October, 1911 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
Gay 
AX 
A corner of the dining-room of Mr. Olcott’s house 
work with him, not against him, nor for him—the latter is 
fatal—but with him, in producing what he promises will be 
Remember that a house which is an archi- 
tectural success is as much a matter of study of detail as a 
beautiful picture, and that a wrong color here, or an ugly 
detail there, may go far to spoil the entire effect. 
the ideal result. 
keep the old house, 
beware that you do 
not destroy those ele- 
ments which empha- 
size its domesticity. 
Remember that you 
are making a home— 
not a clubhouse. If 
it has one or two very 
large old fireplaces 
with, perhaps, a 
Dutch oven at the 
side, keep them by all 
means, if you are 
willing to keep them 
just as simple as such 
fireplaces always 
were—plain common 
brick and mortar, 
more often than not 
with the brick cov- 
ered with cement and 
painted—and the 
mantel the simplest 
things possible, just 
a few moldings form- 
ing a frame with a 
primitive shelf, if 
any at all. Most of 
-the fireplaces will be 
better small and can 
be treated with more 
formality. There, 
marble facings or old 
Dutch tile are appro- 
priate, though not 
necessary. E'schew 
pressed brick facings 
and linings and do 
them a coat of paint. 
If you 
The fine garden of Mr. Olcott’s house, with its shrubbery, suggests delightful seclusion 
Old woodwork in the living-room of Mr. Olcott’s house 
not overlook the satisfactory effect that was obtained by our 
great grandfathers by plastering the brick faces and giving 
Do not forget that there are many 
delightful and appropriate details that you can have in your 
mantels and other woodwork without additional cost, if you 
will keep in touch with the architect while he is detailing 
your house. There is 
nothing more appre- 
ciated by an architect 
than intelligent  co- 
operation, and there 
are few architects 
who do not welcome 
suggestions from 
their clients; but re- 
member that if he is 
clever enough and 
experienced enough, 
for you to employ 
him to design your 
house, he must know 
infinitely more about 
the appropriateness 
and practicability of 
all the details than 
the owner. So give 
him the veto power 
and you will find that 
he will use it reluct- 
antly and with dis- 
crimination. 
Another word—if 
you wish your house 
to be an_ excellent 
success, set aside five 
per cent. of your ap- 
propriation to be 
used in carrying out 
refinements and im- 
provements which 
will always develop 
as possibilities in the 
course of any archi- 
tectural work, if it 
has the love of those 
