January, 1919 
41 
with the metal tiling. It is especially recom¬ 
mended because it can be applied easily to both 
wood and plaster, and with a minimum of 
labor can be kept in a sanitary condition. 
Ideal Floor Coverings 
When considering the covering for the kitch¬ 
en floor it must be remembered that no room 
in the house receives such hard wear and for 
that reason the covering must be durable and 
above all comfortable. For sanitary reasons 
it must be non-absorbent. While a waxed or 
oiled hard wood floor may be cleaned, it is 
not cleaned as easily as a tiled floor, and no 
matter how carefully the boards are laid and 
fitted there is always opportunity for cracks 
to appear and make it unsanitary. 
Vitrified or flint floor tiling is different from 
the tiling employed for walls. In the first 
place the surface of the wall tiles would be 
dangerous because they would be too slippery, 
and besides, they are not hard enough for the 
wear and tear of the countless steps necessi¬ 
tated in preparing the everlasting three meals 
a day year in and year out. So the tiles are 
baked harder and the glaze is omitted. 
Large tiles may alternate in color or, if one 
prefers, the small square, round or hexagonal 
units may form the floor, set in patterns in 
one or more colors or in a solid tone with a 
patterned border. Quite like the wall tiles they 
are cemented to the floor, becoming a solid 
floor instead of just a covering. A rubber mat 
set in front of the sink or working table is sug¬ 
gested both for sanitary reasons and for com¬ 
fort, for a tiled floor is tiresome when long 
standing is necessary and cold during the win¬ 
ter season. 
Cement floors are commendable, but when 
color is desired it should be mixed with the 
cement in the beginning and not applied later, 
for the constant friction of the feet wears off 
the paint which has to be renewed frequently. 
If a more resiliant flooring is desired there 
are several types from which to choose; among 
the best known are linoleum, inlaid linoleum 
and cork tiles. Each has its special claims 
on our attention. 
Of course, inland linoleum is more durable 
than plain linoleum for 
the latter is formed of 
square or oblong inter¬ 
locking tiles in solid 
colors. They come in 
all colors with borders 
and a sanitary cove 
base. 
Using Linoleum 
Linoleum should be 
allowed to stretch on 
the floor for about three 
weeks before it is ce¬ 
mented in place, after 
which a paste wax is 
thoroughly rubbed into 
the surface. It is then 
ready for use and the 
after treatment is very 
simple; it may be 
mopped up when soiled 
and an occasional 
treatment of liquid wax 
will keep it in condi¬ 
tion for a life time. 
Laying linoleum is very 
difficult, requiring ex¬ 
pert workmanship. It 
should not be attempted 
by the amateur. If 
water is allowed to get 
white in a small pattern are possibly the most 
satisfactory color scheme especially for a north¬ 
ern exposure. Gray and white make an ideal 
southern room with bright yellow curtains at 
the windows. Blue and white in delft colorings 
are still the delight of many, and this room, 
too, may be made less cold with yellow cur¬ 
tains. Green and white are restful and very 
attractive. While many may choose the strik¬ 
ing black and white blocks in large design for 
flooring, it will be found that small units of 
color are most restful than large ones. 
The cork tiling in three shades of brown 
makes a restful floor to both eyes and feet. The 
borders offered by the manufacturers are to be 
eschewed for the kitchen floor, although a solid 
band of color along the sanitary base cove 
makes a satisfactory finish. 
To make and equip the modem kitchen en¬ 
tails more expense than one at first expects, yet 
it is the one room in the house that should not 
be slighted. Get the best of its kind and avoid 
cheap substitutes. 
Painted Woodwork 
Should none of these treatments be feasible, 
and one is required to have wood floors and 
plaster walls, the following facts should be ob¬ 
served: The painted floor is economical. If 
the floor is not hardwood, it should be given 
two coats of shellac before the paint is applied 
and all cracks should be filled. Two coats of 
paint are usually sufficient. The oiled kitchen 
floor is not advisable because stains are diffi¬ 
cult to remove from it and it is not easy to 
stand upon or keep clean. 
As the kitchen woodwork gets hard wear it 
should be treated with a turpentine stain and 
then waxed or varnished. White enamel paint 
—even when one has to use four or five coats 
of it—will make the most attractive finish. 
The treatments of walls, floors and ceilings 
advised in this article will amply repay the 
investment. A sanitary kitchen means less 
work, and less work means happier and more 
efficient servants. It assures cleanliness in the 
handling of foods because sanitary surround¬ 
ings influence domestics to be cleanly them¬ 
selves. Finally, a sanitary kitchen is more pleas¬ 
ant to work in; its 
white walls radiate an 
atmosphere of cheer. 
These are facts 
which cannot be over¬ 
looked. Whatever 
may be the ultimate 
answer to the much 
discussed servant 
problem, the kitchen 
will have a very defi¬ 
nite bearing on it. We 
decorate and furnish 
the living quarters of 
the house with the 
greatest care; why not 
the working portion 
as well? It is axio¬ 
matic that without 
work there can be no 
play; equally tme is 
it that without a back¬ 
ground of housework 
a real home is impos¬ 
sible. Let us see to it, 
then, that all things 
possible be done to 
lighten this back¬ 
ground by making its 
principal scene as 
perfect as care and 
attention will allow. 
The pantry should receive the same treat¬ 
ment as the kitchen. Here linoleum is used 
on the floor. From the residence of Eugene 
Meyer, Jr., Esq., Mt. Kisco, N. Y. 
under the surface of linoleum it will cause 
serious damage, therefore care should be taken 
in wiping it up before it has a chance for any 
harmful effects. 
Cork Tiling and Color Schemes 
Cork tiling makes a very comfortable floor¬ 
ing. It comes in three shades of brown and 
many patterns which admit of attractive com¬ 
binations and designs. Each tile is laid sepa¬ 
rately, whether small or large blocks. A water¬ 
proof cement hermetically seals all joints, mak¬ 
ing a non-absorbent, noiseless and non-slip- 
pery flooring. There is also a sanitary cove 
base that is manufactured to specified standard 
heights. 
For a cheerful yet restful kitchen buff and 
Cork tiling, which has been used in this modern kitchen, makes a comfortable floor, non¬ 
absorbent and non-slippery 
