Modern, Traditional, or What?

"Should tables and lamps be modern, traditional, or what, to go with a three-piece sectional curved sofa in a dark green tweed?"— (Mrs.) L.H., Tauranga.

The tweed cover suggests types of tables and lamps that are not too formal, but they needn't be strictly modern. Fairly simple traditional styles or modern, either one, would look well if the shapes and sizes of the tables and lamps are harmonious with, and convenient to, the sofa.

Placing of Advertisements

Would it be possible to arrange your magazine so that all its subject-matter is contained on the inside pages and the advertisements are contained in the outer pages.

A bound volume would then be of moderate proportion and still contain all relevant subject matter.

Perhaps a compromise could be arranged whereby the more important reading is placed centrally and the reading of only temporary importance is interspersed with the advertisements. —D.L.D., Christchurch.

This is an old question, D.L.D., and not quite so simple as it sounds. All popular magazines consist of a large number of units—articles, illustrations and advertisements, and our problem each month is to combine all these units into one hundred or so equal-sized pages. It is really a very complex design prob-Irm. We endeavour to combine them in such a way as to achieive unity both of sense and of visual effect. We have also to achieve a physical unity; in other words, to make the jigsaw fit and to do all this in accordance with the mechanical requirements of printing and binding. The advertisements are an integral part of this whole, even if for no other reason than that the advertisers have paid for their insertion in order to achieve a specific result. Apart altogether from this, very many readers have told us that they find the advertisement of considerable value when they are seeking materials, appliances, etc.

From the visual viewpoint, we believe that 20-30 pages of solid advertisements back and front—many of which would conflict with each other in design-would not be nearly so satisfactory as our present policy of separating them with half-pages or so of even-toned type matter. The segregation of the editorial matter also would mean that frequently articles which conflicted in either design or interest would have to be placed side by side.

Despite the above, D.L.D., thank you for your interest and suggestion.

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From Australia

In your magazine "Home & Building" of September 1st, 1954, on page 84 there is an ad. for 'fine-line' windows (R. Savory Ltd. Wilkinson Rd., Ellerslie Ph. 20-180). I would like to obtain a ground plan of the cottage pictured there, so that I may build it here for myself, also the construction of 'fine-line' hopper windows.

I always have said N.Z. is miles ahead in design; hoping to hear from you. —M.O.M., Sydney.

Thank you for your letter; it is always a pleasure to hear from our Australian readers. We are sending you a copy of the March '53 issue in which the house you refer to is illustrated. As for the 'fine-line' windows, we suggest that you write direct to the makers for any information you require.

Concrete Floors

Could you possibly answer a question re concrete floors. The answer is wanted urgently as our builder is nearly ready to start. I would be quite prepared to pay a fee for the information.

Are concrete floors satisfactory?

Are they healthy?

Would the saving in cost be worthwhile as against an ordinary wooden floor?

What is the best surface treatment?

I believe I have seen an article in Home and Building which we have been getting for about five years, but at the moment they are nearly all packed away.

Your magazine has been most helpful to us in planning our home and we look forward to each issue. We do think that interiors on the whole, especially kitchens, are away above all English designs and really most attractive. —A.C.R., Whangarei.

Your questions regarding concrete floors are difficult to answer without our seeing your section and the plan of the house you propose building. However, we can give you a fairly general answer.

Concrete floors are very satisfactory, particularly on a flat section where the concrete can be laid as a slab and extended to form a terrace or courtyard at the same level as the house floor, thus eliminating the need for steps.

Concrete floors are very healthy provided they are correctly laid. The saving of cost is worthwhile compared with an ordinary wooden floor construction.

However, we very strongly recommend that you write to the N.Z. Portland Cement Association, G.P.O. Box 969, Wellington, for their bulletin ST. 7 entitled "Concrete Floors for domestic use". This Useful booklet will give you all the information you require.

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