Evening star., 1940-05-11
Modernization Seen.
~ -
Aid in Drawing and
Holding Tenants
Transformation Of
Kitchen Cited as Proof
Of Statement

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Of the census takers In their decen-
NAL enterprise of nose counting.
What they won't be able to add up,
however, is the number of times
property owners have failed to at
tract tenants because of the obSo-
lescence of their property. Far too
many landlords are still unaware Of
the great power of modernization to
draw and hold desirable tenants. The
experience of Mrs. B. is well worth
relating In this connection.
Weary from much apartment
hunting, she finally found herself In
the center of a large, discouraged
looking kitchen. The location of the
building was convenient; the size Of
the fiat was right for her family:
the rental price was satisfactory
but-she simply could not face
spending her days In such dreary
kitchen.
The rental agent with her, know
ing that the fiat was a difficult one
to rent, employed all his powers Of
persuasion, but Mrs. B. was adam
ant-the rest of the apartment was
all right-but the kitchen was i'm
possible. Such a large, ugly and
inconvenient kitchen as this would
drive her to distraction. As typical
of the rooms drawbacks, she called
his attention to the sink where,
facing q blank wall, she'd be stand
ing in her own light when she
washed the dishes.
Workmen Are Called In.
Perhaps, the agent suggested, the
owner might be willing to cut a
window above the sink, build in some
cabinets and do some painting.
Would Mrs. B. be interested then?
Mrs. B. would, she told him. She
would even pay slightly higher rent.
The owner agreed. Mrs. BIS interest
and cooperation were enlisted and
Workmen were called in.
In helping to plan the changes
Mrs. B. recalled long-stifled yen
to grow herbs. Around this desire
grew the theme for the kitchen.
The new, easement window above
the sink proved the focal point. At
each side of the easement window
small stationary windows were built
In with glass shelves across them.
These were to hold potted herbs.
The drab old icebox became part
Of cupboard that extended upward
to the new dropped line of the CELL
ing along the sink wall. This new
ceiling" above the sink contained
q frosted glass plate through which
Q concealed light gave illumination
at night. At the opposite end Of
the sink from the icebox a broom
closet was built to hold cleaning ma
terials and implements. The door
Of this closet was paneled to match
It's twin and in the center of each
panel sprays of Towering herb plants
were painted.
Mirrors Placed on Walls.
An ingenious impression of more
light and spaciousness was achieved
with mirrors placed along the side
walls of the tall cabinets next to the
sink. These mirrors, window-p
size, were purchased at the dime
store and were joined with strips
Of molding. The drainboards at each
side OF the sink, as well as the splash
boards. were covered with deep
green nnoleum.
Beneath the sink built-in drawers
and bins contained vegetables. hour,
cutlery and cooking tools. Doors
concealed garbage pail, wastebasket
and tea towels.
A stenciled border in deep green
on line with the window tops-tied
the room together and made the
observer less conscious of the excess
sively high ceiling.
Nor was the herb theme neglected
along the stove wall. Window boxes
outside the windows furnished
growing area for additional herbs.
Shelves above the stove contained
Jars holding dried herbs and the
small table to the left Of it held cook
books and herb books as well as the
radio. Mrs. B. was well equipped to
pursue her hobby of growing herbs
and cooking with them.
Color Scheme Plays Part.
Color, of course, played q great
part in the transformation of the
room. The color scheme was
planned with an eye to the style
findings of the Council for Paint
Styling which has, through national
surveys, uncovered data showing
exactly what the fashion is for
painting homes these days. The
surveys show that in outstanding
display and model homes throughout
the country kitchen walls are being
painted in a single color, that the
ceiling is the same depth of color
as the walls, but is different in
color, that the trim is lighter than
or the same depth as-the walls, but
differs in color from the walls.
In the herb garden kitchen the
walls were coated with a very soft
tint of gray gloss paint, the ceiling