Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-08-05
MODERN HOMES FOR OMAHA
Gsorgs v. JohnsOn's New Residence Fine
Example Of Comfort.
OLD ENGLISH BROUGHT UP TO DATE
Architects Adopt the E1iHabethnn TO
the twentieth Century with
Good EJECT and Produce
an Ideal Home.

an Ideal Home.
Some OF the auaintest and most substan-
tal features OF the old English dwelling
have been Invested Of their gloominoss.
modified to conform to modern day ideas
of comfort and convenience and employed
with admirable results in some Of Omahas
handsomest new homes One Of the most
pleasing Illustrations Of such treatment is
found in the residence OF George W. John
stcn, 1929 Dodge street, designed by Fisher
& Lawrie and recently completed at a
cost of $4,000.
1t IL from the Elzabethan period that
the architects have borrowed in the main,
but this does not extend throughout the
house, for the lighter and dainter styles
have been employed In some Of the rooms,
according to their use. The whole is com
bined. however with most harmonious eff
feet
An old English hall Of generous dmen-
sions serving as living room and library
10 the main apartment OF the first moor
and one OF the handsomest OF the house.
IT Is 54x16 feet and extended at the east
end by library above built on the south.
The woodwork is rich, and, while heavy,
not massive. It Is Of beautifully grained
weathered oak and highly finished. The
exposed beams Of the ceiling occur at In
tervals OF about four feet and are hand
somely turned. The doors are finished in
colonial panels and the castings follow tho
same plain design. A broad recessed mantel
and fireplace extend across the east end
Of the room. close to the frames of high.
three-foot loaded window on either side,
which I'LL the remaining space The wall
space below these is covered by book
cases.
The mantal sets back about two feet, the
shelf being of plain, highlypolished oak,
supported by block brackets. The side
panels are also plain and extend from
floor to ceiling. and the front Is spanned
by slightly arched beam. The back is
set with a heavy mirror. The fireplace
IS faced with red brick and is equipped
with heavy brass rail, fuel box, etc, and
a quaint old fire box. all brought from
Wales by Mrs. Johnston.
The library alcove is one Of the quaintest
features OF the room. 1t is a deep, recessed
window bowed to admit OF a view up and
down the street. This bow is about three
feet deep and filled with a plain oak pan
eled window seat. The window castings
are broad and hung with quaint imported
draperies The sides Of the alcove are
formed by inset book cases, with effectively
loaded art glass doors filling the upper
space and below by recesses that hold the
steam radiators.
The light fixtures are Of brushed brass
and include. besides the electrolier, plain
side brackets with art globes that when
Illuminated give freight glow to the
room.
Broad paneled sliding doors leading to
The music room balance the west side OF
the ROOM and to the right of these few
steps lead 70 the stairway landing, which
is arched and partially screened by the
railing. The stairway Is inclosed and IL
lighted at its second landing by large
art window Of rich design and delicate
coIoring A paneled wainscoting follows
the stairway TO the second floor
The music room follows the Louis XIV
style. It's woodwork and walls are of pure
white enamel.
The dining room, opening off the living
room at the north, is finished in Honduras
mahogany, highly polished. A heavy but
graceful cornice Joins the ceiling and side
walls and a plate shelf with block supports
extends around the room about six feet
above the floor. A twelve-foot recessed
buffet furnishes the north wall. II is about
three feet deep and the lower portion is
fitted with drawers. The back and sides
Of the recess are paneled with mirrors and
above are three windows of loaded glass
with but little color The buffet lights arc
OF brushed brass, small and severely plain.
These are among the handsomest fixtures
Of the house. being scarcely more than a
square, short rod, from which is sus-
pended a bunch of grapes that hide the
light bulbs. The wall space between the
east windows is occupied by gracefully
constructed cabinet OF mahogany and the
room is furnished IN mahogany. The dome
OF the table light is OF rich art glass and
Is suspended by a brass chain.
Upstairs in the sleeping chambers there
Is a decidedly lighter effect. The wood
work OF the hall and the majority OF the
rooms is of oak. the same colonial pan
cling prevailing below occurring in the
doors and other finishing.
The apartments of Mr.. and Mrs. Johnston
occupy the entire front OF the house, con-
sisting OF sitting and dressing room and the
bed alcove at the west. Here the wood
work and finish are entirely OF white en-
amel. The colonial mantel at the east end
OF the room is OF white enamlel and the
fireplace is faced with white tile the fur
nishings being OF brass. A deep recessed
window twelve feet wide is paneled in
white enamel and has a seat extending
across its entire width. The closets arc
exceptionally commodious and complete
being furnished with drawers
The bath room is entirely in white en-
amel and white tile and its loaded art win
dow carries out conventionaliEed water
lily design.
The electric light switches are a con
venienoe worthy Of mention. One turn
lights the electrolier; a second turn lights
the side lights: third turn extingulshes
one, and fourth. the other.
II is also worthy OF mention that the art
glass which is OF exceptional beauty, was
designed and made in Omaha. This is also
true of the greater part OF the interior
finishing, except some Of the mill work.