The one important reason why this character of home is successful in most sections of the country is that it is built from wood—the best medium for artistic expression, in the opinion of many. If you have doubts of the lasting qualities of wood, you have only to remember that the models in question have stood in many instances for more than a century, kept young and useful by an occasional coat of your partner, paint.
Of course, there are other media of architectural expression. The stucco house is favored by many, especially when it is used in conjunction with half timber effect—borrowed from our English cousins who use it structurally and sincerely, while the general run of homes in America in this transplanted style are built from the motif of appearance alone. In some cases, the supposed timbers have been fashioned from galvanized iron, untruthful in purpose and useless as a part of the building. Even when wood is used it is in fanciful patterns created for the eye alone, from ordinary boards.
The wooden home is essentially American in spirit and design. In the early days wood was used because it was the only available material, quarrying not having been introduced and bricks being imported from England and Holland at great expense. Besides, it was only necessary to cut and artifice a material growing on every hand for adequate shelter against all weathers. The material of necessity proved so lasting, so easy to work and so low in cost that the consideration of other materials was superfluous.
Now, as then, bricks and stone are almost prohibitive in cost even to the well-to-do, while wood is not only the cheapest but the most natural elemental building material. It is the easiest worked, costs the least from the standpoint of labor charges, and can be changed in color at will to meet a desire for a new effect.
So let us consider first the wooden home and discuss the details of the exterior from the point of view of beauty, brought about by a wise choice of color.
White is the preferred color for exterior painting; that is, for the broad surfaces. The blinds, window-trim, porch columns and in many cases the cornices may be one of numerous color tones. The picture which we must consider is one which nature would approve, so restraint is in order, whatever our selections may be. Following is a presentation of a variety of combinations, all of which will blend with any landscape and become a part of it.
As there are so many different shades of each color, we mention the technical trade names, by which the intended color is known.
Combination Number One: Broad surfaces, White; window casings, Warm W Grey; sashes, Brown G Stone; shutters, Woodbine Green; porch, cornices and mouldings, same Warm W Grey as used on casings; doors, White; casings, Warm W Grey; porch floors, Green Stone Medium; roof, Woodbine Green.
Combination Number Two: Broad surfaces, Cream D Color; casings, Fern Green; sashes, White; shutters, Fern Green; porch, Cream D Color; cornices and mouldings, Cream D Color; doors, White; casings, Fern Green; porch floors, Blue E Grey; roof, Fern Green.
Combination Number Three: Broad surfaces, Pearl Grey; window casings, Warm Drab; Shutters, Oxide Red; cornices and mouldings, Pearl Grey; doors, White; porch, Pearl Grey; porch floors, Oxide Red; roof, Oxide Red.