Fig. 91.—PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR.
Fig. 92.—ATTIC.
Fig. 93.—PLAN OF CELLAR.
Fig. 94.—SECTION.
DESIGN XXIII.
A COUNTRY OR VILLAGE HOUSE, COSTING $2,800.—FOR PHYSICIANS, LAWYERS, CLERGYMEN, JUSTICES, NOTARIES, EDITORS, ETC.
This plan is designed to meet the wants of a large class residing in the country, or smaller villages, who are not only directly interested in agricultural pursuits, but who have also some professional or official vocation, such as: Physicians, Lawyers, Justices, Notaries, Clergymen, etc. They require in connection with their residences an apartment adapted to their special callings, that shall in no way interfere with their domestic arrangements, where all persons making business calls may enter without feeling that they are intruding on the privacy of the household.... Elevation, ([fig. 95].)—The exterior outlines and dress of this plan are a fair representation of the prevailing styles of American rural house architecture, in its most genteel and practical forms. There is a manifest propriety in the strong and decided features of the exterior finish of this example, wherein each part has its distinctive characteristics of utility, harmony, and truthfulness—a combination that never fails to please even the most tasteful, and it may therefore be regarded as the real basis of beauty. We frequently meet with oddly-proportioned country houses, evidently constructed with a sole regard to utility, that present a stunted and cadaverous appearance, having been shorn of their beauty through a mistaken idea that economy precludes the least indulgence in taste. Good taste only demands that every separate part of any building shall be in harmony with the whole, and this feature of harmony is not so much a subject of expense as of expression, being a result of mode rather than the matter of construction. The materials necessarily required for any building assume shape and expression according to the methods of their application, and they may be applied in disproportion, so as to be of permanent disgrace; whereas the same materials properly and intelligently used, with a like expense of handling, develop into proportionate and expressive forms of elegance and grace. A building constructed as indicated by these plans presents a pleasing appearance from any direction, each face being broken by wings or other projections, which give relief from the formalities of a large, flat surface. From the front there is an expression of completeness indicating full provision for comfort, and an air of contentment. From the sides are presented to the best advantage the more extended surfaces, including the large corniced gables of the principal building, the rear wing, and other projections. The rear has an equally finished and satisfactory appearance.... The Cellar ([fig. 96]), is the full size of the ground-plans, with a clear hight of 7 feet. The five cellar windows are placed where they will admit light to every part. An outside entrance is under the rear lobby, and a stairway leads directly to the kitchen.... First Story, ([fig. 97].)—The arrangement is very simple and convenient, comprising good-sized hall, parlor, living-room, kitchen, office, study, five closets, and two stairways, with ceilings 10 feet high. The Parlor is pleasantly situated, has two front windows opening directly to the piazza, from which they derive shade and protection. The Dining or living-room opens into the hall, parlor, and kitchen, and has two closets. One end of this room is octagonal, and extends 6 feet beyond the face of the principal, with three windows, affording a pleasant outlook. The Kitchen adjoins the dining-room, has two closets, is fitted up with a range, sink, and wash-tubs, and is conveniently connected with the cellar and with second story by private stairways. The Office is entered from the front porch, and is in direct communication with the principal hall, has a good-sized closet from the space under the principal stairs, and has a private room or Study.... Second Story, ([fig. 98].)—This is divided into four commodious apartments, beside a hall, bath-room, and the necessary closets, and has ceilings 8 feet high in the main building, and 7 feet in the rear wing. The Bath-room is provided with a seat-closet and bath-tub. An inclosed stairway leads to the Attic, where two or more bedrooms may be finished, besides leaving space for garret purposes. The tank placed over the ceiling of the bath-room is arranged to receive water from the principal roof, and is provided with an overflow pipe leading to the cistern.... General Requirements.—Full brick foundations are estimated for. Where coarse stone can be had, they answer as well, and at less cost, for the portions below ground; they should be laid even with the brick-work on the inside when finished. The wood-work is to be substantially constructed of good and sufficient materials throughout. The roofs of the piazza, stoop, bay, lobby, and window caps, are covered with charcoal tin, and in each case an allowance is made for a “flashing” of 6 inches in width to turn up behind the siding, to prevent leakage. The principal and the two wing roofs are each covered with dark slate with ridge plates of zinc. The gutters are to be those described for [Design V.] The joinings of the wing-roofs against the main building are made perfectly tight by laying in, against the building, right angle strips of zinc or tin “flashing,” with each course of slate before the siding is put on. Slate is unquestionably the best material for such roofing when the form of roof will admit of its use; its cost is the same as for good tinning, and about 2 cents per square foot in excess of pine shingles; when once properly done, will last for centuries; it is fire-proof, and the water from it is much purer, an important consideration when rain and cistern water is used for cooking or drinking. Its color and appearance are agreeable—in fact roofs of other materials are often painted in imitation of slate from choice.... The most expressive portions of any buildings are their projecting cornices. As a rule, for houses of this style, such projections should be one inch for every foot of their hight from the foundation. And the same rule will apply to every detail of the exterior finish; for example, as in this case, the principal building being 22 feet high at the plate, the principal cornices should project 22 inches; the piazza being 11 feet high, its cornice projects 11 inches; the windows, 6 feet high, have caps projecting 6 inches, etc. By this simple rule, all such projections may be readily determined, and thus secure perfect proportion and harmony of parts.... The inside plastering is “three-coat work.” All side-walls should be continued down close to the floor, to prevent the passage of air or sound. Care should be taken to make the walls straight and true, with the second coat of “browning,” for the last or white coat, though applied in the best manner, can never overcome malformations in the body of the plastering; on the contrary, the finer the finish of last coat, the more visibly will such defects appear. In the concluding estimate, 28 cents per yard is allowed for the cost of plastering, which is ample, as shown by these calculations for 100 yards, viz.:
| 2,000 | lath, at $2 per M. | $4.00 |
| 10 | lbs. lath-nails, at 6c. per lb. | 60 |
| 4 | barrels lime, at $1 per barrel. | 4.00 |
| 5 | loads sand, at 30c. per load. | 1.50 |
| 1 | barrel finishing lime, at $1.40 per barrel. | 1.40 |
| 1½ | bushel plaster, 37c.; 1 bushel hair, 50c. | 87 |
| Cartage. | 3.00 | |
| Labor putting on lath, at 10c. per bunch. | 2.00 | |
| ½ | day laborer (mixing mortar), at $1.50 per day. | 75 |
| 1½ | days mason (work), at $2.50 per day. | 3.75 |
| 1½ | days laborer (“tending” mason), at $1.50 per day. | 2.25 |
| Use of screen, water barrel, and scaffolding. | 1.00 | |
| Total cost for 100 square yards, complete. | $25.12 | |
| Incidentals. | 2.88 | |
| Estimated at 28c. per yard. | $28.00 |