45§ 
HOUSE AND GARDEN 
June, 1914 
The front of the cupboard, which is 
neatly curtained, is beside the hos¬ 
tess’ seat at the table, and the rear of 
the cupboard opens on the kitchen 
side by the sink, and when the meal 
is over this door is opened, the dishes 
removed, washed and returned. In 
this way the compartment is made 
to serve the purpose of a butler’s 
pantry, is cheaper to build and takes 
up less floor space. 
There are two doors in the dining 
alcove, one leading to the kitchen, 
and the other to a small hall, which 
is in the very center of the house. 
In this hall is the stairway and a 
cloak closet. Also a door leading to 
a small room, which may be used as 
a den or bedroom, and another door 
leading to the furnace-room. 
The furnace-room was our great¬ 
est problem, and we consider it our 
greatest achievement. A consulta¬ 
tion with our plumber revealed the 
fact that if the bottom of the hot- 
water heater 
could be placed 
two feet below 
tbe first - floor 
level the pipes 
could be carried 
through the house 
with as good re¬ 
sults as if the 
furnace were 
placed in the cel¬ 
lar. The plumber 
also informed us 
that six feet 
square w ou Id 
give ample space 
for the furnace 
and the necessary 
piping. Accord¬ 
ingly we reserved 
a space six feet 
square behind the 
chimne y, and 
there we installed 
the heater. To 
accommodate i t 
the house was 
built on a stone 
foundation two 
and one-half feet 
above ground level and three feet below, 
with three ventilating windows. This made 
the floor of the furnace-room six inches 
above the ground to insure against dampness. 
The floor of this room and the wood-house 
joining it were cemented. By careful placing 
we were able to fit in this small room the 
furnace, six corner shelves, a step-ladder, 
dust brooms, etc., besides having wall space 
for two doors and the drop-door at the back 
of the wood-box already mentioned. The 
door leading to the coal house has glass panes. 
which furnish the needed light, and 
there is an electric bulb. The pipes 
are laid through inside walls and 
closets, except those leading to the 
radiator in the bay window, which 
are laid under the house and thor¬ 
oughly wrapped 
Having decided upon the furnace- 
room, the next question was where 
to put the fuel. We solved this prob¬ 
lem by building a small addition 
joining the furnace room. It cost no 
more than digging a cellar and added 
to the outside appearance of the 
house. It is of rough lumber, plas¬ 
tered on the outside to correspond 
with the house. The roof is sealed, 
covered with heavy canvas and 
painted. A railing encloses it, mak¬ 
ing a cosy veranda, where afternoon 
tea is often served under the 
branches of a great elm. From this 
veranda above the shed one passes 
by glass doors to the room within, so 
that it would make an admirable 
sleeping porch. 
Inside the coal 
house there are 
two coal bins, 
over which has 
been built a large 
shelf-like gallerv, 
w here pore h 
chairs, window 
screens and other 
material of like 
nature can be 
stored. There is 
remaining floor 
space for wood, 
ash barrels and a 
fruit closet. The 
wall space is util¬ 
ized for hanging 
garden tools. 
Nothing could be 
more compact or 
convenient than 
this heating ar¬ 
rangement, with 
every inch of 
space made to 
count: We found 
that three tons of 
coal heated the 
house from December until late spring. The 
fireplace did efficient service for the re¬ 
mainder of the one year that the house has 
been occupied. 
On the second floor of the house there are 
two bedrooms and bath. The hall is 3U 
feet by 6, and is directly over the kitchen 
range. An ordinary hot-air register has been 
placed in the floor, and on cold days in spring 
and autumn is left open. It is surprising 
how comfortable the upper rooms are made 
(Continued on page 480) 
The corner cupboard contains a serving shelf opening through to 
the kitchen. Dishes can be reached from this shelf while sitting 
at the table 
The living-room stretches across the entire front of the house and has for its most important feature a largi 
brick fireplace. The flue from the furnace is run in this same chimney 
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CUD 
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Compactness of plan characterizes this house. 
Note the furnace room and the small space 
used in halls 
