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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-02-25, Page 18PAGE 18. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1987. A good solution to the decorating dilemma in a small room is to use paneled wainscotting topped by an elegant molding; then completing the walls with your choice of wallpaper. Paneling a sure cure for ‘drab wall blues’ Some tips on protecting and decorating kids9 rooms Has your family room lost its appeal? It may be a symptom of the “drab wall blues.’’ But no need to despair; the cure mightbe as simple asinstalling new paneling. Paneling is a wonder drug that breathes new life into the family room -- or any room. It cures a multitude of redecorating pro­ blems: walls damaged beyond repair, dingy wallpaper that refus­ es to come off or peeling, flaking paint. It’s the ideal solution to decorating, whether remodeling thefamily room or creating that new room you’ve been dreaming about. PANELING TIPS •Choose paneling with care. Properly selected paneling will enhance architectural features you’re proud of and downplay others not as desirable. •Consider the proportions of the room to be paneled -- ceiling height, size and number of win­ dows, other sources of natural light (skylights, sliding glass doors) and furnishings you own or plan to buy. Rooms with high ceilings, or well-illuminated rooms, for exam­ ple, generally are more suitable for dark-tone paneling. •Choose lighter-toned paneling for a feeling of spaciousness in Wall coverings can hide blemishes Architectural flaws can be mask­ ed by distracting the eye. Wall­ coverings are an excellent way to do it. Overall patterns or textures, says the Wallcovering Information Bureau, can smooth out irregulari­ ties in walls. Strong vertical stripes in a shade darker than the ceiling can add height to a room; a dark wallcover­ ing on the ceiling with light-colored walls can lower a high ceiling. small to medium-sized rooms, keeping ceilings white or very bright. •If you favor the rich appearance of dark woods, but find your family room is too small for floor-to-ceil­ ing panels, consider paneling an accent wall with walnut or oak, brightening the other walls with paint or wallpaper. Another solution to the small room dilemma is installing paneled wainscotting topped by an elegant molding, then completing the walls with your choice of wallpap­ er. Larger family room sand dens gain a degree of formality from deep-hued panels. Here, your priority is to set a mood with color and tone. The tighter the grain of the panel, the more formal the look. Cherryandwalnut woods, for example, are formal, while pine and birch are much more casual. Many building supply stores have a good variety of pamphlets on panelling projects, or on “how-to’’ tips. If you have a little Picasso in the family who uses the walls as a canvas, or a budding chef whose countertop is the carpet, it’s time to “child-proof” the room! There isn’t a parent alive who doesn’t know the frustration of trying to get crayon off the wall, fingerpaint from a desktop or cookies out of the Without stifling the creativity and energy of little artists, you can help protect a child’s room with today’s easy-care materials. •Use washable, non-toxic wall paints. •Use plastic laminate furnish­ ings rather than natural wood. •Carpets should be stain resis­ tant and washable. Cotton rag rugs are washable and many wool rugs can be treated with a silicone- based spray. Most new soft Synthetic rugs are mildew and water resistant. •Decorate and help protect window shades, bulletin boards, room dividers, trunks, picture frames, unpainted furniture or old items from the attic with colorful, self-adhesive coverings that wipe clean easily. Use the scraps from self-adhe­ sive coverings to cover chair rails, window trim, light switches, and other areas frequented by little fingers to minimize cleaning chores. A little preparation and planning with easy-to-cMan materials can save time throughout the year.