Fig. 112.—PLAN OF CELLAR.
Fig. 113.—PLAN OF FIRST FLOOR.
Fig. 114.—PLAN OF SECOND FLOOR.
Fig. 115.—MANNER OF BUILDING CORNERS.
DESIGN XXVIII.
A HOUSE COSTING $3,000.
These plans were designed for a suburban cottage, having a cheerful outside appearance, and containing ample interior apartments conveniently arranged, with such modern improvements as are desirable for the use of an ordinary sized family.... Exterior, ([fig. 116].)—The general outlines are made up of simple parts, embracing features of pleasing variety and elegance. The foundation walls, showing four feet above ground, insure against moisture from the earth, and add to the superficial dimensions of the structure. Such high foundations for houses of this character afford a proper background for the grasses and shrubbery usually surrounding them. The irregularities of the principal building, the steep, dark-slated roofs, with their heavy projecting cornices, truncated or hooded gables, and enriched barge-boards, together with the stoops and bay-windows, are proportioned and arranged to assimilate with each other, and contribute to gracefulness and harmony.... Cellar, ([fig. 117].)—Hight, 7 feet. Seven good-sized windows admit an abundance of light, and afford thorough ventilation.... First Story, ([fig. 118].)—Hight of ceiling, 10½ feet. The rooms are unusually large, and arranged to be pleasant, comfortable, and convenient. The front entrance has large double doors. This hall contains the principal stairs, which are of “platform” construction. We prefer this form whenever the general plan allows it, as such stairs are much easier, less dangerous, and appear better than the usual long, straight flights. The hall connects with each principal room, obviating the too frequent necessity of passing through one room to reach another. The Parlor has a fire-place, adapted to either a grate or fire-place heater (we should prefer the latter in this case, supplied with heating-pipes for warming the chamber above,) and is provided with a marble mantle. A large bay-window admits sufficient light, and affords a pleasant outlook. The remaining sides of this room are unbroken, leaving ample space for furniture, pictures, etc. The Dining, or living-room, is intended as the most agreeable and pleasant room in the house; it has a fire-place with hearth openings, adapted to a “low-down” grate, which is a good substitute for the old home-like fire-place, and affords an opportunity for a generous and cheerful fire, and insures the most perfect ventilation. The ashes from these hearth fires fall into the ash-pit below them, thus obviating the necessity and dust of their daily removal. A marble mantle with a large hearth, one bay and three plain windows, and a closet, are provided for this room. The windows afford plentiful light, and views from front, side, and rear, thus assuring a home-like, cheerful apartment. The Kitchen is pleasantly situated, has four windows for light and ventilation, and is planned with especial regard for convenience. It is in proximity with the principal hall, rear entry, and cellar stairway, has a large pantry, and two closets, and contains a large fire-place, with a range, boiler, sink, and wash-tubs having pipe attachments for hot and cold water. The dimensions of the fire-place are 2 feet 10 inches wide, 5 feet 6½ inches high, and 1 foot 9 inches deep, with a hearth-stone 2 feet wide, and 4 feet long. The range is fitted into the fire-place, and has a water-back, elevated oven, and warm-closet, and is connected by pipes with the boiler. The dumb-waiter, shown on the plan at the right of the fire-place, is intended as a “coal-lift,” which will save many steps and much hard labor running for coal. This is simply a box, holding three bushels (twelve scuttles), constructed of 1¼-inch floor planks, with wood runners 3 feet long, on two opposite sides, conforming to grooves made in stationary planking in the cellar, and is suspended by weights, with strong ropes, passing over pulleys fastened to the underside of the floor-beams. The upper portions of this closet may be fitted with shelving and hooks, as desired. The large Kitchen Pantry, thoroughly shelved, is in the “addition” that adjoins the kitchen, and is built in combination with the rear stoop. The entry, conveniently situated, communicates between the kitchen and dining-room, and with the back stoop through the rear door.... Second Story, ([fig. 119].)—Hight of ceiling, 9 feet. This story is divided in the simplest manner, has a hall, three large chambers, with closets for each, and a bath-room, all with sufficient windows for light and ventilation. Each principal chamber has an open fire-place, adapted to grates. Chimneys, centrally situated, radiate most of their heat into the rooms, thus saving fuel. The Bath-room has a French bath-tub, with cold and hot water, and a seat-closet. The stairway to the attic story is ceiled in over the principal stairs, with a door at the foot. The Attic has three apartments, two intended to be plastered and finished as chambers; the third, or larger one, is unfinished for an open garret.... General Construction.—The excavations are 2½ feet deep, and the loose earth is graded around the building at completion, leaving 4 feet of the foundation exposed to sight. The foundation-walls are built as described for [Design XXXII.] The sub-sills of the windows, and the steps and coping of the area, are of blue-stone. The chimneys being near the center, are not connected with the foundation walls. The rear one is constructed in box form, below the first floor, as a receptacle for ashes, and has a small iron door near the bottom for removing the ashes. The principal frame-work is of sound pine or spruce timber, of the sizes mentioned in the estimate below. When practicable, we would use pine timber for all sills and posts, as the least liable to decay, and spruce for the girts and beams, on account of its quality for stiffness. The siding is of two thicknesses of boarding, as described for [Design XXXII.] The principal roof is constructed at the angles of 45°, securing valuable space for attic rooms, and is covered with dark slate laid on hemlock, with tarred paper between. The roofs of the stoops and bay-windows, and all gutters and valleys, are of IC. charcoal tin, laid on hemlock boards. The method of constructing the cornice, gutters, and barge boards of the principal roof, is shown in detail in [fig. 120]. A, rafter of 3 × 4; B, plate of 4 × 6, placed 14 inches above the attic floor; C, post of 4 × 7 timber; D, gutter, having no abrupt angles to bother the tinsmith, or impair his work, but is of circular form, and stayed with 2-inch furring lath, on which the tin is smoothly and easily laid. E, bracket constructed of 2 × 4, with simple scroll, sawed from 4 × 6 timber. F, crown moulding of 1¼ × 3¼, worked solid; G, barge-board with the crown-moulding attached; this closes the ends of the gutters to the hight of the dotted line at D. The stairs, interior trimmings, and the general painting, are intended to be similar to those described for [Design XVII.] In the estimate appended will be found a full schedule of the materials required to construct, and fully develope a house by these plans. The quantities given may be relied on as correct, and their cost is compiled from the prices now ruling in this vicinity.—Estimate: