The Washington herald., 1910-09-25


Seen I'm Washington Homes.
The last nail has been driven in hun
dreds Of new homes in Washington and
the smell of fresh paint mingles with
autumn breezes coming through the open
windows az midday The building Of
many OF these homes has been watched
with great interest since they were be-
gun months ago
Now contentment reigns within. for
mother has found sunny window for
the the canary bird father smokes re-
hectively on the new porch the girls
have put the finishing touches 10 the
sofa pillows. and the boys have been
instructed to wipe their feet when they
come in and have been told where to
hang their hats and keep their shotguns.
Inc new house Is no longer a dream,
but shining reality where the new
dome light brightly Eliminates the din
ing-table. and soft rugs and dainty
tricks OF architecture welcome the bread
Garner as the evening shadows fall.
Out through the suburbs and in the
, newly developed residential sections
these new homes have multiplied enor-
mously In the last two years. Many of
those houses have been constructed b.
contractors, some In blocks and some de-
taehed, while many Of them have been
built with special reference 10 the own
ers' ideas and tastes. But everywhere
they are places Of comfort and coziness
that would have been impossible or i'm
: practicable only few years ago.
So great strides have been made In the
work Of the architect and builder, so
many Improvements In plumbing light
Ing, and heating. within the past few
years that the delights OF the modern
home far surpass the luxuries or the
palace Of a dozen years ago The details
or the interior of houses In these DAYS
which go 10 make up comfort are a con-
slant marvel. even in dwellings which
sell for 5000 and less.
one OF the striking features OF modern
building is its substantial simplicity
Comfort is not attained by the addition
OF gew-gaws. bright paint. and gorgeous
paper but the efforts Of the builder and
the decorator are directed more and more
10 simple devices that are none the less
effective because they are comparatively
plain and inexpensive.
Washington Homes Cory.
In Washington the porch. the terrace.
and attention TO useful and ornamental
designs for Railways. corners. stairways,
and bathrooms have added a hundred
fold 10 the satisfaction Of owning ones
home They are no longer cheap looking
dwellings with bare walls TO which the
decorators can add little 70 the general
cheerlessness. but the designer and build
er has given touch OF adornment 70 the
severe lines OF architecture OF a few
years back. and the moderate priced
home OF to-day takes on many Of the
appearances Of the rich mans mansion,
with little of the cost When ready for
occupancy many Of these modern homes
are as coy as they are small. and as
comfortable as they are cheap.
Even the homes Of the rich. where II IS
not necessary 10 spare cost, are taking
on simpler lines Of architecture. making
way for substantial beauty In place of
former gaudiness, In reading the de-
scriptions OF big houses now we see less
OF italian renaissance. Roman villa and
Spanish type. and more Of the bungalow.
: English cottage. Swiss chalet, and Mex
lean hacienda
The bungalow has become an elastic
name for a class Of buildings which cas-
lily run into the proportions OF a villa
without its useless multiplication of
r~t,-
simple. It may be large, roomy and
splendid, but its structure Is uniformly
simple and solid 1t is built for freedom
and comfort. not for show
Bongalese houses are coming into
vogue in many parts Of the country an
other simple type. like the bungalow.
capable OF any amount OF expansion,
with corresponding pleasing effect.
Plumbing, Heating, Lighting.
heating. and lighting facilities. added to
the modern home. which are their chief
attraction. The modern bathroom is a
thing OF beauty and a JOY forever. SO
great advancement has been made In the
manufacture Of tubs, showers, needles,
and other forms of baths, that the fitting
up OF the small house now results in as
great luxury as once filed the homes OF
the great mobiles in FUmpeil
Water al cheap rates in any desirable
quantity in cities has made possible
wonderful development Of bathing facill-
ties. and in these days the poorest family
may have its luxurious bathroom. well
heated and supplied with hot and cold
NJ. to- fo~ all far,,pni~a Yftrog or.J oil
DDS OF bathing. The bath has become so
much part OF healthy living that its de-
velopment in the modern home is one OF
the essentials OF building. and the lnVen-
tive genius OF the American has invested
this portion OF the new residence with
features peculiar 20 the modern home.
Looking at the question in the broad
sense, the results OF the plumbers work
IN the average house does not seem capa-
bic OF much further development Tile on
the walls, terazza floors. plated fixtures.
tub, spray. and shower, with porcelain
washstand is found in most Of the slxs
room houses built in recent years in
Washington. These accessories are no
longer the luxuries OF the rich. but are
enjoyed TO the full by the family OF mod
crate means
New Methods OF Heating.
No less effective are the modern meth
DDS OF heating resulting in better service
and economy In the consumption OF fuel.
The incoming OF the hot-water system OF
heating is probably the browning feature
Of the modern house. The latrobe
stove OF the past generation and the hot
air furnace have gone TO the scrap heap
IN face OF 1t. A good hot-water system
heats a house effectively in every corner