BUILT-IN FURNITURE

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 343, 2 May 1928, Page 6

BUILT-IN FURNITURE

DOUBLE-DUTY PURPOSES SAVING DOMESTIC LABOUR Economy of space and the necessity of saving domestic labour have been responsible for the evolution of buiit-in furniture, making it possible for rooms to be used for double-duty purposes. Built-in furniture began its career in a modest, almost accidental way, as a means of using up inconvenient or otherwise useless recesses in a room. To-day it lias become a definite part of the architectural conception of the house from the first, and far from being at war with the idea of pieces of furniture, it affords them greater opportunity and space for being seen to advantage. . But the trend of modern existence has added yet another value to builtin furniture. We have grown accustomed to ideas of double-duty furniture, of “day-beds,” and other ingenious devices for concealing the mundane purposes of furniture, but a doubleduty room is rapidly achieved by theuse of built-in furniture. Bed-sitting-rooms become delightful boudoirs with none of the one-time “half and half, ’ or struggling for camouflaged beds and washing apparatus.

The development of this practice is rapidly spreading from the Continent to this country, and is backed up by its practical value to almost every home. Walls may yield unexpected secrets; deep cupboards concealed by panelling; fitted cupboards that simulate an unobstrusive chest provide tray wardrobe fittings. Open another door, and in a spacious recess will be found a fitted lavatory basin and every possible equipment for the toilet. The writing desk, even the bed and bed-clothes, fold into cupboard space in the walls and are quite undetectable when not in use. There is sound wisdom in the modern idea of furniture designed by the architect for a specific purpose, and forming part of the equipment for the house. In the miniature home where every square inch of room is of decorative value there is also scope for increased imaginative and artistic treatment, when the practical necessities of life are entirely relegated to the background. More than ever, then, do the walls form a setting for the few well-designed pieces of furniture whether in modern

or period style. Harmony prevails in a household, too, when each member owns his or her room to entertain friends, and a retreat which, above all things, bears no suggestion on such occasions of its utilitarian purpose.

Here is a suggestion which, if despite its spartan simplicity, it may seem a trifle super-sumptuous, yet is so well planned and thought out that it may prove distinctly suggestive to many a home-maker faced with the problem of providing space room for that “so much more.” At first glance the soft greyish-green walls appear innocent of intrigue, and the almost complete absence of ordinary furnishings provides a pleasing sense of repose and spaciousness. But turn a handle set in the panelled walls here and there, and a fascinating array of cupboards of every sort and description greeted the eyes. Fitted in all manner of ingenious ways, they provide hanging space, and sliding trays for underwear, while there is besides a commodious chest with separate compartments for medicines, and space for the storage of soiled linen. In one corner of the room is a shaving cabinet fitted with an electric heater, while under the plate-glass topped dressing table is a spacious boot cupboard. One of the outstanding features of modern taste expressed in bedroom furnishing is the elimination of the old-fashioned, ponderous wardrobe. Instead, we have those delightful fitted wardrobes designed on the “place for t everying” plan, with cunning gadgets for pressing Adam’s ties, and among fitments purely feminine, ample space room for an ever-increasing store of “cute little hats.” Again, deep, built-in cupboards, set perhaps either side of the hearth, and painted the same shade as the rest of the woodwork, are unobstrusive and serve the purpose admirably. The floor of the cupboards should, preferably, be raised a few inches from the ground to prevent the intrusion of dust, a long mirror being fitted to the inner surface of the door. A “fitted” dressing-table possesses many unique features. The toilet table illustrated was contrived from a built-in cupboard and painted a similar shade to the walls —a warm grey with a suggestion of pink and silver lines on the mouldings. The essenital relief of colour on the simply constructed dressing-table is provided by a piece of vivid material pla-eed beneath the hygienic plate-glass top on its higher level. The mirror, of which the supply is at least plentiful, can be adjusted to obtain practically any view wished for. One obvious advantage of such a fitment is that it can be completely concealed from day-time view by simply drawing a curtain across the alcove. Designed on the lines of a knee-hole writing-desk, the various drawers provide ample storage room. —Frances Tracey in the “Ideal Home.”