The Washington times., 1929-08-03
KITCHENS ALIKE,
REALTY SURVEY
INDICATES

Inproven1ent IN design in small
home archltecture, and changes In
1bG interior arrangement Of the
Abuse are noted IN 4 survey com.
plsted BY the division Of building
ma housing OF the Department Of
Commerce, ana made public by
James A. Taylor to members Of the
home builders and subdividers al
vision OF the National Association
Of Real Estate Boards.
The study developed that kttchens
are more nearly alike In all houses
than any other room. The builtin
garage has worked its way down
from the more expensive homes into
the moderate price list. The front
porch Is rapidly going out OF style.
"A. sun parIor on the rear OF the
h6use has become fairly common,
and the rear living room Is no longer
q acuriosity. The majority Of living
xoons are about two-thirds as wide
as they are long. Dining rooms are
usually more nearly square, and bed
rooms are larger in two-story houses
than in one-story dwellings.
~ study 30 cities
Taylor, who is acting chief of the
division Of building and housing. es-
tablished by President Hoover when
he was Secretary of Commerce, in
1921, for the promotion Of home
ownership on a sound economic
basis, told the realtors that the SUR
Ney contained records from SO cities,
with information on about 300 de.
tails OF more than 200 typical houses
IN az many subdivisions.
Most people agree that present
home design is improving steadily"
Mr.. Taylor said. 'sQne reason for
this Is that q designer is now more
often able to start with a good
Eetting for the house than formerly.
The efforts Of the National AS
sociation of Real Estate Boards to
promote good subdivision layout,
and city planning, and the general
movement for better planning are
bearing fine fruit. Zoning and deed
restrictions are aiding to maintain
the character Of residential neigh.
borhoods. This all gives an incen-
tive to better architecture, and de.
eigners assume a long life for
houses and emphasize durability<at
many points"
The lowest priced houses now be-
Ing built in quantity In the larger
cities today are Of five and six
rooms, with one-story construction
apparently predoR1inating for the
tive room, and two-story for the
eix-rOom size, according to the re-
suits Of the Government check AZ
detailed to the Realtor home builders
by. the division head. The six-roonn,
fwo-story house is favored more in
eastern cities, whereas in cities OF
the middle and far west, the five
room bungalow IL in the lead In
the lowest priced group.
Fireplace. Popular
Moreover, the survey held forth
some reinsurance to those decry-
ing the fact that the home has been
surrendered as place for social
7if0. 1t evidently hasn't. A fire
place, that traditional nucleus for
home sentiment, is being built IA by
far the majority Of homes today,
and sun porch, which furnishes
additional room for hospitality, is
likewise demanded by the majority
OF home builders and purchasers.
Radios, too, Mr.. Taylor declared,
are serving to retain the home as
the center Of the fanily's social life
pattern.
Notwithstanding the fact that
American people have become bet
ter informed during the past few
years as to the points of q good
home, most Americans are still
much keener judges of motor cars
than they are of houses" Mr.. Tay-
Tor said In conclusion. "A man
does not buy his car on the basis
of its upholstery; with q limited
amount to spend he should not buy
4 house principally because 1t has
aft electric button to open the eel
lar door, when what q family really
needs with . home is q comfort
able. cleanly, attractive place to
Iive.''