22 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



July, 1905 



one to the entrance of the house. From nearly every room 

 interesting vistas are obtained across country, beyond which 

 is Long Island Sound. The architects of the house, Messrs. 

 Rositter and Wright, have formulated their design after the 

 Italian style. It is well carried out with a simplicity that is 

 beautiful, and the gray stucco walls harmonize well with the 

 green copper roof, with which the house is crowned, blend- 

 ing itself into the varied greens of the over-hanging trees 

 with which the place is surrounded. 



The entrance porch placed at the north side of the house 

 and the loggia at the south side form the principle char- 

 acteristic of the exterior scheme. 



" Hilhouse " — A Doorway 



The entire house is covered with stucco with its surface 

 left in a rough state, and the whole tinted a dull gray color. 

 The columns to the porch and the loggia are made of cement 

 and molded into form. The ornamental capitals are molded 

 in the same manner, except that they are tinted in the color 

 of terra cotta. The floor of the loggia, upon which these 

 columns rest, is paved with brick laid in herring-bone pattern. 

 The blinds are made of solid wood and are paneled. These 

 blinds, and also the trim, are painted a light apple green. 

 The roof is covered with copper, which has now changed to 

 a mossy green. 



The entrance to the house opens into the reception-hall, 

 which is trimmed with white pine and treated with white 

 enamel paint. It has a paneled wainscoting, above which the 

 walls are covered with crimson burlap, and the whole fin- 

 ished with a wooden cornice. The beamed archway is sup- 

 ported on a column, forming the newel post to the staircase, 

 which rises from the reception-hall. The treads and balus- 

 ters are of white painted pine, and the rail is of mahogany. 

 The fireplace is built with red faced brick for the hearth and 

 facings, and is furnished with a mantel of wood of the 

 Colonial style. The floor is laid with parquetry. 



The den, at the rear of the hall, is trimmed with cypress, 

 and is finished with a forest green effect. It has bookcases 

 built in, and also an open fireplace, furnished with brick fac- 

 ings and a mantel. The alcove to the reception-room is 



separated by an archway which is quite unusual, for it is 

 formed with pilasters which rise to the spring of the arch. 

 The space formed by this archway is tilled In with a transom, 

 which is glazed in a geometrical pattern, thereby precluding 

 all draughts, and yet retaining the open effect desired. 



The reception-room is trimmed with pine treated with 

 white paint. The floor is covered with a golden brown, in 

 one tone, and the walls are treated similar and are finished 

 with a wooden cornice. Bookcases are built in with latticed 

 doors, glazed with plate glass. 



The dining-room is an attractive apartment, and is fin- 

 ished with a white painted trim. The walls are covered with 

 a green and white striped paper, above which the ceiling is 

 finished with a wooden cornice. The fireplace has brick fac- 

 ings, a tiled hearth and an antique mantel of exceptional style 

 of the Colonial period. The butler's pantry, and the kitchen 

 and its dependencies are well located, and are provided with 

 all the best modern conveniences. The rear porch is enclosed 

 with latticework. The loggia at the south side of the house is 

 enclosed with glass in winter, and forms a sunparlor. 



The second floor is trimmed with pine and painted white. 

 It contains five bedrooms and three bathrooms. The latter 

 are furnished with porcelain fixtures and exposed nickelplated 

 plumbing. The four principal bedrooms have open fireplaces 

 built of brick and provided with Colonial mantels. The 

 servants' quarters and trunk room are placed on the third 



" Hilhouse " — The Hall 



floor. The heating apparatus, fuel rooms, cold storage and 

 laundry are located in the cellar. 



Mr. Ferris, a student of plant life, has devoted much at- 

 tention to the development of his garden. The planting has 

 been so arranged that a continual bloom prevails from early 

 spring till late in the autumn. The " rockery " on the slopes 

 of the terrace at the south side of the house is particularly 

 interesting, as well as the garden itself. With a broad open 

 country for its site and an acreage at command, much more 

 is to be done in the building of pergolas, sun dials and settles 

 and the addition of all other necessary accessories for a well 

 regulated garden estate. 



