May, 1912 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 173 
ment which a gambrel-roofed exterior immediately sug- age within a very brief space of time. The arrangernent of 
gests. A house of this type is often planned with a hall the grounds about the Edwards place and such planting as 
dividing it and with rooms at either side, which is, of course, has already been done give promise of even more pleasing 
the plan upon which the early examples results a little later. The house built as 
were built. Here the entrance door it is quite close to the street has a stretch 
opens into a hall which is square or of lawn between the sidewalk and the 
nearly so, with the stairway placed just steps to the entrance portico. The usual 
opposite. The lower landing of the planning of course would provide for a 
staircase is placed two or three steps straight walk to the doorway, but here a 
from the floor and a door upon this walk approaches the steps from either 
landing opens upon a few steps which direction which makes possible the un- 
descend into the kitchen—an arrange- broken lawn space before the house and 
ment which combines every practical ad- confers a certain effect of space upon 
vantage of two stairways with the econ- the entire surroundings. 
omy of space which is afforded by the The use of flower-boxes at the two 
use of one. At either side as one enters oriel windows of the lower .floor also 
the house are doors into living- and din- bestows an air of refinement and dis- 
ing-room which are unusually attractive tinction upon the house and one is apt to 
by reason of their spacious proportions wonder why this very simple and dec- 
and tasteful furnishings. The space orative treatment is not more frequently 
upon the second floor is divided into used. During the greater part of the 
four bedrooms, numerous closets and year the boxes might be filled with a suc- 
two bathrooms, and a stairway leads to cession of growing plants which would 
still another floor where there is a gar- render more beautiful even the most in- 
ret space and also a room for a maid. teresting of houses, and during the Win- 
Someone has said that with the com- ter months they might hold plants of 
pletion of a house and its occupation by some of the numerous varieties of ever- 
the family which is to dwell within it greens which would supply a note of 
the actual making of a home has been color during the period when the land- 
merely begun. This is particularly true scape is apt to be rather dull and bleak 
of a home in country or suburbs where and color of any kind would be partic- 
much planting and improving of the home grounds must ularly welcome. All these houses, indeed suggest the value 
be done, for which time is required. Even with the most of planting as an emphasis to architectural effect whereby 
endless of resources one cannot produce quite the effect of the house is “knitted” to its site by Nature’s indulgence. 
“TROT ° FL@R>PLAN: 
CHAMBER 
SECOND STORY - PLAN 
Floor plans of the Edwards house 
EERE GET oa ee 
The house of Mr. E. Edwards, at Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. A small house of great 
See 
distinction and character 
