234 HOW TO MAKE A COUNTRY PLACE 



ized better with the decorations than the red brick mantel originally 

 purchased for this room. The ceiling was treated in Pompeiian red, 

 crossed by black beams, and side walls wainscoted below a stenciled 

 frieze. One window seat was regulation billiard room height, with 

 foot rest, the window guard-railed. Step-up window treatment, 

 giving both side settles and enlarged view, we adopted in several 

 attic rooms. 



For the convenience of those who did not care to climb, an 

 extra billiard table was placed in an alcove of the den on the cool 

 side of the house. 



The chimney flue in the billiard room and an electric up-chim- 

 ney fan joined forces against the smokers to prevent the nicotine-laden 

 air from permeating the house. If a chimney is built on correct 

 lines, the "help draw" ugly chimney pot is a useless addition. When 

 the fireplace opening was extremely high, as an additional aid the 

 chimney was split in two at and above the ridge. Windows were all 

 on one side, avoiding cross lights which, with overhead skylight, 

 made it an ideal billiard room, a trifle larger than the usual eighteen 

 by twenty-four feet, its walls, as well as those of the studio, sand 

 finished to better admit of mural stencil decoration. 



A Feasible Lookout Room, a Real Clerestory. 



Standing on a commanding peak in the Tyrol, one hears in the 

 distant valley the tinkle of cow bells and from the village steeple 

 the call to prayer and service the only sounds that break the 

 Sabbath stillness. As I thus stood one morning I determined to 

 sometime have a home that would remind me of that fair spot, one 

 where the Sabbath stillness, if desired, could last half through the 

 week. From this wish of mine, or rather because of it, was evolved 

 our lookout room, a real clerestory, compassing a magnificent view, 

 and proving a fair substitute for that Alpine air castle. It was a 

 homelike lounging and reading room of generous size, with fireplace 

 and conveniently low book-shelves beneath the windows, protected 

 from storm by a broad ledge. There were high ventilators near 

 plate line, a wide overhang, awnings, and electric fans to cool the 

 air of this glass-walled room ideal comfort thus fashioned from the 

 usual glaring discomfort of the average lookout room. Here big 

 davenports vied with mattress-fitted, chain-hung hammocks. 



The dome, reached by a narrow iron stairway, arched an iron- 

 grated platform on which was mounted a Clark telescope for sky- 

 ranging and man-bird seeking. 



Floors. 



Hardwood floors of oak, red birch and maple were finished in 

 wax, remembering in caring for them that wax and water clash. 

 Parquetry borders, but of % stuff, were used throughout the house. 

 We found that even the smaller rooms lost but little in size if borders 



