Evening star., 1934-05-19
BUILDING IS HELD
KEY TO RECOVERY
Modernization NOV ent
Expected to Attack Slump
at Weakest Point.
CONTINUED From First Page)

These are some of the parts that re-
quire rehabilitation or modernizlng
because of depreciation.
I'm late years the attacks of obso-
lescence have been even more deadly.
Changing styles. have outdated plans,
equipment, color schemes, furniture,
etc, and have hastened obSolescence.
This is particularly noticeable in the
rooms or parts of the home where
greatest advance and improvement in
design has been made by manufac-
turers. So much publicity has been
given these improvements that the
public has become accustomed to
them and expects to find them in its
homes today. To meet this demand
the old style of equipment in homes
or apartments must be frequently
replaced with the newer. improved
types wanted by the tenant.
Value of Porches.
"Often a home can be improved by
the removing of a few of the ginger
bread ornaments and a good repaint
ing with quality paints. Again it may
be advisable to install a new porch
where none existed before The porch
is an American institution loved by
evedy home owner. Its value is often
overlooked when city apartment
dwellers build homes for the first
time. In such cases a porch added
may mean all the difference between
an early sale or delayed sale.
THE changing ideas as to the num-
ber of rooms required causes another
vulnerable spot. The extra bath, bed
room or play room provided in the
formerly unused attic of an older
home may place it in the ranks of
more modern places in the public eye.
These rooms are easily made with the
newer insulating boards and the fuel
bill may be cut at the same time
through the insulation provided. Here
again the wide publicity given insu-
1ation during recent years has devel-
oped another vulnerable spot.
Basement Recreation Rooms.
Basement recreation rooms have
come into wide favor along with the
returned interest in adult games.
Ping pong, bridge, shuttle board and
other games have added to the de-
sire for home entertainment and
have brought with them a demand
for play rooms. This movement has
also been given impetus by the
cleaning up process undergone since
improved burning equipment has
chased the dust out Of so many base
ments. Insulating boards again pro-
vide an easy method for building
these rooms informerly unused parts
of the basement. FireplaceS, mock
or real, and bars of snack kitchens
are often included in these recrea-
ton rooms, adding to their attraC-
tiveneSs.
Lighting fixtures have become out
moded, too. Being prominent parts OF
every room they often leave an un-
favorable impression when prospec-
tive tenants look at homes or apart
ments The old fixtures are far be-
hind the present accepted style of de-
sign.
Kitchens Radically Changed.
Manufacturers have recognized the
value of appealing to women, and
with the result that many improve
ments have been made in the equip
ment in which women are particu-
larly interested. Kitchens are a not
able example Of this fact. Most all
kitchen equipment has undergone
such radical changes in the past few
years as to make the kitchen Of even
five years ago, old fashioned.
THE bath room lends itself to mod
ernizing too. Here again so much
improvement has been made in
plumbing fixtures and accessories and
In floor and wall coverings that the
bath room of even a few years ago
looks decidedly behind the times.
Modernizing of bathrooms has the
effect of changing the old-fashioned
appearance of buildings. Improve
ments to plumbing fixtures are an
nounced by the leading manufactur-
ers constantly"