SELECTION OF THE SITE OF THE HOUSE 11 



The situation of the front door is the key-note that 

 should largely determine the proper situation of the 

 house in the general harmony of the place. From the 

 front gate the road will lead to the house by a route that 

 will be affected by existing grades and location of trees. 

 The road should seek to conceal itself as it approaches 

 the house, and when the building presents itself in full 

 view, the kitchen, laundry, and the more or less business 

 rooms should not be visible. The main views, such as 

 open terraces, lawns, and specially attractive portions 

 of the place, should lie on the other side of the house, 

 where the disturbing effect of graveled roads will not 

 mar the harmony of the scene, and the guests will feel 

 with unalloyed pleasure the hearty invitation of a hos- 

 pitable home to enter in and be at rest. Back doors 

 and piazzas will all need consideration in determining 

 the site of the house, as well as the porte-cochere, and 

 subordinate paths and roads leading to various parts of 

 the ground (see pages 4 and 5). 



Prevailing breezes in summer are factors in the com- 

 fort of home life which should not be overlooked. The 

 house after its many adjustments to satisfy numerous 

 considerations can be generally shifted around so as to 

 secure for the living-room windows the advantage of 

 afternoon shade and cool air. The reader will find on 

 further thought that he can afford to give up advan- 

 tages such as that which arranges the house parallel 

 with the highway, but he will find the free access of 

 prevailing breezes absolutely essential to comfort in 

 summer life. 



Protection from cold winds will also have peculiar 

 importance to any one who spends the winter in the 

 country, or occupies, the year round, a village lot. As 



