A manual of home-making

If the color of the trim, which is really a part of the wall, has been determined first, the color of the wall should I:>e related to it. Golden oak, cypress, and mahogany furniture limit the choice of the wall color to tones closely related to that of the | wood. If a householder Is already suppliefi with furniture of a decided character or color, the choice of color scheme is limited in t he same way. The furniture in such a case will determine the color of the walls. Woodwork painted to match the wall color increases the apparent size of the room; it also renders less conspicuous ir- regularities and poor design in doors and windows. Usually the woodwork may well l>e made a tone lighter or a tone darker than the wall. Paint for the woodwork in bedroonia or any room with a light coloi scheme should be toned; a HOME FURNISHING c^ream or ivor>^ tone is usually more gracious than a dead white. If it is necessary to finish the woodwork before the wall color can be known, a neutral color is the only safe choice. Ceiling. While the ceiling should be keyed to the color of the side wall, this should he done very carefully^ since any light ceiling will abeorb some color from the side wall. The ordinary method of lighting a room by windows placed in the side wall obviates to a considerable degree the effect of a white ceiling. The ligfit strikes the side wall directly, leaving the ceiling inc\itai>l j much darker than white. This should be kept in mind in selecting the lint for the ceiling, lest it l>e too dark for the effective light- ing of the nx)m; and it should not he forgotten when a ceiling color is extended to the side walL In such a ca,se the color that comes on a .side wall should Ijc several tones tiarker in order to appear of the same tone as the ceiling color. Floors. It is more difficult to regulate the color of wood floors than that of ceiling or side wall, becau.se winle it is desirable to re- late the color of the floor to the side wall, there is a distinct limit to the range of color in wood floors. Floors are often too light in value, but for practical reasons this cannot always be avoided. Whatever has to be accepted in the color of the floor, however, may fortunately lie corrected by a good choice of rugs* PATTERN (plates IV, v) An exhaustive discussion of pattern would involve the whole theor>* and practice of design, but the usual mistakes of the home-maker in choosing wall paper, drapen% iipholsier>^ and rtigs may be avoided by an understanding of what constitutes good pattern and the kind of pattern appropriate for different Usesi. On account of the constant influx of novelty goods that tend to V>ewilder and i*onfys<? the purcha.ser, a fund of common sens^ie and a determination not to be sidetracked by passing fads are necessary in order to make a wise selection. 52 A MANUAL OF HOME-MAKING Characierhtics of good pattern The nTotifs employed for patterns are of two kinds: (1) tib- , stract or geometric forms which are simply harmonious ahapes so repeate<l as to make a pleasing pattern; for exaiupU% the Greek key pattern; (2) concrete or nature fonns ** convention- alized/' or adiipted to their use as pattern; for example, tho^ French fleor-de-lis.