A manual of home-making

A dwelling combining the above features is illustrated in Fig. IL Wisely stiidiGi! and frankly arranged, without a foot of waste room, thLs structure represents a type of farmhouse that is economical to build, to heat, and to work* The stairs for the whole house are contained in one vertical shaft; the hall is reduced to a small area; an office is placed near the roadway and away from the housewife's work, %vhich is accom* modated in a dining-room and kitchen combination; a man's room is provided at the extreme end of the plan^ a%vay from the family; a washroom is on the line of travel between the hack porch and the dining-rcKnn; and a spacious living-room, mth fireplace antl window groups, is locatwl on a desirable comer. On the second floor, the stairs land centrally in a square hall, which gives direct entrance to each of the four bedrooms and to the bathroom; the bedrooms are provided with good closets; hght and ventilation are everywhere abun- dant, I 20 A MANUAL OF HOME-MAKING LWJMWY . FIP5T rLOOR PLA/M. ■*^ HALL JED R<«n If ^^. TlBU^f?^ ATTJC .*5F^Ct ^ 5tccyHD ruooR PLAN Fig. 11. — A house pl&aaed for fiimi lifo and fa mi rondiiioiis* Modem imprmemefda. The class of conveniences koown as modern iraprovementa — \ meaninjr ihtTehy phimbing, heatinj?, and lighting systems, the installation of nierlniniral power to Ix* ilsihI for pumps, wash- ing machines, mangles, vacuum cleanei*s, and the like — may properly !>e discussed only hy experts who have special knowl- edge of them. The practical aspect of most of thet^e improve- J meots has been widely discussed in books and pamphlets, so that any householder may become informeil Ijefore iDatalling 8uch improvements in the home. EXTERIOR DESIGN (PLATES I AND II) In order to be a success, a ooiiriiry house must l>e in har- mony with its environment. It shouUl appear to have grown on its site, and to be a normal expresf^ion of human life in nat- ural surroundings. The house should be in tutie with the color and the contour of the landscape. Fanii lands which are for Ihe most part flat or rolIin«r, produce contoui*s which are strongly horizontal. Architectore that h aijpropriate to such landscape should in general he low, K>road, and snuj!;. Tall Uttqw structures are necessaiy in cities where land is costly and are appropriate in rugged, cliffy countries where nature k replete with vertical surfaces; but they are inappropriate h when standing free on a fiat gite. Color scheme. Tile setting of a rural house presupposes such natural scenery as is composed of trees, shrubs, lawns» gardens, hills, rocks^ and streams. The color effect of the house must l>e in harmony with this setting. 8ueh colons as white, cream, grays, soft greens, and browns of various sbtnles will always harmonize with nature, lied is bold unless partially screenetl by planting. The use of brick is about the only reason for introducing a red scheme. Brick walls are hroken in mass by jointing and od by contrast at the openings, whereas a womlen house painted red is distressing. When field stone, concrete, cement, or brick is used, the color scheme is spontaneous, being pro- duced by the color of the materials selected; when wood is employed » however, a surface color effect is appli*?d by means _of stain or paint. This color scheme should be neither too iiU nor t.oo bright.