Craftsman House Plan

This Craftsman House is a country house of generous proportions, with a 70 foot frontage and a depth of 58 feet with a site surrounded by shade trees. Standing in front of this Craftsman house, the well balanced proportions arrest the attention. The building naturally divides itself into three parts, the main body and right and left wings. Its construction is a simple balloon frame, properly sheathed and steel-lathed and then covered with cement plaster of the natural color or slightly darkened. The exposed woodwork of the frame, stained to a dark green, contrasts well with the color of the roof shingles, which are best stained dark red.

Other important factors in the interest of the building are found in the balconies with their wrought iron railings; the generously overhanging eaves exposing the structural work; the broad dormer window with its sufficiency of lights; and the three chimneys of split rubble carried up to the comb and crowned with red chimney pots to harmonize with the red of the roof. The windows are double hung sash, throughout, with small panes above and large below.

The vestibule and entrance hall are in the right wing, with entrance from the terrace. Off from the latter is a small room, which may be used either as a reception room or an. The living room is eighteen by thirty feet, and is symmetrical in all its appointments. A large red brick fireplace occupies the center of the rear hall, which, with its hand-wrought copper hood, strikes a quiet and delightful color note. Immediately opposite is a book case surmounted by a high window, and flanked on either side with French windows, through which egress may be had to the terrace. These windows are directly in line with those on the opposite side of the room. In summer time, with all the windows open, the roses and vines of the pergola will give a refreshing sense and touch of outdoors

The dining room occupies the left wing. The entrance is open from the living room, and is flanked on either side with a partial partition, five feet high, and an open space above, up to the ceiling beams. This adds to the apparent size of the room, and the open spaces permit the introduction of well chosen flowering plants, an old copper vessel, or an attractive piece of pottery, any one of which would add a charming color note. The room is sixteen by eighteen feet with an alcove in front, ten by sixteen feet. It is large, airy and well-lighted, and is connected with a commodious and well-appointed kitchen. The kitchen has its own entry, and stairs leading to the upper rooms.

Leading from the entrance hall is the billiard room, sixteen by twenty-two feet, with an  open fireplace. Connected with the billiard room is a large porch, which in winter time may be enclosed for a sun parlor, as its situation in the wing affords exposure on three sides. There is also a fireplace on this porch, backed up to the one in the billiard room, so that, should the family or its guests desire to sit outside at any time, a fire can be lit.  

One of the most attractive features of this house is at the rear. It consists of a court, or patio, enclosed on three sides, with a gererous pergola, which, when covered with vines or roses in summer will be just the thing to allure the family to a meal out-of-doors. The place is practically as secluded as the dining room itself, and the steps to be taken from the kitchen to the court are fewer than those required to serve in the dining room. The court is built of split rubble with solid cement floor.

The second floor is well proportioned and divided, allowing five large rooms and a servant's room. The stairs enter an open hall from which are two rooms and also a bathroom. A corridor connects the two wings, and from this doors open into the two large center bedrooms, which have a connecting bathroom. The left wing affords another bedroom with private bathroom and the servant's room, which also has its own bath. In the third story is an additional and large room for servants' use, and abundant storage facilities.

Entering the vestibule from the pergola covered terrace we immediately pass through into the hall. The ceilings are beamed, and the walls wainscoted to the top of the book cases which occupy the left side and part of the rear. To the right is the stairway leading to the second story, and by its side is a large wide seat, followed by a closet for coats, hats, etc. The wood trim of the hall including the floor, and of the seat, is of white quartered oak, colored to a beautiful greenish brown. The walls are in old gold. The curtains are of a center of the rug of a deep terra-cotta, browns completing the rest of the design.

On entering the living room one is pleasantly impressed by the effect in a large room of the high wainscot of oak colored to a greenish brown. (The wood trim of this room is also the same in the dining room.) The wall tone is a soft gray tan, suggested by the lighter markings of the wood, with a stencil pattern introducing rich russets, clear greens, and a hint of old blue and orange. The rug is of a gray green, repeating the hint of green in the wood work, and a little of the tan and russet. The window draperies are of a pale yellow silk, almost a peach tint, with the same peculiar suggestion of pink. The ceiling is of the rough untinted plaster.

The dining room walls are a soft silver green with the frieze in cream. These harmonize beautifully with the high oak wainscot colored greenish brown. The tiles above the sideboard are in old yellow, with mat finish. The leaded glass in the windows introduces a touch of coral pink and the old yellows so familiar to lovers of antique glass. The rug is a soft old ivory tone with a little coral, pomegranate and greens. The metal trimmings of the sideboard are of copper, and the effect is heightened with a copper lamp and a piece of old copper standing on the sideboard. The window seat in the alcove is upholstered in a darker tan than the rugs, and the pillows are in greens and tans. The ceiling is of rough untinted plaster.

In the billiard room the high wooded wainscot is of chestnut, colored an exquisitely soft brown. The remaining wall space is of the plaster tinted in golden brown, or in burlap of the same tint. The window seat is upholstered in golden brown canvas, with pillows in soft green and corn colored canvas. The window draperies are of figured linen, natural linen background, with poppy pattern in old pink and greens. The electric fixtures are of hammered iron and copper. The fireplace is of red bricks, with wooden shelf held by brick corbels. The fire dogs are of hammered iron.

The bedroom at the head of the stairs is suggested as being the most desirable for a guest room. The wood work is of ivory enamel, with the rest of the walls tinted a pale gray green with a pattern frieze above. The floor and doors are of this same green. This is a conventional arrangement of leaf forms and berries in tones of golden yellows, deeper greens and a touch of heliotrope. The ceiling is of cream. Pale yellow rag rugs are on the floor. The window curtains are of white Swiss. The tiles for the fireplace are in deep green, mat finish. All the fixtures are of brass. The connecting bathroom which also has a separate hall entrance, is floored and wainscoted with white tiling. The wood work and doors are the same as in the bedroom.
[From The Craftsman, 1905]