New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-15
UP-TO-DATE APARTMENTS.
SERVANTS BATHROOMS AND GLASS
LINED REFRIGERATORS IN
PRODUCED.

throughout New-York City there Is 10 pe no.
ticed real estate men say, unWonted actiVity i"
the realm of apartment house renting. Popular
as this mode of living has been on Mammalian
Island for some years. the apartment houee
seems to have taken fresh start IN FAVOR. No
moro talk is heard OF "overbuilding. ana con-
struction is going on with added energy. rrooa-
bIr q fair proportion OF the Increased popularity
,s due TO the new features. the fresh devices ior
comfort and convenience. to be found IN the
mower buildings. which in their turn spur on
later builders to excel and invent and the own
ora If Older structures either to reduce rents or
make decided improvements
One clever builder and owner on the upper
West Side. for example. has introduced as
feature Of his latest apartments-these renting
a. moderate prices, $1,000 to $1,oO0-a servants
bathroom. BY ingenious planning he mas taken
q slice eff the hall without materially reducing
this IN size or cramping, and within the incios-
,,ra has n,aced a second bath On the plans this
&c stated to be a servants bathroom. but IN
actual practice 1t Is merely another pain Tor t"e
tenant. to be put at the disposal or the waiting
maid Of the family whenever she wants 10 make
use of it.
An eve to the needs OF the servants lhoeeo
makes I'D an important chapter IN the newest
things about New-York apartment houses E'ei
in those of inexpensive grade there Is 10 ionsei
q dark closet for the housemald 10 Steep ILL., ne'
room, IS as bright and airy and nearly as large
as are the other sleeping chambers. MANY vi
them are better than the rooms alot'eo " SUE"
,,rrnoses IN some Of the finer private houses
Thus an attempt IS being MADE quie'iy 10 cope
With tho servant problem. with the effect that
aycea6inPlV
with the most exacting household aids. Several
onortmert houses provide for each apartment a
servants bath In the basement which 's all
other way of meeting the demand
perhaps Of all recent improvements in apart
ments of moderate price the most striking IS
that Of arranging the chief rooms so that they
shall he on suite The favorite design Of old
was to have the parlor at one end. the oihi"s
rooro AT the other thus giving visitors view
of the bedrooms between as they passed aiohs,
or oblieing them to grope through mario" anu
dark hallway II the doors were closed ne h re
Method permits the paror. dining room ana re-
cepton room. or library adjoining TO ne "a,
yided into three distinct, separate apar'"..emu .
nv closing the sliding doors These doors' now
eyer are intended to be left open as d usual
,hirr These rooms are directly on a prIVd'o
reception hallway, and the kitchen IS AT the SUI
directly communicating with tne un,s Us nan
The servants being beyond the kitchen an 80 So,
.ne s st,t ~ from the rest OF the apartment oy
hlank walls From the first nan s .o ho shnt
tends AT right angles so arranged as a., ~ r. ,hs
81 uith curtains. Opening on th's =, 80
siasning chambers and bath For a. - on.
tica, pu' 90 IN one Of the expensive duplex or
.double deck" apartments. 900 coached a
u o,h,ny IN apartments long ago reachsu
-. ~ ,yheTe Improvement is nearly imPoss I.
.a, nIatine on the pipes for decorative enec.
ia his Is not especially new though II mas no.
, . 1rsouent until lately Is the only recently
nddad to,ich. The apartment pantry has neen
au,,ared nevertheless. The built-in refrigerator
.,,, has it's sides of glass. experience having
nroyed this to be the ideal material when II
lame 10 a question OF cleaning. An attempt
u-as made to have complete glass lining. but
q was soon discovered that glass bottom
nuickIy became cracked. owing 10 the heaviness
of hand Of many willing bur careless servants
The best refrigerators have glass sides now, put
have their floors Of thick ana substantial tie
Another improvement Is the absence In the
new apartments OF much OF the old horidity OF
decoration. Fresco and stencils are vanishing
quantities In the latest buildings OF the better
grades Ceilings done in solid colors sim
DIV rich effect being aimed al. Wallpapers
are selected more carefully than ever. really
artistic patterns being chosen Mantels ana
trim generally are severely plain Thsrs ~