18 July 1957 “The New Hens Are Laying”

As some of you may recall, I have had two batches of chicks this year. My first batch were hatched at the end of January. I placed some in an incubator and some under my broody hen. I hatched a few of my own chickens eggs, but I had also ordered some French Copper Maran eggs. They lay a dark chocolate egg and are much sought by chefs and egg connoisseurs.

Well, these first batch of chicks, containing the Marans, are now finally old enough to lay. Some how I was lucky enough that all the eggs that were hatched turned out to be hens. This almost never happens. We simply thought we would eat any roosters born, as we already have a lovely Rooster who guards our flock.

Here is a shot of two of the Copper Marans. The hen in front we at first thought was a rooster, as her comb is a bit larger and we thought her feathers showed a potential for a rooster tail. But the other day we saw our Rooster, “Roostie” doing his husbandly duties with this one. We know realize she is, of course, a hen.

  Here we see Roostie with three of the marans, my Blue Cochin (she and her sister who is a Splash Cochin will soon be going to live at my MIL with some other chickens I gave her). And you can see one of the blue Orpingtons we hatched as well.

I was aware that the Marans had begun to lay yesterday when I gathered eggs. Here you can see the deepness of the color compared to the blue/green of the Ameracauna egg and the lighter Orpington standard brown egg.

 Here is a close up of the intricacies of the color. You can see it is a spotted egg. The deeper shades in the spots will eventually be the entire dark color of the egg. They darken a bit as they lay and then towards the end of the year lighten up.

I have another batch of chicks that were hatched about two months ago and they are happily living with this flock. We are having a very good and happy farm like summer around here.

I would also like to apologize for my laxness of late in my posting. I have finally got to the final push of a large project. I have been literally emptying, organizing and trying to set up our two story barn building. A few years ago two houses an and apartment were emptied into the barn as well as various old papers and photos of family. As we now have our home on the market it has finally given me the push to get to it. I have been spending about 8 hours a day simply cleaning, sorting, organizing and making various trips to our local dump which also has a swap shop for donations. I am finally getting to a space useable and certainly more appealing to the eye.

I plan to return to daily posting and think I will make my news become a weekly event. I hope all are willing to wait it out, as this week is also our court date with our tenants. I cannot wait to get that over, though there is still a 10 day period after that they they are allowed to stay in the house (Putting us into August). On top of that I am having showings of our home, as I am acting currently as our own real estate agent. And I have been giving myself time to enjoy the summer as well, with bike rides to the beach and town. Swimming and enjoying fires and of course playing in the gardens.

I hope all are having a lovely summer thus far and thank you for being patient with my rather busy summer. What are any of you working on this Summer? Any big projects or plans or simply fun? Maybe you hate the Summer or the traffic if you live in a tourist areas, as I do, share with us I love a good Summer story.

Happy Homemaking.

15 July 1957 “A Cape Cod Day”

  We had a very Cape Cod day the other day. Gussie and I went out on our bikes to the local waterway. We swam and lounged in the sand. We stopped on the way back when we heard the jingling sounds of the Ice Cream truck. And, as it was on my way home, I stopped at our local Fish Monger. I hadn’t much on me (Cash being the payment of a 50’s gal) but enough to get a few pounds of mussels and 1/2 pound of scallops.

I felt very Cape Cod: happily riding along the water on my vintage bike, my skirts happily flapping in the breeze, and my basket full of fresh shellfish.

Here was one of the plates of my delicious haul. Steamers and oysters are usually more sough after than mussels, so they are therefore more affordable. I like the taste of all seafood and shell fish. Mussels, however, are so wonderfully easy to cook and yet can often impress guests.

Usually we would simply stem them in a lobster pot with simply an inch or two of beer or white wine and they are still wonderful. But, sometimes I like to make them as I did here. I cook up butter and olive oil, garlic and various fresh herbs from the garden. This time I did basil and some thyme and just a sprig of rosemary. I get that cooking until the garlic just softens sweet and then in go the mussels (shells and all of course. Running them under cool water and picking any beards as need be. If there are any open that won’t close, discard those, they have died).

