Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1912 — IDEAS FOR HOME BUILDERS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

IDEAS FOR HOME BUILDERS

BY WM.A.RADFORD.

Mr. William A. Radford will answer questions and give udvice 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 William A. Radford, No. 17S West Jackson boulevard, Chicago, 111., and only enclose two-cent stamp for reply.

A very neat seven-room suburban home Is Illustrated in this plan Of course, one of the rooms upstairs 1b small; but it works in just, right for a sewing room, a nursery f6r the chil dreu or a den. It will prove to be one of the most useful rooms in the house.

Such houses are usually built far enough away from the city to have plenty of play ground for the children. This means that there are children in the family, and where there are children the sewing machine is a very Important household help that should be in commission most of the time. This fact makes it very unhandy at times to have the sewing machine in the dining-room or living room, as w r e often see it. It is more work to wheel the machine out from its retirement in some dark corner and to get the materials from some out-of-the-way cupboard than to dc a small bit of sewing by hand. So a good machine often remains idle just because the house wife has no easy way of getting at it.

Where a house plan admits of hav Jng a small room on the second floor that may be utilized for this purpose the architect is not doing justice to the future owner if he fails to work it in. It is handy for a woman’s personal use every day in the year and 1b worth a great deal when you have a periodical visit from the dressmaker Every woman appreciates a work shop suitable to the business in hand. Most women will make a room of this kind save dollars during the year.

Another feature that every woman likes Is the large linen cloßet. Where you have no attic a large store room of this kind Is especially valuable, for, besides providing a place for

house linen, bedding, etc., It Is the proper place for the storage of trunks, suit cases, clothing that Is not in every day use, and a great many other things that you want to refer to occasionally.

The roof of this house la different from ordinary houses, which fact alone is something to recommend it, because every house should have a distinct individuality as different as possible from the ordinary. You get tired of seeing a great many houses In the neighborhood all topped with

the same style of roof. A roof means a good deal, both in appearance and comfort. A steep roof like this will dry immediately after a shower, while a roof built on a lower pitch will remain wet for hours, sometimes days at a time during a rainy season and this has great deal to do with the lasting qi titles of shingles. Another advantage of a steep root Is the room you get for closets where the celling would be too low for any other purpose. The down stairs of this plan Is exceptionally good To commence with

-Here is a vestibule that is largeenough to hold overcoats, hats, rub-i bers, umbrellas, and such truck thati is very much in the way in a room, that is used for any other purpose.* Then, as you leave the vestibule you, enter a very light, pleasant reception, hall that is just right for a music room. You place the piano in that bow window where you have light on, both sides. The windows are placed high enough to let the light in over the piano and in the center and over a music rack at the left hand side and a lamp table at the right. An arrangement of this kind not ouly makes

good use of a reception hall, but it relieves the living room of an encumbrance.

The planning of a niche of this kind for the piano is something new in small houses because architect* never found a good place until recently that could be utilized without encroaching on other valuable space.. We have done away with the second! or back parlor and we have tried for years for some satisfactory way of disposing of the furniture necessary to accommodate a lot of friends when they call in the evening and assemble In one large room. The piano at such times is always in the wav still

you want it within easy reach in case of necessity. Music is the only polite method known to modern society of dlscouraging conversation. Every hostess is taxed to her utmost resources at times to control certain acquaintances who insist on entertaining her company. On such occasions a good husky three-stringed piano in thorough repair under the spell of a muscular performer is a great blessing.

This house Is estimated to cost complete $2,600 when built of good grade materials.

First Floor Plan.

Second Floor Plan.