INDEX.

Since the publication of his “Convenient Houses” Mr. Gibson has been abroad, where he made a careful study of the national architecture of many countries. Mr. Gibson is remarkable for the skill with which he manages to utilize ordinary waste spaces, to place every possible convenience in the housekeeper’s hands; in short, to apply common-sense in an uncommon manner. No one interested in building a new house, or altering over an old one, could fail to obtain valuable hints from his books. The volume is sumptuously illustrated, and will be a delight to all connoisseurs, both of architecture and of book-making.

Contents of the Book.

HOUSE-BUILDING AN ART. Ugly houses, uneducated architects, cost never measures the artistic, development of art in building, the primitive house, first principles, the Greek temple and the Indian hut, the old Roman and the Old Colonial, Romanesque architecture, Gothic architecture, decline of the Gothic, the Renaissance, modern architecture of Europe, characteristics of modern American architecture, etc.

THE WORLD’S HOMES. French domestic architecture, twelfth century building, floor plans of domestic structures, picturesque stair towers, half-timber architecture of the twelfth century, our use of French examples, Breton customs, furniture, French chateaux, English domestic architecture, domestic buildings of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, picturesque details, from the Gothic to the Renaissance, modern architecture of Germany, Swiss architecture, Old Colonial architecture, a classic development, characteristic New England architecture, luxurious character of the Old Colonial in the South, etc.

SOME HOUSE PLANS. Relation of the exterior to the location, the dormers, the inside finish, mantels, a centre-hall plan, frame building, a little room for cloaks and wraps, decorative forms, interior photographs, external details, Greek mouldings, a wide central hall open at each end, large rooms, a picturesque stairway, color schemes in decoration, description of floor plan, a fine location, a river front, picturesque stair-hall, a smoking-room under the balcony, etc.

MATERIALS AND DETAILS. Shingle-houses, the proper surroundings, the stains of time, artificial stain, examples, slate walls, fireplaces and mantels, character in mantels, tile facings, onyx and brick, doors, the defensive, hospitality, material, foreign examples, domestic doors, stairs, foreign examples, broad landings, Old Colonial stairways, iron railings, furniture, architects’ designs, sideboards, bookcases, seats, lounges, screens, grilles, walls and ceilings, etc.

THE ARCHITECT. The architect and the housewife, business and the arts, costs, proper understanding of the client’s wishes, plenty of time to make plans.

Press Notices.

New York Sun.

“A handsome book, copiously illustrated, giving foreign examples in domestic architecture, a collection of American house plans, and including a consideration of materials and details for the benefit of the artistic house-builder.”

Chicago Evening Post.

“A most timely publication, and will find admirers among amateur builders as well as trained architects.”

Boston Advertiser.

“Mr. Gibson’s book is something more than an enunciation of theories. Under the headings ‘Some House Plans’ and ‘Materials and Details,’ there is a practical working out of the architect’s general idea. This part of the work is most valuably suggestive, and the intending house builder will find it greatly to his interest to consult Mr. Gibson’s books. The present volume is one in which marked utility is combined with great beauty.”

Detroit Free Press.

“It would hardly seem possible that a work on house-building could be such pleasant reading as is this handsome volume.”

Congregationalist.

“His former book met a real need. His present work is full of wise and practical suggestions as to securing beauty without sacrificing convenience or running into extravagance. All about to build or reconstruct a house will find it helpful.”

Indianapolis News.

“This work is a credit to Mr. Gibson and to his profession. It is a reflection of deep knowledge of architecture, and of experience in the practice of the profession. The illustrations are abundant and excellent, and the whole is a beautiful piece of book-making. An appropriate cover is designed by David Gibson.”

Literary World.

“The author is an architect of knowledge, ideas, and tastes.... To any family projecting a home of their own this volume will bring a multitude of helps.”

Bookseller, Newsdealer and Stationer.

“One of the handsomest and at the same time most practical books ever published by the Crowells.”

For Sale by all Booksellers, or sent postpaid by the Publishers on receipt of price.

T. Y. CROWELL & CO., New York and Boston.

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:

Obvious punctuation errors have been corrected and missing punctuation has been added.

Archaic words and misspelled words, as well as inconsistent hyphenation, have been retained with the exception of those listed below.

Illustrations have been moved from their original location in the book so not to interfere with the smooth flow of the text. Links have been provided for all illustrations.

Page 60: "the" added for continuity (The rear stairway should be connected with the front part of the house).

Page 89: "of" added for continuity (This arrangement frequently admits of the placing of a seat along one side of the outer part of the lower landing.)

Page 292: No note is included at the bottom of the page for the referenced footnote in the text.