unutilitarian

[GUEST2008]

Hi

A woman saw someone's living room.

The gate-legged table, the Welsh dresser were reproductions – perhaps
shoddy – of the real thing, but they were pleasing to the
eye; so was the unutilitarian chintz which covered the
chairs and curtained the window, a white ground, scattered​

with bright flowers.

Do you think it's a typo and should be "utilitarian"?

 

[bhaisahab]

Hi

A woman saw someone's living room.

The gate-legged table, the Welsh dresser were reproductions – perhaps
shoddy – of the real thing, but they were pleasing to the
eye; so was the unutilitarian chintz which covered the
chairs and curtained the window, a white ground, scattered​

with bright flowers.

Do you think it's a typo and should be "utilitarian"?

No, it's the opposite of "utilitarian". To be honest I'm not sure if it's a correct word, but "unutilitarian" means "not utilitarian".

 

[GUEST2008]

By the way, it says "white ground". Does it mean that the floor in the room was white and scattered with flowers?
The following sentence says: Some white painted shelves held a
collection of books; the floor was bare except for two
bright rugs.

 

[bhaisahab]

By the way, it says "white ground". Does it mean that the floor in the room was white and scattered with flowers?
The following sentence says: Some white painted shelves held a
collection of books; the floor was bare except for two
bright rugs.

It means that the background colour of the curtains was white.

 

[Raymott]

I always use 'non-' as a prefix if I'm uncertain about 'un-' being right.
"Non-utilitarian" and other non-words (not unwords) would normally be understood and accepted.