Then I just pour in some white wine, maybe 3/4 of a cup or so. I just pour until I smell the sweet aroma of the wine mingled with the herbs and garlic. Let them steam about 3-5 minutes. Then, as they are opening, give them all a good stir. This mingles the lovely broth with all those delicious opening mussels. And I steam another 3 minutes. Then simply scoop out onto a plate or in a bowl and I pour some of the broth over them, as it has such a good taste. Garnish with some fresh basil and there you go.

  Look how lovely they look and I even captured the steam rising from the plate. They are sweet and wonderful and of course are served with drawn butter. Many people who find they don’t like steamers of other shellfish, often like mussels. Their taste is not as strong and they are not prone to the bellies of a clam. As my pocketbook could only allot a small amount of scallops, I sliced them up and rolled them in bread crumbs and some powdered onion soup mix. I know, any purists out there might shutter at that, “Onion soup mix”, but least we not forget I have been living in the 1950’s for some time now. And any self respecting homemaker will have a packet of onion soup mix handy to make anything from a sour cream based dip for a bridge game or cocktails, an additive to her own soup stock, or as a sprinkle on chicken or any meat to add zest.

These were simply flash fried in olive oil for about 2 minutes and plated with some fresh tomatoes with again fresh basil from the yard. Such an easy dinner and yet so delicious and again, very Cape Cod Summer.

Always provide a bowl or some recepticle for you and your guests to place the empty discarded mussel shells as they eat them up. I always love the look of the bowl of empty shells as we sit back, bellies full, and sip our second glass of wine or a G & T with a sprig of fresh Lemon Balm in.

I hope all are having a lovely day and that you can enjoy your own area’s Summer greats. Don’t forget, wherever you live, some may consider it a summer vacation spot. Think of what strangers would do in your town for a fun Summer day and then you do it. We often ignore the fun and advantages in our own back yards. Staycations can be anytime, not just during designated week long holidays.

Happy Homemaking. No News today. I am considering changing the format to a weekly news day of multiple pages.

13 July 1957 “A Continuation of our Homemaker Discussion”

I received so many wonderful comments yesterday and some continuing today, that I thought it merited continuing the discussion.

I would first like to say I am sorry to Mrs. Ames, as I simply misunderstood her comment. As I tried to explain, though obviously not very well, yesterday was that it was my OWN response to her comment that made me think. I did not think she meant anything untoward or ‘snarky’ in her comment to me. Therefore first and foremost, I am sorry some people viewed my response to it that way. We are happy to have comments and advice from a seasoned homemaker and please do chime in again.

Therefore, without further adieu, let’s continue on with this discussion. I think the great talking points are:

1. stress and tasks of a Homemaker with new children

2. The changing attitudes towards the homemaker as her children grow and need less aid (late teens) or empty nesters. Is the homemaker then expected, by society, to then get a job as she hasn’t “anything to do”.

3. The perceived value of Homemaking for a Childless Homemaker vs. a Homemaker with children.

4. The perceived value of a Homemaker with 1 or 2 children compared with a Homemaker with 5-7?

So, either continue to comment on yesterday’s post, or simply move over here and share any more. Even, if you feel the need, to simply vent about how frustrating it is to care for your children and home and yet still get the comment, “Oh, you don’t work?”. Let’s hear it ladies. I love a good discussion.

12 July 1957 “The Childless Homemaker: Is it a real Job?”

I saw a comment the other day that has made me think. As many of you know, who read my blog, I am often apt to brood. Most likely it was a negative trait in some respects, for I have often been told I ‘think too much’ or ‘over think’. Were I able to shut it off, sometimes I think I would, happily. Though, in many cases it has lead to much self-discovery and even the initial attempt to journey into the past was brought about by such contemplation.

