Evening Republican, Volume 14, Number 229, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1910 — THE AMERICAN HOME [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE AMERICAN HOME

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Mr. William A. Radford will answer questions and. give advice FREE OF COST on all subjects pertaining to the Gliding for the readers of this paper. On account of his wide experience as Editor, Author and Manufacturer, he is, without doubt, the highest authority on all these subjects. Address ‘"3 u ’ r,e » to wl Hlam A. Radford, No. 194 Fifth Ave., Chicago, 111., and only enclose two-cent stamp for reply. It often seems that the style or appearance of the house doesn’t make so much difference as the site on ■which it is built. In every town and village there are examples that prove this. There are delightful little .places set back among shade trees and flowers, the house really very plain and ordinary in design, which «ive one a restful, homelike feeling iby walking past Then for every one of this kind there is one of the other, to keep the balance, probably. Every town has them. The house is large and pompous, quite an architectural creation, in fact; but it is set down on a small lot, crowded in, with all the trees and shrubbery, cut down to make room for it. In spite of its size and cost a residence of this kind is very far from attractive.! The home builder •would scarcely take such as a model; yet many times the real element of success in planning the erection of a home are overlooked and a barren, uninviting place is the result. The experienced home builder will always, if possible, select a rough and •wooded site; if it is slightly hilly so much the better. It is true the labor and expense for grading and preparing the site* for the building and for smoothing up the ground afterward is greater, but the satisfaction and success of the project is also greater, and the attractiveness of the place increases as the years go by, while the extra labor at the beginning is very soon forgotten. Almost any style of house harmonizes well with such surroundings and is Improved in appearance by the natural beauties of the building site. Some materials and some styles of house architecture seem especially well suited, however, for such use. The accompanying design is one of these. It is planned something on the bun-

galow order, with prominent roof, broad on the ground and not overly high. . A distinctive feature of this design la the use of cobblestones in the large chimney and fireplace. These could also be employed very effectively for the foundation of the building. A cobblestone wall can be made very attractive if the man laying it properly understands the work. In any kind of stonework the mason must use his head as well as his hands. The more variety of color, shape and size can be obtained' the more attractive appearance will a cobblestone wall present The stone should be rather large and laid at

random, not in rows, and should fit together closely so that few of the mortar joints are more than one-half Inch thick. The stones should stand out prominently and should not be plastered to a smooth surface with mortar, neither should any broken edges be visible. A good workman, by the proper use of cobblestone, as ghoyn in this design, can secure a Very ornamental effect and one exactly in keeping with the general atmosphere of the rustic site oh which the house is built For the walls of this house either clapboards or shingles may be used. Shingles are always appropriate for the walls of a house of simple design, •specially In connection with cobble-1

stone work. There are various pleasing ways in which shingles may be laid to suit those who consider the ordinary method of laying the shingles in uniform rows, five inches to the weather, too monotonous. A pleasing variation is to place the shingles in alternate rows of two and eight inches to the weather. This requires no more material or labor and gives a very attractive appearance. The shingles on the roof, however, should always be laid in the regular way. A glance at the floor plans will show a very convenient and domfortable arrangement of space in this house. There is a large central hall.

with a living room occupying the entire space at the left, while the dining room with the kitchen back of it is at the right. On the second floor there are three bedrooms and a bath room, also four clothes closets. It is a design and arrangement that would be hard to improve upon for anyone desiring a comfortable residence of artistic appearance. The cost is estimated at $4,000, including a good grade of plumbing and lighting and first-class basement heating plant.

First Floor Plan.

Second Floor Plan.