Evening star., 1914-12-26
THINGS TO Be WATCHED
IN HOME CONSTRUCTION
A Few of the Little Items That Are
Of Importance to Prospective
Builders.

Home building is subject upon
"hlch volumes may be written and
stli great deal left unsaid. In this
article We are going to emphasize a
lie" OF the little items that we con-
slder sufhciently important to merit the
close attention of the prospective home-
builder. 1t is just such items that
make a perfect and harmonious home,
says writer in the National Real Es-
tate Journal.
10 start from the very beginning.
avoid freak designs. Compact, CON
serEative homes are the best. They
cost much less, they Impress people
more favorably and if you should even
want to sell you can get your money
pack and a profit. too. as a rule.
Remember that it is no economy to
use cheap material. Labor is the big
item OF expense. anyway. in the build
ing business, and it costs as much to
grade material.
Have good, deep cemented cellar IN
der the whole house 1t makes a
warmer. drler house and adds consid-
cradle room that can be put to excel
lent use. 1t is well to have the cellar
divided into compartments Coal hin
laundry, fruit closet, an extra toilet in
the cellar, small closet in the lam
dry Tor ironing board, etc, are other
basement conveniences that the house
Wi1e VIII appreciate. The cemented
moor Is easy to keep clean and is al
ways dry and in good order,
Size VS.. Arrangement.
In designing the rooms it is we'll to
remember that rooms designed after
straight simple lines lend themselves
more easily to decoration, prove more
sanitary and are less tiresome to live
in than badly arranged rooms Furni-
ture space is OF more Importance. too,
than mere size. A small properly ar
ranged room will frequently look better
and will really afford. more usabie
space than a large room cut up by
doors and windows.
The main porch may as we'll be on
the side as in front. and if the size OF
the lot permits is frequently better so
especially when the house faces west
"A porch facing west is sunny In the
afternoon, Just when the housewife is
freest to enjoy it. East southwest and
south are the best exposures
The reception hall is largely a aues-
ton of individual taste. 1t is all right
If you like it. and in winter keeps the
cold air out of the living room. On the
other hand. it takes up valuable sp.
and is practically useless A coat
closet in the hall or living room is a
very good feature, and provides a place
for wraps as you come in. 1t need not
be large.
is best when rectangular in shape All
the rooms should he light of course An
excellent way to connect living room and
din' g room Is by means of 4 cclonnad de
or by French doors. glazed their full
length. This gives an air of spacious-
, ness to the house
Should Be Convenient.
The kitchen should be a workroom,
small. compact and convenient. A serv-
ing pantry aids in keeping the kitchen
odors out OF the dining room. There S
! a tendency in the west. where so many
attractive small homes are built, to use
one very large room for both living and
dining room.
Where means permit, an attractive and
very useful innovation is a large porch
off the living room. or dining room, to
| be screened in summer and glazed in
| the winter for sun porch.
| The bedrooms need not be large, but
| should have ample wall space for the
| furniture they have to contain Each
bedroom should have a large closet; and
| a mirror built in the door will be ap-
preciated land used) by the ladies of the
| amily. It is likely the man folks will
glance at 1t occasionally, too.
| Avoid Cheap Plumbing.
! AS 10 the bathroonl, don't invest in
| cheap plumbing and lavatory fittings If
| you do you'll find it expensive" econ
omy. sanitary floor is a very good
| feature-sanitary walls, too, if the purse
| permits.
| sleeping porch may not add much
to the cost of house. depending On
| how 1t must be built. 1t is worth many
! times its cost. for II adds not only to
! the enjoyment of your home but to the
health of the family as well.
| This is fair sample of few things
| that the intelligent and we'll informed
| architect and builder will suggest to
| the client.
| 1t all boils down to this: Get a good
| builder to build your home, one whose
| experience will prove of benefit to you,
one in whose ability you can trust and
one. moreover, who is financially respon-
sible.