The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-02
SOME NEW hooks.
How We May Make Our Dwellings Fit and
HenutIfnl


ness Of our suburban and rural dwellings dur
ing the last decade has been marked ~ to in
dictate general awakening and eager move
ment Of tho public mind in this direction.
Nothing. therefore, could be more timely and
useful than a practical and trustworthy guido
for that numerous class OF persons VINO wish TO
build. furnish. and bcautfy their houses with
out n large outlay Of money The rich may buy
taste, IL they do not possess II, nut people OF
small means arc concerned 10 know 10y what
happy expedents and application OF personal
ingenuity they may adjust craving Tor things
oomoly to the modest compass ofthoir resources.
Tho precise kind of information needed IS sup
piled by book before us-Moda'H Dwellings,.
by H. HuDsoN HOLLY (Itarpersl. Tho title. no
doubt suggests the work OF H. Violet lie Due.
called HdbidiiOHs WOdeTHes. lbut the scope
OF the American treatise IN much wider. in
Guiding not only those styles aud sub-varietcs
OF architecture adapted to American wants
and climate. but the ancillary topics Of furni-
ture and decoration. MIR. lTolly's obligations
10 Sir Charles Eastlake and tho English spon-
Bors OF tho Queen Ammo " revival are also con-
siderable. But in turning these materials to
account the author never loses sight Of his main
purpose. namely. the establishment Of Amcri-
can country homes for people in moderate cir
cumstances.
Mo cOulu hSk no DCll'T proof OF lne uuluuI
good sense and qualifications as II practical
guide than his frank admission that Gothic ar
chitecture. gorinc1 by Street and Ruskin, was
not originally intended to meet domestic
wants. and for such a purpose has no truth or
honesty in it. He claims that in what i loosely
called tho Queen Anne" style we find the
most simple mode of honest English building
worked out in an artistic and natural form.
rcconcable with the sash windows and ordi-
nary doorways which express genuine house
hold needs. and thus conserving truth and fit
ness far more effectively than could be done
with the Wanted Gothic. Nor Is il a small adj
vantage of the free classic school that its
styles are in their construction. and in the
forms Of moulding employed identical with the
common native types familiar to American me-
chanics. OF tho Queen Anne" revival It may
DO said that while we trace in it the inilu-
enco Of the group OF styles known rs
tho Elizabethan, the Jacobean. and the
style OF Francis l.. all comprehcndcd un-
der the general head OF free classic. ii
has also been sensibly. and for our modest pur-
pose happily affected 10y what is known as the
cottage architecture Of the period. These cot
tages. which were common in the southern
Bhires OF England. and still exist In considera-
Bile numbers. are partly tmbcred. partly COW
cred with tile hangings. and have tall and
tlhtlouo VI NbuHlhtIAhl1 hIlStl-
merit.
But while We do well 10 introduce from abroad
such methods OF design rs meet our national
requirements. it is absurd not to eliminate those
portions for which We have no use. or make
such additions as our circumstances demand.
Mr.. Holly points out for instance that in our
pure atmos phere whore doors are readily alb
sorbed. 1t Is needless except In large establish
ments. 10 build the kitchen apart from the
house. since a simple buffers pantry interview
ing between it and the dining room would
effectually prevent tho entrance OF its fumes.
SO. too it would be pucrilc. in building Il
Queen Anne" cottage not 20 have n veranda.
simply because its English prototypes had
none In our dry and sunny climate we have
pressing neOd Of such appliances, and it is OBJ
vious that local conditions must beget many dis
tinctive features in American architecture. our
materials. moreover. no loss than our climat,
and habits differ so much from those OF Europe
rs to demand considerable change in choice
and arrangement. Thus, WOOD which is n mos
valuable building material. Is scarce and cN-
pensive In European countries. while in most
parts OF the United States It Is sufficiently album
dant. But instead Of using this In accordance
with its nature and capacities. We have stupidity
employed it In copying As slavishly as possible
details Of foreign architecture designed with
reference 10 the constructive capacities OF st04te
md brick We constantly $40. for example
rounded arches. key-tones and buttres-es o
wood or wood sdin-s sauded and blocked
OIL to represent stone. Fortunately oul
people are beginning To recognize the folly
Of such shams. and when they Use WOO,
endeayor 10 show details adapted to il
nature.
A specific advantage Tint American architects
4 a
contrast Of light and shade which materially
contributes 10 produce good elects ia building
We are naturally prompted therefore 10 ,h'
introductfln OF Irregularities. such a. proec
lions Of roofs canopies. yeraulGs and la'
windows. together with the intersections %
gables dormers, and the height OF chmneys. al
Of which serve 20 break the naked formslty O
the usual barn-likc outline. and to obtain tn
ever ,arying expression which nature has
stamped on the rocks and hills. Light and
Shade are indeed the happiest instru
nrnts Of design. and where. az in on
climate, they are easily procured, it seom'
almost superluous in country dwellings t
uso decorative external color to any grea
extent
1t Is evident Mr., Holly thinks that tho genera
tint covering the plain surface Of Il small hous
surrounded by trees should be light and cheer
than positive character since unprOuOuncc,
hues more readily harmonic with nature. Blu
we are not Of course to fall into the oppOst
extreme. and paint our houses whto which I
no color at all. ALWAYS cold and glazing, an
making an ugly spot upon tho landscape. N
that white building can be pronounced 50 OBJ
cciionable in city where We have no natur
with which 10 assimilato, but in the country tn
only white surfaces arc presented by snow o
chalk cliffs which put out tho eyes with thei
Intensity. Having selected the general tin
the trimmings should be Of darker shad
VI the samo sub-hue or even a deeper color l.
order to give them prominence. and assist /
bringing out tho design. We neod not pay
however, that this emphasis should never b
carried 10 tho height Of violent contras
As rule, any trimmings forming a fran
10 n panel should DO darker tina
the background or body Of tho house
ms also the stiles Of door should be NOR
strongly accounted than the panel. 1t is plain
~ important in coloring our houses to follo'
the arehitems advice. since an improper appli
cation OF paint may quite nullify the meAnin