The Springfield herald., 1909-01-01
FROM THE
HOUSEkEEPER'S
NOTEBOOK
Copyright. by Joseph B. Bowies.)
INGENIOUS Arraniements for
Small Apartments.

Many persons live in small quarters
from choice. Others do SO from ne
cessity. The business woman chooses
them for every motion counts IN
strength and the time required to do
her housework. In cold sections OF
the country, they help solve the ques-
tion Of heat. 1t is fact that COM
pactness saves time, expense. and
many steps in the course OF a day
Though We may, sub rosa, long for the
spacious rooms and large houses con-
sidered necessary by our forefathers,
reason tells US that many and large
rooms make more work.
Many devices have been adopted to
aid the housekeeper who must live
in compact quarters. Among them is
a bed which pulls out of the wall and
can be pushed back when not in use.
Generally, 1t runs back into a closet.
the floor of which is raised to the
height of the bed. In this way 1t is
completely out of sight and takes no
room In the day time. Ventilation is
secured by openings which let in the
air in various places. People who have
tried this bed consider 1t practical and
sanitary. The clothes are placed in
a chest during the daytime and this
also serves as seat.
Another labor-saving device Is the
kitchenette. This is a small room.
usually six feet by four feet. much re-
sembling closet and built in the
apartment, where 1t is desired to go
without a kitchen and the sitting room
is used for a dining room. This kit
chenette holds small gas stove, usu-
ally two burners, tiny sink, and
these are lined with shelves and clos
cts to hold dishes. 1t is remarkable
how much cooking can be done in
these small rooms. Some "clif
dwellers" get their three meals
In them, and they are primarily
intended for persons who wish to cook
their own breakfasts and luncheons
and go out for dinner. These kitchen
cites are usually found In apartments
consisting of two rooms and bath.
Life in apartments simplifies house
keeping in many of its forms. Stairs
do not have to be climbed, rooms are
few and consequent work lessened,
but the servant problem still remains
in some modified form and new prob
lens arise in place Of the old. To
meet the demands of the modern ten
ant all kinds of apartments are erect
ed with aids like the kitchenette, some
practical and others not. So far as
known no such absurdity as stove
which serves as folding bed has been
invented but many ingenious devices
have been placed upon the market,
among them a set of springs which
can be placed over the bathtub at
night, and made to serve as bed.
Some inventions are not to be adopt
ed for sanitary reasons. others are
worthy of consideration. Many Of
these fixtures and appliances that re-
lieve housework of much of its drudg-
cry have been patented, others are
not and can be tried anywhere.
1t may surprise many to know that
some of the most novel inventions IN
the way of reducing living space to a
minimum and at the same time plan
ming apartments SO they are comfort
able and in many cases luxurious,
come from California. The latest fea-
lures in the best apartments are SO
novel and sensible that they deserve
wide attention. "A nanusoue he"
apartment consists of parlor, living
room, kitchen, private hall, private
bath and storage closet. AS space is
desirable, the parlor and living room
are made to serve double and triple
purpose. The parlor is both parlor
and bedroom, and the living room is in
turn dining room. bedroom and sit
ting room. So unique are the arrange
ments that when used for one purpose
there is no indication of their having
ever been put to another use. Waste
room in every form is avoided. and
doors, mantels and other architecture
features are arranged so they can be
converted into double feature.
OFF from the living room and con
nected with it by doors, which no
only separate the rooms but are usefu
in other ways. is a tiny kitchen. This
is complete and arranged so that an am
pie meal can be provided in shor
time. The sink has an attachmen
whereby the holes in the drain can bt