The Washington herald., 1908-07-12
DESIGN FOR EFFECT
Now Study En-
VirOnmentS Of House.
HOMES TAKE ON CHARACTER
More Attention Vow Given to Gar
den and Grounds Than Formerly.
Detail-PIain New England style
BECOMES Prevailing Type.
BY c. *. HOWELL. Architect.

by &. X. HOWELL, Architect.
A modern notion is steadily gaining
ground that If one is planning a home
ne must In the beginning see the whole
scheme through TO its completion A
man is no longer content 10 place an ex-
penslye structure where Il will not show
up for what it is worth" and he places
his house and designs its details with an
eye to it's environment and location.
II is the ultimate ambition Of most men
and women TO perpetuate their ideas Of
what is desirable and beautiful by build
Ing a handsome house, but the notion Of
such a house has changed. II Is not that
it has become idealized; Il is merely
that practical people have been brought
10 see that the best architecture must de-
pend in great degree upon its surround
ings for its effect
House Judged by Surroundings.
The idea Of the house. the character II
has elected 70 bear. must be carried out
in its furnishing and decoration. in its
gardens and grounds ! am not satisfied
TO suggest a certain style in architecture
and then disappoint the beholder On
the contrary I am urged by the artistic
impetus OF the times to carry out the
suggestion in rounded and beautiful com
pleteness A vast amount OF culture and
forethought now goes into the design of
a house The builder is no longer salts
fed with a nOndescTipt house which gives
him merely a comfortable home 10 live
in, but he must have something in CO.
lonial. Spanish. or Italian style.
OF actual space which the structure IS 20
cover is Of less Importance than in the
case OF Spanish or Italian architecture.
II is. therefore. better fitted for a city
house than either of these other styles.
Beautiful Spanish houses are now 10 be
seen at Newport and near Boston. while
the Italian villa Is becoming popular
model for the country home OF America.
Colonial House Never RambIeH,
The Colonial house may, upon occasion.
be made to spread It's wings and porti-
Goes over much ground. or its lines may
be unbroken and compact, but it never
rambles. Also. the grace and dignity OF
classic simplicity should invest II. yet
there are architects who mistake the
bare. hard lines OF an unfinished exterior
for this characteristic They appear 90
consider that scantiness and meagerness
IN ornamentatiOn means artistic restraint.
and they succeed in convincing the
thoughtful observer that they have failed
utterly 10 catch the true spirit Of the
Colonial house.
The old Colonial mansion. as seen
throughout New England. in the 3o0-year-
old village OF York, does not suggest a
prison-house Of forbidding aspect. but is
cheerful and spacious. it's rich front en-
trance Offering welcome 70 a wide hall.
and its porches poruCoes. and balconies
remove effectually every touch Of stiffness
from an outline which is singularly pure
and UnWOrried with triniug details To
the poetical mind New England offers in
her typical architecture an analogy 10
the Puritan maiden OF early DAYS who
did not wear many frills upon her frock
nor carry her heart upon her sleeve.
Attention TO Decorations.
In fitting and furnishing Colonial
house the difficulties which confront the
decorator are akin TO those which the
architect has TO face. To make a draw
ing-room. furnished on purely Colonial
lines. comfortable. easy. and luxurious
in effect when the furniture shows the
severity OF Sheraton, Chippendale. and
Hepplewhite designs. requires absolute
genius. There are, however. so many ac-
cessorles 10 this style Of furnishing
which may be made use Of 20 modify the
baroness and lessen the stiffness Of the
effect that 10 is possible 10 render such a
room absolutely charming and satisfac-
tory.
These accessories arc not always known
to the unlnitiated and il might be we'll to
- f..T
features. also. OF interior architectural
work which are necessary and are some
times neglected The elliptic arch. for
example. is far more beautiful and ap-
pTOpriate in the finish OF such a house
than the square opening between apart
ments. and while elaborate ceiling deCOra-
tionS are out Of place and do not con-
form 20 the simplicity which is the key
note OF the style. there should always be
a cornice fitted into the angle formed
by the side wall and the ceiling
Way ia Treat a Hall.
There are several ways of treating
Colonial hall all OF which are equally ef-
fective. ArchItecturally # may be arch
ed and pillared. or it may be merely
wide passageway through the house. In
all cases IL should be spacious and invit-
ing. and should show a fine stairway
The characteristic points which mark a
Colonial stairway are the broad and easy
''treads.' which may be either painted
white and carpeted or OF polished ma
hoGany. and laid with Oriental Nluners:
the mahogany hand-rail with white spin
dies the "goose-neck' turn Of the baIus-
ter, the graceful spiral at the foot. which
replaces the heavy newell post OF the Eng
lish stairway.
All these features go TO make up that
Interior Colonial work-the stairs In
many Of the oldest and handsomest
houses IN New England. spiral stairways
are to be seen. and for airy grace and
perfection Of finish, it would be hard to
md an analogy in the building Of our