SUBURBAN HOUSE DESIGNED FOR A LOT HAVING WIDE FRONTAGE BUT LITTLE DEPTH
Published in The Craftsman, September, 1905.
HOW THE HOUSE LOOKS WITH AMPLE GROUNDS AROUND IT AND A SETTING OF TREES FOR A BACKGROUND.
THIS house was designed primarily for use in the suburbs and the plan was adapted to a lot with wide frontage, but no great amount of depth. Of course, it would be better to have such a building surrounded by plenty of lawn, trees and shrubs; but if ground space were limited, a great deal could be made even of a meager allowance for front and back yards.
While the design admits the use of other materials which may be better suited to a given locality or considered more desirable by the owner, our plan was to have the house built of stone and shingles, the lower story and chimneys being of split field stone laid up in dark cement, and the upper story of cedar or rived cypress shingles, so finished that they are given a soft gray tone in harmony with the prevailing color of the stones. We have suggested that the shingle roof be stained or painted a soft moss green.
We regard the arrangement of these verandas as being especially comfortable and convenient, for although none of them are large, they serve admirably to supplement the inner rooms by furnishing what are practically outdoor rooms for general use. The front veranda, which is partially recessed, is
20sheltered from the street by the parapets and flower boxes. As doors open from this veranda into the hall, (lining room and living room, it is much more closely connected with the house proper than is the case with the usual entrance porch, and is well fitted to serve as an outdoor sitting room. The veranda at the back of the house opens from the dining room and is meant to be used as a dining porch in summer time. Another door opening into the pantry makes it easy to serve meals out there. In winter this porch can easily be glassed in and used as a conservatory or sun room, and if heated, would make a very pleasant place for the serving of afternoon tea or for any such use. A third veranda opens from the kitchen and is meant especially for the comfort and convenience of the servants-
We would suggest here also that the openings from the hall into the dining room and living room be very much wider —a thing which could be easily (lone and which is now a feature of all the Craftsman houses. A glance at the floor plan will suggest the charm of such an arrangement, as it would allow a long vista from one fireplace to the other and would add much to the comfort and charm of the house as a whole. As will be noted, the Iiv-
