New-York tribune., 1921-12-11
By Fl. H. Hobart
OF Curtis Conlp0nieS

W CUTt1S CODLV0Hte6
The windows of the house. Charles
T.. White jr. says in Successful Houses
and How to Build Them" arc second in
Importance only to the entrance, which
we have discussed in previous issue.
Whatever it's style~ house with
poorly proportioned windows or win
dows badly grouped makes poor ap-
pearancc. Neither ingenuity in plan
nor in proportioning the parts of the
exterior design can overcome the dis
aster caused by ugly windows. Though
primarily Intended to light the interior
of the house, windows are important
clements in the design, giving touch
to the cmoposition that will be good or
bad, according to ones taste in using
good windows or bad. Windows with
light below have been quite popular in
recent years and represent a sort of
compromise between the small panes,
which are more representative Of Colo
nial work, and the unattractive two
light windows, which has been a sort of
epidemic in the last decade. Elaborate
designs and colored glass should be
avoided diligently. Straight line de-
signs with plain glass will look much
better from the outside as we'll as the
inside of the house.
Without doubt it is harder to keep
small lights clean than larger ones,
because of the additional corners, but
the additional labor of washing the
small lights is little and it is more
than Offset by the increased attractive
ness they lend the whole house.
Colonial House Style
lnalmost all Colonial houses windows
are placed one over the other in per-
feet symmetry. This is a safe way to
treat them. as it always produces q
dignfied effect, and if the rooms are
carefully arranged the windows will
pc quite as useful one way as another.
In planning a house the designer, of
course, arranges his wir1iows where
they will light the rooms best, but in
doing so he should always consider
their exterior appearance. Frequently
IN the kitchen, where an extra amount
of light and air is required, it is good
practice to have group of three WIN
dows with narrow wood mullions be-
tween, thus giving a greater area of
hight to a room which needs all the
light and air it can get. In such an
arrangement it is a good idea to center
the group under the bedroom window
above, so that even though the win
dows below do not correspond with
those above they balance with them.
In many modern houses the stairs
extend up over the front entrance way
that is. the front entrance is under
the main stair landing. This makes
possible an engaging composition on
the exterior by permitting the use of
pretty stair window on the landing
over the front door. A little balcony
is often incorporated in the arrange
ment and the effect is frequently
charming.
Bay windows should be used iu-
diciously. They may be effective in the
design or they may greatly mar it, ac-
cording to the skill of the designer.
The interior aspect of bay windows is
by no means the only consideration,
tor by reason of their shape and pro-
lection they become chief features in
the exterior design. Whether one
wishes it or not, bay windows ALWAYS
attract attention. Off that reason they
must be carefully proportioned and at
tractively detailed. In many houses
otherwise we'll designed the effect has
been spoiled by injudicious use of bay