Home › A Little Home of Colonial Type › A Little Home of Colonial Type
A Little Home of Colonial Type
WHERE the green Westchester hills slope to dip the white hem of their forest garb into the shining waters of Long Island Sound, and in the historic setting of that quaint old town of Rye, New York, have sprung up numerous little houses, wrought of field stones from surrounding meadows, or of old-fashioned clapboards or stained shingles, that make the pretty dwellings appear as though part of the landscape which they adorn.
One of the broad-clapboard variety is shown in the illustration, and, with all its modern conveniences and touch of latter-day architecture, it retains a pre-Colonial expression that is pleasing.
It was built at a cost of $3,200.
To the wide, white-painted clapboards an additional effect of age is lent by a substantial chimney of weathered field-stones-those stones which have gathered into color and texture something of gray cloud and sun-warmed earth; of forest moss and the reflections that lie in the clear waters of running brooks.
Some of the same stones serve as a foundation for the house, and an old-world porch loses nothing of its antique aspect by reason of the white painted trellis which supports it, and which is repeated with most picturesque effect about the windows.
Carrying out the Colonial idea, a spacious hall KITCHEN REF DINING ROOM HALL DINING PORCH ENTRANCE PORCH LIVING ROOM First floor of Colonial cottage. gives upon the ground-floor rooms, most prominent of which is the big living-room on the right of the entrance.
This apartment is built against the great stone outside chimney, part of which passes through it and supplies a huge stone fireplace, where logs can be heaped upon quaint andirons and give out warmth and cheer on wintry days, or even upon some chill evening in summertime.
BEDROOM SLEEPING PORCH BEDROOM HALL BEDROOM ㄷ Second floor of Colonial cottage.
Window-seats on either side the chimney-piece add to the charm and expression of comfort in this living-room, while its quaintness is further emphasized by a beamed ceiling, stained to harmonize, and yet contrast, with the tinted walls. Outside the living-room windows, quaint little roofs project to protect them from rain, and these add much to the picturesque exterior of the house, a charm further emphasized by the roomy dining-porch that extends beyond the living-room, and above which an open outdoor sleeping-room has been built. Wide casement doors open into the delightful dining-porch, which is screened with wire and supplied with a trellis upon which roses may climb, to dally with butterfly wings in June.
Another door in the dining-porch gives upon the hall near the kitchen door, and also next the back entrance of the house, which is fitted with the little refrigerator-vestibule so common to modern country houses, and so convenient to the housewife.
Dainty willow furniture gives just the right touch of lightness and airiness to the equipment of the dining-porch and its nearness to the ground permits Nature to furnish an unconfined conservatory of shrubbery and blossoms, with which to feast the eyes and refresh the senses.
To the left of the hall, in the front of the house, is an attractive dining-room, with walls tinted a pleasing shade of green; the sort of room in which one would place arts-and-crafts furniture, or else quaint and attractive hickory furniture of the better sort, with woven wood seats and backs and the natural hickory-wood color.
Upstairs is repeated the attractive stained cypress-wood trim, which is carried throughout the house, and it affords pleasing contrast to the light-colored papers which cover the bedroom walls.
Naturally, the feature of this floor is its big south bedroom, with the sleeping-porch abutting upon it, and its wide, hospitable fireplace. It is a room built to woo sunshine and repose-full of pleasant suggestions within and lovely views without; a room in which one might find tranquillity and dream dreams before the great fireplace, where red coals smolder with their mystery of fitful gleam and glow.
In such a room, one would cover the walls with quiet, dull pale tints of gold fabric paper, and use the fashionable painted-wood furniture in a soft warm tint of gray.
If one prefers wicker, then it should be tinted -not white in so sunny a room and soft, blurred, floral effects should obtain in the upholstery. Drapery materials offer an endless variety of gold tints and decorations, and something in chintz or cretonne would best harmonize with the room and its environments.
Beds are now made to match the color of any hue in furniture so that enameled iron or wooden beds, from simplest to most ornate manufacture, can be had to accompany tinted bedroom sets.
There are two other bedrooms on the second floor of this house, besides a well-equipped tiled 1 bathroom. All the rooms are heated with steam, for modern dwellings do not depend upon fireplaces for heat, and, unlike most country houses of its size, this one has both gas and electric light equipment.
