RENOVATING.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20291, 28 April 1934, Page 23 (Supplement)

RENOVATING.

One reads such a lot nowadays about small houses and flats that it is sometimes forgotten that there are still many people who have to be satisfied with the old-fashioned houses that are really too big for them, but for some reason 01other cannot be disposed of in favour of smaller and more up-to-date dwellings* Often an old house has been occupied by a family for many years, and it is still cheaper to live in than move to another house. Or, again, a big house may be turned into flats with large rooms, flats that are in many ways very desirable residences, but have the drawback of lacking modern conveniences. The kitchens and sculleries of oldfashioned houses are often very large and rather dark, but, without spending a lot of money on big alterations it is possible to make them bright and attractive. Have the wall-s and woodwork painted with washable paint in a light, cheerful colour, such as apple green, china blue or primrose yellow. The oldfashioned kitchener has probably been removed, and modern conveniences put in its place. If you cannot afford to have the wall space in the recess they occupy tiled, have it painted with enamel or aluminium paint, with mantelshelf to match. Give your tin tea and sugar containers a coating of this paint if they are shabby, and have 4 the kitchen dresser, chairs and table legs enamelled to match the walls. Check or cretonne curtains at the window, a pretty tablesloth to put on when the day’s work is over, and a basket-cliair or two, with cushions to match the curtains, will help to make the kitchen an attractive living room, especially if you have a vase of fresh flowers or a few pots of bulbs or flowering plants, and pretty china on the dresser.