WHAT DO MOST HOUSEWIVES WANT IN THE HOME

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 46, 26 January 1949, Page 3

WHAT DO MOST HOUSEWIVES WANT IN THE HOME

What does the housewife want? Some answers to this question were forthcoming at a Housewives’ Forum held during a recent Design Week at Cardiff, Wales. Some of the answers may be regarded as impracticable and some demanded improvements which are already available, although at much higher prices than most housewives can afford. Nevertheless, for the interest of men everywhere, here are the household improvements wanted by the women of Wales, collected by Reuter’s correspondent Pat Bride. Chairs with arms that do not get in the way. Most women do not sit and relax completely—they sew or knit. Most armchairs today have arms that get in the way. Could they be made with lower arms, or movable arms that tip back, like those in a railway carriage? - Teapots with lids that do not fall off. Teapots should be designed so that they pour adequately Without being tilted so much that the lid falls off into a cup (and sometimes breaks it). Lighter or higher three-piece furniture suites. These would make it easier for. the housewife to clean underneath them. “And why make three-piece suites anyway—why not furniture chosen to meet the individual family’s requirements?” These questions were received with applause. More accessible w r ardrobes. These should open all the way across the

front “so that one does not have to dig into the corners to look for j something'. Large castors on beds. Small and narrow castors are apt to make holes in carpets. Washing-up bowls.'Most washingup bowls are round, most sinks are square. Space is thus wasted—an important consideration, especially with the modern smaller sinks. Better strainers in teapots. These were wanted in both china and’ metal pots. One speaker suggested that it should be possible to remove the strainers for cleaning. > Saucepans and frying pans that do not tip up. Several speakers thought that frying pans, and to a lesser extent, saucepans, were prone to tilt and spill their contents Designers seem to give insufficient attention to. balance, and handles are often longer than necessary. Cookers with larger tops. In some modern cookers, “manufacturers have carried their idea of streamlining too far.’ The oven is big enough, but the top is not. Pans sometimes fall off, with consequent risk of burns, apart from wasted food. Smoother furnishing .fabrics. Today, with the formerly popular loose covers almost unobtainable, a smoother surface that is easier to keep clean is demanded for fur- 1 nishing fabrics. This suggests a j wider-, application of plastics. j