November, 19 2 0 
33 
A SMALL COLONIAL HOUSE IN UPPER NEW YORK 
Which Shows to Advantage How Well This Type of Architecture Is Adapted 
to a Narrow Lot Where No Space Can Be Wasted 
ROBERT ELWOOD 
A FACTOR whose bear¬ 
ing the prospective 
builder of a house fre¬ 
quently overlooks, is archi¬ 
tectural style as affecting 
the interior plan. Where 
space and expense do not 
have to be considered, this 
may not be of great impor¬ 
tance, but on small grounds 
it becomes a vital considera¬ 
tion. The owner of a nar¬ 
row lot cannot afford to 
waste an additional foot 
which could be saved by a 
compact house” plan. 
By reason of its square 
or rectangular shape, the 
Colonial type of house is 
ideally fitted to effect this 
economy without cramping 
the size of the rooms. This 
fact is well brought out in 
the home of Robert Fein, 
Esq., in the upper part of 
New York City opposite 
Van Cortlandt Park. This 
is a comparatively new resi¬ 
dential district, where many 
excellent architectural ex¬ 
amples are to be found. 
The General Plan 
The house is of brick 
with white trim, and al¬ 
though it lies close to the 
street, attains a degree of 
privacy by reason of its 
screening shrubbery. A 
straight brick walk leads to 
the main entrance, entirely 
separated from the side 
walk which forms the ser¬ 
vice entry. 
■ 
The house is of brick with white trim, small but affording a surprising amount 
of room space. Shrubbery about the main entrance adds privacy and helps to 
shut off the service walk at the side. Dwight James Baum, architect 
Entering the small ves¬ 
tibule, one steps directly 
into a little hall with the 
living room on the left and 
the dining room to the right. 
The former especially is of 
good size for so small a 
house, and follows the prin¬ 
ciple that every house 
should have at least one 
large room. Service quar¬ 
ters are in the rear, so 
planned that they are not 
obtrusive as one passes from 
the living room to the porch 
which is so integrally a part 
of the house. 
The Rooms Upstairs 
The second floor ar¬ 
rangement is noteworthy in 
that, although there are but 
four bedrooms, two baths 
are provided. All the rooms 
are arranged around a 
square central hall—another 
space-economizing feature. 
Plenty of closet space is pro¬ 
vided, and as all the bed¬ 
rooms are corner rooms, 
abundant light and air are 
assured. 
An interesting fact about 
the house is that, although 
it was built during the war, 
when construction costs 
were well on the way to¬ 
ward their present high 
level, it cost but a little over 
$7,000. Yet it is thoroughly 
good, and with the growing 
improvement of the land 
about it will soon fit ad¬ 
mirably into its site. 
The first floor plan 
shows a compact 
room arrangement, 
with the service 
quarters in the rear. 
The living room 
opens directly on the 
porch 
All of the bedrooms 
have abundant light 
and air and are 
grouped around a 
square hall. Two 
baths are provided 
on this floor 
