HOUSE PLANS AND FURNITURE 1
CHAPTER XXXIII.
HOUSE PLANS AND FURNITURE
Each girl before starting housekeeping should possess clear and definite
ideas as to the points of a good house as contrasted with a poor one, and the
average cost of the same. Excellent books may be obtained on the subject.
If renting, or buying a house ready-buiit, make what alterations are neces-
sary to make it convenient. Housework should be made pleasant, light and
interesting. It is a good plan to sit down in the different rooms of a house to
think where improvement is desirable and possible. Some improvement should
be made each year. Housewives too often put least value on the three most
valuable assets they have: health, strength and time.
Rented Houses.
Before going into a rented house, have all alterations promised by landlord
finished, and, unless the last tenants were known, it is safer to have the whole
house fumigated, is case of infectious diseases, the germs of which may cling
to walls and cupboards.
The following points should be borne in mind when planning the various
parts of a house and buying furniture:
(1.) Suitability. Is it suitable for the pupose for which it is to be used?
(2.) Sanitation. Is it easy to keep clean? ;
(3.) Harmony. Will it harmonize with the whole and make for order?
(4.) Use or Beauty. Is it either useful or beautiful?
As Mr. Daniels, in his work called “The Furnishing of a Modest Home,”
explains, “Nature should be taken as the source of inspiration and guide,” and he
shows that Nature plans for “fitness to purpose, order and simplicity.”
(1.) Desirable Site.
This should be high and face the south. The distance from business or
school must be taken into consideration and the time and cost of transportation.
The opportunities for social intercourse and the matter of desirable neigh-
bours need to be remembered.
(II.) House Plans.
A house should be built and arranged for the needs of the inmates. Plan to
that end. Think of the future and the pairs of hands available to do the work.
The outside appearance should not be studied to the detriment of the interior.
Windows. Have plenty of windows and avoid dark corners. Windows
must open top and bottom for good ventilation, and if necessary should be
screened all over.
Halls should be passage ways; if used as rooms draughts must be prevented.
Cloakroom with washing accommodation on the ground floor is. a
convenience.
The living room should be the brightest and most comfortable room in the
house. An open grate makes an attractive centre and is an outlet for foul air.
Bedrooms, when possible, should have sheltered sleeping porches, otherwise
leave space for the bed so that the head may be towards the light, not facing.
120 GIRLS’ HOME MANUAL
Cupboards should be in every room. Those for clothes should be light and
have outside ventilation, with rails to support coat and dress hangers, and shelves
for hats and boots. Provide cupboards or drawers in living rooms for work or
toys.
Space for keeping household linen and storage for trunks must be arranged.
Bathroom should be near or over kitchen that it may be warm in winter.
This and the “toilet” should be sanitary in every respect and well ventilated.
Kitchen needs to be well lighted and conveniently arranged to save steps
between sink, stove and worktable.
A lift from basement, through kitchen, to top floor of house, saves many
steps for the housewife.
Pantries must have outside windows and should face the north. Built-in
receptacles for food materials should be dust and mouse proof.
(III.) Colour Scheme.
In choosing the colour for different rooms, consider the house as a whole,
especially those rooms opening into one another, and the halls in relation to the
rooms.
Page 75
Presented as published in 1913. Historical recipes may not meet modern food-safety standards. Cook from the modern interpretation, not the original instructions.
AI-modernized reading of the original text
HOUSE PLANS AND FURNITURE 1
HOUSE PLANS AND FURNITURE
Each girl before starting housekeeping should possess clear and definite ideas as to the points of a good house as contrasted with a poor one, and the average cost of the same. Excellent books may be obtained on the subject.
If renting, or buying a house ready-buiit, make what alterations are necessary to make it convenient. Housework should be made pleasant, light and interesting. It is a good plan to sit down in the different rooms of a house to think where improvement is desirable and possible. Some improvement should be made each year. Housewives too often put least value on the three most valuable assets they have: health, strength and time.
Rented Houses.
Before going into a rented house, have all alterations promised by landlord finished, and, unless the last tenants were known, it is safer to have the whole house fumigated, is case of infectious diseases, the germs of which may cling to walls and cupboards.
The following points should be borne in mind when planning the various parts of a house and buying furniture:
(1.) Suitability. Is it suitable for the purpose for which it is to be used?
(2.) Sanitation. Is it easy to keep clean? ;
(3.) Harmony. Will it harmonize with the whole and make for order?
(4.) Use or Beauty. Is it either useful or beautiful?
As Mr. Daniels, in his work called “The Furnishing of a Modest Home,” explains, “Nature should be taken as the source of inspiration and guide,” and he shows that Nature plans for “fitness to purpose, order and simplicity.”
(1.) Desirable Site. This should be high and face the south. The distance from business or school must be taken into consideration and the time and cost of transportation. The opportunities for social intercourse and the matter of desirable neighbours need to be remembered.
(II.) House Plans.
A house should be built and arranged for the needs of the inmates. Plan to that end. Think of the future and the pairs of hands available to do the work. The outside appearance should not be studied to the detriment of the interior.
Windows. Have plenty of windows and avoid dark corners. Windows must open top and bottom for good ventilation, and if necessary should be screened all over.
Halls should be passage ways; if used as rooms draughts must be prevented.
Cloakroom with washing accommodation on the ground floor is. a convenience.
The living room should be the brightest and most comfortable room in the house. An open grate makes an attractive centre and is an outlet for foul air.
Bedrooms, when possible, should have sheltered sleeping porches, otherwise leave space for the bed so that the head may be towards the light, not facing.
Cupboards should be in every room. Those for clothes should be light and have outside ventilation, with rails to support coat and dress hangers, and shelves for hats and boots. Provide cupboards or drawers in living rooms for work or toys.
Space for keeping household linen and storage for trunks must be arranged.
Bathroom should be near or over kitchen that it may be warm in winter. This and the “toilet” should be sanitary in every respect and well ventilated.
Kitchen needs to be well lighted and conveniently arranged to save steps between sink, stove and worktable.
A lift from basement, through kitchen, to top floor of house, saves many steps for the housewife.
Pantries must have outside windows and should face the north. Built-in receptacles for food materials should be dust and mouse proof.
(III.) Colour Scheme.
In choosing the colour for different rooms, consider the house as a whole, especially those rooms opening into one another, and the halls in relation to the rooms.