Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1911 — The American. Home [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The American. Home

WILLIAM A. RADFORD Editor

Mr. William A. Radford will answer questions and give advice FREE OF COST OB «*3®cts pertaining to r tb« subject of building 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 all Inquiries to William A. Radford, No. 194 Fifth Ave., Chicago, 111., and onlv an«eloae two-cent stamp for rep);'.. , The design shown , in connection with this is a simple Colonial dwelling in cement plaster. It is planned according to the best approved', modem ideals, both as to its outward appearance and the' arrangement of the Interior.

Following out the idea that the home is made to live in and should be designed and arranged for the comfort and convenience of the family rather than to conform with the old accepted notions of house planning, It has become very popular the last few years to move the large 7 elaborate porch, that used to grace the front of the house, around to the side or even to the rear. This is in accordance with the neW idea that the large .porch is a good thing to really use, not simply a pretentious ornament for the street front. The large porch today is very apt to be screened in in the summer time and surrounded with glazed sash In •the winter and made comfortable for real use as a living room or a dining room. For these purposes it Is obvious that the location at the street front would very seldom be satisfactory, ex,cept of course in the case of very large grounds where the house can be set some distance from the street. .With the living porch placed on the side or toward the rear, on the other hand, privacy and comfort may be had even on the average-sized city building lot.

With the transference of the large porch away from the front the entrance porch has been reduced to very small terms', it being usually merely

a small canopy to protect the door Vajr. The design illustrated here is a good example of this. Nothing could be more attractive or home-like than this little cement plastered Colonial house. The interior is Just what one would expect from the interesting nature of the exterior. The reception hall is only partially separated from the living room by means of a set of square pillars with a railing. Book cases are built in to fonfl this rail on each Bide of the center pillars,, making a very attractive and useful

feature. The living room is at the right of the reception hall as one enters. Straight ahead is the small vestibule opening onto the grade entry and the kitchen. The labor-sav-ing. advantages of this arrangement will be appreciated by any housekeeper who has lived in the ordinary house where it is necessary to run through all the rooms in getting from the kitchen to the front door to answer the bell. i The dining room la conveniently arranged, both with respect to the living room and the kitchen. A large butler’s pantry separate- It from the latter. The rooms are all exceptionally iwell lighted and are both comfortable and homelike. On the second floor four bedrooms and bath are found. There is a good supply of closet space, also a useful built-in case for linen in the upper L‘ ” V*-: . • * .#

hall. The attic space under the roof provides for storage space, servant** room, etc. The cost of this eight-room house is estimated at $3,000, though it might run slightly more than this in some localities. The cost would depend, of course, on the style of finish and fixtures selected. The material used in the construction of this house Is cement plaster on metal lath. This Is a form of construction that has been very popular during ( the past five years and has been thoroughly tested on many important pieces of work. There is -every evidence that properly applied it

forms a warm, enduring, weatherproof wall, having the additional, advantage of being fire-resisting. The cost is not excessive, being slightly more than for the ordinary clapboarded or shingled walls, but less than for brick veneer. It has been pointed out that in the long run the real expense is less than it would seem, for the large expense needed for painting to keep a frame building in good appearance is largely done away with for the cement plaster. Considerable discussion has been carried on among the architects and practical home builders as to which

form of lath is best suited for exte rior cement plaster work. Some claim that wood lath is more durable; others claim that only metal lath should be used. There is little doubt that if high grade, well-cured wood lath could .be used such would be thoroughly satisfactory In every way. Unfortunately, however, much of the lath now sold is of such poor quality that It will scarcely hold together while being nailed in place. Expanded metal or wire lath has proved thoroughly satisfactory on many important Jobs. It has the great advantage of being fire-resisting and when the cement plaster work Is properly applied and made water-proof there is little danger from rust. The house shown here has been especially designed to make use of the advantages of cement plaster or stucoo walls. The prospective home builder could not fail having good results when using such a plan as this.

Second Floor Plan.

First Floor Plan.