September, 1913 
and at the center of this com- 
pletely-equipped little kitch- 
en is the strongest and most 
practical of tables, with the 
space below arranged for the 
storing of pots and pans and 
other paraphernalia of cook- 
ing, whether the cook be the 
mistress of the estate or one 
of the junior members of the 
household. Before the kitch- 
en table an old-fashioned rag 
rug is spread over the floor 
of dark red paving bricks. 
Everything is exceedingly 
practical and _ business-like 
and suited to its use. Ruskin 
once said that nothing is 
beautiful which is not suit- 
able, and here beauty and 
utility have co-operated with 
suitability to create a little 
kitchen completely satisfac- 
tory from every point of 
view. The garden house 
being planned with consider- 
able formality, as far as its 
exterior is concerned, is pro- 
vided with two fronts, and 
opposite the garden entrance 
with its pillared portico is 
another porch, almost square, with a roof supported by 
more Doric columns painted white. This little building, 
which, as has been said, is part of a somewhat extensive 
suburban estate, is entirely in keeping with its surroundings 
and is no doubt a source of great comfort to the family for 
whom it has been designed and built. 
A garden house might be placed in many gardens about 
country houses where, besides serving a very definite prac- 
ee 
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2 
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i 
44% 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
One view of the entrance portico 
The furnishing of the “playroom’’ suggests that the grown-up members of the family should use it as well as the children 
317 
tical purpose, it would afford 
a feature of interest which 
many exceedingly beautiful 
gardens so frequently lack. 
Such little structures are 
most successful when built in 
the style of the residence it- 
self, and are particularly 
decorative when placed at 
the end of a long walk, upon 
the garden axis, or at some 
other point where a feature 
of some emphasis is desired. 
Of its practical value it is al- 
most unnecessary to speak, 
for at times when quiet is 
desired for reading or study, 
or when one feels the need 
of a little concentration upon 
some definite line of thought, 
the little garden house will 
offer quietude, and seclusion 
particularly welcome. It is 
apt to be surrounded by the 
peace, as well as the beauty, 
which nature gathers to lav- 
ish upon the space within the 
garden’s walls. 
At other times the garden 
house may be given over to 
the pastimes of the younger 
generation, for it may be assumed that nothing very fragile 
is used in its furnishing. If a piano be included among its 
fittings its sphere of usefulness will be still further widened, 
and if the garden house be near the tennis court many other 
uses will immediately suggest themselves, or tennis and 
other features could be placed near it in original planning. 
In one way or another it may prove a useful addition to the 
family’s social life and a decided ornament to the garden. 
