The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-06-17

ts1S8t this winter emphasize an over
tZ-A5. wheIming trend toward smaller
IA kitchens and larger bathrooms.
1 ESE There is no particular connec-
Ega~Sgs ton between these opposite ten
- denotes, except that both have
a sound scientific basis and are interest
ing Illustrations Of American leadership
in everything that makes for efficiency
and good living.
Small kitchens are in general more con-
venient than large ones. Fifty years ago
the average American kitchen was often
the largest room in the house, an expanse
Of vast open space frequently used as
general sitting room, as laundry, and
as a pIayroom for the children. Distances
from one point 10 another were so great
that food preparation became a task re-
curing the combined efforts of several
persons. An inquisitive husband who
strapped a pedOmeter to his wifes wrist
found that she walked more than a quar-
ter of mile while making custard pie
in such an oId-fashioned kitchen
The modern kitchen is designed for the
utmost conservation of time and energy
and the ideal size for the average home, &C.
cording to scientists, is an oblong room no more
than by Z feet The oblong shape is better
than the square because fewer steps are re-
CURED in crossing the room from one work
center TO another.
Science also dictates the Arrangement of the
equipment. Everything IS arranged for pur-
poses Of step saving. Most women work in a
right to left motion. The order of their kitchen
is fxed,-irst, gathering up the raw food from
cupboard and refrigerator; second. preparing
II for the stove; third, cooking il and serving
1t; fourth, removing the dishes, washing them
and putting them away. This fixed order is
reflected in the arrangement of the kitchen fur
nit nd rd.
second, work table; third, stove; fourth, serv-
ing table; fifth, sink and dish cupboard.
The scientists prescribe that the walls shall
be lined with all the equipment in the order
named, so that work proceeds exactly like the
assembling Of automobile on endless
belt And the kitchen of the future will be as
small as it can conveniently be and meet these
requirements.
Bigger and Better Bathrooms
On the other hand, bathrooms just naturally
tend to increase in size and importance. The
modern bathroom has come to be one of the
most attractive rooms in the house, well
lighted, well ventilated and luxuriously equip
ped and decorated.
The American bathroom has no precedent
IN the lives and customs of people of other
lands. There are no period styles" in bath
rooms to copy. The bathroom is development
recently begun seriously to study the equip
ment and decorative treatment of this modern
American room.
Originality in bathroom architecture was
held back for a long time by the casual and
undistinguished beginnings of the room itself.
A generation ago, when home owner became
converted TO its Importance as a factor in
health and comfort, he would order one in
stalled in his house, usually converting another
room, a large closet or back hallway into
bathroom. And this attitude toward the bath
room has left its mark upon architects and
builders up to very recent years. In planning
new houses or remodelling old ones, they gave
the least possible consideration to the bath
and grudgingly given a small obscure window.
Times are changing, however. and today
architects and builders have begun to realize
that the bathroom is essential to the we'll
being Of the whole family that from the very
starting OF the plans for a house it should be
a part of that home and should receive special
attention.
In the houses Of the future this particular
room will be planned and built bathroom,
with more light, more air and more sunshine
than ever before. II will have plenty Of space.
and will be frequently equipped with such
machinery of health as exercisers, Weighing
machines and sun lamps.
Magic of Machinery
Science and invention have worked so many
miracles in the daily life of the Twentieth
Century that people sometimes fail to realize
their supreroa contribution 10 the noble task