The Farmhouse 



1499 



EXTERIOR DESIGN 



In order to be a success, a country house must be in harmony with 

 its environment. It should appear to have grown on its site, and to be 

 a normal expression of human life in natural surroundings. The house 

 should be in tune with the color and the contour of the landscape. Farm 

 lands in this State are for the most part flat or rolling, and thereby produce 

 contours which are strongly horizontal. Architecture that is appropriate 

 to such landscape should in general be low, broad, and snug. Tall, narrow 

 structures are necessary in cities where land is costly and only air is cheap, 



Fig. 71. — An appropriate type of architecture for a country home 



and are appropriate in rugged, cliffy countries where nature is replete 

 with vertical surfaces; but they are inappropriate and impertinent when 

 standing free on a flat site. 



Color scheme 



The setting of a rural house presupposes such natural scenery as is 

 composed of trees, shrubs, lawns, gardens, hills, rocks, and streams. 

 The color effect of the house must be in harmony with this setting. Such 

 colors as white, cream, grays, soft greens, and browns of various shades 

 will always harmonize with nature, which clothes herself in similar gar- 

 ments. Red is bold unless partially screened by planting. The use of 

 brick is about the only reason for introducing a red color scheme. Brick 



