66 
Ruskin said something’ to the effect that a building in which the roof 
is not a prominent feature cannot be considered of good design, 
but he was not thinking of a galvanised iron or asbestos roof. And 
it is, of course, well known that in arranging the [dan of a house, 
one always hears the roofing in mind. 
In studying the planning of houses in Western Australia, it 
appears to he almost a rule to bring the best rooms to the front of 
the house, irrespective of aspect and convenience. The harrow width 
of frontage may, in many cases, account for this, but often it could 
by more consideration be avoided. Little regard is paid to the pri- 
vacy of the bedrooms, and the sitting room and kit (‘hen, where, in 
many cases, the lady of the house has to spend the greater portion 
of the time, often look out on the side fence. In many cases the sun 
never shines into these apartments. There shoud be no gloomy 
rooms, and the door of the best bedroom should not he opposite the 
front door. 
Very great attention to the kitchen will have to he paid in 
future, as the lack of domestic assistance will be greater than ever. 
( onserpu'nl 1 v, it must he conveniently situated, of fair dimensions, 
well ventilated and lighted, with a cheerful lookout, and provided 
with every contrivance to save labour, and to render the duties per- 
foimed therein as palatable as is possible. 1 might almost say that 
it should have more consideration than any other apartment. The 
stove should be placed so that the draught does not blow out the 
ashes, and with the arch high enough to allow one to look into the 
pots without striking one’s head, and if possible it should have a light 
at the back of the fireplace. The sink should preferably be movable 
and away from the walls, not enclosed underneath, the pine for the 
tap being extended and the drainpipe detachable to discharge into 
a fixed outlet in the floor. The walls should have a hard-faced dado- 
all round ol tiles or cement, whilst the upper portion should be oil 
painted, or washable distemper. Xo moulding or architraves, skirt- 
ing, or doors should he allowed as these are dust traps, and all 
angles of walls should be rounded at intersections and at: floor and 
ceiling. I he cupboards for crockery should have glared sliding 
doors, and the pots should be placed on proper shelves, or hung 
on proper bracketing, and not have to be deposited on the floor. 
If the sink or table have to touch the wall, the dado should be high 
enough to keep splashes off the main portion of wall. If there is no 
ice-chest, there should be a cool safe set against a louvred opening in 
an outer wall. 
I he laundry should be adjacent to the kitchen, and a decent 
apartment, not a rough shed. The copper-boiler and tubs should 
have lids, and there should he an ironing-table and hinged skirt 
board to fold up against the wall. The walls should he at least of 
neat brickwork whitewashed, or jarrah hoarding, the ceiling of 
painted jarrah boards, with a ventilator, and the floor of polished 
