A Remodeled Country House 
By MARY H. NORTHEND 
N ot tar from the Middlesex Hunt, in Concord, 
Massachusetts, is situated the all year round 
home of Mr. Grafton St. Lee Abbott. In the 
midst of rolling country, it stands the central feature 
of an estate consisting of about two hundred acres of 
meadow and woodland, bordered on either side by 
river and by road. 
The house itself is commodious and handsome, a 
perfect type of the remodeled house, giving a splendid 
illustration of the successful alteration of a small 
country house. There is no set plan in its arrange¬ 
ment, no special style to its architecture, for in every 
particular the owner’s desires were simply carried out 
hy the architect. Air. Philip B. Howard, of Boston, 
Massachusetts, and his ingenuity, not less than the 
owner’s excellent taste, is responsible for the pleasing 
results. 
The grounds are entered at the left of the dwelling 
through an avenue which winds between the stable 
at the left, and the house upon the right. On 
approaching the dwelling it seems unusually low 
because of its unique construction, and the fact that 
it is set fairly upon the ground with no vestige of 
foundation save under the middle part which formed 
the original house. This consisted of four rooms, to 
which a dining-room has been added, and it forms the 
right wing of the present structure. 
There is no more difficult task than to remodel an 
old house to conform with the ideas of a new owner, 
and one that fails more f requently than it meets with 
success. The 
original house in 
this instance, as 
well as the din¬ 
ing-room, is of 
frame construc¬ 
tion, with a 
covering of plas- 
t e r on metal 
lath. A devia¬ 
tion is found, 
however, in the 
large ell at the 
left which is con¬ 
structed of brick. 
I'he exterior of 
the ell is nearly 
hidden during 
the summer by 
the drooping 
branches of a 
great elm, which 
is a feature of the 
grass field at 
the left of the grounds. At one side of the large 
door by which entrance to the house is gained, is a 
low covered veranda, unique from its position, 
for it is all upon the ground. Passing through 
the door one reaches the hall proper, one of the 
handsomest parts of the house. It is very wide, 
with timbered ceiling the beams for which were 
obtained from trees primeval that had grown upon 
the estate. The splendid effect of the hall is in part 
due to the wainscoting which extends from the floor 
of brick set in mortar, to the ceiling. The panels of 
wood as well as the moulding in the hall are white, 
contrasting beautifully with the dark beams of the 
ceiling and the brick floor. The hall is really more 
formal than any other part of the house, the idea of 
the owner being comfort not formality. In recessed 
alcoves Constitution mirrors are hung and interesting 
pieces of furniture add to the distinctiveness of the 
hall. 
At the left of the hallway is the large reception- 
room which occupies an entire wing of the house and 
ends in wide windows the seats of which are piled 
high with downy cushions. A large open fireplace is 
at one side of the room, and the walls on either side 
are effectively treated with rich panels of tapestry. 
Overhead, the ceiling 'beams accentuate the lowness 
of the room, andjgive it an old-fashioned aspect. 
This room is really library, reading-room, and 
reception-room combined in such an agreeable man¬ 
ner that there is in the arrangement of it all no 
discordant note. 
Near the en¬ 
trance, atthe end 
of the room, are 
low book cases 
filled with choice 
books purchased 
more for their 
worth than be¬ 
cause of their 
luxurious bind¬ 
ings. Opposite 
the large fire¬ 
place is a wri¬ 
ting desk for the 
convenience o f 
the guest or the 
master. Upon 
the walls are a 
number of por¬ 
traits of the 
famous Adams 
family with 
whom Mrs. 
HOME OF GRAFTON ST. LEE ABBOTT, ESQ., CONCORD, MASS. 
H 
