The Art of HOUSES for HOMES

Radio Record, Volume III, Issue 33, 28 February 1930, Page 27

The Art of HOUSES for HOMES

FE. R. BADGERY-PARKER describes the Ways and Means for Economically Beautifying the Home by Carefully Pianned Hlectrical Installations.

OME ... The Mecca of the wanderer. Probably there is no word which conveys so much meaning. The happiest days of our lives are intimately associated with it. The aspirations of most

‘ying lovers are centred in it. Be it tlie cottage or the mansion-because it is ours we invest it with an atmosphere peculiarly intimate. Apari: from sentiment, home spells the practical embodiment of our personality and we utilise various material aids for the expression of our ideas. While it would be an exaggeration to say that light was the greatest force in our homes, nevertheless its influence in home making is tremendous. After the labour of the day, there is something comforting in the knowledge that we are going home. PPROACHING the garden gate a welcome glow greets you on your ' return. Alas! Tow few homes ex- ; tend such a welcome:! Apart from ! the p@xchological effect, there is a prac- ' tical advantage in having a light over the garden gate and over the threshold. . Consider also the advantages to your ‘ visitors-no tripping over garden-beds or "ladders" in silken hose through contact with your favourite rose bush, no ghostly candle guttering in the wind as guests are escorted to the gate. Scientific research shows that gruimnpiness and irritability are generally the effect of environment, When, for no, apparent reason, everything seems wrong, it is safe to say that in the majority of cases the causes can be traced to poor lighting. We must he eareful to let no gloomy shadows intrude on the meal table.

There is something wholesome and inviting where the white napery, shining cutlery and glistening crystal is effectively lighted. Light brings brightness and gaiety and happiness. Brightness must not be glaring. Use a central opal lamp of 100 watts, or preferably a clear gas-filled lamp totally enclosed in a three-ply glass luminaire which not only gives a correctly diffused light, but adds distinction and attraction to the ensemble. N that domestic workshop-the kitchen-the best plan is to use a central lighting unit enclosing either a daylight blue or an inside frosted lamp of about 75 watts. A 40 watt inside frosted lamp in a bracket over the sink, and where possible, over the cooking range also are desirable additions, However luxurious the lounge may be, it is not a "place to stay in’ mnless the lighting has received special attention. Besides central JTiuminaire enclosing a lamp of 100 watts; wall brackets and standard lamps are essential. It is hard to imagine a more satisfactory condition that to be comfortably seated with the evening paper. a standard lamp at your elbow providing a 25 watt light and leaving the rest of the room but dimly lighted. With the central light switched off you will have accomplished a saving of 75 per cent. of the current consumption. The use of wall brackets and standards provides considerable seope for artistic home decoration. The fashion of using small strip lights above or below pictures is becoming increasingly popular on the Continent, and it is-an idea which lends itself to adoption in this country. Delightful effects may be obtained by using strip-

lights in concealed positions, the light being projected on to the object to be Uluminated. PASSAGES and verandas can be made attractive by the liberal use of inside frosted lamps. In the nursery, sick room, hall, etc., lamps of two filaments should be used. Such lamps give normal lighting of 25 watts, but are fitted with cord attached to a switch in the cap which enables the light to be reduced to 4 watts. A lamp of this type takes 250 hours to consume only one unit of current! In this country it is the practice to include the boudoir with the bedroom.

In fact, the modern flapper considers the bedroom as a place more intimately associated with hair waving and "makeup." How do we know? We're only guessing, but from the many beautiful girls we see in the early morning it is certain that trams and buses are by no means the only places where beuuty aids are applied. On either side of the dressing table, small brackets should be erected, fitted with 40 watt opal lamps. These give a clear soft light, ideal for lighting the mysteries of milady’s toilette,

Another Continental practice is the use of 25 watt lamps for wardrobe lighting. By means of a simple are rangement the lamp is automatically switched on or off by the opening or closing of the door. You will readily perceive the advantage of having 2 wardrobe light-no rummaging for dresses which must not be crushed or rumpled. * AND so to bed." Grandmothers and maiden aunts will tell you that it is very wrong to read in bed; and though, of course, they may be more or less correct, in our opinion, bed is quite the best place in which to read. In that half-hour when you are waiting for the god Morpheus, a chapter from your favourite author is very hard to forgo. To aid you in this wicked purpose, we would suggest either a small standard lamp for your bedside table or bracket lamps fitted immediately over the head of the bed. 40 watt argenta lamps will provide ideal lighting for this purpose. See that the electrician places the switch within easy reach-it is an awful thing to have to get up on a winter’s night to switch off the light. It is rather surprising to find how many lighting points are needed in the home and almost we hear you say, "it would cost far too much to have so many points installed." However, it is well to consider the advantages . from both the better lighting and also the economy possible through being unable to switch off the central lighting units and use lamps of lower wattage, each for its special purpose. While writing on the subject of lamps-it is not generally known that (Concluded on page 28.)

Houses into Homes ----

(Concluded from page ont a considerable saving in current consumption is possible by the use of gasfilled lamps. Gas-filled lamps will give at least 40 per cent. more light than vacuum lamps of the same wattage. In other words, if you were to discard the present vacuum lamps in use and replace them with gas-filled lamps of 40 per cent. lower wattage, you would still obtain the same light. At the same time you would automatically reduce your electric light bill by 40 ‘per cent. There are many things to: be said about lighting, but space does not. permit. Perhaps in a later issue we ean treat further with the details of this all-important subject. .