Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 264, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 November 1917 — Home Town Helps [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Home Town Helps

CONCRETE SURFACE IN TASTE Types of Architecture May Be Considered That Could Be Attained Through No Other Medium. Tn building permanently it I* advisable to select a type of architecture that will not only aval! Itself of the natural qualify of the building material, but will at the same time, be best adapted to an economical development. Simplicity of architectural lines rarely falls to give the quality of beauty. The dignified colonial houses of early New England and the Georgian houses of New York and Virginia offer models that may be easily followed in permanent materiats. So, too, are those pecullarly -American adaptations of the Spanish, the California and mission types susceptible to the same construction. Flat wall surfaces of soft gray concrete bring out the proportion and placing of doors and windows. White stucco on a fireproof wall will give the same effect as painted woodwork, with all the peculiar charm of an old Pennsylvania country house with its Time-washed walls. Tn fact there la no real limitation incurred by the selection of a permanent construction; the choice is really widened and types of architecture may be considered that could be successfully attained through no other medium. It would be possible to continue almost indefinitely a discussion of the suitability of concrete surfaces, finished as rough cast or as finely-tooled stone for interior wall surfaces, and of its particular adaptability for fireplace construction, and other interior ('etails. At much less cost than if the designs were cut in natural stone, artistic ornamented work may be molded for exterior and Interior decoration. At small expense a limitless range of colors and textures is available.