After fireplaces, radiators became the common way to keep your home heated during the cooler months. Radiators are still around technically, but they’ve moved to HVAC vents that bring warm and cold air around much faster and cheaper. Radiators did their best to disperse hot air but were frequently faulty, and required constant expensive upkeep.
Once HVAC took over, radiators were either merged with the system or disposed of. They have a healthy dose of old-world charm, but if you’re trying to keep your home warm, you’re better off ignoring them.
Cooling Pies Has Never Been Cooler
There's a classic scene you may know about: a tramp, dirty and disheveled, smells a delicious pie and follows his nose to a fresh piece on a window shelf. These shelves were pretty popular back when you couldn't pop to the grocery store to pick up your favorite flavor, but thieves (and, more commonly, pests) did sometimes ruin these projects, leading to the cooling shelf.
These items were used to let pies cool before digging in, but also protected them from the elements, and sticky fingers. Since early countertops weren't as heat-resistant as they are these days, these shelves also protected the kitchen from unnecessary damage.
This One's Almost Sad
Fireplaces were once one of the most important items in the house. Before the advent of central heating, families would gather around the fireplace when the sun went down to stay warm and spend time together.
You're probably thinking “but there are plenty of fireplaces around. I have one!” And you're right. However, these fireplaces are often gas or electric and not wood. And while that's not exactly a bad thing – they're safer, cheaper, and cleaner – there's something about the smell of wood smoke, the snapping and popping embers, and the in-and-out waves of heat that you might end up missing.
Can't Sleep? Get a Sleeping Porch
Most of the time a sleeping porch will only be found if you have a cabin on the lake or an older-style home, but lots of people enjoyed them and still enjoy them. It's been said that having fresh air blowing through your bedroom is a sure-fire way to get better sleep and stay asleep longer.
A sleeping porch traditionally has plenty of windows that allow for a great breeze, as well as a sitting area to be used to take breakfast, have some tea during the day, or play games with the kids.
Hello, Operator? Get Me a Better Method of Communicating
Long before cell phones came about, if you needed to talk to a family member in another part of the house, you might use a speaking tube. These metal pipes ran through the walls and let you shout at each other to request more tea, ask about dinner, or trade juicy house gossip.
Believe it or not, a few places still utilize these devices: Naval ships and playgrounds. Communication is paramount on the first to avoid dangerous accidents, and for the second, why, what's more fun than shouting into a tube and having your friend on the other side of the park hear it?