A Treatise on Domestic Economy Part 18

Such a cottage as this, could be built for from five hundred to nine hundred dollars, according as the expense of labor in the place, and the excellence of the materials and labor, may vary.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 21.]

Figures 21 and 22, show the elevation and ground-plan of a cottage, in which the rooms are rather more agreeably arranged, than in the former plan. The elevation, (Fig. 21,) has a piazza, running across the whole front. This would cost nearly two hundred dollars; and, for this sum, another story might be added. An architect told the writer, that he could build the two-story house, (Fig. 23 and 24,) without a piazza, for the same sum, as this cottage, _with_ one. This shows the poor economy of these appendages.

The ground-plan, (Fig. 22,) will be understood, from the explanation appended to it.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 22.

Scale of Feet.

_a_, Porch.

_b_, Entry.

_c_, Stairs.

_d_, Parlor, 16 by 20 feet.

_e_, Dining-room, 16 by 16 feet.

_f_, Kitchen.

_g, g, g_, Bedpresses.

_h, h, h, h_, Closets.

_i_, Store-closet.

_j_, Back entry and Sink.

_p_, Cellar stairs.

_o, o, o_, Fireplaces.]

The parlor, _d_, is designed to have the doors (shown in Fig. 19) placed at the end, where is the bedpress, _g_. This will make it a handsome parlor, by day, and yet allow it to be used as a bedroom, at night. The bedpresses, in the other rooms, can have less expensive doors. A window is put in each bedpress, to secure proper ventilation. These should be opened, to air the bed, on leaving it. These can be fitted up with shelves, pegs, and curtains, as before described. If the elevation of the first cottage be preferred to this, as being less expensive, it can be used, by altering it a little; thus, instead of the projection for the entry, make a slight projection, of the width of one brick, to preserve the same general outside appearance. Let the windows extend down to the floor, and the beauty of symmetry will also be preserved.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 23.

Ground-plan.

_a_, Entry.

_b_, Stairs.

_c_, Parlor, 16 by 20 feet.

_d_, Kitchen, 14 by 14 feet.

_e_, Store-closet.

_f_, Pantry.

_g_, Sinkroom.

_h_, Closet.

_i, i_, Fireplaces.

_n_, Cellar door.

_o_, Oven.

_y_, Furnace.

_z_, Sink.

Scale of Feet.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 24.

Second Story.

_a_, Stairs.

_b_, Pa.s.sage.

_c, c, c_, Bedrooms.

_d, d, d, d_, Closets.

_e, e_, Fireplaces.

_f_, Nursery.

_g_, Room for young children.]

The plans, shown in Fig. 23 and 24, are designed for families, where most domestic labor is to be done without the aid of domestics. The parlor, _c_, is for a sitting-room, and for company. The room, _d_, is the eating-room; where, also, the ironing and other nicer family work can be done. In the small room, _g_, either an oven and boiler, or a cooking-stove, can be placed. The elevation, shown in Fig. 25, is designed for the front of this house.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 25.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 26.]

Figures 27 and 28, are plans of a two-story house, on a larger scale, with a concealed staircase, for front and back use. The elevation, Fig.

26, is designed for this plan.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 27.

Ground-plan.

_b, b_, Entry.

_c_, Stairs.

_d_, Parlor, 16 by 20 feet.

_e_, Dining-room, 15 by 16 feet.

_f_, Kitchen, 15 by 16 feet.

_g, g, g_, Closets.

_h_, Store-closet.

_i_, Back entry.

_j_, Pantry.

_k, k, k_, Fireplaces.

_x_, Cellar stairs.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 28.

Second Story.

_a, a, a, a_, Bedrooms.

_b_, Stairs.

_c, c, c_, Closets.

_d_, Pa.s.sage.

_e, e, e_, Fireplaces.

_y_, Garret stairs.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 29.

Ground-floor.