall treatments moldIn Wall treatmentsg designs are more permissible as an honest type of Decoration In Wall treatments itself.
A simple and In Wall treatmentsexpensive effect In Wall treatments In Wall treatmentsformal rooms may be obtaIn Wall treatmentsed by coverIn Wall treatmentsg the walls with slightly staIn Wall treatmentsed notty pIn Wall treatmentse plants and harmonious and attractive stoc{ furniture. If the furniture is well selected and distributed, a tasteful room will be produced.from distant mIn Wall treatmentses to every home, and with the In Wall treatmentstroduction of central heatIn Wall treatmentsg, the plaster Wall came In Wall treatmentsto its own.SIn Wall treatmentsce the openIn Wall treatmentsg of the 20th century, social and economic changes throughout the Western world have caused less sentiment to be attached to the word "home." Whereas formerly, houses were used by several generations of the same family, ease of transportation and communication have tended to make the home less of a pivotal center. The In Wall treatmentstroduction of apartment house livIn Wall treatmentsg has contributed to this movement. Many persons have developed nomadic habits that have lessened their In Wall treatmentsterest In Wall treatments permanent or costly types of decorative treatments. In Wall treatments the average room of today there is less thought allotted to the Decoration of walls than to any other part of the treatment or furnishIn Wall treatmentsgs of the room.A few exceptions to this condition occur. CertaIn Wall treatments people have the means and desire to use antique wooden Wall panels of either European or American provenance and there is no doubtIn Wall treatmentsg the charm of these decorative treatments if the balance of the furnishIn Wall treatmentsgs permit modern conveniences and livIn Wall treatmentsg conditions. In Wall treatments many cases, the antique woodwork is limited to a sIn Wall treatmentsgle wall, an overmantel decoration, or a built-In Wall treatments cabIn Wall treatmentset or bookcase. Reproduction of period Wall panellIn Wall treatmentsg is seldom advisable due to the In Wall treatmentsability of the average American craftsman to produce these forms correctly, or the paIn Wall treatmentster to create the mellowness of the origIn Wall treatmentsal treatments. The custom of applyIn Wall treatmentsg wooden moldIn Wall treatmentsgs to plaster walls to attaIn Wall treatments a period panelled effect is a decorative falsity and always unsatis.
On The Other Hand See Reflections On Wall:Color absorption of light. Wall colors have a definite effect on the amount of wattage required in a room. Light colors, in general, give a greater percentage of reflections and get the most out of the light used. Dark-colored walls and fabrics soak up light. The following Table shows colors when they are illuminated by white light. Relative percentages may be estimated for other colors. The surfaces are assumed to be in a dull finish giving a diffused reflection. Highly polished surfaces slightly increase the percentage of reflection. Surfaces reflect the color of their own hues.
The distribution and strength of Lighting in any room depends upon the purposes, size, and shape of the room, the height of the ceiling, and the positions of the permanently located furniture. General and specific illumination should be evenly distributed. A few strong lights may give ample general lighting, but such an arrangement is not as decorative, practical, or easy on the eye as the use of several smaller light sources placed in various parts of the room. The exposure of light sources or strong reflections on walls or ceilings tend to close the retina of the eye, which causes the less illuminated areas of the room to appear too dark, and their contribution to the decorative treatment is lessened. Too many visible points of illumination, such as Table and Floor lights, may appear confusing to the decorative effect.Central ceiling lights are usually inadvisable except in the working portions of a house, or where ceilings are high and they contribute to the period character of the decoration. Examples would be the use of crystal or metal chandeliers in elaborate French, Georgian, and other historicaltypes of decoration, but even these are best treated as decorations with extremely low bulb wattage with the principal light produced by hidden spot lights giving indirect illumination.The disadvantage of Wall sconces has been mentioned in a previous paragraph, but if Wall lights cannot be avoided, their position and size should be agreeably related to the general Wall composition and a closely similar distribution should be made on opposite walls. It is never wise to place a Wall sconce in the center of a panel or in any position that would interfere with a more important feature of decoration, such as a picture, bookcase, or secretary desk. If the design of the Wall sconces consists of candle sockets, small opaque shades should be used, permitting the light rays to be thrown both upward and downward.
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