A manual of home-making

Cold grays and tlrabs are about as cheer- 'Bs red is aggressive. In general, when choosing paint samples, it is wise to select a color that is somewhat fter than the effect desired. A small piece of gay color wliich 22 A MANUAL OF HOME-MAKING I I I looks interestinjj^ in tht^ hand, appeal's glarinR and t)nld coverinj? an entire liouse. Likewise, a cold, deati rolor ap] cheerless when useil in mass. The ehief factor to be avoided in paint injj; hous(*s is an ei- feet of patehiness. For exaraple, in the e^ise of a porch post or eolumn, the cap and the base should not be painted one color and the shaft another* The whole porch should be one idea* Cornices, brackc^ts, and moldings should not lie picked out by color, as light and shade interpret them sufficiently. Useless bric-a-brae and ornament that cannot be removed should be subdued as much as possible in the color scheme. Looked at jis a picture, the windows and doors of a housa should appear iis decorative accents^ contrasting with the background of wall. Windows esj)ecially are the eyes that give expression to tlie architectural face of the dwelUog. With walls of a light color the windows naturally form a dark con- trfist; but if the walls are dark or dull in effect, the windows may l>e enlivened by painting the sash a lighter or brighter color and the blinds a clear shade of green, yellow-brown, or other harmonious color. Doorways and entrances should have dignified recognition in the color scheme, General proportion. ^ The effectiveness of a house in the landscape depends not at all on ornament, but on its structural shape and the color m produced through the use of liuiUling materials* RefiJied f profXJrtions, simple ruof lines, and interesting l>ut noli violent contrasts lK?tween roof, walls, and openings, together with the character and arrangement of windows and doors, are the elements that combine to make of a country house an ex- ample of true rural architecture* It has lieen fireviously stated that the mass- proportion of a house in the opeii countiy should Lh* low and broad rather^ than tall and narrow. This feeling of proixirtion depends not fl so much on the actual height of the house fmm ground to gable, as on the position of the eave^s or the cornice line. When _ the eaves line is low, the effect of the house is low; hence the i THE MODERN HOUSE 23 value of long roof linrs in olitainin^ good proportions. If the roof rafters air brought down to the level of the second floor, a sotin<l« practical^ and at tract i\T structure usually results. It is desirable to include the porch under such a roof whenever, possible, since this simplifies the roofing system of the house' and unites house and porch into one contained design. While long roof lines and rccci^sed porches are not always desirable, they have their cliarm and place. Low eaves and a long roof lino usually tit a famihou.se plan ver>' conveniently because such a treatment l>rings a smaller second-floor plan than first -ficwr plan. This is exactly the farmhouse requirement. The rnonis imder the roof may be lighted and ventilati^d by means of generous dormers or gables.