A Craftsman House in which Tower Construction Has Been Effectively Used

Something of a departure is made from the usual style of the Craftsman house in planning this one, which we regard as one of the most completely Craftsman. It is not a large house, yet it gives the impression of dignity and spaciousness which usually belongs only to a large building; it is in no sense an elaborate house, yet it is decorative,—possessing a sort of homely picturesqueness which takes away all appearance of severity from the straight lines and massive walls. This is largely due to the square tower-like construction at the two corners in front and to the lower verandas, both ample in size anil deeply recessed, which occupy the whole width of the house between the towers. Of these, one is the entrance porch and the other an outdoor sleeping room,—the latter a very essential part of every house that is built with special reference to health and freedom of living.

As suggested here, the house is of cement and half-timber construction with a tiled roof and a foundation of local field stone carefully split and fitted, foundation is carried up to form the parapets that shelter the recessed porches on the lower story, and the copings are of gray sandstone. The walls are of cement plaster on metal lath, the plaster being given the rough gravel finish and colored in varying tones of green.

All the exterior wood trim i of cypress very much darkened by the chemical process which we use. In this house the exterior woodwork is especially satisfying in its structural form, being decorative in its lines and the division of wall spaces and yet obviously an essential part of the structure. The horizontal beams serve to bind together the lines of the whole framework, and the uprights are simply corner-posts and continuations of the window frames. The roof of dull red tiles gives life and warmth to the color scheme of the exterior, and the thick round pillars painted white lend a sharp accent that emphasizes the whole.

The entrance door is at the left end of the porch which, by this device, is made to seem less like a mere entrance and more like a pleasant gathering place where outdoor life may go on. This porch is illustrated in detail on page upper and ninety-nine as a typical Craftsman front porch.