20 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
January, 1911 
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WA UU 
The patio 
‘EAUTY in any form is one of the essentials 
' of the expression of a strong and sincere 
idea, therefore, anything that is worth 
copying must be in the original a work to 
which a serious thought has been directly 
given, and in the simplest manner; con- 
sequently, in the selection of the old 
Spanish type of dwelling as a prototype for the handsome 
house built for Joseph F. Williams, Esq., at El Pasa, 
Texas, and illustrated herewith, the architects, Messrs. 
Trost and Trost decided, after considering the site and 
setting of the proposed house, that this style of building 
was more appropriate than any other under the existing 
conditions. 
The building is an oblong one in form, has square lines 
and is built of cement stucco, tinted a soft cream color. 
The entrance is provided with a porch constructed of a 
series of circular headed arches, with the exception of the 
one directly in front 
Olmitne veut 1a nc e 
which has massive 
columns — supporting 
a pediment. The 
roof is covered with 
red Spanish clay tile, 
which adds a touch 
Ol ercionl or sto! “the 
sombre tone of the 
cement walls. 
Porches provided 
with similar arches 
are built at each 
side of ‘the building, 
giving it a greater 
breadth than would 
have been accom- 
plished by any other 
design. Themainwall 
Skin, ce of the 
second story front is 
pierced by a group 
of circular headed 
windows in the 
center, while a pro- 
The entrance porch 
ua 
A 
House of Spanish 
Character 
By Henry Hawley 
SESE NEES 
jected wall surface at each end of the building has an orna- 
mental panel, in the center of which there is a leaded glass 
window. 
The gargoyles shown in the wall surface of the battle- 
mented roof give the appearance of an armored cruiser, 
and is the only feature in the design that is grotesque. If 
these were eliminated, the general effect of the exterior 
would be very much enhanced. 
The entrance is into a square reception hall, containing 
an ornamental stair case. ‘This hall and the entire house 
is trimmed with Texas pine stained and finished in imita- 
tion of Missouri oak. 
The living-room occupies the remainder of the front of 
the house, and it contains a large open fireplace built of 
St. Louis buff mottled brick. Book cases are built along 
the sides of the room. Large French windows open into 
the patio built at the rear of the house, which is the im- 
portant feature of the place. It is 23x33 feet in dimension, 
and it has an en- 
closure of columns 
between which there 
is a cement svallk 
extending around 
the court. The ceil- 
ing of the living- 
room is beamed, as 
is also the hall. 
Directly back of 
the hall and opening 
on the patio is the 
dining-room, fitted 
up with a _ paneled 
wall and ceiling. 
The service end 
of the house is com- 
plete in all of its 
appointments. 
The second floor 
contains five bed- 
rooms and_ two 
bathrooms. The 
latter have floors of 
tile and_ porcelain 
fixtures, and exposed 
