The Small House Which is Good 
A Half-Timbered Cottage at Nutley, N. J. 
William Strom, Architect 
T HIS house thoroughly good, from whatever 
point of view it may be considered, was 
designed by the architect owner for his own 
occupancy. The exterior with its random ashlar 
stone foundations and porch work; the exposed 
timbers of the wall construction filled between with 
stucco work; the steep pitch of the roof and the 
charming casement windows, all proclaim the Eng¬ 
lish origin of the inspiration. The trees and ever¬ 
greens surrounding it provide the final requisite for 
the suggestion that it is the lodge of some great estate. 
From the low recessed porch whose stone columns 
carry the projection of the second story of the house, 
one enters the little hall, finished in oak with walls 
tinted a shade of buff. The stairway at the left has a 
landing up two risers above the floor, where a case¬ 
ment window looks out upon the lawn. A Chinese 
lantern of teakwood and painted glass hangs from 
the ceiling; on the polished floor is an Oriental rug 
of soft coloring. 
The lower floor, while small, is well arranged and 
all the space is utilized to its fullest possibility. 
Generous fireplaces are found in the parlor and 
dining-room and in the latter Chester cabinets are 
built in the corners of the rooms. 
The color scheme of these two rooms is very 
agreeable indeed. The parlor is in dull green, 
russet brown and mahogany. Low book shelves fill 
much of the wall space. The hangings for the leaded 
windows and the square archways, as well as the 
upholstery of the divan and chairs, are in a some¬ 
what darker shade of green than that of the walls. 
The dining-room walls are in dull red with hangings 
of the same color in a deeper shade. A beautiful 
old Sheraton sideboard is a feature of this room. It is 
flanked by a fascinating inullioned casement win¬ 
dow. 
The second floor is remarkably roomy, has four 
well-lighted chambers, as may be seen by the accom¬ 
panying plans. Here are two more fireplaces built 
in quaint pattern of yellow gray or red brick. The 
walls are covered with old-fashioned pale yellow 
paper with plain stripes of old rose or orange. We 
find some splendid examples of old furniture in the 
family heirlooms: highboys, sewing tables, low 
posted bedsteads in Colonial mahogany and brass 
trimmed dressers of the First Empire. The bath¬ 
room is shortened somewhat to allow for a curious 
little stairway to the maid’s room in the attic. Al¬ 
together this is an exceedingly attractive house for 
the cost. It was built some years since, but could 
be duplicated to-day for about five thousand dollars. 
A Colonial House at Highland Park, Ill. 
Arthur G. Brown, Architect 
T HE home of Mr. Elisha Morgan, which, while 
only ten minutes’ walk from the railway 
station, is a veritable “Nest in the Woods.’’ 
It is built upon the edge of a wooded ravine a block 
from the bluff overlooking Lake Michigan. 
It faces the west, which gives a delightful outlook 
to the south and east, over and through the wooded 
growth of the ravine. 
The exterior follows closely the form and detail 
of the New England Colonial, being clapboarded 
and painted white. The outside of the front door is 
painted white and with the side-lights, fan-transom 
and gabled entablature presents a quaint and very 
attractive feature to the street. 
From an open stoop the entrance hall is reached 
through a vestibule. The woodwork throughout 
the house is all eggshel-white enamel finish, and all 
doors are birch and of one panel design, all stained 
with dark mahogany wood tint and finished with 
shellac and florsatin. The stair-treads and the 
hand-rail are also of birch stained to dark ma¬ 
hogany. 
The living-room, 14x25 feet, has east, west and 
south exposures. On the latter side, entrance to the 
screened porch is effected by French windows. The 
fireplace in this room is low and broad. The facing 
of mantel is of light buff brick laid in red mortar. 
The mantel shelf and brackets which support it are 
of birch stained dark mahogany. The white wood¬ 
work of this room, the mahogany shelf and the brass 
andirons make a most pleasing combination with the 
delicate green of the walls. 
The dining-room has a plate rail at a height of 
six feet. The walls are tinted “pumpkin yellow.’’ 
The kitchen department is complete and provided 
with every convenience. 
The second floor has three bedrooms and a bath¬ 
room. The bedroom on the south has a fireplace 
and has been arranged for the owner’s use, with 
double closets each having an outside window. 
The third or attic floor besides a bedroom has a 
servant’s room, a bath-room and a large unfinished 
room for storing trunks, etc. 
All floors except in the kitchen are of oak, un¬ 
stained. The wood finish, as well as the plaster 
walls to a height of five and a half feet in the bath¬ 
rooms are finished in white enamel. 
The house is heated by a hot water system. The 
hardware is artistic, glass knobs having been used 
on the doors throughout the house. The plumbing 
devices are of the best sanitary type. The house 
cost $6,300. 
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