The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-31
THE DINING ROOM. oAKEN PANELL1NG A FOIL FOR RARE OLD
POTTERY.
First in Gramercy Park and Now in Sixty-third
Street He Has Spread the Contagion
of Remodelling

manifeStly it would he foolish to spend :" much
money ia remodclling II house and then not
he able to enjoy it after 1t was done.
After considerable. search Mr.. Stcrncr found
the place. t" meet all his requirements III the
East Sixty-third street block. He discovered 1t
was possible L, obtain a long lea>ehold OF he
tween twenty five and thirty years with a cor
rcsInndingly low rental. While the lots We're
narrow they were deep. and moreover all the
houses in the neighhorhood were OF the same
relative height. IL fact which has its obvious ad-
yantagcS. So Mr.. Sterner secured Il long lease
Of two sixteen foot houses and threw them into
one and then developed from this unusual
ground space an abode that is as unique as IT Is
livahle and charming.
Under these restrictions, with the prospect
Of permanent neighiors and with the establish
mcnt Of n permanent standard for the property
in the vicinity, Mr.. Sterner proceeded to buin
his home. 1t wasn't a straightaway propositions
oven with the difficulties of the house ana
l,t dismissed of, for II was the owners aim not
only IN proyide n home for himself aud sister
with APARTMENTS above for friends, which would
hay. s.rmrote entrances, but to erect a studio
and draughting room In the rear which might
INC utnTDutueu INV '>
through the house. as was the case IN the
Nineteenth street home.
He solved the problem In II most pleasing
fashion. FIRST he built a corridor from the
front entrance through the courtyard to the
studio beyond, for which there Is "A separate
hell, ito announce the arrival Of business ac-
ouaintances or clients. One on entering Steps
below the pavement to the level of the basement
y.i- A. "a ,.., T., tho loft IL tna
d,or 70 the house proper. This communicates
with n narrow hall from which two staircaseS
ascend, one to Mr.. and Miss Sterner's apart
ments and the other to those the architect mas
built above. The arrangement is most con-
venient and splendidly solves the first problem
70 be considered.
MIR. Steruer wisely placed his culinary de
partment In front, reserving the rear rooms for
a dining room. On the basement floor overlook
ing the street is II big kitchen, servants hall
and bath. besides numerous closets ana Il buffers
pantry. which communicates with the immense
dining room opening into the courtyard.
While the dining room Is built on old Eng
lish lines 1t smacks somcwha of Dutch ancestry,
In part perhaps because of the old Dutch tile
fireplace which supplies such a homy note to
the room. There Is experienced a feeling or
SpaciOuSneSS on entering which Is III no sense
artificial, since the room is 32 feet square. yet
neither does II seem bare, for the low ceiling
creates II horny atmosphere which the huge
beams of English oak only serve to emphasize.
Crossed at right angles by narrow strips OF
wood set II foot apart and filled in with stucco
they add Il feeling If both strength and sim
plicity. The side walls as well as the ceiling
are rough p~lastered ana the deep cream tone
creates II sense Of cheerinrss In happy contrast
to the wcatlcred hue Of the oak.
There is n quaint Dutch fireplace set In the
midst of the highly colored tiles that cover the
chimney breast and end IN Il narrow mantel tn
which II valance Of English chintz Is hung.
Thanking the chimney are two old oak dresSerS
filled with rare old china Of mellow hucS. The
dining table Is Of the gate legged variety ana
the chairs the wheel hackcd WindSorS. \ CEN
tire piece Of ruddy fruits set In laurel leaves on
the table provides the keynote Of color In the
room, which Is reflected In the brilliant enamcl'
If the ancient pottery and in the gay prints
hung on the walls.
Opposite the fireplace Is another quaint ole