196 INTERIOR FINISHING

Metal. Copper, aluminum, Monel metal, and gun metal are
sometimes employed in Modern interiors as partial or entire wall
covering. It is expected that metal walls will be common in pre-
fabricated houses.

Glass. Blocks of glass make walls that admit light yet provide
privacy. Panels or sheets of colorful opaque glass are perfect walls
for bathrooms. An outside wall of clear, double, insulated glass is
almost a requirement in a Modern living room.

Mirror. Mirror walls of glass or gun metal are important in
producing an illusion of additional space.

Ceramic Tile. These clean and durable tiles are confined mostly
to bathrooms and kitchens, except in Mediterranean houses.

Linoleum. Light-weight linoleum is suitable for walls in mod-
ern rooms in which durability is stressed, such as nurseries, game
rooms, and bathrooms.

Cork. Panels of cork make walls of interesting texture, which
unfortunately require considerable care.

Wood. Walls and ceilings of wood have a special kind of
beauty due to the variations of the grain and the pleasing natural
color which gives them a warm and friendly quality. Gum or
redwood can be treated to suit either plain or elaborate rooms.
Pine, which is usually informal, is often chosen for plainer rooms.
Knotty pine and pecky cypress have especially interesting tex-
tures. Dark walnut paneling is rich. See pages 9 and 26,

Different forms of wood are available. Plywood panels, one
story in height, are easily installed and provide a good substitute
for plaster. Fle&wood, a very thin wood surface which is success-
fully handled in rolls like wall paper, is particularly useful for
curved surfaces. See page 211. Squares of <wood> with the grain
at right angles in adjoining squares, are effective in Modern rooms.

The average small home might well have some rooms sheathed
entirely or partially in wood; even in kitchens and bathrooms it
is satisfactory. Naturally, the same kind of wood should be used
for walls, ceiling, interior window casings, bookshelves, and if pos-
sible for interior doors. Wax or water-white lacquer will protect
wood and will not change its color much. Walls of wood require
very little work or expense for maintenance. However, grooved
edges on boards used for wall sheathing are not functional for they
harbor the webs of small spiders,