First, then, let us ensure the effect of spaciousness - let us make the best possible use of the facilities at our disposal. Light, cheerful walls are our first care, and these may be of plaster, tinted, sand-finished, or painted, or papered. The first two would only be considered here in case either is the existing surface or if the house is in process of construction. Where they can be had, they are among the most desirable of finishes and both were especially in use during the Renaissance period.

If papering has in the past been done, the third method may also for this scale of furnishing be discarded, for the removal of paper, preparation of the walls and painting would involve unnecessary expense. If the walls are in proper condition for such treatments, painting or the use of the most reliable of the special preparations offer decided advantages. Such walls are the most sanatory and are easily cleaned. Young children are not only likely to soil wall-surfaces but often to mark them with pencil or coloured chalks, and while such defacing is serious in the case of paper, it is quickly removed, or if needs be also covered with a new coat, when some form of painting is employed.

It is always well to remember that the difference in cost between the very best and the more inferior materials is but little and that labour is expensive. Hence it is poor economy to save on the first cost if the work will soon have to be renewed. The long retaining of a good appearance and the avoidance of the serious inconvenience of upsetting the premises for the redoing of such work are also to be taken into account. The best oil paint or such other reliable material should therefore be used where possible. Of course in the case of rented properties, where the work is done by the landlord or agent, one should in these days take what is given him in the way of improvement with thanksgiving.

Papering is probably the most frequent treatment, and where a choice is carefully made it is eminently satisfactory.

The tints best employed for walls are ivory, light warm grey, biscuit colour, cream, fawn, and the like, depending somewhat upon the textiles to be used in furnishing. French grey is beautiful and of much refinement, but requires greater care in the selection of colourings to accompany it than the slightly warmer tones. Blue and green tints are colder and less generally advisable. To carry them successfully through a series of rooms needs much discrimination, and, though they have been recommended for the summer house, quite as cool results can be more readily obtained by using the pale neutral greys.

Absolute identity of tone is not always required. Much has been said of the value of cool tints for sunny rooms and vice versa but these good neutral greys answer both purposes. If, however, the light in any room be particularly cold and forbidding, cream or light yellow will give sunniness and cheer; which may still further be enhanced by yellow tones in the draperies at the windows.

Felt papers or those effects resembling plaster, sand-finish, or canvas are excellent. So are the stripes of light grey and cream or soft yellow and white; while the satin-striped ivory-whites are among the aristocrats of the wallpaper world and yet are not expensive.

In any case or with whatever finish, the object is to supply throughout the house or apartment a retiring background which, notwithstanding its quietness, shall be beautiful in tone. Though these are decorated, such tints will be seen in Plates, I, 2, 8, 37, 63, 66, and 77.

Ceilings should be a lighter tint of the colouring used upon the walls. If papered, perfectly plain, or a dotted surface if the ceiling is cracked, will be best. Borders are usually unnecessary.

Where the woodwork is painted there is for many interiors nothing superior to white or oyster-white enamel. In some bungalows and small houses this "trim" has already been stained a dark oak, and in apartments mahogany finish is frequently found; these are perfectly acceptable. Later on we shall find that colour or strong tints are also sometimes used for woodwork when desired.

These, then, are our facilities for the treatment of plain walls: let us consider them in connexion with the furniture to be employed. This furniture will fully be described and illustrated in the next division but one, but we must here take into account its texture and colour. The first to be mentioned will be of oak, stained in antique tones - either fumed, which is of medium lightness, or the dark shades, as may be preferred by the purchaser. Oak is an open-grained wood, and in Period furniture, usually heavy and carved, it properly demands walls with texture - sand-finished, plastered, painted, or if papered with some tooth to the paper. The oak furniture appropriate to the furnishing now being considered is of slighter lines, without much ornament, and of smoother character; so that the requirements arc much more flexible. Where it can be had, it is better, however, to preserve some degree of robustness in the walls when oak furniture is chosen. Satin-striped paper should not in any event accompany it. Woodwork of approximately the same tone as the furniture is also the more appropriate, but if in rented properties or a purchased house it already is painted or enamelled, surely we should not in the most inexpensive furnishing be required to change it. Modern conditions are not always as we should like them; and, remembering general principles and using them when we may, we must often do the best we can. If the walls have greater "slickness" than is strictly advisable, then a more decorative effect may be given the furnishings, so as to accord better therewith, by mingling some painted pieces with the oak in the living-room and dining-room and using painted or enamelled furniture in the bed-rooms. In any case some decorative pieces add variety.

Where the furniture is mahogany - and this also is provided for - the contrary is the case. This wood has a smooth, reflective surface, so that refinement is the prescription for the walls and woodwork. White, ivory white, and light tints are the best colourings; suavity of finish the proper treatment.