File:American homes and gardens (1908) (17966231958).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar51908newy (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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Text Appearing Before Image:
140 AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS April, 1908 with brick, offered ample opportunities for modification and enrichment. Woe to the architect, however, if any change had been made without restraint, good taste and judgment, which considerations, if not rightly heeded, might have made the place lose the distinction of character which was only waiting to be developed. The amount of change has cer- tainly not been excessive, and the improvements have been carried out in sympathy with its subject and its environments. The underpinning had bulged out, so it was found neces- sary to jack the house up, tie it together with steel rods and rebuild it. The platform on which the portico rests was rebuilt, but the front door was maintained, except that new wall opposite and on the right side of the hall and repeat the arch and columns. By this alteration a broad transverse vista is extended through the library, taking in the fireplace, and beyond to the sun-room. The hall and the interior throughout contained a simple trim with fluted bands and corner blocks. This was retained, and on the level of the window sills a heavily molded chair rail was extended around the hall and the three rooms on the first story, up the stairways and around the hall of the second story, creating the effect of a Colonial wainscoting, which enhanced the value of the interior decoration. The classic detail of the exterior was repeated throughout the interior,
Text Appearing After Image:
Mahogany Furniture of the Colonial Period, a Queen Anne Mirror, Banjo Clock, and an Old Franklin Stove in the Fireplace Are Some of the Ornaments of the Library leaded glass side windows and transoms were inserted. In the interior the great school-room was divided into three rooms—a drawing-room, library and dining-room. The drawing-room and library are in reality one room, though they are separated by an archway supported on Ionic columns, while a wall containing sliding doors was inserted between the library and the dining-room. The sun-room was built so that it might be easily reached from each of the three rooms. The old windows were removed, the wall cut to the floor, and French windows were installed, forming con- venient access to the sun-room. The fine old staircase, rising from either end of the hall, formed an archway, at the corners of which were fluted Ionic columns. The wall space was broken at the north side of the house and a great bay window was built, which was lighted by three windows, in front of which is placed a circular win- dow seat. This made a very attractive feature, but to in- crease the beauty of the effect it was decided to break the and a cornice eighteen inches in depth, and of a character similar to the exterior frieze, was built at the intersection of the wall and ceiling throughout the first floor. In the hall the wall space between the wainscoting and cornice is covered with a German wall paper in two tones of old rose with a heavy brocaded finish, while the walls of the drawing-room and library are covered in a two-tone mustard- colored silk. The dining-room walls between the wainscot- ing and cornice are covered with tapestry in green trees on a blue background. The staircases in the hall, which are of mahogany, have been cleaned down, and in the removal of the varnish a com- pass in inlaid work was discovered on the top of each newel just where the rail sweeps down and forms a circle. Oriental rugs in harmonizing colors of old rose, yellow and brown cover the highly polished floor of oak, while a thousand legged table, Chippendale chairs, an Empire sofa upholstered in old rose, a grandfather's clock, and family

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