 The comment, though I am sure meant light-hearted and not in any way negative or hurtful, did make me feel a bit wounded at first. But, as I said, I don’t think the commenter meant it that way and I am not attacking her. It was her own feeling and I was glad that she commented and her meaning may have been miles from what I interpreted. That is, after all, one of the main problems with modern communication of typed words on computer screens, cell phones and the like.

Here was the comment:

Oh, my darling,
When I saw the title of your post I thought that you & your husband were expecting an addition to youre family.
I was looking forward to following your journey past the 1950s "honeymoon period" into the reality of homemaking/Mother.
Perhaps someday ... until then, enjoy your play!

Now, I am certain that this comment was simply meant as a happy, enjoy yourself, sort of comment. But, as usual, I read much into it. It made me feel as if as a Homemaker, if you are childless, than really you are not doing a real job. Or perhaps, because your job must be easier without children, perhaps you should be doing something else.

Then, as I usually do, I followed my thought path further and thought, “Well, what if this is simply my own opinion of what she said?” and then the inevitable, “My, goodness, is this what I actually think?”

So, I had a good sit down for a few minutes and really thought about it: The role of the childless Homemaker. In today’s world, many Homemakers with children are already viewed as people ‘wasting their time’ or ‘why don’t they get a real job’ or ‘how can they stand being trapped at home all the time’. But, and here is the rub, they often might get, “Well, they do have their children to care for”.

Does this mean then, in the eyes of the majority that the childless Homemaker must be the biggest lay about of all time? And, horror of horrors, would even other Homemakers with children feel this way about their childless Homemaking sisters? I am not sure.

Now, concerning my own thoughts on this. That, after all, might very well have been what lead me to interpret the remark that way. Do I, childless, feel as if my job as a Homemaker is less of an occupation as I have no child? My quick response is yes. But, having only over the past two and half years come to realize the importance and real work in the home for the Homemaker, certainly there must be some residual modern thinking of ‘at home, no kids, no job, lazy’.

In my response to the comment I mentioned that I felt one would not consider a maid not a real maid if she hadn’t children following her around all day while she did her job. This, later in the day, of course came back to me and made me think: do I really think Homemaking is only equivalent to a domestic? Not that a job of  maid is not a good or noble profession. Nor, should any domestic feel their job is not important, but what made me at first choose that as the equivalent. Why, for example, did I not say, “Would we think an executive any less of an executive if he didn’t have children to care for While he did the bulk of his work?” Because, quite honestly, what  a Homemaker does is not merely cleaning. Surely, that is a large part of one’s daily chores. But, the managing of meals, the organizing of the house, the managing of the money and subsequent organization of important paperwork;planning, preparing, creativity, drudgery, multi-tasking, all of these are the qualifications and duties of a Homemaker both with and without children.

Now, surely I should NEVER claim my job is equal to a mother of two or even one child. But, then if one is a mother of say seven is she meant to be a harder worker and more a Homemaker to one who has only one child? What are the degrees? And,  if someone say worked at a bank and had a child who was in daycare. Is that person MORE or a harder working bank teller because of the child? Does that perception pile over into other professions.

Again, I now adding children adds literally thousands more things to think about. Yet, I know it also had thousands more wonderful things and moments of joy that a childless homemaker could not feel. They certainly HAVE to work harder to feed more, clean for more, and also add in being a teacher to their brood. So, yes they are harder working, it is apparent. Yet, if one is childless, rather choice or not of their own, are they viewed, because they are women at home, as having not only less work but less purpose or even, dare I say it, value? Do we value women based upon their children? I would hope not. I think we should value and praise and raise up all mother’s for there is no more important job, but I would hope that should be a separate value from women as a sex. I would hope that we, amongst ourselves, would not value each other based purely on their offspring. But, I don’t know, do we? Do I? And if I do, do I feel, in some way, that I am not quite of the same value as I could be? And if it comes to be I cannot have my own child and could not afford adoption, would I then have to live with this evaluation of myself and others as less a woman, less a Homemaker…less a person?

