January, 1908 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



13 



A Bungal 



ungaiow in rasaaena 



PasacL 



By Helen Lukens Gaut 



HIS bungalow is located on a city lot, in a 

 , nest of greenery, of hedges, trees and 

 flowers, that makes it seem a thing of rest 

 and quiet apart from the usual prim, con- 

 ventional city home. Once behind the low 

 cobblestone wall and five-foot laurestina 

 hedge that separates the place from the 

 street, one feels he has escaped from the dust and smoke and 

 whirl of life. In this case, house and garden belong to one 

 another, as do the diamond and the golden setting. Too 

 often bungalows are inflicted with tailor-made gardens, and 

 when one really has the proper bungalow setting, it is worthy 

 of attention. From the pergola gateway leading from the 

 city street into this little Eden, to the quiet little patio with 

 its trailing vines and ferns, all is in perfect harmony. 



The house is a most attractive type of the inexpensive 

 bungalow, and one of considerable originality, especially in 

 the smaller details. It faces the east. The gable that roofs 

 the porch is filled in with perpendicular slats three inches 

 wide and three inches apart. The porch is floored with dark 

 red cement, marked off in twelve-inch squares. Around the 

 outer edge of the porch platform is a ten-inch border of 

 brick. The steps are also of brick. 



The front door is of exceptionally fine grain oak boards, 

 twelve inches wide, the joints being covered with batons. 

 The knocker consists of three narrow iron slats, on which 

 is mounted a tiny bronze lizard. On either side of the door 

 are small but elegant art windows, and beneath these are 

 wooden benches of simple and appropriate design. The 

 entire exterior is stained a dark brown, which blends ad- 

 mirably with the greens of the garden. The entrance- 

 hall, as is fitting, is nothing 

 more than a corner of the large 

 living-room, partially separated 

 on one side by an artistic arrange- 

 ment of timber-work and hang- 

 ings of Old English tapestry of 

 dragon design, in colors of gold, 

 cream and dull red, and on an- 

 other side by a wainscoted six-foot 

 wall that forms the dividing line 

 between reception-hall and ingle- 

 nook. The other two sides, ex- 

 c e p t i n g space required for 

 entrance and bedroom doors, are 

 also wainscoted. 



In the living-room sunshine and 

 air have free access. On the 

 south side are four wide swinging 

 lattice windows, while in the 

 southeast corner is a deep window 

 seat with backing and sides en- 

 tirely of glass. The window hang- 

 ings are of tan-colored Iris cloth, 

 lined with cream silk and trimmed 

 in scroll design with tan braid. 

 The ceiling is of six-inch tongue- 

 and-groove pine flooring left in 

 the natural color of pale yellow. 

 Nailed to this, one foot apart, are 

 four-by-four beams stained a dark 

 olive green. The appearance of 



Floor Plan 



these contrasting colors is unusual and striking. The floor 

 is of polished oak. 



Though the furnishings all unite in the bungalow harmony, 

 the table in the living-room climaxes all, and helps not a little 

 in completing the bungalow motiff — a closeness to nature and 

 simplicity. This table is made of burl redwood, and the 

 top is one solid piece four feet in diameter. 



In this room the walls are plastered, and the rough sur- 

 faces tinted a golden brown by the use of oil colors. The 

 picture molding, one by four, is in perfectly plain strips; in 

 fact all the woodwork has straight, square edges. 



In the inglenook the open grate is surrounded by six-inch 

 square Grueby tiles in dull red. The tiling is framed with 

 strips of beautifully grained Oregon pine. The floor of the 

 inglenook is also of dark red Grueby tiles. On either side 

 of the grate are book shelves, and in the double wainscot 

 that divides the inglenook from the reception-hall is a roomy 

 cupboard with paneled doors opening into the hall. In this 

 cozy corner are two wide-cushioned seats, above which hang 

 electric lanterns of quaint design. 



In the den door casings and book shelves are of fine grain 

 Oregon pine, stained to represent mahogany. The ceiling is 

 like that in the living-room, and the rough plaster is tinted a 

 dull tan. A wide French window with long narrow glass 

 panels incloses one end of this resting place, and gives unob- 

 structed outlook on a tiny cemented court with pergola roof, 

 and borders of ferns, bamboo and flowers. 



The dining-room walls are tinted a creamy flesh color, 

 while the woodwork, also of rich grained Oregon pine, is 

 stained a deep warm brown. The gas grate is of brass, sur- 

 rounded by green Grueby tiles. The framework is of wood, 



with short double panels on either 

 side, of heavy mottled glass, in 

 colors of green and blue. 



The built-in sideboard corre- 

 sponds with the mantel scheme, 

 the panels of glass and the brass 

 pulls and bolts giving a fetching 

 bit of color. On either side, and 

 just below the ceiling, are electric 

 lanterns — boxes of dark wood 

 with panels of mottled glass. 

 There are no beams in the dining- 

 room. The south side of the 

 room is of lattice windows, and it 

 would be hard to find a more 

 cheery place for an early break- 

 fast. Window hangings in this 

 room are of art madras, showing 

 a bold, effective design in blue and 

 brown. 



The woodwork in bedrooms, 

 bath, rear hall, and kitchen is fin- 

 ished in cream enamel. Yellow 

 and white flowered curtains give 

 the effect of continued sunshine in 

 the bedrooms. 



This house is well suited for its 

 purpose, beautifully adapted to its 

 environment, and could be built 

 for $2000. It was designed by 

 Carl Enos Nash. 



