September, 1909 
HIS compact little building is 
planned to be a “home” 
every sense of the word. 
in 
In 
order to successfully produce a 
home of moderate cost, it is essential 
that the architect and his client should 
understand each other and work 
in harmony. The production of 
simple, dignified, well-propor- 
tioned little houses is a problem re- 
quiring infinite care and study, and 
the results of this study are be- 
coming apparent. The proper 
mental attitude which we should 
strive to attain is beautifully ex- 
pressed by Tom Moore. 
“JT knew by the smoke which so grace- 
fully curled, 
Above the green elms, that a cot- 
tage was near, 
And I said, if there’s peace to be 
found in the world, 
A heart that is humble might hope 
for it here.” 
If the architect and owner do 
not feel keenly this spirit of hu- 
mility and willingness to accept 
the necessary limitations, good re- 
sults are impossible. The only 
alternative, and a very desirable 
one for those intending builders 
who are willing to admit their 
ignorance of the subject, is the 
employment of an architect who 
understands and loves his work 
and who is capable of keeping the 
cost within specified bounds, al- 
lowing him freedom to design a 
house fitted to your requirement 
and planned for its particular lo- 
cation and environment. 
This cottage is designed on 
genuine Colonial lines, with a 
simplicity and directness that is- 
refreshing. Its entire freedom 
from ostentation and its dignity 
are worthy of study. It is to be 
covered with specially made clap- 
boards laid ten inches to the 
weather and painted white. The 
roof will be covered with shingles 
dipped in a very dark green stain. 
The blinds will be painted the cor- 
rect Colonial green. 
The intention is to have the 
treatment of the interior as simple 
and consistent as the exterior. 
The trim will be an absolutely 
plain square-edged trim, with no 
dust-catching moldings. It will 
be finished throughout the entire 
house with a dull white enamel. 
The doors will all be birch, ve- 
neered, stained a rich mahogany, 
the hardware being old brass with 
glass knobs. ‘The stairs will have 
mahogany newels and handrails, 
t 
Plan of grounds and first floor 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 363 
with balusters, strings and risers enameled white. There is 
no space wasted on useless narrow halls. 
opens into a cheerful and spacious entrance-hall, which is 
separated by sliding doors from the living-room, with its big 
open fireplace, the heart of the house. 
entered both from the hall and from the living-room, and is 
The front door 
The dining-room is 
a cozy, cheerful room. It is to 
have a paneled wainscot, plate- 
shelf and beam ceiling. Special at- 
tention has been given to the con- 
venience of the kitchen and but- 
ler’s pantry, and instead of the 
usual outside stone steps to the 
cellar, which generally conduct a 
respectable-sized waterfall to the 
cellar floor during a rain, there is 
a covered entry with upright door 
leading both to cellar and kitchen, 
and affording a convenient place 
for the ice-box, where ice can be 
put in without carrying it into the 
house. 
The bedrooms are so arranged 
as to secure plenty of light and 
full advantage of the views. The 
principal bedrooms connect; there 
is abundant closet room, a good 
linen closet, and—can it be pos- 
sible !—a good-sized bathroom. 
Here, then, is as simple and as 
good a house as one could wish to 
have. Its solution of the very 
dificult problem of designing a 
comparatively inexpensive small 
house is as simple as it is direct. 
And, in fact, now that we see how 
it is done, it is apparent that the 
solution of this problem, as is the 
case with many more intricate 
ones, is precisely along the sim- 
plest lines. 
Good architecture is not, in 
truth, complicated architecture, 
nor is the most attractive house 
the one that is the most heavily 
loaded with ornament. Messrs. 
Walker and Hazzard need no 
more pretentious an opportunity 
than the present to show how true 
this is and how satisfying and 
how good the result may be; or, if 
you please, are any considerable 
garden accessories absent. ‘The 
house is well supplied with ade- 
quate garden adjuncts. ‘There is 
a service-yard immediately with- 
out the service department. 
Farther on is the drying-yard for 
the family wash. Beyond is a 
formal garden, if you desire to 
arrange the area in that way. And 
then the pergola, extending from 
the house to the terrace arranged 
at the rear of the lot. 
A reputable builder, who does 
a great deal of this work in the 
suburbs of New York City, has 
guaranteed to build this house 
complete for six thousand dollars. 
