The ground of the
paneling was deep yellow, and all the little birds and flowers
surrounding the central design were done in the very brightest,
strongest colors imaginable. The various panels had quaint little scenes
of the same Chinese flavor. Of course, in such an apartment as a
ballroom there would be nothing to break into the decorative plan of the
painted walls, and the unbroken polished floor serves only to throw the
panels into their proper prominence. Painted walls, when done in some
such broad and daring manner, are very wonderful, but they should not be
attempted by the amateur, or, indeed, by an expert in a room that will
be crowded with furniture, and curtains, and rugs.
If your walls are faulty, you must resort to wall papers or fabrics.
Properly selected wall papers are not to be despised. The woodwork of a
room, of course, directly influences the treatment of its walls. So many
people ask me for advice about wall papers, and forget absolutely to
tell me of the finish of the framing of their wall spaces. A pale
yellowish cream wall paper is very charming with woodwork of white, but
it would not do with woodwork of heavy oak, for instance.
[Illustration: A WALL PAPER OF ELIZABETHAN DESIGN WITH OAK FURNITURE]
A general rule to follow in a small house is: do not have a figured
wall paper if you expect to use things of large design in your rooms.
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