Of course, in order to have a model kitchen, one must be willing to pay a good price for it ; yet the price will not be so high that one will ever regret the expenditure ; indeed, most persons will promptly admit that the money has been used as profitably as that used for any other part of the house. The object of this chapter is to show how a model kitchen may be arranged; and although few people may adopt the recommendations as a whole, it 10 MISS PARLOA'S KITCHEN COMPANION. BAC_K OOOB STAI R S RUOM PANTRY. KlTCHCN. SITTING ROOM. DINING ROOM is hoped that every reader may find some suggestions of value, to be followed whether the house be already built or yet to be erected. The first matter to be considered is the size of the room. While it is important to have ample space for range, sink, dresser, tables, and chairs, and for free move- AN IDEAL KITCHEN. 11 ments, it also is important to avoid having the room so large as to oblige one to take many steps to and from range, sink, table, and pantry. A good size is 16 X 16 or 15 x 17 feet. Be particular to have the ventilation as good as possi- ble ; for the comfort of not only those who have duties in the kitchen, but of the entire household, is in a meas- ure dependent upon it. If the ventilation be poor, the strength of those who work in the room will needlessly become exhausted, and they are likely to get irritated easily. Moreover, odors of cooking will escape to other parts of the house instead of passing to the open air. The room should be high, and have large windows that can be raised or dropped easily. If the kitchen be located in a one-story extension, almost perfect ventila- tion may be secured by means of a ventilator in the roof or by a skylight; or it may be found easy to have a ventilator placed in the chimney. If expense be no obstacle, it will be well to have a separate chimney for the kitchen, as this is one of the surest ways of prevent- ing odors of food from reaching other rooms. Although cAe room may be admirably arranged and finished, it will not be a model apartment unless there be good ventila- tion and an abundance of light. Most kitchens have some dark corners, but there should be none. Excepting the ceilings, every part of the room, as well as of the pantry and the adjoining closets, should be fin- ished in a way that permits of washing. A hard-wood floor is desirable. Avoid spruce. Hard pine, if care- fully selected, makes a good floor ; but the best wood is maple or birch, in strips not more than three inches wide. If soft wood be used, splinters will in time get torn up. Oil-cloth often is used for covering the floor. It may look bright and clean, but is too cold, and fre- quently causes rheumatism. Lignum, which somewhat resembles oil-cloth, but is thicker and warmer, is as good a covering as can be found. It is clean and durable. 12 MISS PARLOA'S KITCHEN COMPANION. Tiles are sometimes recommended for the floor of a kitchen ; they can be kept clean and will wear well, but they tire the feet, and for that reason should not be used.

AI-modernized reading of the original text

Of course, in order to have a model kitchen, one must be willing to pay a good price for it ; yet the price will not be so high that one will ever regret the expenditure ; indeed, most persons will promptly admit that the money has been used as profitably as that used for any other part of the house. The object of this chapter is to show how a model kitchen may be arranged; and although few people may adopt the recommendations as a whole, it BAC_K OOOB STAI R S RUOM PANTRY. KlTCHCN. SITTING ROOM. DINING ROOM is hoped that every reader may find some suggestions of value, to be followed whether the house be already built or yet to be erected. The first matter to be considered is the size of the room. While it is important to have ample space for range, sink, dresser, tables, and chairs, and for free move- ments, it also is important to avoid having the room so large as to oblige one to take many steps to and from range, sink, table, and pantry. A good size is 16 X 16 or 15 x 17 feet. Be particular to have the ventilation as good as possible ; for the comfort of not only those who have duties in the kitchen, but of the entire household, is in a measure dependent upon it. If the ventilation be poor, the strength of those who work in the room will needlessly become exhausted, and they are likely to get irritated easily. Moreover, odors of cooking will escape to other parts of the house instead of passing to the open air. The room should be high, and have large windows that can be raised or dropped easily. If the kitchen be located in a one-story extension, almost perfect ventilation may be secured by means of a ventilator in the roof or by a skylight; or it may be found easy to have a ventilator placed in the chimney. If expense be no obstacle, it will be well to have a separate chimney for the kitchen, as this is one of the surest ways of preventing odors of food from reaching other rooms. Although the room may be admirably arranged and finished, it will not be a model apartment unless there be good ventilation and an abundance of light. Most kitchens have some dark corners, but there should be none. Excepting the ceilings, every part of the room, as well as of the pantry and the adjoining closets, should be finished in a way that permits of washing. A hard-wood floor is desirable. Avoid spruce. Hard pine, if carefully selected, makes a good floor ; but the best wood is maple or birch, in strips not more than three inches wide. If soft wood be used, splinters will in time get torn up. Oil-cloth often is used for covering the floor. It may look bright and clean, but is too cold, and frequently causes rheumatism. Lignum, which somewhat resembles oil-cloth, but is thicker and warmer, is as good a covering as can be found. It is clean and durable. Tiles are sometimes recommended for the floor of a kitchen ; they can be kept clean and will wear well, but they tire the feet, and for that reason should not be used.

Miss Parloa's kitchen companion