AMERICAN 
248 
HOMES AND GARDENS 
June, 1909 | 
‘Homewood, » 
The Country Seat of Richard G. Tower, Esq., at Lexington, Massachusetts 
By Francis Durando Nichols 
2?R. TOWER’S residence at Lexington, 
Mass., is a good example of the modern Co- 
lonial mansion. The rambling brick dwell- 
ing had its prototype in the old Colonial 
mansions of the South, such as Westover, 
Martin’s Brandon and White Hall. 
There is the central building with its de- 
tached extension, connected by a butler’s pantry, on the first 
floor and a passageway on the second floor; the plan has 
provided for a duplicate wing to be added to the other side 
of the building. The great portico of the facade is, of 
course, derived from the house of the ideal Virginia planter. 
The walls are built of red brick, Jaid in Flemish bond, with 
white mortar. ‘The roof is covered with shingles left to 
weather finish. The approach to the house is from the road- 
way, leading in from the street and sweeping up to the 
portico at the front of the house. ‘The portico is particularly 
dignified and the entrance-doorway, recessed into a semicir- 
cular vestibule with a domed ceiling, is an attractive feature. 
The portico has stone steps, while the floor is laid of brick in 
herringbone pattern. The rear of the house, facing the gar- 
den and the wood- 
land, has a_ portico 
with a terrace extend- 
ing from it in either 
direction. 
The interior is 
generous in its pro- 
portions, and the high 
ceilings and spacious 
rooms make a de- 
lightful house for en- 
tertaining. The hall 
has a paneled wall 
from the floor to the 
ceiling, which is white 
enameled. ‘The stair- 
case is recessed and 
has a neatly turned 
balustrade in white 
enamel, and a ma- 
hogany rail. The 
walls of this part of 
the hall, and extend- 
ing to the second 
story, have a wall- 
paper with a large 
blue design on a 
white background. 
The highly polished 
Hoor is covered with 
a rug with a blue 
body and a_ yellow 
and old-rose figured 
border) ‘Nhe stare 
carpet is of a plain 
color in an old-blue 
tone. An inlaid card- 
table and Chippen- 
dale chairs complete 
the furnishing. 
The portico is the feature of the front 
To the right of the entrance is the reception-room, fin- 
ished with a white-enameled trim, and a wall paneled and 
covered with watered silk and finished with a gilded border. 
The fireplace has gray marble facings, and a carved mantel, 
with a paneled overmantel and mirror. The floor is covered 
with a Persian rug in white with an old-rose and blue center. 
Soft lace curtains hang at the windows. Opposite the 
reception-room and across the hall is the den, which is fin- 
ished with a black-painted trim. The wall is covered with 
Japanese grass cloth finished with a molded and carved 
cornice. The furniture is of mahogany and the upholstery is 
in green. 
White lace curtains hang at the windows, while green 
and brown brocaded silk curtains are hung at the door open- 
ings. The open fireplace is built with black and white mar- 
ble facings and hearth and it has a mantel of good design. 
The living-room has a white-enameled trim and a wall 
covering of crimson brocaded silk. Crimson velvet draperies 
are hung at the doors. Similar curtains are hung at the win- 
dows over softer ones of lace. The fireplace has white and 
black marble facings and hearth, and a Colonial mantel and 
overmantel of attrac- 
tive style. 
The sun-room, 
which opens from the 
living-room, also has 
a white- enameled 
trim and walls. The 
windows are hung 
with green and _ yel- 
low cretonne curtains. 
Opening from the 
living-room, and also 
from the hall, is the 
dining-room, which is 
one of the most im- 
portant and delight- 
ful rooms in the 
house. The coltom 
scheme is gray and 
white. The trim is 
painted white. The 
walls have a low pan- 
eled wainscoting, 
above which they are 
covered with a forest 
wall decoration in a 
gray and white. The 
east end of the room 
is very attractive, 
with fireplace, fluted 
pilasters and  arch- 
ways. The fireplace 
is built of brick, laid 
in white mortar, and 
has a mantel and pan- 
eled over-mantel. The 
important feature of 
the dining-room is 
the furniture, consist- 
ing of a most unusual 
