Village House Plans

¶ The first impression made on the mind of the beholder by this design, is that it bears the evidence of a bold individuality of character, and no doubt but a closer examination of its merits would do much to strengthen that impression. No man who is easily influenced by the current of existing opinion would be likely to adopt such a one. It is the index of a mind inclined to seek and delight in a channel of its own, rather than continue in the well worn course of popular precedent, or assimilate with the tide of prevailing fashion. There are thousands of such; institutions like ours foster and encourage that feeling of self-reliance which disdains to follow where all have the opportunity, and many the ability to choose a course for themselves. May the influence of education enable all such to avoid alike the excesses of individual caprice and the dangerous vagaries of fashion.

Bracketed Village Home

Interior

¶ On the first floor, picture 68, E is a one-story veranda with a balcony over it; the arched interbrackets, cut from heavy plank, with the balustrade above, give this a tasteful yet bold appearance. On entering, we find a hall seven feet wide, containing the stairs, and affording communication with every room on this floor, including the kitchen and rear veranda. A is a parlor, 15 by 21 feet; beyond it we have the little sitting-room or library D, 15 by 10 feet; the beauty as well as the value of this room would be considerably enhanced by fitting it up with tastefully arranged and decorated book-shelves; we mean of course incorporated as a permanent fixture of the room. The dining room B is 15 by 19 feet, and has an excellent china closet at one side of the chimney, the passage to the kitchen occupying the corresponding space on the other. The kitchen is 15 by 16 feet, and has a rear entrance. To make this more complete, a range might have been shown in the fireplace, with boiler and sink adjacent; this becomes more absolutely necessary where the water for domestic purposes is procured by piping from the public reservoir. Under all circumstances, it is a convenient arrangement, and where the expense is not too serious an obstacle, the construction of a tank in the roof, to be filled by a force-pump at weekly or semi-weekly intervals, is highly recommended. The arrangements of second floor are clearly shown by picture 69.

Village House Plans

Exterior

¶ Either brick or wood may be employed in the erection of this design; it has, however, been prepared with a view to the use of brick, the exterior walls either to be stuccoed, or, if built of fine material, rubbed down and painted. The brackets supporting the roof projection over the front veranda should be 5 or 6 inches thick, and may be effectively made of three equal thicknesses of plank nailed together, the middle section receding, say half an inch, so as to show a sinking in the whole length of the face.

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