Architectural Home Plans

¶ Here is a villa pre-eminently expressive of architectural style, and in which the manifestation of absolute beauty predominates over that of relative. It demands plainly a preference of solid materials for its construction, and a careful attention to the proportion and finish of detail. Stone, therefore, would be the most appropriate material for the facing of the walls; but a less expensive method would be to build it of very fine, smooth brick, laid with what the masons call flush-joints, i.e. the mortar cut off in a line with the face of the brick-work, and not tucked or pressed in, as is usually done. Then, after the lapse of considerable time, the exterior may be rubbed down with a sharp sandstone, and brushed of and the surface thus formed be painted and sanded in warm stone tints.

Architectural Home Design

¶ Although we have engraved this architectural home plan in the midst of a snow-scene, yet it would evidently make a very good Southern house. The addition of a veranda on each side of the tower and external window blinds would be sufficient to make it passable as such. It would be very desirable, if built in the South, to locate it with the front to the northward.

Architectural Floor Plans

¶ But, for the purpose of description, we assume it to be a Northern house. A, a delightful vestibule, 15 feet square, (picture 56,) is large enough to answer the twofold purpose of vestibule and ante-room. The drawing-room B, 20 by 40 feet, is entered from the stair hall K, through folding wood doors. At the opposite end of the room another pair of folding doors gives admittance to the dining room D, an room 25 by 16 feet, to which a china closet E, of fair dimensions, is attached.

Floor Plans Architectural Home Design

¶ C, 20 feet square, is a nice, agreeable living room or library. F is an excellent pantry, readily subject, if necessary, to the control and inspection of the mistress. A very nice arrangement is effected by intervening a passage of 7 feet wide between the rooms we have just described and the domestic offices. This passage not only affords access to the kitchen, but also to a little store room. It contains the private stairs, and affords a front and rear entrance. A great desideratum gained here is the opportunity afforded to cut off from the dining room, by a through current of fresh air, all scent of cookery in the kitchen. This is a sine qua non in a Southern house, when the kitchen is allowed to be connected with the residence, which, indeed, is seldom admissible further South than Virginia or Tennessee. G, the kitchen, is 18 by 24 feet, and provided with a nice closet L. Unfortunately, by an oversight in the preparation of the cut, no jambs are shown for a kitchen range. These, however, should be built in the wall, between the kitchen and the summer kitchen H, so that a flue from the latter can be carried up in the same stack.

¶ Proceeding to the bedroom floor, picture 57, we find six fine bedrooms, respectively marked N. Three of them have ample closets, while the others will require wardrobes in addition to the usual articles of bedroom furniture. 0 is designed for a dressing room, on the assumption that the adjacent bedrooms may be occupied by sisters, in which case the dressing room will be convenient for both.

Rooms Plan

¶ A bathroom and water closet are shown at R. The bedrooms P, being situated over the kitchen, are on a level with the half-pace of the private stairs, and consequently below the line of floor in the main building. This requires a flight of steps in the longitudinal passage, for the purposes of direct communication. A flight of close stairs, by which the attic floor may be attained, occupies a convenient position. The divisions on the attic floor may correspond in size and number with those exhibited by the bedroom plan, with the exception, of course, of those in the side building, which is not carried to this height.

¶ A little stairway from the attic floor leads to the upper section of the tower, a place that is occasionally interesting to both occupants and visitors. A small mounted telescope, or even a strong spy-glass, such as mariners use, adds considerably to the interest of the place.

Architectural Home Design

¶ We have already hinted our preference for stone in the execution of this design, and also suggested another method for the exterior wall, which, if not equally satisfactory, might be rendered very pleasing. To this we might also add the expedient of stuccoing, which, done in the best manner, is applicable even to first-rate buildings. The interior walls will all be of brick. It will be observed that the rooms on the first floor are all provided with fireplaces, while the bedrooms have none. This is explained by the fact that the plan was prepared with reference to the application of cellar-furnaces for warming.

¶ The roof is intended to be covered with painted tin, and the gutters formed of the same material, in the projection of the cornice. The chimney-tops, if not executed in stone, can be neatly done with cement, a process requiring considerable skill in the plasterer, but much practiced for the sake of economy.

¶ Faced on the exterior with fine ashlar, the cost of this villa will be about $11,000 (1861 prices) ; built of brick, in either of the modes prescribed, with stone quoins, balcony, and window-heads, $2000 might be deducted, assuming that the stone could be procured in the vicinity.

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