AMERICAN HOMES AND “GARDENS 
February, 
1906 
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ab 
7 
An Attractive Street, Well Made, Well Paved, and Flanked by Well Designed Houses 
houses in inclosed yard, and six hundred square yards of 
garden. ‘The second floor consists of three bedrooms and a 
bathroom, with hot and cold water, and there are mantel- 
shelves and hearths in each of the bedrooms. ‘The front 
room is 13 ft. 6 in. by 11 ft., the middle room is 14 ft. 6 in. 
by 11 ft. 6 in., and the third bedroom is ro ft. 6 in. by 8 ft. 
3 in. The total cost of this house, including laying out of 
the garden and all extras, was $1,975. [he estimated net 
return was $80 a house, thus making a gain of four per cent. 
For building the houses the Staffordshire brindled bricks 
have mostly been used; they are very inexpensive and a pleas- 
ing variety of color is found in them, as they tone from a 
bright red to a deep purple blue. Hand-made roofing tiles 
and thick Welsh Precelly slates, and rustic peggies (more 
commonly known as shingles) have been used for roofing. 
Prof. R. Cresweeks, of the Birmingham School of Art, has 
executed some beautiful hand carving in many of his cot- 
tages, and his wrought-iron work plays an important part 
in the decorative appearance of the village shops. The eye 
is satisfied when seeing the many beautiful color schemes 
evolved by the use of green woodwork, warm toned bricks, 
whitewashed walls and red tiled roofs, outlined against 
masses of green foliage and beautiful scenery. 
As to all decoration in the interiors, artistic papers and 
picture moldings have been used, and some of the beautiful 
poster friezes may be seen in the better class of house. The 
residents have shown a remarkable readiness to catch the idea 
of homely simplicity, and have furnished their homes with 
artistic and suitable furniture. The curtains of the casement 
windows, for instance, were nearly all made of simple mus- 
lins and sprigged cottons, closely in harmony with the sur- 
roundings. 
In addition to the gardens belonging to each house, a 
large portion of the estate is reserved for the formation of 
parks and pleasure grounds. A playground is in use for the 
children, where they can play in perfect safety. 
Interesting as the village is as a type of successful low 
priced housings, its greatest interest to American readers must 
lie in the very great charm of the buildings and the beautiful 
and artistic character of the whole tract. It is a type of com- 
munity building such as does not exist in America. The 
homes are well designed and well built. In the matter of plan 
and of construction they of course meet English requirements, 
but with little change they could be adapted to American con- 
ditions. The low priced and cheaply rented house is the rar- 
est of all types of dwellings in America; but the example of 
Bouenville shows what can be done abroad under intelligent 
direction and by thoroughly competent designers. 
