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In properties of this size, front yards may reasonably be allowed greater depth 

 than the front yards of narrower lots. Building lines should be adhered to, but, 

 within a variation of from ten to fifteen feet, houses may project beyond or recede 

 from such a line according as the best allotment of front and back space may 

 demand. Oftentimes it is diffcult to convince persons of the advantage of small 

 front yards. The idea that a house placed well back gives the appearance of an 

 ample lot is by no means uncommon. Very likely, however, such persons have 

 in mind examples involving much larger houses. But it should be remembered 

 that an overly large front yard makes the front of a small house appear yet smaller. 

 It is seldom that any ill effects result from even unusually small front areas, 

 assuming, of course, that the plans provide for porches at the side or at the rear, 

 as they should be. 



The most important aspect of the building-line question is that of planning 

 for the large open-lawn area in the rear. For both use and the best appearance 

 of a completed scheme, sacrifices should always be made in the front to provide 

 for a large lawn in the rear, or at the side and in the rear. 



Fince the general appearance of the street reflects on each individual property 

 thereon, it is important to have a proper building line to begin with, and then 

 to adhere to this established line if possible, or at least, to disguise any necessary 

 discrepancy. As has already been said, marked variations on a street are not 

 pleasant and are apt to mar the appearance of the entire street. These discordant 

 differences may consist in the use of unlike styles of architecture, in the use of 

 both open and enclosed front yards, or in any impropriety in the details of front- 

 yard plans. The distinctiveness of a street, and, in many cases, its actual land 

 values, increase with the uniformity and appropriateness of its houses and yards. 

 There is always room for interesting variation within the bounds of reasonable 

 uniformity. Many persons mistake mere incongruity for variety. It is en- 

 tirely to be expected that a street should have some unity, and for the want of 

 this unity most of the streets of our suburbs are not as beautiful as they might 

 be. The same idea imbues whole suburbs and villages; and would that there 

 were some hope that it might one day be corrected in our cities! The similarity 

 of the homes is the main factor making for the charm of many European villages and 

 cities. Although as individuals not all of these homes are interesting, at least 

 they are neither unattractive nor ugly. There is variety in plenty, and it is the 

 subsequent discovery of this variety, more noticeable when seen at close quarters, 

 that sustains the charm of city, village, or street. New suburban developments 

 in American cities might well take this lesson from Europe, or from those of cur 

 own old villages still to be found in undisturbed sections along the Atlantic 

 Coast. The house and front yard which betray their owner's desire for notoriety 

 betray alsft far worse faults, and with a vengeance! 



As has already been suggested, with the exception of those having symmetrical 

 fronts, it is rarely good policy to place houses midway between their side bound- 

 aries. The plans for most houses provide a large living room with two smaller 

 first-floor rooms on one side, and place the dining room and the kitchen on the 

 other. In any case, the kitchen must of necessity be on one side, and its location 

 should determine the side on which to plan for out door service. Hence, in order 

 to correlate the out doors with the in doors, it is evident that the driveway should 

 be located on the kitchen side where it will be needed for everyday service to the 



