Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 127, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 May 1911 — The American Home WILLIAM A. RADFORD Editor [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

The American Home WILLIAM A. RADFORD Editor

Mt. William A. Radford will answer questions and give advice FREE OF COST on all subjects pertaining to the 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 bn all these subjects. Address all inquiries to William A. Radford, No. 178 West Jackson boulevard. Chicago, 111., and only enclose two-cent stamp for reply.

A well known architect has said that good house planning is the simplest gnd yet the most complex, the clearest and yet the most subtle, the plainest and yet the most difficult, of anything connected with building. Whea it comes to the discussion of design, not even the architects themselves cap agree. The- intricacies of the subject are bound to get anyone discussing it into a tangle when he comes to explain how a thing ought to be and why it should be so. And, after all, house designing is a matter of taste. And while that taste is, in the first place, that of the architect who is responsible for the planß, in reality it is the taste of those who are to live within the house and have it for their home, which should be considered. Some general principles of house designing may be mentioned for the assistance of those who will be planning and building new houses this season. A house should be rectangular in general outline, not square. Skillful, Indeed must be the architect who would design a perfectly square house to be attractive in exterior appearance. It has been done with one device or another, but more often utter failure has resulted from the selection of a perfectly square outline to begin on. Such a house is a box, and it is very hard to make it look like anything else than a box. If a house were simply a shelter, depending entirely on a tight roof and firm foundations and walls; in other words, erected solely for use, such a plain box-like structure would be all right However, the sensible and public spirited home builder requires

something more than these. He wants a residence that will be pleasing in appearance and will conform in a way to its natural surroundings, adding somewhat tp the general architectural appearance of the town. With a house of rectangular outline, it is a simple problem of design to produce a structure of agreeable, wall-pVoportioned appearance. The interior arrangement will also be found to work out better with a rectangular plan, as it allows a better distribution of rooms. A glance at the accompanying perspective and floor plans, will show

wnat is meant by a rectangular plan, elaborated In a way to bring out the best features of house designing. The long side walls on each side are broken up and the monotony relieved by means of broad bay windows, extending from the foundation clear to the roof and topped with gable ends as a part of the roof. This also breaks up the long straight side of the hip roof. The small gable added to the front completes this idea, balancing the design. Tbe large, showy porch is also strik-

ingly executed and is an important feature in the design of this house. Through these simple means, the exterior la made attractive, while the simple straightforwardness of the rectangular plan is preserved. A house all cut up with wings and ells may look very nice from the outside, but it is expensive to Jbuild and is seldom so convenient as a compact, rectangular dwelling of this kind. The floor plans show five good, wenlighted, large-sized rooms on the first floor, and five rooms and bath on the second floor. These rooms are nicely arranged for convenience in the necessary labor of housekeeping. * On the first floor, the parlor, sitting 1 room, and dining room are exceptional-

ly large and pleasant rooms, all opening together, with wfifl» openings and sliding doors, so that all can be used together. This is a great convenience where there is much company and for social gatherings. It will be noticed that a good-sized bedroom is provided on the first floor in this house. This is a feature that is not included as often as it should be in present day houses. If situated

a little apart from the main portions of the house, as in this case, a first floor bedroom will be found to be a very desirable feature. * • : The exterior of this residence is of beveled siding. Cement blocks are used for the porch, with wood columns supporting the porch roof. Cement blocks are used for the fojm<Jatfon and base courses. The roof is-shingled. This house, having a width of 31 feet 6 inches and a length of 48 ffeCt, exclusive of the porches, is estimated Ur cost $4,000. It is a dignified, attractive design. t*: •“

Second Floor Plan

First Floor Plan