A Treatise on Domestic Economy Part 19

_b_, Entry.

_c_, Parlor, 17 by 17 feet.

_d_, Dining-room, 13 by 15 feet.

_e_, Parlor or Bedroom, 17 by 17 feet.

_f_, Kitchen, 19 by 17 feet.

_g_, Stairs.

_h_, Store-closet.

_i, i, i_, Closets.

_n, n, n, n_, Fireplaces.

_o_, Folding-doors.

_p_, Pegs for over-garments.

_z_, Cellar stairs.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 30.

Second Story.

_a, a, a, a, a_, Bedrooms.

_b_, Stairs.

_c_, Pa.s.sage.

_d, d, d, d_, Closets.

_e, e, e, e_, Fireplaces.]

Figures 29 and 30, are plans for a larger house, which can have either of the elevations, Fig. 25 or 26, adapted to it. These also have a concealed staircase, for front and back use. If a nursery, or bedroom, is wished, on the ground-floor, the back parlor, _e_, can be taken; in which case, the closets, _i_, _i_, are very useful. To prevent noise from reaching the front parlor, two sets of folding-doors, each side of the pa.s.sage, _o_, could be placed. With this arrangement, these rooms could be used, sometimes as two parlors, opening into each other, by folding doors, and at other times, as a nursery and parlor. In this plan, the storeroom, _h_, and china-closet, _i_, between the kitchen and eating-room, are a great convenience.

Figures 31 and 32, present the plan of a Gothic cottage, which secures the most economy of _labor_ and _expense_, with the greatest amount of _convenience and comfort_, which the writer has ever seen.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 31.]

The elevation, (Fig. 31,) exhibits the front view. It has a recess in the central part, under which, is the door, with a window on each side of it. This forms a piazza; and into this, and a similar one at the back of the house, the two centre parlors open.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 32.]

In the centre of the house, (see Fig. 32,) are the two parlors, _b_ and _c_; the back one to be used as an eating-room. At X, can be placed, either a chimney, with doors on each side of the fireplace, or, (which is the most agreeable,) folding-doors, which can be thrown open in Summer, thus making a large saloon, through the house, from one piazza to the other. In this case, the parlors are warmed by a large stove, set near the folding-doors, which would easily warm both parlors and one or two adjacent rooms. In Winter, the outside doors, opening to the piazzas, should be fastened and calked, and the side entry, at _d_, be used. At _e_, is the nursery, with the bedpress, _g_, which, being closed by day, makes a retired parlor for the mother. At _n_, is the children's playroom and sleeping-room, adjoining the mother's room. At _k_, is the kitchen, adjacent to the eating-room, with the storeroom, _e_, and the closets, _m_, _m_, one for the eating-room, and one for the kitchen utensils. At _i_, is a parlor, which can be used for a study or library, by the master of the family; while the adjacent bedpress, _j_, renders it a convenient lodging-room, for guests. Another lodging-room, is at _h_; and in the attic, is s.p.a.ce enough for several comfortable lodging-rooms. A window in the roof, on the front and back, like the one on Wadsworth's Cottage, (Fig. 33,) could be placed over the front door, to light the chambers in the attic. A double roof in the attic, with a current of air between, secures cool chambers. The closets are marked _o_, and the fireplaces _p_. The stairs to the attic are at _q_. By this arrangement, the housekeeper has her parlor, sleeping-room, nursery, and kitchen, on the same floor, while the rooms with bedpresses, enable her to increase either parlors or lodging-rooms, at pleasure, without involving the care of a very large and expensive house.

Figure 33, is the representation of a cottage, built by Daniel Wadsworth, Esq., in the vicinity of Hartford, Connecticut; and is on a plan, which, though much smaller, is very similar to the plan represented in Fig. 32. It serves to show the manner in which the _roofs_ should be arranged, in Fig. 31, which, being seen exactly in front, does not give any idea of the mode of this arrangement. The elevation of Wadsworth's cottage, could be taken for the ground-plan shown in Fig. 32, if it be preferred to the other.

Both this cottage, and all the other plans, require a woodhouse, and the conveniences connected with it, which are represented in Fig. 35, (page 276.) For these Gothic cottages, an appendage of this sort should be in keeping with the rest, having windows, like those in the little Summer-house in the drawing, and battlements, as on the top of the wings of the barn. The ornaments on the front of the cottage, and the pillars of the portico, made simply of the trunks of small trees, give a beautiful rural finish, and their expense is trifling. In this picture, the trees could not be placed as they are in reality, because they would hide the buildings.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 33.]

In arranging yards and grounds, the house should be set back, as in the drawing of Wadsworth's cottage; and, instead of planting shade-trees in straight lines, or scattering them about, as single trees, they should be arranged in cl.u.s.ters, with large openings for turf, flowers, and shrubbery, which never flourish well under the shade and dropping of trees. This also secures spots of dark and cool shade, even when trees are young.

In arranging shade-trees tastefully around such a place, a large cl.u.s.ter might be placed on each side of the gate; another on the circular gra.s.s-plot, at the side of the house; another at a front corner; and another at a back corner. Shrubbery, along the walks, and on the circular plot, in front, and flowers close to the house, would look well. The barn, also, should have cl.u.s.ters of trees near it; and occasional single trees, on the lawn, would give the graceful ease and variety seen in nature.

