File:American homes and gardens (1909) (17967490340).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar61909newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
i8o AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS May, 1909 of the simplest devices. It is typical of the whole house that this individuality should have been acquired in this way, and the quiet beauty thus produced is equally typical of the whole. A semicircular form is given to the terrace beyond the north porch by the circlet of flower borders and mountain laurel that surround it. In the center is an immense chest- nut tree and without is a row of small Scotch pines. The barns and farm buildings are at some distance beyond, and are so well hidden behind a mass of trees that scarce more than their tops are visible. Almost at the point where the circle inclosure on the north touches the house wall is the studio chimney. Surely never was a chimney given happier form than this! It is completely external to the house and has the real value of a tower. It is built of flat stones, laid with wide joints. It has a great square base, surmounted with a shin- g 1 e d roof, slightly in- curved, from the center of which rises the shaft, somewhat irregular in out- line, but loftily dignified. Just above the roof a small bas-relief is let into the shaft wall. Slabs of stone laid in the grass, and steps further on, lead down through a rustic arch to the broad green terrace upon which rests the western (and most pic- turesque) side of the house. The studio is the largest room in the house, and has a floor area of thirty by forty-two feet. It is a vaulted apartment some- what freely modeled af- ter a refectory in a mon- astery in Ragusa, in Sicily, that had long appealed to Mr. Clarke as an ideal room. The adaptation to his needs here has been highly successful. It is but justice to the architect, however, to add that this adaptation is one of idea only and not of details; this room is quite as indi- vidual as any in the house. It is placed at a lower level than the other parts, and is four steps below the hall and the north porch, from either of which it may be entered. The walls are completely plain, with a low base board, and are treated with ecru paint. The windows are somewhat varied in size and form, but all have frames with broad lower shelves, and long, bracket-like treatment of the sides, with a top shelf above. At the en- trance end is a balcony, hung from the ceiling by heavy rods of twisted steel, and reached by a stair within the room. Beneath it a piece of old Flemish tapestry is hung against the inner wall, and in front, dependent from the ceiling, is a fine model of an old Dutch admiral's ship. The fireplace occupies the center of one of the longer sides, and stands within an inglenook. The whole of this space is lined and faced with red brick. Each side wall is pierced for a small leaded window, below which Is a low stone bench. A vast
Text Appearing After Image:
1 he library mantel and fireplace oak beam carries the wall above the inglenook. There are numerous rugs on the hardwood floors, and the windows have sash curtains of pongee silk. There is a host of curious and beautiful things in this room; old jars of pottery and brass, Japanese and other armor, basket and bead work, copper vessels and plaster casts, and numerous sketches in oil and water colors by Mr. Clarke, for his achievements in these arts are quite as well known as in his chosen profession of sculpture. It is the treasure-trove of an artist, the gather- ings of many wanderings in foreign lands, and here charm- ing and delightful contributions to the harmony and interest of this fine room. And now the terrace. It is the chiefest of the beauties of this very beautiful house. The garden work here, as else- where on the estate, was designed and carried out by Mr. Clarke, and in the open terraced court at the back of the house he had Mr. Eyre's interesting grouping and detail as his foundation and background. Very re- markable results might well be looked for in work of two artists under the circumstances that ruled here, and it is but the sim- ple truth to say that re- markable results were obtained. And by the simplest means. This is the sur- prising and gratifying fact that presents itself in every part of "Fern- brook." Everything here is so charming, simple and delightful! There has been no building with costly marbles; no equip- ment with expensive fur- nishings; no sumptuous planting or elaborate gar- d e n i n g. But there is beauty everywhere; there is the artist's touch and soul; nature has not been forced but trained, gently molded, as it were, to meet the highly sensitive taste of the artist owner. Nowhere else could this be so completely mani- fested as in his own home and nowhere here is it so clearly shown as in the inner court or terrace. A glazed door from the hall leads to it and admits to the pergola. The space is brick-paved, laid herringbone-fashion, with an outer parapet of flat field stones, with wide mortar joints. Cedar posts stand on this and support the open roof, which is thickly overgrown with bittersweet and actinidia and grape-vines. A-top the parapet are all manner of de- lightful pots and jars, variously sized, shaped and colored and containing many growing plants. Stone steps, between low stone walls, lead to a lower level; at the base are jars of red terra cotta containing dwarf apple trees, mimic little things with real apples ripening on them. Enclosing this space are the wings of the house, the studio on the right, the service wing on the left; below the latter is a grape-vine per- gola. A second parapet encloses its outer margin, and bushes of golden elder glow at the opening to the lawn below.

Note About Images