CLEVER IDEAS FOR FIREPLACES

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 263, 30 July 1908, Page 5

CLEVER IDEAS FOR FIREPLACES

" lULirtJ run, i iivurLfts/uj f .'Tho houses of to-day arc. becoming'' moro - and /more-, complete ill ...their. labour-saving. ~.. contrivances, ,and : at 'the 'rate such things : are .being, patented,' wo .will soon ceaso regretting tbc .scarcity; -of'nnaids.''.:At a meet-/ 1 . irig ;of : ' the British Architectural 'Association, it',was submitted, that',: one of .the 'chief needf : i of,'the day was a revplyiiig\pr. reversible or (disappearaiflg _firbplace;\ihnt"arcliitcctsiniiist : ; consider how- -to■ provide grates that should in summer cease,' to 'be grates, ! and -hearths that' would still further..reduco labour': iii'. , small. houses. The case in 'point-istht villi' or -country house, where; drawing''and 1 dining room or breakfast and bed room cbiild conveniently bo- built back to back. A fire • ■ j <s only- needed in one of. tho two;.rooms,^at. a''given time. Why should .nofc -the two Hues 1 be -so ' arranged,rand -an-, asbestos .ascending and descending wall or /curtain be -so placed, ;.that the -• housem'aid: -could • easily turn the ' fire-grate from one,chamber into the other? /•Or, take'thocase.of. the bedroom, in. winter; • A fire is-lit-,at' night, and-left to 'die.. Next morning, 'when warmth is again' desired, it ■' cannot .be. obtained unless the maid rekindles it/ Now, if the two grates wore parts .i one turntable, tho; seryant : might light / /the fire in tho, breakfast room, and as soon as it was glowing .make it cnt-dr the: bed-. ■ ' Tootn fireplace, whilo its- twin-grato revolrod 'outwardsinto her room ; and she would then .remove the dead ashes and light a second ; fire in readiness for the /morning meal. .