File:American homes and gardens (1911) (18154677882).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar81911newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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HE ingenious devices to which the dweller in a small apartment must oftentimes resort occasionally produces something so com- mendable that it cannot fail to interest others who, themselves, may be looking for just the sort of thing to fit' their own require- ments. The owner of an attractive studio apartment and bath had but one room at her disposal, to be used for a living-room that should combine the conveniences of dining- room and kitchen as well. Now, it is always a difficult thing to make a kitchen look like a reception-room—it is even more difficult than to make the folding bed of the Victorian era pass for a grand piano. However, I think the reader will concede that the illustrations of the tidy kitchenette here reproduced indicate actual success on the part of the studio owner in disguising the little gas range upon which the studio meals are cooked, and delicious ones they are, too. Instead of attempting to make the range appear in the suspicious guise of some improbability, the deviser of this ingenious contrivance had the carpenter around the corner make a four-sided box-like affair—bottom, sides, floor and back being stationary—and then a double folding door in front and a top that was divided in the center and arranged to swing back on each side by hinges, and finally a rest on the top edge of the opened front doors was added. The reader will notice that the gas range rests on the floor of this little cupboard, and not upon the floor of the room. The low casters make it possible to move the whole con- veniently to permit cleaning operations, since the range receives its supply of gas through the long rubber hose at- tached to the gas-jet just above it, to one side. The gas- hose is disconnected when the range is not in use, and coiled against the wall on a hook back of the range-cupboard and hidden by it. One might almost imagine, on seeing the doors closed, that the cupboard was a closet in miniature for downy linens, instead of a range that can roast a turkey on Thanksgiving day as well as any of its bigger neighbors. Kitchenette holders who feel a sense of household incom- pleteness without an electric stove, may not have to be told that a cupboard can cover it in the same effective manner. An exquisite Japanese print, by Utamaro, hangs just above the range-cupboard, and a cover of embroidered crash linen is thrown over the top of this ingenious bit of fur- niture. A bowl of dull green pottery resting upon it is al- ways filled with sweet-scented flowers, that take their turn when the well-ventilated studio throws open its windows to let out the too tenacious fragrance of the savory feast passed by. In the right-hand illustration the corner of a stationary washstand is shown, but this and the wardrobe- closet to the left of the left-hand illustration are always hid- den by attractive screens that seem perfectly to fit into the decorative scheme of the apartment. Of the ornamental articles in the living-room, not connected directly with the cupboard, the Oriental rug squarely in front seems the most necessary to complete the project of transformation. The hand that placed it there surely belonged to one conscious of giving the final touch in doubling the possibilities of the use of one room. It is readily seen that the shifts can be made easily where immediacy is involved, without exciting any inti- mation of household jugglery in the little "kitchen corner/'
Text Appearing After Image:
This shows kitchenette cupboard, open and ready for use When closed the cupboard completely hides the gas range

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