Fig. 105.—PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR.
Fig. 106.—PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR.
DESIGN XXVI.
A FARM-HOUSE COSTING $2,900.
This plan of a farm-house embraces a commodious and convenient interior, with such external features as to clearly express its purpose. It will be recognized as at once adapted to rural situations and domestic life, providing much valuable space, and affording a variety of pleasing and symmetrical outlines, with due economy in expense of construction. Perhaps the most striking feature is the breadth of the front, which is 51 feet. (The average depth is 22 feet 7 inches.) As far as practicable, all prolonged vertical lines are avoided, leaving horizontal ones to prevail, as of more practical utility and value. Where opportunities abound for “spreading out,” as in the country, it would be obviously incompatible to build tall, or stilted houses, that would not comport with their surroundings, nor provide the conveniences desirable in all rural habitations.... Elevation, ([fig. 107].)—The general details of the elevation are made up of simple parts so appropriated and balanced, that they harmonize with each other, and secure a graceful outline. The principal, or main portions of this building will be observed to be the central one, while the wings at either side are collaterals, that give equipoise and rest to the whole structure. The steep roofs, with their subdued pediments, and spreading cornices and dormers, the bay and other windows, the wide entrance, and open piazza, are all arranged so as to correspond with each other, producing an effective and picturesque appearance. There are no efforts at scientific or elaborate display of outside ornamentation, but has sufficient architectural completeness to denote social cultivation and refinement. The farm-house in [XXI.] was designed more especially for an eastern frontage. These plans are particularly adapted for a southern frontage.... The Cellar, ([fig. 108]), extends under the whole house, and is 6½ feet deep. An outside entrance and area are to be built and inclosed under the stoop at the rear. Eleven small windows are provided for both light and ventilation.... The First Story, ([fig. 109]), has ample apartments adapted to the uses of a large family, embracing a good-sized hall, parlor, living-room, kitchen, pantries, closets, and corridor. The principal entrance is from the piazza, through large double doors to the hall. Similar double doors on each side of the hall lead to the parlor and dining-room. These inside double doors enable one to throw the whole together for large family and other gatherings, and are manifestly appropriate in dwellings of this character. The principal stairs are semi-circular, so arranged as to occupy but little room in the principal hall. The Parlor is situated by itself, remote from the machinery of daily housework. The Living-room is the most central, and most convenient and comfortable room in the house. It is so surrounded by other apartments that summer’s heat, nor winter’s cold, can have direct access to its sides. The large Bay-window affords an ample supply of light, and adds to the area of the room. It adjoins and opens into the principal hall, corridor, kitchen, and large pantry. The Kitchen is conveniently situated, and adjoins the dining-room, corridor, pantry, store-room, cellar, and private stairway. It is provided with a range, sink, wash-tubs, and pipes for cold and hot water. By this arrangement, the principal work of the family can be done with such thoroughness and facility as to make such employment interesting and pleasant, devoid of any sense of drudgery. The corridor is adapted to all the uses of a rear hall, and communicates with each of the other principal rooms of the first story. It is also an auxiliary apartment, and may be used in connection with either of the other apartments, and affords valuable room for many in-door occupations for both old and young.... Second Story, ([fig. 110].)—The engraving is sufficiently plain to require but little explanation. It will be seen that there are seven rooms, besides halls and closets. The Bath-room is situated in this story over the kitchen, and contains the bath-tub, seat-closet, and water-tank, and is accessible from the principal building through the passage leading from the principal hall. An opening through the ceiling of the kitchen, with a register, would probably let warm air enough up into the bath-room to keep frost out in winter, especially if some fire remained in the range or stove most of the night. In all arrangements of water-tanks and pipes, care must be taken to keep them from being frozen in the coldest nights.... The Attic is completely floored over, but is otherwise unfinished. Several bed-rooms might be finished in this story if desirable. An open attic is always valuable for storage, drying clothes in stormy weather, etc., and as a play-room for children in rainy weather.... Construction.