The Modern Home
[We shall be pleased to reply to any inquiries arising from The articles we publish on the Modern Home page. Inquiries should be addressed to the Editor, The SPeeraroa, 99 Gower Sired, iy.c. 1, with "Modern Home Page" written in the left-hand corner of the envelope.] CC . . and Usual Offices" Jr is no exaggeration to say Oita, of all rooms in the average house, the most satisfactory, aesthetically no less than practically, is the bathroom. The reason for this is plain : there is no effective tradition in bathroom decoration and equipment. The Elizabethan half-timbered bath has still to be put on the market. At the moment of writing, even the most anciente " modern home tries for few effects in the bathroom beyond those of comfort and hygiene—with perhaps an occasional seagull on the wall, suggested, no doubt, by the presence of water. Our sanitary ware to-day is extremely good in design and finish ; and there is a wide range from which to choose. The pleasant classical associa- tions of marble as a material for baths have been unable to outweigh the prejudice against its disconcerting trick of remaining cold under the hottest water. The same disadvantage occurs with porcelain and stoneware ; and so we find all these materials being superseded by cast iron. This is no longer finished with an enamel which wears off in a few years, to expose the rusty metal : the modem porcelain-enamelled bath has a stoved finish which is as beautiful as porcelain itself and which, if due precautions are taken against the use of coarse abrasives for cleaning purposes, will last for a lifetime. In one particular our bath-manufacturers remain backward—they continue to fit the taps at one end, whereas the most convenient place is obviously the centre. Better than taps is a mixing-valve at the bottom of the bath, since this minimizes the amount of steam released into the room. The valve will be at the end of the bath; but the taps should still be at the centre. All these things should be easily obtainable ; and yet, in nearly all lists there is an absurd disproportion between the prices charged for a bath so fitted and a bath of the Common pattern with taps at the end. There can be no question of higher manufacturing costs : it is simply that the less efficient type has been put on the market in larger quantities. This state of things should be corrected. I have lately seen a bath, the " Sitezi," which should be of special value for invalids, small children, or wherever space is limited. It is only three feet six inches long, but is rather deeper than usual, and has a wide seat or step formed at one end. The effect of this is not only to reduce considerably the amount of water used, but also to make the bath extremely comfortable for even a six-foot man.
For taps a chromium-plated finish is to be recommended so long as stainless steel remains at its present high price. If china handles are fitted, only those of heavy construction should be chosen. I know of two instances where the china has broken when the tap was being turned ; and in each case a badly cut hand was the result. The china portion should always be fixed to the spindle with a screw, as no cement can be trusted to remain firm, especially on a hot tap. On the whole, if white or coloured taps are wanted, those of porcelain-enamelled metal are to be preferred. There is a belief—not always dispelled by the manufacturers—that chromium-plated articles require no cleaning (" All that is necessary is an occasional rub with a soft duster "). This is not so. Metal-polish need not and should not be used ; but a soft duster will not remove all marks ; and, if these are allowed to remain, permanent damage to the surface will follow. Every week or two all chromium-plated fittings should be wiped with a damp, soapy cloth and then finished with a duster. This applies equally to metal chairs, furniture, and such things as towel rails. The modern tap is much more easily cleaned than the older form in which nuts, threads and milled discs provided many inaccessible crevices. Nothing could be more practical and pleasant to look at than the original " Easy-clean " pattern, and one must, therefore. deplore the efforts of some makers to provide what they, no doubt, consider more modem and mechanistic designs— square, angular, uncomfortable to grip and difficult to clean. It is no part of modernism to supersede for the sake of novelty a perfectly efficient design by one merely freakish.
With lavatory basins the slowness of earthenware to absorb heat from the water is of no consequence, and so we usually find this material employed. Undoubtedly the best-looking shape (and some of them are really beautiful) is that in which the basin in set on a pedestal of the same material. In- credible as it may seem, it has not yet dawned on many local plumbers that one of the purposes of the pedestal is to house the waste and supply pipes ; it is no uncommon thing to see some or all of these run clumsily up the back. My own expe- rience teaches that one cannot be too strict with plumbers ; and in this case one should insist that the pipes be run up inside the pedestal—even though it is less comfortable to make a wiped joint in a confined space. If the plumber contends that the " trap " cannot be fitted in, it may quite possibly be news to him to learn that a special pattern, called a "basket- trap," is made for the purpose. The design of soap-trays leaves much to be desired. I have yet to meet one recessed in any basin which will not reduce the soap to a gelatinous mess if it be not constantly wiped out. It should not be difficult to design one with a much steeper pitch for drainage, and some provision to stop the soap following the water. Where a plug and chain is fitted, the former should be of rubber, to prevent damage to the glaze. In this country the bidet seems to find favour mainly with those who have travelled abroad. No doubt as more people come to realize its merits, it will find a wider use.
It is common ground among doctors that the average w.e. pedestal is far too high. For physiological reasons the nearer this is kept to the ground the better. It is at present difficult to obtain one with the seat much lower than sixteen inches—though I know of one pattern, recently introduced, which is little more than twelve. It seems probable that more attention paid to this point by manufacturers and public would result in a lightening of what Mr. Hornibrook calls the white man's burden." One doctor of my acquaintance, when building a house, was obliged to get over the difficulty by having the pedestal set stitne five inches below floor-level. The same effect can be achieved in an existing house by having a movable wooden step built to fit round the base. This is to be particularly recommended for children. A silent-flushing cistern is now possible—usually in the form of a tank set low-down (which is generally to be preferred also on the score of appearance). A silent refill can be fitted to almost any cistern. It is to be regretted that the conser- vative ideas held by most Water Authorities make it impossible to use many perfectly efficient contrivances, such as the flush valve, which requires no cistern and, properly designed, need have no disadvantages. Almost all such by-laws, necessary and desirable though they be, err in forbidding or insisting upon forms instead of functions.
The choice of coverings for bathroom walls is wide ; and so long as varnished paper in imitation of tiles or marble be avoided, it is quite difficult to avoid a good effect. Var- nished paper, by all means—but let it look like varnished paper .or, better still, let it be enamelled. Mosaic, marble, plate-glass or ceramic tiles are among the most expensive finishes (the last-named costing from about 12s. 6d. a square yard), and, in a room which is not kept at a high temperature, they encourage Condensation. Tiles made of plastic com- position are now available. These are warmer, non-crazing, and can be more simply fixed with invisible pins. Rust- proof metal tiles (" Utilitiles ") are a very cheap and attractive alternative. They c-an either be polished bright and cellulosed to avoid further labour, or they can be allowed to weather to a soft grey. Their price unfixed is only 4s. 6d. a square yard. Another unusual and thoroughly practical course is to paper V the walls with a British-made American cloth, called " Decorene." This can be got in almost any colour and surface, is perfectly washable, and will last for years.
G. M. BOUMPHREY.
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