A PALATIAL HOME

Evening Star, Issue 19618, 26 July 1927, Page 2

A PALATIAL HOME

Hie AMBROSE HUDSON'S NSW HOUSE

A good deal of interest has been aroused by the plan published on this page last week of ■Mr, Ambrose Hudson’s new house in Tweed street, Littlebourne, several correspondents being anxious to inspect the place. No doubt permission would be granted if personal application was made to Mr Hudson, or to the architect, Mr JUDowcli Smith, Dawson’s Ruildings. SUN PORCH. Last week a description was given of the chief features on the ground Door, with the exception of the entrance porch and, the suu porch. The lattor, like ‘every other portion of a wonderfully planned residence, has had u good deal of thought and labor expended upon it, Avith the result that it would be, difficult to imagine anything better, at least, outside of a rnulti-milliohaife’s liohie. The floor is Terrazzo, and it is the first .time that this Italian product has been used in Dunedin. It is really marble chips laid in a base of cement and then colored. It is put/down in the same way as a concrete floor, ; and then ground and polished by an electric carborundum machine. It is largely used in Sydney, , ami is also ■'becoming papular in .Auckland. In Italy it is used for street pavements, and it Is claimed to bo much more successful than any other material ever utilised for the purpose. The Avriter has been given to understand that a plant for manufacturing Terrazzo Avill shortly be working in Dunedin. There is no doubt that it makes a splendid flooring, and there should be no difficulty in keeping it clean. The porch is Bft wide, and should prove ideal for dancing, fits evidently the OAvner's intention that it should lie used for this purpose, as a loud speaker has been installed there. The entrance porch also has a Terrazzo flooring. There arc a feAv piazzian touches about the balcony immediately above the suu porch. The flooring here has also received special attention, being of kauri, and has been constructed exactly in the same Avay as a ship’s deck. It has a delightful spring to the feet, and should send the least sprightly visitor jazzing along its inviting surface. A unique panoramic view of the city and suburbs is obtained from its rather dizzy eminence. BEDROOMS.

The lour bedrooms ore on the first floor, the largest being loft .‘Jin by 21ft, and the smallest, which is adjoining, 14ft by loft. In the main bedroom is a tiled basket grate of special design, and also a radiator. In case the coal supply gives oiit, there is a ping for an electric heater. The other bedrooms are heated by radiators. There are two-way electric light switches in each room. They are well equipped with wardrobes, the beautiful mirror panelling of both sides of the doors being a striking feature. There is nothing ornate about these rooms, the chief object kept steadily in view by the architect being comfort and restfulness in the decoration scheme, and no one visiting the place could doubt that it has been achieved. . The dressing room in connection with the main bedroom is Bft by 13ft, and is fitted with a huge dressing companion that will be the envy of those who are compelled to do the best they can with the modest box-lke wardrobes that are niggardly provided by the usual housebuilder. The long drawers are of the type that don’t fall out on to the toes when one is feeling a little more energetic than usual.- . The maid’s room is smaller than the other bedrooms,, but has all the comforts and most of the luxuries. The linen press has hot water piping throughout. BATHROOM.

It is not so many years ago when a tin bath was thought good enough for even the better class home, but there has beeh extraordinary developments in recent years. Just what progress has been made in the planning of the modern bathroom can bo gleaned by an inspection of the house under review. It is resplendent in nickelplated fittings that were reflected in the beautiful mozaic-tiled floor, the tiles having been specially imported for the work. The fittings are from Twyford's exhibit at the Dunedin Exhibition, and it is claimed that nothing better has ever been installed in the dominion. Tfio wall tiles give an added suggestion of luxuriousness. The hath is a low-set one. Many ingenious ideas have been incorporated that are worthy of an article in themselves. There is a recess in the wall for soap and sponge, a radiated towel rail and a shaving cabinet with mirror. The latter has been placed to the left of the wash basin and not over it, as is so often' done. This thoughtful arrangement prevents the mirror from becoming < loaded over by the steam from the basin, aiid : s one of many simple but decidedly labor-sav-ing ideas exploited. SHOWER ROOM. Opposite the bathroom is tbe shower room, which is now becoming almost as important as the former—at. least to those who Can afford it. “This is one of tbe best things in the house,” exclaimed Mr Hudson as he entered the jjlats door to demonstrate how same of

the mysterious nickel-plated contraptions worked. There are three different 1 sprays, and a special mixer lor the. hot and cold Avatcr. There is no possibility of being alternately scalded and frozen, as the temperature of the water 1 can be regulated before the nozzles are brought into, action. The advantage of the sliOAver room is the, fact that one can splash merrily for hours, if so inclined, without risk of flooding out the house and home. BASEMENT. A visit to the , basement is like indirecting the. engine room of a ship, there being boilers and pipes everywhere. These are in connection Avith the heating system Avhich is served by a coal boiler and tAvo electric elements. The hot Avatcr is provided by a 100-gal lon circulator. There' is a Avell-equipped laundry and plenty of store , space. There are huge concrete pillars everywhere, Mr .Hudson claiming that the foundations Avould carry the -biggest building in the city. It is interesting to note that it is 32ft from the basement to the ground floor. The reason for the substantial foundations AviU 'be obvious. WINDOWS, ETC. The AvindoAV sills Avere made at Abbotsford, the blue burned blobks being specially made for Mr Hudson. The frames are steel, and there is plate glass throughout. All the fanlights have been bevelled.

UPKEEP. Although the cost of constructing this home must have run into a considerable sum, it must be admitted that the expenditure has been kvorth Avhile, not only because of the truly beautiful and comfortable residence that could nov be matched in the dominion, but because everything has been planned Avith the object of eliminating drudgery. There is also another, important matter to be emphasised, and that is, that the cost of maintenance has been reduced to a minimum. Everything of the best has been procured, but there has been no reckless expenditure,in useless ornamentation. All the space has been utilised to the fullest advantage, _ and Avith every conceivable labor-saving device worthy of the name the home should bo a very economical one to run. An article dealing Avith the decorations Avill appear later.