Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 August 1912 — IDEAS FOR HOME BUILDERS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IDEAS FOR HOME BUILDERS

BY WMARADFORD.

Mr. 'William A. Radford will answer questions and give advice FREE OF COST on all subjects pertaining to the 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 Wniiam A. Radford, No. 178 West Jackson boulevard, Chicago, 111., and only enclose two-cent stamp for reply. The building of small cottage houses has lately assumed the dignity of an art. Adjacent to large cities are suburbs that may be reached by surface trolley roads; and in the vicinity of all the larger cities are outlying residence sections where stearn roads make a specialty of carrying city workers back and forth at very low fares.

Usually the prices of suburban lots range from S4OO to $1,500, including sidewalks and sewers. There are lots for more money, and there are lots for less money than these figures stipulate; but they are not in active demand. You can’t get something for nothing; and when the price is exorbitant. sales are few. Prices vary a great deal in different parts of the country. There are suburbs where SI,OOO lots have all the civic improvements, including gas and pavement; while in other places you are lucky if you get a good-sized lot having sewer connection with the privilege of building your own roadways and sidewalks. But for those who are tired of living in cramped, badly ventilated quarters in the city, there is suburban relief if they are willing to put up with a few minor inconveniences In exchange for the greater comforts of pure air, bright sunshine, a lovely garden with beautiful flowers, and—which is better than all the rest —an opportunity to secure perfect health. The two little cottages represented were designed especially for newly married people who wish to commence life under the best social conditions open to them on a salary such as the ordinary clerk or office man receives. ' The first cottage is a little square box of a house, 25 feet 6 Inches In

width by 26 feet 6 Inches In length. As the floor plan shows, the Interior Is laid out In three rooms, with pantry and closets, besides a large coat closet which may be made into a bathroom either at the time of building or afterwards. A little house like this may be built for such a small amount of money that any young man could build It and pay for It in a few years at about the same cost as rent. In the meantime he could Improve the property by planting the lot to choice flowers and the best kinds of fruits, and probably sell It to advantage if he wanted to do so. Slightly more elaborate is the next plan. It is 26 feet in width by 30 feet 6 inches in length, and has a

large chimney with a fireplace in the living room. There is a very neat open stair gofhg up out of the living room to the second floor, which is laid out to accommodate a family of two to four persons. This little twostory cottage is very attractive in appearance both outside and inside, as it coifiprises some of the most valuable architectural effects, such as usually are intended to embellish larger and more pretentious houses. The pro-

jection from the dining room adds a great deal to the appearance, whether it is used for a seat or for a built-in sideboard. It is useful and looks well in either capacity. This little cottage is supposed tp have a good cellar and a hot-air furnace for heating. It is so small that the grate in the living room and the range in the kitchen will keep it comfortable, except during the colder winter months, so that the coal bill will not be very heavy. The living room is a fine, big, attractive room. , It Is worth very careful attention at the stairway end. There are possibilities of building a comfortable cozy nook under the turn of the stair, with a hood over it which will add greatly to its appearance as well as its comfort. A seat placed by

the side of an open stair is draughty unless protected in some way. You don’t want* a door to shut off the draught, because you wouldn’t like the looks of it, and because one great value of an open stair is the service It renders in the way of ventilation. There is always a current of air going up or down. The air goes up when the air in the living room is warmer than the air upstairs, and this may

be taken advantage of to keep the air In the small house pure and wholesome.

Second Floor Plan.

First Floor Plan.