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Show Mr. William A. Radford will answer I questions and give advice FREE OF COST on all subjects pertaining to the Buhject of building, for the readers of this paper. On account of his wide experience as Editor, Author and Manufacturer, ha Is. without doubt, the highest authority on all these subjects. Address all inquiries to William A. Radford, No. ITS West Jackson boulevard. Chicago. 111., and only enclose two-cent stamp for reply. When going into a building project there are three considerations of importance im-portance that present themselves. In the first place there Is the design or outward appearance of the structure, next the arrangement of the dwelling Inside for comfort and convenience, and last the cost of the building. There is apt to be a wide range of choice in regard to the first factor the design or outward, appearance of the house. This is a matter to be decided de-cided according to the taste of the owner and the requirements of the building site. It is proverbial that tastes differ widely; so there can be no definite fixed requirements along that line. Also the needs of different locations vary greatly. It has been said that we plan the outside of our houses to please the neighbors, or to make a brave show from the street. Accordingly this first factor, that of outward appearance, may at times be of very little real importance, although of course everyone would prefer to live in as attractive & dwelling place as possible. All things considered, the interior of a residence is far more important than the exterior. Real satisfaction in a home comes from the comfortable, illitpft .st;-.':i-. : "owy.- . ..mosKntS ': : . I cozy and inviting features of the living room; the bright cheerfulness of the dining room, and the conveniences provided not only in the kitchen and pantry, but also in the other parts of the houses It matters little what the outside appearance is granted of course it is trim and neat if the interior in-terior is comfortable and home-like and' so arranged that the work can be done easily. The third factor, that of cost, very often seems to be, if not most important, impor-tant, the jaost important of the three. Most home builders have to set a definite defi-nite figure and make up their minds not to go over it. The outside design can be changed from one style to another, an-other, and the interior arrangement is a matter of choice, no one plan being absolutely essential. But with the cost It is different. Most of us have to carefully determine, before building, just what can be afforded; and if the figure decided upon should be 'exceeded 'exceed-ed disaster might follow. It is just as well, too, that this is so. It leads to economy and close figuring and careful attention to the details of the work, and this leads to satisfactory satisfac-tory results. It seems to be quite the habit of many building contractors, and also with the architects, to be too optimistic optimis-tic when quoting on preliminary estimates. esti-mates. The prospective builder is misled, perhaps unintentionally, into believing that a much more elaborate structure can be built for. the amount he has decided on than is in reality the case. The little $2,000 bungalow, of the story, which cost $5,000 to build, is an example. The fact of the matter is, it is a difficult dif-ficult if not impossible matter to make an accurate estimate on preliminary plans. The little extra features that are not shown, but which are usually included in the specifications as the planning proceeds, amount up to an astonishing total. If all the desirable features that the banker has in his new $20,000 residence are attempted to be incorporated into the plans for a simple little $3,000 house it is certain that there will be a wide difference between be-tween the preliminary estimates and the final figures offered in the final bids based on the complete plans and specifications. For a house of moderate cost, especially espe-cially if it is of pretty good size, the only safe way is to make a firm resolution, res-olution, and stick to it, to cut out all the little costly luxuries and to retain only the essentials which are necessary neces-sary for comfort. Many features can be added five years after a building is put up just as well as while the house Is being built After a home is once started it will be a constant joy and satisfaction to add to its comforts and attractions by working in new features as time goes on. In the design illustrated herewith the interior of the house has been made most important, while the outside out-side is of neat and trim appearance. Still, there is nothing elaborate about it. It being designed just as economically economic-ally as could be possible. A perfectly square house with a hip roof has proved itself to be the most economical of any; and when properly arranged within makes as comfortable and satisfactory sat-isfactory a home as could be desired. The first floor plan of this house is. exceptionally good. From the central square hall one finds the living room occupying the entire space at the left, while to the right is the dining room, with the kitchen just back of it. The stairway goes up with a single turn, and is so arranged that the front stairway stair-way from the reception hall and the back stairway from the kitchen open onto a common landing, thus saving the expense of an extra stairway and the space usually occupied by one. The living room is designed in accordance ac-cordance with the most modern ideas. It is very large and comfortable, 12 feet by 27 feet in size. In addition there is an alcove containing a wide fireplace. This room would always be the center of the home life, cheery and inviting, and capable of accommodating accommodat-ing a large number of persons without crowding. On the second floor four good-sized bedrooms with an abundance of closet room are provided. The bathroom is conveniently located, the plumbing fixtures there being directly in line with those in the kitchen. This is quite a money saving feature. The cost of this house is estimated at $3,000. This is very moderate for a residence of this size, 32 feet 6 inches being the. width and 2S feet the length. This figure contemplates the use of good quality hardwood finish and floors for the first floor and yellow pine for the second. |