44i 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



November, 19 lo 



Stucco Houses of Distinction 



By Burr Bartram 



N selecting a site for the attractive residence 

 built for William Spencer Crosby, Esq., 

 at Glencoe, 111., the crest of a beautifully 

 rounded hill was chosen with a long axis 

 of the house arranged so that the prin- 

 cipal living-rooms should have a southerly 

 exposure. 

 An approach to the house was arranged to come in at 



both sides of.^ the property to the front entrance-porch, 



built at the front of the house, which is a simple one of 



trellis work designed in an artistic manner. 



In designing the house, as illustrated in Figs, i, 2, 3, 4, 



and 5, the architect concluded to confine the treatment of 



it to the simple lines of the Italian villa, a style of architec- 

 ture so frequently seen in the Italian villages. 



The massive wall surface pierced by numerous windows 



is a characteristic of this style. The living-porch, Fig. 2, is 



built at the rear 



of the house, 



overlooking the 



S k o k i valley, 



which recedes 



abruptly from ^ 



the rear of the ^ 



property. ""^ 



The exterior 



walls are built of 



frame, and then 



covered with ce- 

 ment stucco left 



with a rough sur- 

 face, and in its 



natural silvery 



gray color which 



harmonizes well 



with the Italian 



green of which 



the trimmings are 



painted. The 



roof, which is an 



elongated one, is 



covered with 



shingles, and is 



stained and fin- 





Fig. 1 — A stucco house of excellent design 



ished in a silvery gray color. Its lines are broken by three 

 dormer windows placed at equal intervals apart. 



After entering the house one is impressed by the simplic- 

 ity of its treatment. The vestibule which is entered direct 

 from the porch and on a level with it, is paneled. A toilet 

 room is conveniently placed at one side of the vestibule. 

 After passing through the second door of the latter, steps 

 lead to the floor level of the hall. This hall is a central one 

 and extends through the house. It is treated with white 

 paint. The staircase, which is an ornamental one, has white- 

 painted balusters and a mahogany rail. The main feature of 

 the first floor is the living-room, which is treated in white 

 enamel. It has a large open fireplace, and bookcases are 

 built in at one end of the room. 



The dining-room, to the right of the hall, is treated with 

 white enamel paint. A door from this room opens to the 

 serving pantry which is provided with a butler's-bowl, 



dressers, c u p - 

 boards, etc. An- 

 ' other door opens 

 into the kitchen 

 w h i c h is fitted 

 complete with all 

 ^ the best modern 



conveniences. An 

 unusual feature 

 of the kitchen is 

 the extra large 

 store pantry. 

 The lobby is 

 built at the front 

 of the house and 

 connects with the 

 rear porch. This 

 passage is large 

 enough to admit 

 an ice box. 



The second 

 story has a white 

 painted trim. 

 This floor is 

 divided into the 

 owner's suite, 

 consisting of one 





