Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-24
APARTMENT LIFE
Taste and Ingenuity Shown
by a Flat Dweller.
DEV EPOPS IDEAS
CONTRACTED QUARTERS REQUIRE
NEW ARRANGEMENTS.
Radiators Hidden and the Shelves
Found Useful in a Dozen
Ways.


Written for The Evening Star.
Apartment life is a phase which is very
prominently before US In this city we'll
as many others, and conditions are SO DIFF
ferent between that and having house,
that and boarding. that a readjustment Of
ideas is quite necessary in taking up this
popular style of living.
To family, no matter how few in num-
bers. a change from the freedom of whole
house to the necessarily contracted quar-
ters of an apartment means a curtailng in
the matter of space for both furnishings
and personal necessities, and it requires
much thought to so condense ones belong
ings as not to crowd the always small
rooms go that they are unbearably clutter
ed. thus making living in them difficult.
On the other hand, when perhaps a per-
son-usually iady-who has been boarding
for possibly a long time, limited to one
room for personal use, with everything be-
longing to her in that more or less small
space-when. 1 say, a person so situated
begins an apartment life the expansion IS
so delightfully."- comfortable that she is in
danger of overrating her accommodations,
and in the pleasure of being able to consult
her own tastes exclusively. may presently
find that she is as crowded as heretofore,
much to her CONSERVATION.
900 Must Plan Well "''"
1t needs some careful thought and PLAN
ming to be comfortable in fiat; to have
enough and not too much;sto limit ones de-
sires to ones domain, and a well-balanced
judgment will treat the problem quite diff
ferently as to requirements than as If
whole house were in question.
If one goes into an apartment unhamper-
ed as to previous housekeeping experiences
1t is comparatively easy to select Things IN
the way of furniture which will look suit
able in the always small rooms, both as to
size and colorings. which will be harmoni-
Gus with the fixed shades 'already-in all
proba bility-on the walls.
It Is quite different matter, however, to
choose out of many things those which will
suit rooms much smaller than they were in
tended for, with probably wall coloring ut
terly at variance with any furniture COW
ering already provided. and nnle IS rugs en-
tirely have been in use before, with carpets
all wrong as to both size and color.
These are the problems which many
Washington women have been wrestling
with these autumn months and 1t needed all
the strength and vitality won by mountain
and seashore sojournings to lead on to vic
tory these discordant elements and make
harmonious home in the new and in some
ways unsatisfactory surroundings.
Cares Are Lessened.
When all is settled, however, it means less
care for the housekeeper, both indoors and
out and that respite obtained, she is usually
willing to make the necessary readjust-
ment of her household accordingly
1t certainly develops ingenuity to reduce
ones belongings so materially and still have
the comforts one is accustomed to, and
many are the little devices thought of and
carried out by fiat dwellers.
great convenience, and one | have seen
put in practice in two different places is to
have boards put over the radiators, thus
making shelf equal to a small table or
mantel space, and adding materially to the
appearance as we'll capacity of the room.
Where the radiator is SO situated as to
make it safe, a heavy board may be SIM
ply laid on, with no fastening beyond its
own weight to secure 1t. When, however,
breakable utensils or ornaments are to be
placed upon it. it should be secured, so
sudden jar will not precipitate shelf and
contents to the floor
Handy Screw Eyes.
means of securing these which has
been successfully tried is to put screw eyes
on the underside and after running wire
through there, to twist it around the pipes
of the radiator until it is fastened beyond
danger of displacement
1t is surprising what decorative effects
can be obtained by the shelves, and very
varied ones too, according to treatment.
In one drawing room where rather dull
coloring prevails the radiators are tinted
In water color to match the walls, great
Improvement in itself over the gilded or
Silvered finish
Another Finish.
Shelves such I have mentioned have
been merely laid on the radiators. and
these are covered with a plain material
Similar in tone to the walls also; deep
fringe In a dull mixture of shades is fas-
tened on the edge running around the three
sides. and on top various pieces of pottery
are placed.
OF course. nothing that would be affected
by neat could be put on such shelves
books that would warp for instance; but it
Is easy to choose plenty of attractive and
suitable things.
This same shelf arrangement has been
carried out In three-room apartment with
great success. both as convenience and as
oecloedly decorative feature. In small
dressing room where there Is a three-coil
radiator the shelf makes little work
table. holding basket. spool case and such
small belongings. and is simply covered
with a pretty mat. easily removed and
shaken to remove any DUST
A Photograph Shelf.
In the adjoining little epailor. the radia-
tor Is in corner and board considerably
longer than the radiator is used, fitting
eioSeiy ineo Tue angie or the wall. oh tnas
Is laid long scarf Of gslky olive plush
edged with bronze metallic braid. which
falls below the board SOME SIX inches.
This shelf Is devoted almost exclusively
to framed photographs, large box OF
mandarin china and tall green bronze
eandiestick on the modern art lines being
the only other ornaments.
such shelf can be consistently crowded
more than would lock we'll on either table
or mantel, and Is quite picturesque when
treated as have described.
A low screen of four folds iD1DsE on the