HOUSE AND GARDEN 
July, 
1912 
hall, so cut up had the various rooms been to meet later demands. 
It was only by following the beams that the size of the rooms 
could be determined. As far as possible the old woodwork was 
left. In some cases the old beams were so dilapidated that they 
had to be covered, but where possible they were left showing their 
original hand-hewn work. Good 
judgment has been shown in this res¬ 
toration, for the interior of to-day is 
as correct as when the house was first 
built. 
Fortunately Mr. Blaney is a con¬ 
noisseur in antiques, having made a 
careful collection, so that the house as 
it now stands shows no discordant 
note, its furnishings all being of the 
same period. 
The entrance door opens into a wide 
hallway which extends through the 
width of the house, ending in a second 
door at the rear. The staircase is 
placed at one side, and allows plenty 
of room for the fine furnishings. The 
floor here, as throughout the house, is 
of pine, painted, and in some rooms 
the width of the plank determines its 
age. 
After the paper had been removed, the woodwork was sand¬ 
papered and painted white, while the space between of plaster was 
painted a soft gray. This tone is well chosen for setting off the 
many English prints that adorn the walls. 
At the right of the hallway is the living-room with its low stud, 
•strictly typical of the period in which the house was originally 
huilt. The walls which are white show to advantage the wonder¬ 
ful pictures, while the old fireplace bespeaks cheer on cold winter 
nights. A few pieces of Mr. Blaney’s fine pewter are shown here. 
The old-time chest, used as a wood-box, stands next to a fine ex¬ 
ample of a serpentine front, slant top “scrutoir” of the 1760 era, 
but the most interesting pieces in the room are the slat-back, rush- 
bottom double chairs, arranged on either side of the fireplace. An 
air of dignified comfort pervades this 
room, that is most restful. There is 
no confusion of furnishing, and each 
piece shows •such careful thought that 
it combines to make a perfect whole. 
Opening out of this room at one 
side is the dining-room, large of build, 
affording in its arrangement an im¬ 
pression of hospitality. Here is shown 
a good illustration of a Colonial fire¬ 
place, minus the mantel, with wood 
panels above. The only lack felt here 
is the absence of a corner cupboard 
for china. The walls are hung with 
Washington prints, for Mr. Blaney has 
a collection of these embracing many 
that are rarely seen. Over the fire¬ 
place the idea of the Revolutionary 
period is carried out by the addition 
of an old flint-lock and powder 
horn. This room is in reality two 
thrown into one, for when the house was first built, following 
the treatment of the period, there was a small chamber on the 
entrance floor, which was thrown into the new dining-room to 
give the size that was needed for the accommodation of the 
many week-end guests. 
Opposite the dining-room is the den, a typical Colonial room 
with wide fireplace, furnished with banister and slat-back chairs. 
(Continued on page 63) 
.Surely no home built to-day could radiate such an inviting and home-like spirit as this with its great elms and simple vine-clad clapboards. Every 
detail of the finish and furnishings is planned to be in keeping with the exterior 
