Weird Home Features That Are No Longer Being Used

If you live in an aged house or just visited one, you might have seen they contain some odd features. How were these weird elements used and why don’t we see them in new homes?

The distinctive features in older home designs usually performed an important purpose, like exterior doors for ice, coal, and milk deliveries. Boot scrapers near the front door cleaned shoes worn on unpaved roads, and exterior wall plates were both decorative and helped stabilize the structure. Some components like the Pittsburg potty and servant staircases seem ridiculous, while others – like Murphy beds and laundry chutes – are making a comeback.