May, 1911 
Fig. 3—The kitchen has an abundance of light, which is essential 
destroyer of germs, and its entrance into the kitchen for 
even a short time will do much toward improving the sani- 
tary conditions. 
The ideal location of a kitchen in the country is on the 
north, with windows on the east or west. ‘This permits 
the sun’s rays to enter it a part of the day without unduly 
heating it in summer, as may be the case where there is a 
southerly exposure. For the sake of ventilation windows 
should be placed on at least two sides, so that a cross 
draft can blow all the odors away. 
The interior arrangement of the kitchen must to some 
extent vary according to local conditions, but there should 
always be considered the question of economy of time and 
labor. The grouping of kitchen range, sink, gas stove, and 
closets so that one does not have to cross a long space in 
walking back and forth from one to the other is a matter 
worthy of careful attention. Some well-arranged and 
equipped kitchens of various sizes are 
shown in the illustrations, and they will 
help to demonstrate this point of econom- 
ical efficiency. 
The illustration shown in Fig. 1 rep- 
resents a convenient arrangement of a 
kitchen sink and closets. A window opens 
on either side of the sink, providing an 
abundance of daylight at all times. Clos- 
ets, with table tops and space for dishes, 
are built in on either side of the sink, and 
they get all the advantages of the light 
streaming in through the windows over- 
head. A small closet over the sink, and 
the dumb-waiter on the left, combine to 
add compactness and convenience to the 
whole arrangement. The kitchen range 
and gas stove are on the right, also close 
to the sink and closets. With such an 
arrangement one might almost sit in 
a chair and perform half the day’s 
work without rising or taking many 
steps. 
In the illustration shown in Fig. 2 we 
have a different arrangement, but never- 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
173 
theless with the same principle of econ- 
omy of distances carried out. The en- 
trance to the dining-room is close to the 
sink, the gas stove and the kitchen range. 
The outside door is placed on the other 
side of the range, and is conveniently 
reached from the center or side of the 
room. The windows in such a kitchen 
should be located opposite the range so 
that a draft across the room from door 
to windows could be created. This is a 
good arrangement for a square kitchen 
where two sides have windows or with 
only one side provided with such openings. 
In the latter case the shelves and closets 
should occupy the space not pierced by 
window openings. 
In the illustration presented in Fig. 3 
the kitchen has the advantage of an 
abundance of daylight directly over the 
sink, where much of the work must be per- 
formed. Owing to its oblong shape, and 
comparative narrowness, the kitchen range 
and gas stove are placed directly opposite, 
instead of on one side. ‘This makes the 
distance from the dining-room table to 
sink or range about equal, and necessitates 
no extra steps to reach either. Likewise, the door opening 
outside is close to the sink. ‘The grouping of doors, 
windows, sink, stove and range so that it is handy to walk 
from one to the other makes almost an ideal arrange- 
ment for a kitchen of this size and shape. 
In the last engraving (Fig. 4), which is that of a modern 
kitchenette where all the cooking is done on a gas range, 
the convenience to the dining-room will be noted. The 
bell annunciator, the whistle tubes, and the electric lights 
are all grouped together so that one would not have to 
move far to attend to any of them. In actual measurements 
the distance from the dining-room table and the stove would 
be a trifle less than fifteen feet. This might save about 
eighty miles of steps in a year, in preparing and serving the 
meals, over another kitchen where the distance between 
table and stove was twenty-five feet; a matter of real im- 
portance to the kitchen worker. 
; a 
Fig. 4—A modern kitchen where all the cooking is done on a gas range 
