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Show iliii:sg!r EDITOR J priate for cottages. Of these may be mentioned the wide boards with horizontal battens, such as are used in tlie accompanying illustration for the foundation courses. These boards are unfinished and are stained a dark brown. They have a very home-like, inviting appearance and if made of cypress will last for a very long time. in designing a little cottage home of this kind, one should not attempt to make it a monument of architecture. architec-ture. It should be picturesque, but. net r.rotcsque. While originality is desirable, this Mr. William A. Radford will answer questions and Kivi; itilvir:- 1'IIKK OF COST on :tll subjeets pertaining to the Buhjeet of building, for the readers of this paper. On aei-ount of hi wide experience as Ktlltor, Author and Manufacturer, he Ih, without doubt, tlie highest authority on al 1 t he.so .subjeots. Address all inquiries to William A. Radford, No. ITS West Jackson boulevard. Chhao, 111., and only enclose two-rent, stamp for reply. It used to bo that the only architect archi-tect tire there was wm that of large and costly mansions, public buildings, etc. The small or medium sized house the kind of a house that most people want to build was never given very much thoiifrht architecturally. Today, however, all this Is charged. A number num-ber of prominent architectural establishments estab-lishments have made something of a specially of the planning and design of small collages, medium sized houses, etc., and a great many useful things have been found out concerning; what Is best for this purpose. A well-known architect, speaking of these matters, has said thai it almost never occurs to the builder of a small house that ho can have as much individuality in-dividuality in the design and plan of his cottage as the man who builds a stately mansion; yet, in reality, there Is a greater chance for Individuality in a small house than In a large one. To look well, a large home must necessarily bo designed in some one of the several well-established styles of domestic architecture. The plan may vary, the size may vary, the cost may vary, but in style it must be cither English, classical which includes in-cludes the colonial style or mission. In the design of a cottage, the situation situa-tion is entirely different. With the possible exception of the mission style, the limited cost of a cottage makes it impractical to attempt the more expensive styles in keeping with large Second Floor Plan. tendency when not properly guided by one of experience often results in a freakish, ungainly building which may be ever so carefully studied in lis details, de-tails, but whose various parts are so crudely assembled that it makes the entire building look out of proportion. The practical arrangement of the floor plans should always be the first consideration. con-sideration. It seldom happens that a well-arranged plan will not work ,up ; :inr F i--:W -iiiJ i'f j.i ;..?-, ' :..y yyyy-y -yyy' construction. For this reason a cot-tae cot-tae home can be built in a style of its own and need fill only one requirement and that is that it be pleasing to the eye. Many expedients can be used that give it a touch of individuality. When the location is rural or suburban and the lot Is of sufficient width, some simple landscape gardening effects can be introduced, shrubs and flowers planted, possibly a pergola set up afterward to be covered with growing vines all of which will add wonderfully wonder-fully to the home-like attractiveness of even the plainest and most simple little cottage. As to the design of the building itself, the greatest freedom is permis- into an attractive exterior in the hands of a skilled workman. One of the commonest mistakes in the planning of a home is the improper location of the hall and stairway. When the wid.h of the lot will permit it is best to so plan a home that the reception hail will be in the center, as in the accompanying plan. In this it will be seen that the central reception and stair hall opens either side through broad cased openings, to the right into the large living room and to the left into the dining room. Directly Di-rectly back of the dining room are the kitchen and connecting pantry. The downstairs bedroom occupies the space in the other corner of the first floor plan, directly back of the living room. The bath is conveniently located at thit end of the hall, between (he kitchen and bedroom. On the second floor are two good large sized bedrooms and a third smaller bedroom. A generous supply of clothes closet space is provided. The stairway going up in the center of the house 'n this way does not cut up the upstairs, but makes i all avail able for use The main objection to placing the reception hall and stairway stair-way in a front corner, as in some plans, is that it spoils the front bedroom bed-room upstairs besides using up space on the first floor that is too valuable lor this purpose, and could be used for one of the living rooms. This little cottage is estimated to cost $2,200. It is 33 feet C inches wide by 35 feet G inches deep, not including. Ihe porches. It has been worked out as a model for a small home-like cot tnge that will appeal to many home builders this seasoil j I ,i E7 HAL L, ! rrt 1 J First Floor Plan. sible. The style, size and shape of dormer windows lor cottage homes are unlimited and often take an important im-portant part, in the attractiveness of the home. P.ay windows, circle windows, win-dows, Dutch windows, casement windows, win-dows, etc., are at the command of the designer without number. Divided glass for the windows is not only appropriate, but almost essentirl In the design of a cottage home, especially espe-cially if the. style is somewhat English, Eng-lish, domestic or colonial In Its details Many materials which could not be nsed in a large home are vjry appro- 1 |