—Any one at all familiar with building would see at a glance that the form and arrangements of this plan admit of its execution in section. There are conditions that would justify the building of the central part of this house, to be used as the residence of a small family, and add the wings at any future time, as circumstances might indicate.... The excavations for the cellar are made 3½ feet deep. The foundations are 18 inches thick, and 6½ feet high, of broken stone, laid in mortar, with the joints neatly pointed on all surfaces exposed to sight. The earth thrown out of the cellar should be left on the ground, and graded around the foundation, leaving but two feet to show above the final grade. The chimneys should be started with the principal foundation, and the materials interlaced to insure solidity. Three fire-places are constructed in the first story; those in the kitchen and dining-room are in one stack built “square up” to the ceiling of the first story. Two separate flues are then continued through the second story, on either side of the passage-way, and are afterwards joined over an arch, and pass through the roof in one solid shaft. The estimate indicates the general character of the work. In these rural dwellings, the siding may be worked without the central groove shown in [Design XI.] This, though less pleasing to many, would give an expression of less artifice, and more strength.... Estimate.—The following estimate will be found correct as to quantity, and ample as to cost. Most farmers have materials and facilities that would enable them to greatly reduce the cost of building by this plan. The items of excavation, foundation, carting, and painting, amount to nearly $500. Some, or each of these parts, might be satisfactorily done by those engaged on the place:
| 210 | yards excavation, at 20c. per yard. | $42.00 | |
| 1,750 | ft. stone foundation, at 15c. per ft. | 262.50 | |
| 4,000 | brick, furnished and laid, at $12 per M. | 48.00 | |
| 50 | ft. stone steps and coping, at 30c. per ft. | 15.00 | |
| 850 | yards lath and plastering, at 28c. per yard. | 238.00 | |
| 4,722 | ft. timber, at $15 per M. | 70.83 | |
| 2 | sills, 4 × 8 in. 26 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | sills, 4 × 8 in. 22 ft. long. | ||
| 4 | sills, 4 × 8 in. 15 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | sills, 4 × 8 in. 20 ft. long. | ||
| 5 | ties, 4 × 6 in. 26 ft. long. | ||
| 5 | ties, 4 × 6 in. 22 ft. long. | ||
| 4 | ties, 4 × 6 in. 15 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | ties, 4 × 6 in. 20 ft. long. | ||
| 4 | posts, 4 × 7 in. 22 ft. long. | ||
| 8 | posts, 4 × 6 in. 13 ft. long. | ||
| 2 | plates, 4 × 6 in. 26 ft. long. | ||
| 4 | plates, 4 × 6 in. 15 ft. long. | ||
| 1 | girt, 4 × 10 in. 26 ft. long. | ||
| 4 | valleys, 3 × 8 in. 14 ft. long. | ||
| 42 | beams, 3 × 8 in. 22 ft. long. | ||
| 36 | beams, 3 × 8 in. 15 ft. long. | ||
| 100 | joist, 3 × 4 in. 13 ft. long, at 22c. each. | 22.00 | |
| 320 | wall-strips, at 11c. each. | 35.20 | |
| 150 | lbs. tarred paper, at 5c. per lb. | 7.50 | |
| 325 | novelty siding-boards, at 28c. each. | 91.00 | |
| Materials in cornices and outside casings. | 50.00 | ||
| 375 | spruce shingling lath, at 6c. each. | 22.50 | |
| 65 | bunches shingles, at $1.50 per bunch. | 97.50 | |
| 200 | ft. gutters and leaders, at 10c. per ft. | 20.00 | |
| Piazza and stoops, complete. | 120.00 | ||
| 324 | mill-worked flooring boards, at 35c. each. | 113.40 | |
| 4 | flights of stairs, complete. | 90.00 | |
| 1 | bay-window, complete. | 50.00 | |
| 22 | plain windows, complete, at $12 each. | 264.00 | |
| 4 | dormer windows, complete, at $20 each. | 80.00 | |
| 11 | cellar windows, complete, at $6 each. | 66.00 | |
| 35 | doors, complete, at $10 each. | 350.00 | |
| 2 | mantles, complete, at $20 each. | 40.00 | |
| Closets, shelving, etc., complete. | 20.00 | ||
| Range and plumbing, complete. | 248.50 | ||
| Painting, $150; nails, $20; cartage, $30. | 200.00 | ||
| Carpenter’s labor, not included above. | 218.00 | ||
| Incidentals. | 18.07 | ||
| Total cost, complete. | $2,900.00 | ||
Fig. 107.—ELEVATION OF FARM-HOUSE.