See, I told you I over analyze and over think. But, that is perhaps because I do spend quite a bit of my day with myself. Would this personality trait become less with a child to focus on. Yet, I don’t honestly feel as if I am not hard working or that I am not doing a real job. I don’t find that because I have more time to my own thoughts without a child’s need of attention that those thoughts are then not as important. If I did feel that and had a child, would I then feel my own child, were she to choose or have to be childless, also have less right to her own time or thoughts? I would hope and like to think not, but I wonder if it is lurking under my subconscious somewhere and perhaps all of we women that a Stay at Home without a child has less value.

I shall endeavor to overcome these thoughts because I think they are not warranted. Though, as I said, I would NEVER claim to be as busy as my Homemaking and Outside the home Job sisters with children. There can be no way as by the very amount of added work a child brings changes that amount of work. Yet if someone has a job that is very fast paced and busy, say an E.R. physician and someone else has an important job, but is more sedentary and in an office, same pay, same social scale, is the E.R. physician more of a person, have greater value, or a ‘better’ person because of the added work? Is the very definitions of their jobs also the definitions of their self worth and if so, does that also apply to homemakers. Or could it be that a Homemaker with no children is still equally as important but their job is not as hectic but still equally as valid and valued as the Homemaker with two children. And, then, the Homemaker with two children is not as busy are harried as the Homemaker with seven, so they are both still valued equally, right? One has more physical labor and mental gymnastics, but they are both doing equally valid jobs, correct? Is a college professor who has to deal with adults viewed less of a job compared to a grade school teacher who has to deal with their students being young children? They both are doing the same type of work, education, but having to approach it differently, one being more physically demanding, so is one more valid or valued?

I hope this is the way I think and hope most others see it this way, but am now quite curious. Therefore, any and all out there who would like to share their opinion: what is your initial thought of the Homemaker with no child compared to one with children? Do you think it is the same way you feel about equal jobs where in one requires more physical work to the more sedentary? It can be very enlightening to us to see how we view one another and ourselves.

There is no news today and as always, Happy Homemaking.

10 July 1957 “ A Story For A Sunday Afternoon: ‘Patter of Little Feet’”

I thought today, being a lovely Summer Sunday, you might enjoy a good read. A kick back and relax with a cuppa sort of afternoon.

My vintage magazines are full of fiction. They often are light-shedding onto the thoughts, goals, and general thought of people of the time. This little story, here in its entirety, deals with a baby photographer, his gal and babies. Can it all work out? Read and find out.

There is no Vintage Daily News today, so have a lovely day and as always, Happy Homemaking.

9 July 1957 “Old Radio Programs & New Technology”

I recently received a letter from a follower asking me where I got my old radio programs to cd. I figured a post about old radio programs would be interesting with an accompanying Vintage Daily News to go along with it.

Before TV in the 1950’s, most passive entertainment came from the radio. Though the 1950’s had the TV, radio was still a major part of your daily life. The radio in the car was a new thing in the 1930’s and was not standard equipement. At first home systems were adapted to the car.

By the 1950’s most cars came with a radio:

A common feature of modern car radios is the "seek" function which allows tuning from one station to the next at the push of a button. This was a popular option on some Ford products in the 1950s. It was known as the "Town & Country" radio since it used a pair of switches marked "Town" and "Country." Pressing the Town button actuated a motor to rotate the tuning mechanism while the receiver sensitivity was reduced so that only local (stronger) signals would be received. When a station was tuned, the motor stopped. Pressing the Country button had the same effect except that full sensitivity was enabled so that the very next available station would be selected. In addition, for repeated seeking operations, pressing a foot switch on the driver's floor up to the left where the "dead pedal" is located on modern cars would reactivate the Seek at whatever sensitivity was last selected.

The Radio program was the forerunner of the soap opera’s which transferred to TV. But, they started out for homemakers in the afternoons. One could listen to the drama unfold while they folded the laundry.

