May, 1906 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
“Charlecote,” the Residence of C. H. Stout, Esq. 
Short Hills, New Jersey 
PON leaving the station at Short Hills, New 
Jersey, a circling road winds itself through 
the village, on either side of which are placed 
many handsome villas, surrounded with beau- 
tiful grounds, spacious and well kept, till a 
= \) stone entranceway bids one to stop and enter 
the estate of C. H. Stout, Esq. From the gateway, another 
winding drive which rises up a gradual incline to the peak of 
the knoll, lands one at the entrance porch in front of the 
house. 
The house is built on a knoll which is almost the highest 
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border, and shaded from the afternoon sun on its west side 
by a fine grove of native chestnuts, and leaving the south view 
uninterrupted. Below the main central terrace is a formal 
garden with pergolas, and a sun-dial. 
The original planning of the house is the result of a care- 
ful study of conditions and adaptation to its unique site. All 
the principal rooms are planned to have a southerly exposure, 
and most of these, also, have windows on opposite sides, giv- 
ing ideal cross ventilation and light. 
The main portion of the first story of the house is con- 
structed of stone which is roughly squared from boulders 
The Porch and Its Balcony with Boxes Filled with Red Geraniums Give a Note of Brilliant Color to the Rear Side of the House 
point of land in the neighborhood, with steep declivities on 
every side, and having a superb view, principally from the 
south side of the house, and especially from the living-porch 
and terrace. 
The natural approach to the knoll, on which the house is 
built, is from the north, and, in consequence, the main en- 
trance is placed on the north side of the house, leaving the 
south side for the terrace and forecourt, which is an import- 
ant and beautiful part of the whole scheme. ‘This terrace, 
which is formed by grading the south end of the knoll, is a 
simple and carefully kept lawn edged by a perennial flower 
selected from the site itself, and which are beautiful in their 
warm variety of color effect, for they seem to be of an ancient 
glacial moraine, as the geological formation of this particu- 
lar locality seems to demonstrate. The porch has columns 
built of similar stone, over which is placed a balcony with 
flower boxes filled with red geraniums, which add a tinge of 
color with good effect. 
The remainder of the first story is covered with stucco. 
The upper portion of the building is of half-timber con- 
struction; the stucco being toned to a warm gray instead of 
having the cold color of Portland cement. The timber work 
