Be sure that the woodwork is plain and unpretentious, that the
lighting-fixtures are logically placed, and of simple construction. (Is
there anything more dreadful than those colored glass domes, with
fringes of beads, that landlords so proudly hang over the imaginary
dining-table?) Be sure that the plumbing is in good condition, and
beware the bedroom on an air shaft--better pay a little more rent and
save the doctor's bills. Beware of false mantels, and grotesque
grille-work, and imitation stained glass, and grained woodwork. You
couldn't be happy in a place that was false to begin with.
Having found just the combination of rooms that suggests a real home to
you, go slowly about your decorating.
It is almost imperative that the woodwork and walls should have the same
finish throughout the apartment, unless you wish to find yourself living
in a crazy-quilt of unfriendly colors. I have seen four room apartments
in which every room had a different wall paper and different woodwork.
The "parlor" was papered with poisonous-looking green paper, with
imitation mahogany woodwork; the dining-room had walls covered with red
burlap and near-oak woodwork; the bedroom was done in pink satin
finished paper and bird's-eye maple woodwork, and the kitchen was
bilious as to woodwork, with bleak gray walls.
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