270 
seen in its actuality, which 
unfortunately, it is not possi- 
ble for a photograph to 
make so evident. 
The fireplace in the din- 
ing-room facing the one in 
the living-room at the oppo- 
site end of the house is one 
of the best features of the 
house. In Winter time the 
glowing logs in both rooms 
seem to vie, one with the 
other, in creating an atmos- 
phere of cheeriness, at which 
time there seems, more than 
ever, a lack of a formal di- 
viding-line in the arrange- 
ment of these two rooms 
that occupy the ground floor 
area of the original house. The fenestration has been suc- 
cessfully maintained in the old portion of the dwelling, and 
well thought out in the new, both as regards interior and 
exterior effect. In the various illustrations accompanying 
this article one will notice how valuable an accessory to its 
exterior appearance is the old tree which stands near the 
entrance door. The owners have wisely chosen to let it 
remain and the branches form an interesting attribute to 
the house in its Winter aspect. 
This suggests the value of appropriate planting when 
planning the remodeling of an old house. It is remarkable 
how a few shrubs, properly placed, will transform even the 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
View of the Warren house showing frame wing and latticed porch 
August, 1912 
commonplaceness of merely 
bare architecture into an en- 
tirely satisfactory state. In 
deliberating over the choice 
of an old house and the mak- 
ing it into a new one, this 
subject of planting for effect 
should be studied in order to 
anticipate, in the mind’s eye, 
the vision of the remodeled 
house in a setting of green- 
ery suited to its traditions. 
If the old house needs but 
few changes and boasts of 
more than fifty years of ex- 
istence, there will be Lilacs, 
Rambling Red Roses, Syrin- 
gos, Barberry Bushes and 
the like that will belong to it 
by right of association and tradition. Then there will be 
Hawthorns and other flowering trees to make Springtime 
in such a home more joyous and reminiscent of the old days 
when the reconstructed house helped, perhaps, to make his- 
tory. I know a little village in Massachusetts where I have 
passed many happy Summers. Few strangers have come its 
way, and it still remains unspoilt and natural without ap- 
pearing primative. As the years bring within its precincts 
the innovations of progress and local prosperity keeps apace 
with the signs of the times, the villagers, and the happy out- 
siders, who have there sought to make their Summer homes, 
(Continued on page 297) 
In order to meet the space requirements of the owners, a frame extension was added to the rear of the original structure and also the upper story 
wing shown in the right of the above illustration 
