File:American homes and gardens (1912) (17530241854).jpg

Title: American homes and gardens
Identifier: americanhomesgar91912newy (find matches)
Year: 1905 (1900s)
Authors:
Subjects: Architecture, Domestic; Landscape gardening
Publisher: New York : Munn and Co
Contributing Library: Smithsonian Libraries
Digitizing Sponsor: Biodiversity Heritage Library

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AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS January, 1912
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Dining-room, showing screened service entrance and entrance to the breakfast-room spacious den on the northwest corner, connected with it by a door, it opens upon a loggia, whose floor is flagged with quarries and whose terrace-roof is supported by Doric columns, forming an immense outdoor room for Summer use, and yet so designed that it is an architectural adornment to the house at any time, and never appears to have been merely dictated by utility. Glass doors give access to den, living-room and dining-room, all in excellent proportion. There are generous fireplaces in the den, in the dining-room and in the breakfast-room, which opens out of the last and occupies the southeast corner of the house, the windows of which flood it with morning sunlight. The dining-room is one of the finest rooms in the house, of goodly proportions and simple dignity and in exquisite taste. The white paneled walls are especially noteworthy, and the fine pieces of old furniture resting upon the beauti- ful rug lend a warmth to the scheme of the room. This room is illuminated by side lights and candles, and these lights have been carefully placed with reference to securing just the proper illumination a room of this sort requires. Moreover, this scheme of lighting apparently tends to in- crease the size of the room. The service entrance to the dining-room has been skillfully worked out, and while giving ready access for prompt service, it occupies an unobtrusive corner of the room and is concealed by a great three-paneled screen. Directly in front of this service door is the long butler's pantry, the door to the right leading past the service- stairs into a large kitchen. Beyond this is the laundry, while the northeast corner of the service-wing is occupied by the service-porch. The cellar runs the length of the house and is one of its most carefully planned features, being Dining-room, showing entrance to the living-room and closed doorway to the hall unusually well lighted and well ventilated. One should note the clever treatment of the service extension, which has its south wall covered with trellis-work, giving it a pergola- arbor effect that balances the loggia at the west end of the house. Few houses of any size have embodied so many excellent features as has this one in the plan of its second story, where, without any sacrifice to design, the architects have succeeded in carrying out a plan that ensures comfort and every con- venience both in the family and in the service sections of this story. The unusual amount of space at command en- abled the architects to provide for all the sleeping-rooms to be placed on one floor. Here one finds five large bedrooms for the family, all with adjacent baths, and three bedrooms in the service-wing. The largest of the sleeping-rooms has also a dressing-room forming its suite, and a great open fireplace, while its south wall is formed by the semicircle of the second-story bay, with five windows. This room, in common with all the rooms on the floor, is furnished in excellent taste, and the cheeriness of the sleeping-rooms lends much charm to the house. From all these rooms one commands beautiful views of the surroundings. It is fortunate that in the work of the architects of Mr. Macy's house they have had the satisfaction of seeing its beauty further enhanced by the good taste that has been exercised throughout in the selection and arrangement of its furnishings, and that the result has been not only a beautiful house upon beautiful lines, but one whose interior carries out the promise of its exterior. Here the dignity and charm of a country home is complete and satisfying, with a beauty which will grow with each passing year.

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