NEW DESIGNS SPELL ECONOMY

Dominion, Volume 25, Issue 230, 24 June 1932, Page 6

NEW DESIGNS SPELL ECONOMY

Beauty and Utility in Domestic Appliances UP-TO-DATE IDEAS FOR HOMEMAKERS The Kitchen of Convenience in a new and attractive setting, up-to-date lighting, heating and cooking systems, and samples of modern furnishings are among the exhibits at the Winter Show’ which should be of particular interest to home-makers and owners. In addition the Allied Building Industries, associated with the New Zealand Institute of Architects, are making the opening move in their campaign for increased building activity in Wellington by displaying in a special stall selected entries in the architectural competition for a model house, spited to New Zealand conditions ' and containing a maximum of New Zealand materials.

A LTHOUGH general furnishings are by no means a prominent feature of this year’s Winter Show, a number of interesting domestic appliances of new ami improved design are being displayed by New Zealand manufacturers. The trend to-day is definitely in the direction of utility plus economy.; at the same time beauty is not being forgotten, and many devices, particularly those for heating and cooking, show a

distinction in design that is fully abreast of the times.

Manufacturers appear to be adapting the. cream of overseas ideas, at the same time rejecting those which are either unsuitable for New-Zealand conditions, or as yet unproven. Cooking appliances, operated by coalgas, and electricity, are to be seen in the show in'unusually large numbers. ’Within the past year Important strides have been taken in the production of all three classes, and modern stoves are delightfully efficient by comparison with the cruder types of yesteryear. An interesting advance has been made iu the manufacture of the familiar coal range. Samples of these to be seen in the show are very similar in appearance to the latest gas and electric stoves. Black cast-iron fronts have been replaced by a finish of glossy enamel and ovens are equipped with heat indicators. Another innovation which will be welcomed by householders who are con-

sidering the replacement of oldfashioned ranges with gas or electric stoves to be used in conjunction with a separate water-heating system, is a combination stove and destructor. It is considered by many housewives that the ideal kitchen is one containing a stove and, in a convenient corner, a small destructor which serves the dual purpose of heating water cheaply, and disposing of most of the household

refuse. The new combination supplies both needs’and is compact, enough to fit in the space formerly occupied by the coal range. The Kitchen of Convenience, exhibited by the 'Wellington Gas Company, was built sfeveraljWeeks ago from a plan and specifications published on this page. I,u its present position as the centre piece of a stand devoted to cooking appliances it serves to demonstrate the extent to which clever designing and the sane use of laboursaving devices Can eliminate drudgery and discomfort from kitchen work.

The presence of several displays by paint manufacturers is indicative of the interest being taken by the trade iu the present campaign for home renovation. Paint is manufactured in New Zealand to a much greater extent than formerly, and the range of both colours and quality point to an increasing demand.