Evening star., 1914-12-26
WORK ON CORBY RESIDENCE
HAS ATTRACTED ATTENTION
Much Interest Manifested in Remodeling
and Enlarging of Chevy Chase Home,
Containing Unusual Music Room.

No residence construction in and
about Washington which has been
brought to completion during the year
lust drawing to close has attracted
such wide attention as the remodeling
and charging of the home of William
: Corby at Chevy Chase Circle Ihe
work was done in accordance WIN
plans prepared by Arthur b. Heaton'
architect.
The history of the residence. It's 10
-ation and the nature of the work
which has been done have been re-
sponsible for the interest manifested
in the undertaking. The original struc-
ture was the first large residence built
in Chevy Chase. having been erected
more than twenty years ago by Sena-
Tor Ncwlands of Nevada, who occu-
pied it as his home. 1t has con-
spicuous location, Il trianS Sular-shaped
Mot formed by the intersection OF Con-
necticut avenue. which borders 1T on
the west and Western avenue, whlch
borders ii on the east The house,
which is in the state of Maryland, be-
ing Just across the District of Coium-
ola line, is surrounded by spacious
grounds.
has been primarily responsible for the
attention which it has attracted. What
formerly was a house OF haif-frame
and half-masonry construction and of
no particular architectural design has
been transformed into one of the early
English or Elizabethan type. Archi-
tectural details have been reproduced
with the greatest possible accuracy
consistent with modern construction.
The barge boards of the many gables
OF the root furnish a good example of
the manner In which the Elizabethan
style has been followed, for all are-dec-
GRATED with hand-caryed ornamentation.
All of the exposed surfaces of the half
timbered construction beneath the
gables and about the porches OF the
house have been prepared so as to give
il the appearance of the hand-heWn
timber of olden days.
Exterior Appearance Changed.
The work which recently has been
completed included the building of two
additions to the house and the chang
ing of its exterior appearance. One ad-
dition was made In order 10 permit the
enlarging of the music room. feature
of the interior arrangement of the
house which is by far the most inter-
esting and unique. The additions have
been built of native granite, in Keeping
with the masonry of the original walls
of the house. The exposed timbers of
the caves and beneath the gables are
of chestnut, stained brown. The spaces
between the timbers in the wall con-
struction have been plastered with
buff-colored stucco having rough sur
face. The roof is of greenlsh gray
slate. At irregular intervals in the roof
there are pieces of slate of different
hue. which form pleasing contrast of
colors and give the roof the appearance
of having been erected many years ago,
which has necessitated occasional
patches.
Overlooks Sunken Garden.
The main entrance to the house is on
the north side and beneath a porte CO.
chere. At the south side of the house
there is q covered porch connecting
with tiled terrace. Steps lead down
10 walks of granite slabs which outline
d sunken garden rectangular in shape
Rows of dwarf box hedges and flower
beds in which o1d-fashioned perennlals
are to be grown flank the walks on
either side. Outside of the walks
dwarf evergreens of various speeleS
and rhododendrons have been planted.
At one end of the sunken garden there
is a lily pond, and on the retaining wall
above 1T an ornamental fountain is TO
he placed. All of the masonry in con-
nection with the garden is of native
granite, in keeping with the walls of
the house. At intervals along the walls
of the garden large red earthenware
vases have been placed.
Upon entering the house the first i'm
pressive- feature of the interior ar
rangement is huge fireplace and man
tel of Botticini marble, which occupies
the major portion of the entrance hall.
To the right is located the drawing
room and on. the opposite side Is the
music room. A doorway beside the
fireplace leads to a conservatory.
An ornamental plaster ceiling, copy
of famous ceiling in Hampton Court
A1> 80 ha
lrawing room. The walls are covered
with brocaded silk and the furniture is
Of carved oak. From one end of the
drawing room a doorway leads to the
library. which extends across the west
ern end of the house. All of the wood
work in this room is of mahogany.
There is a carved mantel with silk
tapestry above. The ceiling is of the
beamed type, the spaces between the
beams being finished in old gold.
The music room is by far the most
unusual feature of the house. 1t is
finished in the Italian renaissance
style. The room is fifty feet long and
about twenty-five feet wide The cell
ing is twenty-one feet high. Before
the remodeling and enlarging, which
has recentlybeen completed. this room
was only about one-half this size and
the ceiling was about twelve feet high.
Contains Large Organ.
a
portion of large organ, and the other
end is devoted to a huge loaded glass
window with easement and divisions
of limestone. At one side of the room
there is large fireplace of Caen stone
and above this hang several pieces of
sold-inlaid armor.
Oak wainscoting twelve feet high ar
ranged in panels. which have been
given soft antique finish, extend
around the walls of the room. Above
this the walls are of Caen stone. The
"eiling is of the beamed type and is
coIored to conform with the early
italian style The beams have been
decorated with various conventional
}esigns and heraldic ornamentation
executed in brilliant colors. The spaces
1etween the beams have been colored
With more subdued tones. Notwith-
landing the variegation of colors in
he ceiling decoration. the pigments
1ave been applied in such way as
70 give the impression of age rather
han newness.
Balconies In Music Room.
The Caen stone walls of the upper
portion of the room are broken at sew
eral places by balcony openings which
are guarded by oak balustrades fin
shed to conform with the wainscoting
rpon which they rest. These openings
of hp 10