AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



262 



whole of the lower story in the central wall. It is a great 

 open porch, completely within the limits of the house lines, 

 with a central opening emphasized with external columns and 

 a broken curved pediment, strengthened within by a group of 

 pilasters. A single column in the center of each adjoining 

 space supports the extension of the entablature and the whole 

 is closed with pilasters at each end. The inner space is walled 

 throughout with limestone, and is fitted up and furnished as 

 an outdoor sitting-room. 



Just without it is the terrace, a long and spacious platform, 

 extending wholly across the entire front, and reaching beyond 



July. 19 



July, 1908 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



263 



with flat arches of brick with keystones of limestone. The 

 lower angles of the end pavilions are also built up in stone, 

 but above the first story they are without emphas IS . The 

 thickening of the center of the wall has already been men- 

 tioned, and it only remains to add that the window here is 

 incased within a large and ornamental frame of stone. A 

 string course of brick separates the two stories in the end 

 pavilions, and except for the loggia the walls are without 

 other horizontal projections until the fine corn.ee IS reached 

 at the summit. Above is the roof, with segmcntally arched 

 dormers of a design similar to those of the entrance front. 



eral design as that which incloses the forecourt. At the far 

 end, opposite the porch, is a pergola, built of wood, and semi- 

 circular in form, completely inclosing the garden at its 

 furthest limit, and forming a highly effective climax to the 

 whole beautiful space. I must not stop too long to describe 

 the beauties of this garden, for they are very many. Every- 

 thing that goes into the making of a lovely garden has been 

 developed here in a very characteristic and splendid manner. 

 There are spacious stretches of lawn, carefully kept paths, 

 numerous flower borders, much planting of shrubbery, and 

 exactly the right number and the right sort of garden orna- 



ported on their outer sides, the space beneath being com- 

 pletely exposed, with paneled under-surface. The paneling 

 of the side walls is discontinued at the summit of the cornice 

 of the first story, the upper wall being painted with Pom- 

 peiian red directly on the plaster, illuminated with a small 

 Pompeiian figure. The brilliant tone of the upper wall is 

 continued throughout the hall in the second story. 



The two chief rooms are the library and the dining-room. 

 The latter is finished in Italian walnut, with a low wain- 

 scoting of perhaps three feet in height, while the upper walls 

 are hung with old Italian leather, embossed with a pattern of 



The Hanging Staircase and the Pompeiian Wall Decorations 



the porches with which the house is completed. It is inclosed 

 within a stone balustrade, and is supported by a stone wall, 

 with a superb flight of steps in the center that rise directly 

 from the surface of the surrounding lawn. The flooring con- 

 sists of Harvard brick laid on their sides; in the center are 

 great panels of concrete laid in marble borders, the effect 

 being that of mosaic on a large scale. The hillside drops 

 quickly a short distance below the terrace, giving the front a 

 singularly free and detached appearance, to which its whole 

 design is admirably in keeping. 



The remaining features may be briefly noted. They con- 

 sist chiefly of a fine feeling for wall space and a skilful disposi- 

 tion of the windows. These are throughout of identical 

 design, and consist of large rectangular openings, surmounted 



Each end of the house is occupied by a porch. That to the 

 left, as the mansion is entered, is inclosed with glass and is 

 used as an outdoor dining-room when the season permits. 

 That on the right is a great open structure immediately over- 

 looking the garden, to which it not only serves as an intro- 

 duction, but of which it is an integral portion. It is built 

 completely of limestone, the same material being employed 

 also for the house wall immediately beneath it. It is nearlv 

 square, being three bays long on the sides, and three bays 

 across the front. It is supported by columns with pilasters on 

 the ends. The ceiling is of plaster, elaborately paneled and 

 decorated, and the floor is paved with brick. 



The garden, to which this porch so completely belongs, is 

 an immense space inclosed with a brick wall of the same^gen- 



ments to give emphasis where needed. It is not only beau- 

 tifully laid out, but it is beautifully planted, and one need 

 hardly add that it is kept in the very pink of perfection. Very 

 beautiful also are the views that can be gained of the adjoin- 

 ing country from the open side, the finest of all the views to 

 be obtained from the house, beautiful outlooks over beautiful 

 country. 



The most striking feature of the interior is the staircase 

 that leads from the main hall to the second story. This is an 

 entirely unique design, carried out in a very splendid manner. 

 The whole of the lower hall is paneled in wood to the ceiling 

 and painted white. At one end is a semi-circular ending or 

 recess, in which the stairs arise. They are carried around 

 the semi-circle in low, gentle curves, being entirely unsup- 



comparatively small squares. The butler's pantry and the 

 kitchen are associated with the dining-room, and both are 

 entirely adequate for any demands that may be put upon 

 them. Adjoining the kitchen the servant's dining-room has 

 been conveniently located. 



The library is a real room of state, and is very beautifully 

 and elaborately finished and decorated. The woodwork is 

 throughout English oak. The walls are paneled in wood to 

 the ceiling, which is finished with exposed beams, with wood 

 panels. The cornice is richly carved, the high points being 

 picked out with gold. On one side is the fireplace, with an 

 old Italian mantel, with richly carved panels and elaborate 

 frieze that harmonizes very completely with the design of 

 the room. 