1950’s tv actors often started out as Radio personalities. Andy Griffith, for example, began as a stand up comic and radio personality. Here is an example of his early radio entertainment HERE. And of course Dagwood and Blondie from the funny pages was also a Radio Program (here sponsored in 1947 by lustrecream shampoo). This would later become a TV program. Listen to the radio broadcast HERE.

My hubby was kind enough to make compilation cd’s for me by downloading shows and commercials from some online sites with MP3’s and then burning them to disc. In today's Daily News I have a few links to such sites. Oldtimeradiofans.com allows you to download MP3’s which can then easily be burned to cd or simply used on an i-pod type device. This is very good if you can manage a fun make over of an old Radio into an MP3 Player docking station.I have a link to an instructables to make such a radio in the News today.

You can also use a product called an i-trip which plugs into your i-pod and allows it to transmit over any radio, such as your car. This is a much easier solution and you don’t need to destroy your old radios, simply get them running again. This even works on old Tube Radios. Then you can take your vintage music/shows/commercials into each room that has an old radio and away you go.

Here we see someone using it to transmit on an old radio. This is an easier use as you simply need to get an old tube radio or radio that works and then broadcast to a dead air station any list you have. You could make up an mp3 list of old radio shows, commercials from a particular year and while you are busy doing your chores feel as if you have indeed time-traveled.

another example of using a radio broadcaster for an mp3 player on an old radio.

These transmitters run about $20 and I put some in the corner store. You can buy them HERE. I love things such as this that allows us to enjoy and keep our old things and not just to look at as if in a museum, but to interact and use them as intended, to hear great old programs and music (or new as well. Feist would sound just as good on an old set as would Ella, though I prefer Ella myself.)

Any way you slice it, old time radio is just plain ole’ fun. I love it, as well, as it is another way to ‘wean’ oneself off the constant entertainment required by modern living. It disconnects you from the viewing need, which suddenly frees you from the sofa. You can easily garden, clean, and move about while enjoying old radio programs, freedom from the modern stare at the screen. I hope if you have never tried old programs you do give it a go. You will be vastly amused and entertained. So, check out the various links here and on the News today and see what you think.

Happy Homemaking and let me close with G I Jill, a famous radio announcer here from a 1950 recording. If you would like to hear more of G I Jill including a 3 part war time broadcast go to APRON TV and click on Classic Radio Programs on the side. Enjoy!

6 July 1957 “Pleats, Fashion, & Sewing”

Summertime fashion and pleats seem to go hand in hand. This fresh Summer dress is enhanced with accordion pleats above and below the waits. The simple sloped shoulder sleeve would be easy to sew with a two piece dress pattern, though the pleats would be rather hard. One could find such pre-pleated material perhaps.

I have not talked about sewing in awhile. I have been sewing, but merely have not had the time to discuss it, with the preparations for our home for sale and so on. I thought I would share what I am currently working on today.

I think I shared this fabric purchase with you before. It had a very sixties graphic print, but the color and sensibility I felt was very late 50’s early 60’s. Therefore I wanted to make it into a summer dress that would carry over well into possibly Winter dressing with darker hose and a maybe a boucle jacket of navy with pink or green braid trim.

I felt the fabric would be too overpowering for the entire dress and therefore bought a basic cotton in the same Navy as the backing of the patterned fabric. I could have done so with either the pink or the green, but then I felt  it limited its wear-ability to only Summer time. And, as the maker of my own clothing, I like to get as much wear out of my clothing as possible.

You can see here it is in its final stages of construction. I made a simple seamed two piece bodice. The skirt fabric now is pinned in pleats. I am trying to decide if I want pleats or gathers. I rather like the pleated look. (Excuse the background, it is my second story barn studio space, that is why you see plywood under my old Oriental rug).

I like pleats. I like sewing them and find that they can be more flattering than gathering on a ‘fuller figured’ gal; more forgiving if you will.

