Adequate, well-used space for both the family and the furniture is
a large factor in farmhouse comfort. The proper number, size, and
placement of windows, doors, and stairs, and good construction are
important. These matters have been carefully worked out in the plans
shown in this bulletin. Comfort also depends to a large extent on good
heating, plumbing, lighting, and screening. Information on some of these
subjects is given in Farmers' Bulletin 1698, Heating the Farm Home; 1448,
Farmstead Water Supply; 1426, Farm Plumbing; 1227, Sewage and Sewerage of
Farm Homes; Department Circular 405, The Domestic Oil Burner; and in U.S.
Department of Commerce bulletin, Insulation on the Farm, price 10 cents.
The convenient arrangement of the farmhouse begins with its relationship
to the other farm buildings and to the highway. Unlike the city house,
the farmhouse has its main line of communication through the back or side
door. Therefore outside doors and porches should be located so as to give
convenient entrance from the farm driveway and the path to the barn, and
wherever possible should be on the sheltered side of the house.
If possible, there should be a convenient place near the rear entrance
for men to leave their outer wraps and to wash before going into the
house. These facilities are often provided in a washroom or in one corner
of the workroom, but if there is no washroom or workroom in the house,
there should at least be clothes hooks and a bench and washbasin for
summer use on the back porch.
It is also desirable that the work portions of the house, where the
housewife spends much of her time, look out over the farm buildings and
the entrance roadway. Most farm women like also a glimpse of the highway
from the kitchen window.
Preferably the traffic way from the rear entrance to the main portion of
the house should not lead through the kitchen. If the kitchen must be
used as a passageway, the doors should be so arranged that the traffic
does not cross the work area. This not only decreases the possibility
of interference with household activities but also makes possible a
more compact and convenient arrangement of work equipment. An important
factor is a workroom or porch, on about the same level as the kitchen,
for laundry, canning, care of milk, and other farm activities and for
supplementary food storage. This saves much clutter in the kitchen itself
and contributes to more efficient arrangement.
At least one bedroom should be provided on the first-floor of the
farmhouse, not too far from the kitchen, so that small children or
sick persons may be cared for conveniently. The bathroom should be
convenient to both downstairs and upstairs bedrooms, but preferably on
the first-floor. A space for a bathroom is very desirable even if the
fixtures cannot be put in at once.
Ample storage space should be provided for clothing, bedding and linen,
wraps, food, dishes and utensils, cleaning equipment, toys, and fuel. In
general, these needs have been met in the plans given in this bulletin
by closets in halls and bedrooms, kitchen cabinets, shelves or pantries,
and cellar storage. Closet, cabinet, and shelf space adds greatly to the
convenience and comfort of a house and should not be omitted.[3]
[3] Plans for closets and storage spaces can be obtained from the Bureau
of Home Economics.
In the smaller plans shown here, an alcove or an end of the kitchen is
indicated for use as a dining area. In the larger plans, either a dining
room or a space for dining in the living room is provided, and in most
cases there is also space in the kitchen for "hurry-up" meals.
The following points have been kept in mind in planning the kitchens.
A sink in every house is recommended. Even when water must be carried
into the house, the sink and drain add much to the convenience of the
kitchen and may be installed very cheaply. Where running water is not
available, a pump may be installed beside the sink. However, running
water, hot and cold, adds more to the convenience of the farm-home than
almost any other factor.
The sink should be well-lighted, with windows over or at one end of it.
Windows over the sink should have the sills higher than the back of the
sink. Such windows will need to be shielded from sun glare unless on the
north side of the house. The sink should have a drain board at the left
end, at the right a flat shelf for stacking dishes if there is no drain
board there. Dish storage should be near enough the left end of the sink
for the dishes to be put away without unnecessary steps.
The cookstove should be conveniently near the sink, preferably against
the side wall, or across from it if the kitchen is narrow.
A small food-preparation surface, table or shelf, should be placed next
to the stove at the same height as the cooking surface. There should be
cupboard space near the stove for the storage of cooking utensils. A
worktable should be provided for long mixing jobs; it should have knee
space and toe space. Staple supplies should be stored near this table
and, if possible, should be near the refrigerator and not too far from
the stove.
The refrigerator should, for convenient use, be as near as possible
to the worktable and stove; however, the higher the surrounding
temperature the greater the cost of operating the refrigerator. If an
ice refrigerator is used, a location near the outside door lessens the
tracking of dirt into the house. A ventilated cupboard near the worktable
is convenient for storing the less perishable foods and reduces the
season during which ice is needed.