AN AID TO TIDINESS

Evening Star, Issue 23381, 26 September 1939, Page 3

AN AID TO TIDINESS

STYLES IN WARDROBES BUILT-IN CLOSET TYPE DESCRIBED USED EXTENSIVELY IN NEW FLATS Clothes are commonly considered a big part of a woman’s wants, yet builders and architects seldom provide good wardrobes to house them. Bad ones, however, are legion. If not built-in they are unsightly to look at, and expensive to buy; they have drawers underneath which though useful in themselves mean that the wardrobe is not, tall enough to take evening and dinner frocks; they have hat shelves above that are so high that short people cannot reach them.

Sometimes these wardrobes are called “ built-in ” because they are fitted' across a corner, and are not movable. These are usually worse than the movable kind, as corner wardrobes are wasteful of hanging space even when rods are provided on two sides. The ideal wardrobe is the built-in closet type, and they are popular fitments in many new flats in Dunedin. The inside of the wardrobe may he either painted or papered to match the bedroom, or may be of a contrasting colour. Preferably it should be lighted from inside, though this is not always possible. At. frequent intervals a good draught of air should be sent through the clothes by means of a vacuum cleaner, and bowls or bags of fresh lavender or ‘ pot-pourri should be kept in the wardrobe at all times. Shoes that are kept in the wardrobe may be freshened by dusting tho insides with talcum powder. PROVISION FOR SPACE. If -the bedrooms or the rooms below have fireplaces the chimney will probably be between two wardrobes. For preference the door should be flush with the wall and exactly the same colour. If the walls are papered the door can be papered too. Inside the wardrobe the hanging rods should be high enough to take a. full-length evening frodk, and -should run from back to front of the wardrobe. A wardrobe that is only one foot deep, with rods in this position on either side of the door, will hold a surprising number of clothes. The wall facing the door between the two rods can be fitted with pegs for hats and double rows of rods for shoes. As many rows of shoe rods as liked can be fitted up to a height of about three feet, but the bottom one should be quite clear of the floor so that this may be swept or mopped daily. SEPARATE CUPBOARD. Some people dislike keeping slices in the same wardrobe as clothes. If this is so. a separate cupboard can be equipped as described, and need be only a few inches in depth. It could also hold a shelf for shoe-cleaning apparatus. If the wardrobe is two or more feet deep it is a good idea to have the changing rod on one side only, and to have the other side fitted with shelves to bold underclothes or accessories. Many wardrobes have the hanging rod running from side to side instead of back to front. This is good if the other is not possible, but it is obvious that it prevents the use of the back wall and quite often means that shoes are placed on tho floor. This often causes untidiness, and makes cleaning much more difficult. Rods for ties, belts, stockings, etc., should be attached to the back of the door.