Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 August 1912 — IDEAS FOR HOME BUILDERS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IDEAS FOR HOME BUILDERS

BY WMARADFORD

Mr. William A. Radford will answer questions and give adv tee FREE OF COST on all subjects pertaining to the subject of building, for the readers of this paper. On account of bls wide experience as Editor, Author and Manufacturer, he Is, without doubt, the highest authorityon all these subjects. Address all inquiries to William A. Radford, No. ITS West Jackson boulevard, Chicago, 111., and only enclose two-cent stamp for reply. Home building is a topic of perennial interest, for around it center all the tenderest and sweetest things of life. No higher aim has ever actuated the human heart or stimulated human ambition than that of establishing and owning a home. A Comfortable and roorjjy cottage like the one shown in the accompanying perspective and floor prans would cost only about $2,500 to build complete. This house is designed 26 by 28 feet in the main portion, with a story and a-half extension of 16 feet in the rear. When it comes to laying out good, large, square, sensible rooms, you have an advantage in a plan like this, because you have nothing to interfere with the principal living rooms. The extension is nicely laid out Into the different accessories belonging to the household workshop that are so beneficial in houses where families are large. Besides a good kitchen 10 by 15 feet, we get, on one side, a splendid pantry, and a porch where the Ice box looks perfectly at home, w’hlle on the other side there is a large bathroom and a good storeroom. At the entrance to the dining room, a sideboard Is built In, having an opening looking into each room. This large sideboatd Is built flush with the dining room side of the wall, and it is handy to the pantry—which is worth a great deal to the housekeeper. It works all right from the dining room side, because Lt does not break into the symmetry of the room. This is a style of house that takes well in the country, where a good deal of kitchen room and pantry room is needed, and where the kitchen is often used for a second dining room. In the country, conditions are different. Be as careful as you may, more or less mud or dirt is sure to be tracked into the house from the garden and the roadways. By having the bathroom and washroom away back

in the corner like this, the dirt is confined to the smallest possible section of the bouse. Generally the woman of the bouse occupies the bedroom on the first floor, where she can look after the meals and the necessary housework without a great deal of running up and down stairs. In country places especially, houses should be built with a view to making work as easy as possible for the mistress. It is difficult to get help, and this arrange-

ment will be recognized as a great la-bor-saver. It would be difficult to plan a large house with so many conveniences for doing the work, on any other lines. There is an individuality about most houses. Some o* them are convenient and comfortable; while others are turned wrong way about, so that In doing the work you feel left-handed because everything comes the wrong A woman takes a good many steps a the course of„a year Just to over-

come faults in the house plan; but houses are, nevertheless, improving all the time. There has been a great change for the better in the last few years. I can see an Improvement every year. The public are demanding more comfort with less show than formerly. Plans are selected to fit climatic conditions and the circumstances and needs of the family aa never before. Many modifications are brought about by changes in the prices of building materials; but, upon the whole, houses are better and

more comfortable because of these changes. Lumber, in some sections of the country, is very scarce and highpriced, while cement and some other building materials have improved in quality and decreased in price. We have learned and are learning how to use lumber substitutes. Part of the exterior of this house, is covered with stucco instead of clapboards. Shingles etill retain their popularity as a roof covering; but there are other things that are recognized as being cheaper and quite as as good, if not better. , ' This house contains five bedrooms, which is unusual; but there are many families where five bedrooms are needed. It gives an opportunity to as-

sign rooms to boys and girls as they grow up, which is very desirable. They take an interest in their own rooms, and appreciate home Just that much better in consequence. it is not a very expensive house, either. With careful management, It may be built, under favorable circumstances, for abodt $2,500, which Includes hardwood floors and cement wainscoting for both kitchen and bathroom. This, of course, means that the 16-foot extension is floored with hardwood before the partitions are put in. It is a good, comfortable-looking house, appearing much like a solid, old-fashioned homer—and looks go a long way to make up the value of a piece of property. Sentiment depends in great measure upon looks, and sentiment controls values to a greater extent than is generally recognized.

Second Floor Plan.

First Floor Plan.