 I like the look of these large pleats of this Dior from 1953. Though this is a heavier material, most likely a mohair or wool, so I am not sure if fewer but bolder pleats will work for a simple cotton Summer afternoon dress. I will re-pin it today in this style and see if I like it. Having a dress form makes such dress making choices much easier. I had made my own form back in 56, but a friend recently gave me her form she was no longer using. I was very happy to have it, believe me.

Pleats can be as complicated as these triple inverted pleats (to give the skirt added fullness) or a simple knife pleat where the fabric is simply folded and stitched, as seen in this Vogue Pattern.

This is a good example of a 50’s dress pleated simply.

The easier knife pleats are not as difficult as one would think and I simply pin the ends of the skirt to the sipper and then the opposite side seam and that allows me to know how much equal amounts of fabric I have to work with. I only have two yards to work with her, but that is enough to have a few varieties before I decide. I will share the finished dress, of course.

I have included a list of Pleat terms and a free downloadable 50’s dress pattern in today’s Vintage Daily News.

I hope all of you are intrigued enough to either get back to your sewing machine or possibly give it a try for the first time. You will be happy to see that making your own clothing is not as complicated as one might think, so give it a try.

Happy Sewing and Happy Homemaking.

There is a Vintage News today click link or go HERE.

5 July 1957 “Hurricane Audrey”

On 27 June of this year, 1957, Hurricane Audrey demolished Cameron Louisiana. The residents of Texas and Louisiana had very little warning before Audrey hit. It did $147 million in property damage and took 416 lives.

As the storm moved inland it caused many tornados in Mississippi and Alabama, causing 14 injuries and two deaths. The moisture from the storm reached the Mid-West and caused record (at the time) flooding. It is amazing what such a storm can do to the whole country.

Red Cross volunteers help to answer some of the thousands of telegrams of inquiry from family members impacted by Hurricane Audrey. More than 7,000 wires were received and transmitted. Disaster headquarters, Lake Charles, LA, June 1957.

Surely, today in the 21st century, we know of a much more damaging storm, Katrina. Its aftermath was intense and left our country reeling in many ways. I think what frightened me the most and still does today was our Country’s own response to the storm. I fell less like looking for blame and more curious and a bit worried that we simply are not ready for such situations. It makes me feel rather vulnerable in that if such storms or any disaster hits our country, are we not prepared or is it simply a matter of politics and ill planning? I know that for those involved, it is devastating.

We are subject to Hurricanes where I live on the East Coast. Our last large Hurricane was Hurricane Bob, but did no where the damage and deaths seen in the South.

I do hope, with all the devastating tornados and bad weather we have had this Spring in our country, that we are becoming better equipped to deal with it. It seems, however, that most often the area’s need to rely on one another. I heard that in one of the devastated tornado areas, a town was so destroyed and so devoid of public help, it began using elephants from their local zoo. It makes one wonder how it was dealt with before cars and electricity, and certainly it seems, one would have more animal power on hand to asses the damage. Presumably, there would be less population density and overall buildings to clean up as well. There is an interesting link in today’s Vintage Daily News of the people in the towns and such doing clean up after the hurricane in 1957. It is worth a look.

Well, I hope the remainder of this year is storm free and that we may all enjoy a wonderful and good weathered Summer.

There is a Vintage Daily News today, click link or HERE.

Happy Homemaking.

4 July 1957 “Independence Day and Chicken for a Pic-Nic”

Today is Independence Day here in America. We celebrate in many ways, but the main often involves parades, picnics, and fireworks.

Last year we attended our local town parade and were rather sad. The ‘floats’ were simply cars and trucks pulling trailers with signs that took all of 10 minutes to make. And peopled with t-shrit wearing, giant plastic water cann0n toting individuals who felt the need to literally pelt the crowds with gushers of water. In today’s digital world of expensive cameras and phones always out and being used, I thought it an odd mix. There was no thought or time put into it.  Gussie and I felt over dressed even though we were simply wearing cotton dresses white cotton gloves and hats. Ah, to be out of time…I enjoyed some of the older cars and such, but overall was rather sad.

