File:American homes and gardens (1912) (17968958579).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar91912newy (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

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June, 1912 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 197 step is placed before the main doorway which opens through a small vestibule into the entrance-hall, lofty and spacious, which divides the house. At the far end is built the main stairway and upon its wide square landing are several tall windows grouped together. The walls of the hall are paneled and the details of newel and stair-balusters agree in style with that of the walls themselves. Close to the main entrance of the house is a small apartment planned as a reception-room and used as such, although fitted up as a smoking-room or den. The walls are covered with a fabric of a dark tint which affords an excellent back- ground for woodwork painted cream white and old sporting prints and colored engravings in mahogany frames with which the room is hung. The size of this very spacious house seems to be even greater than it really is for living- and dining-rooms are placed at either side of the broad hall and wide door open- ings offer a long vista closing with a glimpse out-of-doors, for at one end of the living-room are windows which open upon a veranda and still farther beyond are seen the barn, shrubbery and trees. Other windows of this beautiful room open upon a terrace and still another group overlooks a garden laid out with the formality which belongs to such an estate. The walls of the living-room are paneled like the hall, in squares of walnut, and against this rich, dark background are placed pictures with gold frames and the numerous small belongings which fill the living-rooms of a large American country house. Two heavy beams of walnut break the ceiling and muoh of the furniture is of the same wood of Elizabethan design or of old English oak in the form of chests and coffers. A deep fireplace lined with brick and fitted with a "hooded" mantel of stone occupies part of one side of this long room and drawn up about the fireside are divans and chairs, a large study table and a grand piano. The influence of the English period style is especially noticeable in the dining-room, for here, in addition to more paneled walls, furniture of old English pattern and a Tudor fireplace of stone lined with brick, is a ceiling of plaster modeled after the manner of the ceilings in Holland House, Hardwick Hall and other great English country houses. One side of this large dining-room is lighted by windows opening upon a broad terrace overlooking the estate, and at the other side of the room are four small windows placed in the high paneled wainscoting. In one corner is the entrance to the pantry and just before the door is placed a screen which conceals its frequent opening and closing. A tiny dining-room is planned for the special com- fort of the junior members of the family and, like the main dining-room, is connected with the kitchen and service por- tion of the house by the narrow hallway which leads from there to the main entrance of the house. The kitchen and servants'-hall occupy one end of the building and directly over them are the servants' sleeping-rooms and their bath- room separated from the main part of the upper floor by a short flight of steps. The bedrooms for family and guests are arranged in suites, several having bathrooms of their own. The master's rooms are placed directly over the living-room and are separated from the rest of the floor and provided with a small balcony which might be used for out-of-door sleeping if desired. Several small bedrooms are planned for the children and they connect directly with their own bathroom. This attractive house, as has been said, is set far from
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In the dining-room the influence of the English period^style is especially noticeable

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