July, 1921 
21 
The bungalow and the story-and-a-halj house both present reasonable opportunities for designs of moderate she. The 
bungalow, however, cannot be used on every type of site. In this instance a story-and-a-half bungalow is placed on a 
flat site at Southern Pines, N. C. It is the residence of John E. Pushee. Aymar Embury II, architect 
house is not always the least expensive to build; 
they require extensive foundations, an expanse 
of roof and are often expensive to heat. The 
story-and-a-half house, as represented by some 
Dutch Colonial and English cottage designs, 
will give the same number of rooms as the 
bungalow, require less foundation and roof, 
and afford a greater opportunity to build a 
house of individuality. Large dormers and an 
increasing pitch to the roof in a story-and-a- 
half house create adequate 
sleeping quarters upstairs. 
The man who builds a 
small house must be willing 
to sacrifice some of the fea¬ 
tures he would naturally 
have in a house of extensive 
size. An ample bathroom, 
a suitable kitchen and gen¬ 
erous closets are essential, 
but where the family makes 
no pretensions at formal liv¬ 
ing—and who of us does 
nowadays?—it is often pos¬ 
sible to eliminate the din¬ 
ing-room entirely. In its 
stead one can have a large 
living room and use one end 
for dining purposes, or else 
put in a “Pullman seat”. 
Certainly a “Pullman seat” 
dining alcove is not out of 
harmony in a small house 
where every inch of space 
must be made to count. It 
can serve for all three 
meals; in summer the fam¬ 
ily may eat out of doors in the garden or on 
the porch. 
Thrift, in building the small house—or any 
house—means wise spending for essentials. In 
addition to using standardized stock materials, 
good plumbing, good fixtures, one should not 
put adequate heating plant and labor-saving 
devices in the luxury class, but consider them 
as the essential of essentials. Do not hesitate 
to spend money for them. If the house is of 
timber and paint is required, insist that the 
best possible paint is used. It will add to the 
life of the wood and give the house a desirable 
appearance of being constantly kept in con¬ 
dition. 
The furnishing of the small house and the 
planting of its garden, both essential to its 
satisfactory completion, are problems that re¬ 
quire more space than the limits of these notes 
permit. Build a good house first—a house 
good architecturally and 
good to live in. If you are 
capable of doing that you 
are also capable of furnish¬ 
ing the rooms in good taste 
and planting the grounds, 
effectively. 
Each of us has in his 
mind’s eye the kind of small 
house we will eventually 
build. The more we think 
of it, the more the dream 
changes. There comes a 
time when the house as¬ 
sumes the appalling propor¬ 
tions of a nightmare. In 
order to crystallize our ideas 
into something tangible we 
require suggestions. To give 
these suggestions is the pur¬ 
pose of such magazines as 
House & Garden and such 
books as House & Garden’s 
Book of Houses. 
This magazine has al¬ 
ways advised prospective 
builders to turn their prob- 
Coutant 
A complete view of the Fischer house, of which the entrance is found on page 19, 
shows how the balance of the Georgian style lends dignity to a small house. Brick 
is the best material to use for this style 
