Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 76, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 March 1911 — THE AMERICAN HOME [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE AMERICAN HOME

Wm A.RADFOR EDITOR

Mr. William A. Radford will answer questions and give advice FREE! Of COST on all subjects pertclning to tbs subject of building for the readers of this* paper. On account of his wide experience as Editor, Author and Manufacturer, he Is, without doubt, the highest authority on all' these subjects. Address all Inquiries to William A. Radford, No. 194 Fifth Ave., Chicago, 111., and only enclose two-cent stamp for reply. The word “bandbox" is used in a variety of ways. There is a little restaurant In New York city known as the 'bandbox’* restaurant because it is so nnall, being built on a lot only about tour feet wide. But when a house is laid to look "like a bandbox," the ref>rence is not to its size’, but to its exlessive plainness, looking as if it had >een shoved right up out of the ground, ind all projecting parts which might terre the purposes of ornament had >een scraped ofT in the process. And hen again, when we hear it said of a nan that he looks “as if he came out >f a bandbox,” we know the reference a to the unusual neatness of his dress ind care of his person. The term “bandbox,” however, can lardly be used in any sense in refer*nce to the house Illustrated In the iccompanying s perspective and floorplans. .» This house is not plain, but julte ornamental; It is not a "nutihell," but unusually commodious for 4 building of the cottage type; and It « hot “ginger-bread,” but a substantial, comfortable home adapted to the needs and resources of the average !amily of ordinary means. The house, In fact, might be deicrlbed as a "little, big” one, since It :ontains nine rooms, besides bathroom, pantry, vestibule and large upper hall, tt is well adapted to a lot 30 feet or

more in width, as the building Itself is B 5 feet 6 .inches wide "by 51 feet 6 inches long, exclusive of the front and back porches. Under favorable conditions —it being recognized that material and labor costs vary in different parts of the country—this house should cost about $1,700 to build complete. It is unusual to get nine rooms in any cottage; but it has been done in this case, by making use of what is left merely as a big attic. Here we get three bedrooms, each with a commodious closet, and a hall big enough for a sewing room, out of practically nothing, because the attic in most houses Is Just that much waste room—a place to keep old lumber, stuff that should

be riven away dr burned up Instead of piling it In the attic to catch dust and disease germs. These attic rooms are large enough to hold a set of furniture, and yet leave room for sufficient air so that a person may sleep comfortably In any one of them. The double window in the gable admits both light and ventilation, and tbfcoutslde appearance Is good. Somehow I always like a double window in a gable. Gables are not to'be despised, if they are properly dressed. Some gables are homely enqpgh; but that is because' tbe builder has neglected his opportunities. Since as a boy, Hawthorne's "House of Seven Gables,” these projections have always possessed a charm for rna Bren the ,4f • -

ugly ones attract my attention when driving along the road. Thera are, however, no ugly gables in this house. There are seven of them; but there are enough, and every one looks well and has Its own use. The attractiveness’ of the front- gables is enhanced by the half-timber effect In this plan the whole back end of the house on the first floor is made into a kitchen and pantry. The kitchen la the woman’s workshop, where she

Second Floor. Bpeuds a great part of her working hours; and It should be large, light and airy. The men expect good meals, sharp on-tlme; and the women have a right to object \o a “measley” little hole In a corner, by courtesy called a' “kitchen.” A woman usually looks first at her kitcheh, and if that is not right, Bhe does not want the house, and Ido not blame her. Of course she

wants all the other rooms right also, but not at the expense of the kitchen. There are six rooms downstairs, and a very nice little bathroom besides. There is no hall downstairs, and that could not be expected in a house of this size and cost, when the number ■and size of rooms are taken into consideration. The downstairs floor plan of this design Is very compact. In fact, every inch of room is utilized; no space is wasted; and it would be difficult to Improve on it in any way. A hall is not necessary in a plan of this kind*. The vestibule is big enough to hold a hat rack, and the sitting room answers every purpose of a reception room. This plan gives a cellar, long enough to have one cold end for fruit. There are a thousand little things to consider in building a house, and a fruit cellar is one of them. By setting off the par? of this cellar that comes under the parlor, it, may be made cold enough tc keep apples all winter. Apples will not keep In a warm cellar. The best tern-'" perature is 33 degrees; but, of course, that cannot be maintained in any cellar, and this plan offers as good an arrangement for storage of fruit as it is possible to get without artificial refrigeration. The arrangement of chjmneys provides an easy means of heating the house with stoves, if stoves are preferred. The front chimney also offers a splendid opportunity for a corner grate in the parlor. I like corner grates. They take up less room, and a three-cornered mantel looks well, and somehow I think the corner of the room is not a bad place for the fire. If I should build this little cottags for myself I should have the prettiest corner grate in the front parlor that I could find. I also should insist on having something small enough to lit the room, and delicate enough to please my wife’s aesthetic taste. This little cottage house is worth careful consideration by those who expect to build s house with room enough for a goodsized family without tying up a great deal of money. If you use good material and keep the house nicely painted you will never be ashamed of It or regret you! decision. Nearly everyone fa more willing kj assume respohslbllltrtltth he Is to up hold it after he gets ft.

First Floor.