Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1869-05-07
From Hearth and Home.
WHO SHALL BUILD OUR HOUSE

The question is very disturbing on,
to a great many people. All the morl
because they have so many wants il
the matter.
They want it, first, very eheapIy
built-that is to say, they want Il
make a good bargain of it.
Next, they want it tastefully built.
Next, they want great deal of room
, in a house not very large (which is al.
ways an awkard want.)
/ Next, they are not quite sure of ma
terial, but want the best, and that il
should not cost too much, and are open
to conviction in respect to any materi-
al which be economical, and beautiful,
and durable.
Next, they want a good architect,
who shall be experienced and manage
able, and listen to their views, and
modify plans as the work goes on, and
keep cost within hailing distance Of
the estimates.
4 Next, they want, virtually, to plan
The wants may be reasonable enough
individually, but when they are mass
ed together in the mind of talkatiYe
man or woman, they make an awk-
ward congeries of wants.
In old times, nobody thought of con-
suIting an architect about house-bui1d-
| ing but matured his own plans, so far
! as able, and then compared notes with
/ the master-carpenter, who carried the
matter through. But II has come TO pc
understood that he who devotes him
self to the planning of houses every
week in the year, should know naone
about it than he who plans once in a
lifetime and yet there are very few
architects who are left untrammelled.
We had occasion to ask, not long
since, one of the most accomplished
architects of this city, what country
house of his construction he felt most
pride in?
st feel pride in none," said he's ssI
have never yet been fully my own
master"
The same thing is doubtless true to a
considerable extent of the architects
of churches and other public buildings,
who are subject to the rulings of COM
mittees, who have always a lively idea
of their Judgment in the premises. -
But is it reasonable request, that q
man should give up wholly the models
ling of the house which is to make his
home for years to the judgment of the
architect
By no means and that architect is
the best who can so interpret and meet
the special wants of the home-seeker I
as to clothe them with a form of grace
which shall at the same time be IN
keeping with all the demands of the |
site and of the climate.
What the householder has right to iIl- |
]
ience in interior arrangement (Ofwhich l
a good housewife is the best planner in |
the world) he has right to insist fur /
ther upon such economies as to mate /
rial or method as his means may de-
mand but beyond this, he should /
venture his opinions tothe architect TO /
whom he may give his confidence,
sparinglY, and with a doubt of their !
real weight. What may be effective or
tasteful, or agree best with the site, In
wolves considerations, to which the |
architect, if he be accomplished in his
profession, should have given far more
study than he can give himself And
the chances are that he will do better
by yielding all these points to his Jug
ment.
To insist upon special treatment is
like insisting upon special treatment of
your sick child, in whose behalf you
have summoned the best professional
skill. rsl ~
But we do not advise any one to ela-
ploy one of those surly and browbeat-
ing architects who are quite sure that
they know every thing much better
than we can possibly know it our
selves. This is like being imposed up-
On by one of those pretentiOus garden
srs who will never allow us to pluck q
rose in our own greenhouses. 1t is
safe to discard pretentious and POM
pous people everywhere and always.
We sum up our talk upon this sNo-
ect thus Choose an architect IN I
whose skill you have confidence, and
having chosen, give some reasonable
range to your confidence.
Insist mainly upon the interior ar
rangements which you have at heart,
and upon your own limitations of cost.
But (and this is a postscript) always
reckon upon paying fifteen per cent
more than estimates always keep a !
good heart (whatever your shouse),- if
Zou have only Hearth and Home.