And that’s basically what these old houses were built for: life without today’s conveniences of having to buy a bathroom with every bedroom. That forced them to be clever, and alright, it looks weird now, but I mean, it was clever then.
Because people get it wrong now.
Nowadays, we see a sink in a hallway and immediately think someone went offscript with the blueprints. Or it’s like, a DIY gone wrong. And truthfully, can’t blame anyone for that. We live in a world full of powder rooms or half-baths everywhere we turn.
And it’s easy to forget that there was a time in our not-too-distant past when it wasn’t simple or private to wash your hands. So when people online speculate it’s for dogs, shoes, or some old time-y ritual, that’s a good reminder on how far we’ve come, but the sinks? Straightforward hand-washing stations. Nothing more.
They’re Still Useful (I mean it)
If you have one of these still in your home, do not take it out. Seriously, I mean if you absolutely hate it, take it out, but think about it: you have a basically extra sink, where you can wash your hands without running to the bathroom. It isn’t dead weight. And a conversation piece!
“Hey, why do you have a sink in your hallway?”
“Oh, let me tell you about early 20th-century hygiene design…”
