ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF HOUSES.
There is no point of domestic economy, which more seriously involves the
health and daily comfort of American women, than the proper construction
of houses. There are five particulars, to which attention should be
given, in building a house; namely, economy of labor, economy of money,
economy of health, economy of comfort, and good taste. Some particulars
will here be pointed out, under each of these heads.
The first, respects _economy of labor_. In deciding upon the size and
style of a house, the health and capacity of the housekeeper, and the
probabilities of securing proper domestics, ought to be the very first
consideration. If a man be uncertain as to his means for hiring service,
or if he have a feeble wife, and be where properly-qualified domestics
are scarce, it is very poor economy to build a large house, or to live
in a style which demands much labor. Every room in a house adds to the
expense involved in finishing and furnishing it, and to the amount of
labor spent in sweeping, dusting, cleaning floors, paint, and windows,
and taking care of, and repairing, its furniture. Double the size of a
house, and you double the labor of taking care of it, and so, _vice
versa_. There is, in this Country, a very great want of calculation and
economy, in this matter.
The arrangement of rooms, and the proper supply of conveniences, are
other points, in which, economy of labor and comfort is often
disregarded. For example, a kitchen will be in one story, a sitting-room
in another, and the nursery in a third. Nothing is more injurious, to a
feeble woman, than going up and down stairs; and yet, in order to gain
two large parlors, to show to a few friends, or to strangers, immense
sacrifices of health, comfort, and money, are made. If it be possible,
the nursery, sitting-parlor, and kitchen, ought always to be on the same
floor.
The position of wells and cisterns, and the modes of raising and
carrying water, are other particulars, in which, economy of labor and
comfort is sadly neglected. With half the expense usually devoted to a
sideboard or sofa, the water used from a well or cistern can be so
conducted, as that, by simply turning a cock, it will flow to the place
where it is to be used.
A want of economy, in labor and in money, is often seen in the shape and
arrangement of houses, and in the style of ornaments and furniture. A
_perfect square_, encloses more rooms, at less expense, than any other
shape; while it has less surface exposed to external cold, and can be
most easily warmed and ventilated. And the farther a house is removed
from this shape, the more the expense is increased. Wings and kitchens
built out, beyond a house, very much increase expense, both in building
and warming them.
Piazzas and porticoes are very expensive; and their cost would secure
far more comfort, if devoted to additional nursery or kitchen
conveniences. Many kinds of porticoes cost as much as one additional
room in the house. Houses can be so constructed, that one staircase will
answer for both kitchen and parlour use, as may be seen in the engraving
on page 269, (Fig. 27.) This saves the expense and labor usually devoted
to a large hall and front staircase.
Much money is often worse than wasted, by finical ornaments, which are
fast going out of fashion. One of the largest, most beautiful, and
agreeable, houses, the writer was ever in, was finished with doors,
windows, and fireplaces, in even a plainer style than any given in the
subsequent drawings.
The position of fireplaces has much to do with economy of expense in
warming a house. Where the fireplace is in an outer wall, one third of
the heat passes out of doors, which would be retained in the house, if
the chimney were within the rooms. A house, contrived like the one
represented in the engraving on page 272, (Fig. 32,) which can be heated
by a stove or chimney at X, may be warmed with less fuel than one of any
other construction.[R]
_Economy of health_ is often disregarded, by placing wells, cisterns,
and privies, so that persons, in the perspiration of labor, or the
debility of disease, are obliged to go out of doors in all weathers.
Figure 35, on page 276, shows the proper arrangement of such
conveniences. The placing of an outside door, for common use, in a
sitting-room, as is frequent at the West and South, is detrimental to
health. In such cases, children, in their sports, or persons who labor,
are thrown into perspiration, by exercise, the door is thrown open, a
chill ensues, and fever, bowel complaints, or bilious attacks, are the
result. A long window, extending down to the floor, which can be used as
a door, in Summer, and be tightly closed, at the bottom, in Winter,
secures all the benefits, without the evils, of an outside door.
Constructing houses, without open fireplaces in chambers, or any other
mode of ventilation, is another sad violation of the economy of health.
Feeble constitutions in children, and ill health to domestics, are often
caused by this folly.
The _economy of comfort_ is often violated, by arrangements made for
domestics. Many a woman has been left to endure much hard labor and
perplexity, because she chose to have money spent on handsome parlors
and chambers, for company, which should have been devoted to providing a
comfortable kitchen and chambers for domestics. Cramping the
conveniences and comfort of a family, in order to secure elegant rooms,
to show to company, is a weakness and folly, which it is hoped will
every year become less common.
The construction of houses with reference to _good taste_, is a
desirable, though less important, item. The beauty of a house depends
very much upon propriety of proportions, color, and ornament. And it is
always as cheap, and generally cheaper, to build a house in agreement
with the rules of good taste, than to build an awkward and
ill-proportioned one.
_Plans of Houses and Domestic Conveniences._
The following plans are designed chiefly for persons in moderate
circumstances, and have especial reference to young housekeepers.
Every year, as the prosperity of this Nation increases, good domestics
will decrease, and young mothers are hereafter to be called to
superintend and perform all branches of domestic business, to nurse
children, direct ignorant domestics, attend the sick, entertain company,
and fulfil all other family duties; and this, too, in a majority of
cases, with delicate constitutions, or impaired health. Every man,
therefore, in forming plans for a future residence, and every woman who
has any influence in deciding such matters, ought to make these
probabilities the chief basis of their calculations.[S]
[Illustration: Fig. 17.]
[Illustration: Fig. 18.
Ground-plan.
_a_, Porch.
_b_, Parlor, 15 by 16 feet.
