People who live in old homes may discover unique vintage features in the strangest of places. Some of these features can still be useful, such as laundry chutes. Meanwhile, some are useless today, such as damper controls. And some add old-timey charm to the interior design. In any event, newly-built houses and apartment buildings don’t include these details. So reconsider boarding up and painting over them. Instead, embrace the classic vintage look.
Classic damper control
These damper controls preceded today’s heaters and thermostats. This piece resembles a compass mounted on a wall. It works as a switch to open or close the damper of a coal furnace. Dampers exist in modern furnaces as well; they are valves that regulate the flow of air. In this case, the damper controls how much hot air is let into the room. If you have one of these in your home, consider featuring it more prominently, such as on a windowsill, mantle, or even hung on a wall. They may not be useful, but they are a beautiful piece of history.
Stable doors
Stable doors, also called Dutch doors, offer several functions. These doors are split horizontally in two, so people can choose to open the top part while keeping the bottom closed. The design came from the 17th-century Netherlands but became popular in other areas as well. Homeowners utilized the design by opening the top part of the door for fresh air while keeping farm animals outside and children inside. As so named, stables use this design to keep barn animals contained while allowing them to poke their heads out.
Laundry chutes
Garbage chutes are still commonplace in apartment buildings, and laundry chutes follow the same methodology. Instead of throwing dirty clothes into hampers that will need to be carried down to the basement laundry room, people simply can throw them down the chute. It not only saves on floor space in bedrooms and bathrooms, it helps streamline the laundry process. If your home has one, consider keeping your washer and dryer downstairs to make good use of it.
Witch windows
Witch windows are primarily found in Vermont, U.S.A. They usually look like sash windows built on an odd angle. In actuality, the windows are measured to be parallel to the roof above and below it. The tilt is key since a normally-constructed window could not fit. They are called “witch windows” because of the folk belief that witches can’t fly their broomsticks through the angle, according to Bob Vila. Other names include Vermont windows or lazy windows. However, newly constructed homes generally don’t include this vintage feature.
Razor blade bank slots
This item should come with a proper warning. Some vintage bathrooms feature wall slots to dispose of old razor blades. Sometimes the slots appear in the back of built-in medicine cabinets. This seems similar to laundry chutes. Except people don’t clear the bank. The razor blades slide into the wall, where they stay forever. If you renovate a bathroom with these slots, warn your contractor and keep a keen eye on the construction.
Sleeping porches
Without electric fans and air-conditioning, the best way to cool off is to go outside and feel the breeze. It’s easy for homes to get stuffy in the summer, so some old houses include sleeping porches. They are essentially rooms that are semi-outside, according to Gadget Review. They are enclosed or screened to keep wild-life out but allow the fresh air in. Families could sleep on the porch at night and host social gatherings there during the day.
Boot scrapers
People in muddy environments may want to look into this vintage feature. Back in the 18th and 19th centuries, homes displayed small metal sculptures outside the front door. Before paved roads, shoes and boots were commonly covered in mud. To keep homes clean, people would scrap their books against these metal or iron blades to clear the filth before entering.
Phone nooks
Modern homes don’t need a designated area for phone calls since cells can be carried anywhere. But back when phones were tethered to the wall, homes came with built-in nooks, sometimes with a seat attached. They can resemble tiny desks, with just enough room for a phone, or with an extra shelf for a notepad or phonebook.
Intercoms
Homes from the 1960s and 70s sometimes feature vintage intercom system. They tend to involve a central panel in a common area such as the kitchen and smaller units in other rooms. This technology continued to appear in homes in the 80s and 90s. Instead of yelling “it’s dinnertime” from the other room, families could use the system to communicate. Some versions were able to blast music around the house.
Dumbwaiters
Dumbwaiters serve as small elevators or lifts to transport food and other items to different floors. They are still common in establishments such as hotels or hospitals, although now they use electric motors and automatic control systems. Back in the day, they were manually run, and maids were allowed to deliver food to upper floors or send laundry to lower floors.
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