Figure 34, represents the accommodations for securing water with the least labor. It is designed for a well or cistern under ground. The reservoir, R, may be a half hogshead, or something larger, which may be filled once a day, from the pump, by a man, or boy.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 34.

_P_, Pump. _L_, Steps to use when pumping. _R_, Reservoir. _G_, Brickwork to raise the Reservoir. _B_, A large Boiler. _F_, Furnace, beneath the Boiler. _C_, Conductor of cold water. _H_, Conductor of hot water. _K_, c.o.c.k for letting cold water into the Boiler. _S_, Pipe to conduct cold water to a c.o.c.k over the kitchen sink. _T_, Bathing-tub, which receives cold water from the Conductor, _C_, and hot water from the Conductor, _H_. _W_, Part.i.tion separating the Bathing-room from the Wash-room. _Y_, c.o.c.k to draw off hot water. _Z_, Plug to let off the water from the Bathing-tub into a drain.]

The conductor, C, should be a lead pipe, which, instead of going over the boiler, should be bent along behind it. From S, a branch sets off, which conducts the cold water to the sink in the kitchen, where it discharges with a c.o.c.k. H, is a conductor from the lower part of the boiler, made of copper, or some metal not melted by great heat; and at Y, a c.o.c.k is placed, to draw off hot water. Then the conductor pa.s.ses to the bathing-tub, where is another c.o.c.k. At Z, the water is let off from the bathing-tub. By this arrangement, great quant.i.ties of hot and cold water can be used, with no labor in carrying, and with very little labor in raising it.

In case a cistern is built above ground, it can be placed as the reservoir is, and then all the labor of pumping is saved.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 35.

_A_, Boiler and furnace.

_B_, Bathing-room.

_C_, Reservoir.

_D_, Pump.

_E_, Wash-form.

_F_, Sink.

_G_, Kitchen.

_H_, Woodpile.

_I_, Large doors.

_i_,_i_, Bins for coal and ashes.

_O_, Window.

_P_, _P_, Privies.

_T_, Bathing-tub.

_V_, Door.]

Fig. 35, is the plan of a building for back-door accommodations. At _A_, _C_, _D_, _E_, are accommodations shown in Fig. 34. The bathing-room is adjacent to the boiler and reservoir, to receive the water. The privy, _P_, _P_, should have two apartments, as indispensable to healthful habits in a family. A window should be placed at _O_, and a door, with springs or a weight to keep it shut, should be at _V_. Keeping the window open, and the door shut, will prevent any disagreeable effects in the house. At _G_, is the kitchen, and at _F_, the sink, which should have a conductor and c.o.c.k from the reservoir. _H_, is the place for wood, where it should in Summer be stored for Winter. A bin, for coal, and also a brick receiver, for ashes, should be in this part. Every woman should use her influence to secure all these conveniences; even if it involves the sacrifice of the piazza, or "the best parlor."

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 36.

Front View.

Side View.]

Fig. 36, is a latticed portico, which is cheap, and answers all the purposes of a more expensive one. It should be solid, overhead, to turn off the rain, and creepers should be trained over it. A simple latticed arch, over a door, covered with creepers, is very cheap, and serves instead of an expensive portico.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 37.

_C_, Parlor ceiling.

_K_, Kitchen ceiling.]

Fig. 37, represents a _sliding closet_, or _dumb waiter_, a convenience which saves much labor, when the kitchen is in the bas.e.m.e.nt. The two closets should be made wide, and broad enough to receive a common waiter. The chain, or rope, which pa.s.ses over the wheels, should branch, at _X_, so as to keep the closet from rubbing in its movements, when the dishes are not set exactly in the middle, or are of unequal weights. By this method, almost every thing needed to pa.s.s between the kitchen and parlor can be sent up and down, without any steps. If the kitchen is not directly under the eating-room, the sliding closet can be placed in the vicinity of one or both. Where the place is not wide enough for two closets like these, they can be made wider than they are long, say one foot and six inches long, and three feet wide. A strip of wood, an inch broad, should be fastened on the front and back of the shelves, to prevent the dishes from being broken when they are set on carelessly.

There is nothing, which so much improves the appearance of a house and the premises, as painting or whitewashing the tenements and fences. The following receipts for whitewashing, answer the same purpose for wood, brick, and stone, as oil-paint, and are much cheaper. The first, is the receipt used for the President's house, at Washington, improved by further experiments. The second, is a cheaper one, which the writer has known to succeed, in a variety of cases, lasting as long, and looking as well, as white oil-paint.

_Receipt._

Take half a bushel of unslacked lime, and slack it with boiling water, covering it, during the process. Strain it, and add a peck of salt, dissolved in warm water; three pounds of ground rice, boiled to a thin paste, put in boiling hot; half a pound of powdered Spanish whiting; and a pound of clear glue, dissolved in warm water. Mix, and let it stand several days. Heat it in a kettle, on a portable furnace, and apply it as hot as possible, with a painter's or whitewash-brush.

_Another._

Make whitewash, in the usual way, except that the water used should be hot, and nearly saturated with salt. Then stir in four handfuls of fine sand, to make it thick like cream. Coloring matter can be added to both, making a light stone-color, a cream-color, or a light buff, which are most suitable for buildings.