_c_, Dining-room, 15 by 16 feet.
_d, d_, Small Bedrooms.
_e_, Stairs.
_f, f, f_, Closets.
_g_, Pantry.
_h_, Store-closet.
_i, i, i_, Fireplaces.
_j_, Kitchen.
_k_, Bedpress.
_z_, Cellar door.
Scale of Feet.]
The plan, exhibited in Figures 17, and 18, is that of a cottage, whose
chief exterior beauty is its fine proportions. It should be painted
white.
Fig. 17, is the _elevation_, or the front view of the exterior. Fig. 18,
is the ground-plan, in which, an entire break in the wall, represents a
door, and a break with a line across it, a window. When a cross x is put
by a door, it indicates into which room the door swings, and where the
hinges should be put, as the comfort of a fireside very much depends on
the way in which the doors are hung. A scale of measurement is given at
the bottom of the drawings, by which, the size of all parts can be
measured. The ten small divisions, are each one foot. The longest
divisions are ten feet each.
In the ground-plan, (Fig. 18,) _a_, is the porch, which projects enough
to afford an entrance to the two adjacent rooms, and thus avoids the
evil of an outside door to a sitting-room. If a door be wanted in these
rooms, the front windows can be made to extend down to the floor, so as
to serve as doors in Summer, and be tightly closed in Winter. The
parlor, _b_, has the bedpress, _k_, and the closet, _f_, adjoining it.
Figure 19 is intended to represent this side of the room.
[Illustration: Fig. 19.
Scale of Feet for the Doors.]
The two large doors, in the centre, open into the bedpress, and one of
the smaller ones into the closet, _f_. The other, can either be a false
door, in order to secure symmetry, or else a real one, opening into the
kitchen, _j_.
A room, thus arranged, can be made to serve as a genteel parlor, for
company, during the day, when all these doors can be closed. At night,
the doors of the bedpress being opened, it is changed to an airy
bedroom, while the closets, _f, f_, serve to conceal all accommodations
pertaining to a bedroom. The bedpress is just large enough to receive a
bed; and under it, if need be, might be placed a trucklebed, for young
children. The eating-room, _c_, has the small bedroom, _d_, adjoining
it, which, by leaving the door open, at night, will be sufficiently airy
for a sleeping-room. The kitchen, _j_, has a smaller bedroom, _d_,
attached to it, which will hold a narrow single bed for a domestic; and,
if need be, a narrow trucklebed under it, for a child. The staircase to
the garret, can either be placed in the eating-room, or in the small
entry. A plan for back accommodations is shown in Fig. 35, (page 276.)
These should be placed in the rear of the kitchen, so as not to cover
the window.
A house like this, will conveniently accommodate a family of six or
eight persons; but some economy and contrivance will be needed, in
storing away articles of dress and bedclothing. For this end, in the
bedpress, _k_, of the parlor, _b_, (Fig. 18,) a wide shelf may be
placed, two feet from the ceiling, where winter bedding, or folded
clothing, can be stowed, while a short curtain in front, hung from the
wall, will give a tidy look, and keep out dust. Under this shelf, if
need be, pegs can be placed, to hold other articles; and a curtain be
hung from the edge of the shelf, to conceal and protect them. Both the
closets, _f, f_, should have shelves and drawers. The garret can have a
window inserted in the roof, and thus be made serviceable for storage.
[Illustration: Fig. 20.]
Figure 20 represents a fireplace and mantelpiece, in a style
corresponding with the doors.
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.
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: 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.]
[Illustration: Fig. 24.
Second Story.
_a_, Stairs.
_b_, Passage.
_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.
[Illustration: Fig. 25.]
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: 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.]
[Illustration: Fig. 28.
Second Story.
_a, a, a, a_, Bedrooms.
_b_, Stairs.
_c, c, c_, Closets.
_d_, Passage.
_e, e, e_, Fireplaces.
_y_, Garret stairs.]
[Illustration: Fig. 29.
Ground-floor.
_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.]
[Illustration: Fig. 30.
Second Story.
_a, a, a, a, a_, Bedrooms.
_b_, Stairs.
_c_, Passage.
_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 passage, _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.
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: 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 space 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.
[Illustration: 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 clusters, 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 cluster
might be placed on each side of the gate; another on the circular
grass-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 clusters 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.
[Illustration: 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_, Cock for letting cold water into the Boiler. _S_, Pipe to
conduct cold water to a cock over the kitchen sink. _T_, Bathing-tub,
which receives cold water from the Conductor, _C_, and hot water from
the Conductor, _H_. _W_, Partition separating the Bathing-room from the
Wash-room. _Y_, Cock 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 cock. 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 cock is placed, to draw off hot water. Then the conductor passes to
the bathing-tub, where is another cock. At Z, the water is let off from
the bathing-tub. By this arrangement, great quantities 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.
[Illustration: 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 cock 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."
[Illustration: 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.
[Illustration: 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 basement. The two
closets should be made wide, and broad enough to receive a common
waiter. The chain, or rope, which passes 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 pass 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.
FOOTNOTES:
[R] Many houses are now heated, by a furnace in the cellar, which
receives pure air from out of doors, heats it, and sends it into several
rooms, while water is evaporated to prevent the air from becoming dry.
The most perfect one the writer has seen, is constructed by Mr. Fowler,
of Hartford. This method secures well-ventilated rooms, and is very
economical, where several rooms are to be warmed.
[S] Those, who are amateurs in architecture, in judging of these
designs, must take into consideration, that this is a work on domestic
_economy_, and that matters of taste, have necessarily been made
subordinate to points, involving economy of health, comfort, and
expense. Still, it is believed, that good taste has been essentially
preserved, in most of these designs.