BRIGHTER KITCHENS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21783, 24 April 1934, Page 5

BRIGHTER KITCHENS

PLANNING COLOUR SCHEMES

li is a mistake to suppose that the decoration of the kitchen docs not matter, and that so long as this room is clean there is no need for it to show ;irtisti« charm. The scheme of decoration should certainly not be elaborate, states ;i writer in a magazine. One or at most two colours may he snllicient, hut it is important that the kitchen should bo cheerful. The materials used should bo of a kind which arc easily kept clean, and the general effect should be of airiness and lightness. x One of the most important points about walls and woodwork is that they should be washable. It happens not infrequently that this necessity has been provided) for by the architect responsible for the houso, the kitchen having tiled walls or a tiled dado. Ji tiles are absent, however, one cannot do better than paint the woodwork with washable enamel or glossy oil paint, and the walls and ceiling with a good washable water paint. There is no reason why walls and ceiling should not bo enamelled the same as the woodwork, or distemper or water paint may bo covered with a coat of varnish. Either of these methods has an advantage in that the resulting finish is both hard-wearing and washable. Some people, however, object to extensive glossy surfaces, whether in kitchen or bathroom. They point out that the glossy surface looks wet —as though steam had condensed on it — when really it may be quite dry and that, at any rate for walls and ceiling, a matt surface is, therefore, better.

In planning the colour scheme it is important to bear in mind the aspect of the kitchen windows. A good kitchen should have plenty of window space. The woodwork, frieze and ceiling could bo of a light or medium shade of orange enamel or glossy paint, and the walls could be cream and distemper. The floor might have a tiled linoleum in orange and cream, or orange, cream and green. The kitchen cabinet could be painted to match the woodwork, and the chairs could be wheel-back Windsors. White, unpolished wood would look best for these, but the ordinary stained and polished finish would be suitable.

If, however, the kitchen should include conspicuous areas of white tiling —such as a tiled recess for the boiler or gas-cooker or a tiled surround to the sink —it may be better to use white instead of cream distemper for the walls.

Moreover, this scheme is so simple that it is easy for the householder, taking this as a model, to devise countless similar- ones. All one has to do is to choose a different colour for the woodwork, frieze and ceiling. Sky blue, pink or ivory in glossy or ready mixed paint would look well; or light stone, light blue or pea green enamel paint. Any of these colours would be suitable without mixing with white, and there are many other colours which would give good results if made light enough bv adding white.