The Modern Home
New Walls for Old " Bilir.Bus built a wall "—perhaps the most famous wall in Iffehiture ; but memory does not serve to tell me what he did with it next. Probably, since Latin exercises tend to be definitely militaristic in tone, he decorated it with a few nicely-placed loopholes and set a tower at each corner. We, to-day, can usually leave the building of our walls to others or find them ready built for us ; but, lacking the dictates of utility which narrowed Balbus' choice, we find ourselves periodically exercised over the problem of their decoration. These troubles usually reach their crises in the spring, when the first signs of that great annual redecoration outdoors impel us to vie with it in a small way—even if it be only to the extent of a new wallpaper for the dining-room. In all too many instances this urge results merely in the summon- ing of a book of wallpaper designs from the local decorator, an increasingly haphazard search for a " nice " pattern as each member of the family gives an opinion and as judgment grows confused by variety, and a final selection of which the best that can be said is that it is no worse than its predecessor. The weak spot in this procedure is the absence of any pre- liminary deliberation. It needs a skilled eye and an exception- ally sturdyjudgment to choose well under such conditions. A far safer plan is to ponder well all considerations in advance, decide exactly what is wanted—and then seek for it until it is found. Putting the question of colour aside, let us see what these considerations should be.
Firstly, I think, pattern or no pattern. The purdoniuins, canterburys and innumerable what-nots of Victorian furnishing have become notably diminished by now (though there is 4till room for further elimination) ; but unnecessary pattern is still far too much in evidence. It may be asked : when is pattern necessary or unnecessary ? Pattern in wall-coverings may be necessary to reduce the apparent size or alter the proportions of a room, to bring into harmony elements other- wise incongruous, or to provide interest in itself where some more worthy object of attention is lacking. In any of these functions it is hindered by the presence of other conflicting patterns. It may be laid down quite definitely that obtrusive pattern should never be present in upholstery, wall and floor coverings together ; the result is bound to be less satis- factory than if the majority be kept plain as foils to the rest. Should the pattern of this be unworthy of the attention thus given it should not be there at all ; and worse 'might be done than to commission some young artist to provide an appropriate decoration. The principals of our various ad schools would gladly suggest candidates. If the furniture be good, our principal aim should be to show it off to the best possible advantage ; and here pattern is little likely to be of service.
It seems a great pity that, in this country at least, plaster has come to be regarded as a shameful object, fit only to hide the irregularities of bricks and mortar, and then itself to be hidden ; for it provides in itself one of the most pleasant and suitable indoor surfaces, either left entirely plain or orna- mented in some simple manner consistent with its nature. Those who saw the International Paris Exhibition in 1925 may remember the charming sgraffito decoration of the Polish pavilion, where the surfaces of the wet plaster had been coloured (black in this instance) and then scraped with a tool in a simple, characteristic pattern revealing the original colour beneath. But such a course can be of little help in a house where the plaster has been ruined by successive applications and removals of generations of wallpapers. One of the most satisfactory ways of dealing with such a case is by the applica- tion of " plastic paint," which is coming into increasing use. This material is, painted on as a thick, creamy plaster up to a thickness of one-eighth ine,b, or so, thus hiding all irregulari- ties, and while still wet can be textured in almost any way
by the use of the brush, sponges, pieces of cloth of various textures, combs or simple tools. It is then painted and glazed —in two colours if desired, the high lights of the second coat being wiped off while still wet, to show the first coat beneath, This treatment is by no means expensive, and 'pliers almost unlimited scope. If good quality paint and glaze are used it is completely washable and almost everlasting.
The surfaces of many wallboards now on the market are very pleasant in shade and texture—particularly one made from the crushed fibre of the sugarcane. They provide an alternative method of concealing faulty plaster. One draw. back to their employment in the natural state is the impos. sibility of making their joints inconspicuous. Their use large panels is somewhat reminiscent of cheap or temporary structures ; . but a delightful effect can be obtained by cutting them into relatively small squares, say, twelve inches or so, with bevelled or rounded edges, and fixing them either with pins (which can be rendered invisible) or adhesive plaster. They can then be left plain or treated as desired. Of more ordinary materials, the cheapest, plain distemper has been almost entirely superseded by the so-called " water-paints " or washable distempers which do not rub off. These give a very hard, cold surface and are rather prone to encourage condensation, which in turn may result in discoloured patches. though some of the better brands claim to have minimized this. They can be varnished if required, and provide an in- expensive alternative to real paint or enamel, which is, how- ever, always to be preferred as being warmer, more lasting and of better appearance.
The patterns of most English wallpapers are still deplorably behind modern taste, though, curiously enough, some of their advertisements are excellent and raise hopes doomed rarely to be fulfilled. Far better in this respect are the designs of a paper printed in artists' oils and, therefore, washable and practically fadeless. One can hardly believe that the artists of this country are to blame : the designs are obviously available ; and it is to be hoped that the manufacturers may soon allow themselves to make freer use of them. Many of the unpattemed papers, on the other hand, are good, and the general quality all that could be desired.
On the Continent figured fabrics are much employed as wall-coverings, jute and linen being especially popular. It is doubtful if they will ever find any wide use in this country, nor is their employment to be whole-heartedly commended on hygienic grounds : the problem of keeping them clean must always present difficulties. Nothing at all can be said for the use of figured silk brocades which still persists in France—even in modern interiors : the result is almost always anaemic and unpleasant. Inlays of multi-coloured straw or thin wood-shavings applied in the manner of mosaic can be used to great effect. Japanese grass-paper, parchment, wood-paper, foil-paper—there is almost no end to the materials which can replace—often at little expense—our usual wallpaper or distemper.
One last tendency should be noted : that of building walls out to different levels, forming sunk panels, often in graduated steps. While this is chiefly available to the architect designing a new house, it is often possible by such means to effect a welcome change in the whole character of an almost hopelessly uninteresting room. G. M. BOUMPIIREY.
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