Here is an amazing parade from 1957, much thought and time and effort went into these floats, that is for sure.

As many will be enjoying fried chicken, a staple of the American pic-nic, I thought I’d share this article on it with you. Enjoy:

Enjoy your day. There is no Daily Vintage News for today.

Happy Homemaking.

3 July 1957 “One Bath, Small House: No Problem”

When I spotted this ad for Crane appliances the other day in one of my magazines I like it for two reasons: 1) I like, as I have said before, the boldness and take no prisoner approach to decorating modern in the 1950’s. There were new materials, endless colors and by golly, they were going to use them and there was no apologetic mousy attitude for it. I also happen to love Orange and soft blue together. I have soft blue walls with an orange settee in front of it and I found the colors very pleasing, they are complimentary on the color wheel.

2)Now, what really struck me with this add was the genius of the idea: The shared bathroom.

In the 1950’s the average home square footage was around 1000 sq feet and contained one bathroom. Here is an interesting graphic to illustrate then and now.

In 1950 the average American family consisted of 3.6 people sharing a 1,000-square-foot house. By 2004, the average household consisted of 2.7 people sharing a 2,400 square foot house. That’s an increase of 240% in house size in just over half a century, while family size shrank by about 30%

We had smaller homes with more children and less bedrooms and bathrooms and it was simply a matter of getting along. Perhaps a lesson that, if started in the home, might spread out to the country with adults, but I digress.

This got me thinking that with today's foreclosures and many people needing to downsize, a home with a single bathroom might not only be a necessity, but it could actually be a choice. Plumbing is rather expensive and to install a second bathroom can be quite expensive.

Our home is quite small. We live in a 1700’s Half Cape home with one bathroom. As we have no children, it seems more doable, but many people have said to me, “How do you share your bathroom with your husband?” As if I have pots and curling irons and all sorts piled all about. The simple answer to that is the dressing table. All my hot rollers, pins, lotions and potions, pots and make up, perfume, you name it live happily in my dressing table and that is where I sit to do those sorts of things many modern women do in the bathroom. Not sure why, as I used to do it as well, because standing over a sink with hot lights on you is not half as nice as sitting on a padded chair with a three way mirror and lovely little silver boxes around, taking your time.

So, Back to our photograph. What is genius is if you were given the chance to design your bath when building your home, there are some great ideas. The fact that the toilet is separated by an easy to slide door, the bath (roomy too) and shower also can be separated with a gay fun curtain and the main sink area is able to be used while the others are being occupied.

I think this sort of layout would easily apply to a family who is contemplating adding a bathroom. Again, an expensive endeavor as space either needs to be found or built and then the cost of a second set of appliances which will use more energy and cost you more in bills. If one had to address their bathroom needs, certainly making over their one bath, even if they had to steal a bit of space from the adjoining rooms, to make one large bath such as this with shared spaces would be a wonderful solution. Obviously, the decorating style would be adjusted to your own taste and need not be orange and blue. ( I do think the above bathroom would be delightful with a tile floor of smaller tiles, maybe hex, with various shades of orange and then black accents with a blue tile rim around the floor and above the half wall application.)

Simply giving the toilet its own home really helps with the shared aspect. What an easy solution without two sinks!

Great for an easy low cost construction addition of an en suite, if one needed that second bath.

This is very smart for light, though I would prefer the shower in that spot, rather than waste it on the toilet.

And, if you are to share one bath with a family, using all your vertical space is imperative. These are ingenious solutions.

This little built in wall rack of towels, display, and small storage would be an easy weekend project with some pine and paint from the local hardware. And using up a corner like this in part of your divided 3 part shared bathroom plan would even allow you to steal that hall linen closet space for another purpose.

So, if you have to downsize, or if  you find yourself pinching your pennies more, try to live with the space you have. And, rather than add a bathroom, re-invent the one you have and the way in which you use it as a family.

There is a Daily Vintage News today and can be accessed by button or clicking HERE.

Happy Homemaking.