Calvert Vaux

Villas and Cottages (Making of America) Calvert Vaux

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1872 edition. Excerpt: ...be entirely satisfactory at first, because the pigments must certainly fade more or less in a few months, and the permanent effect is what should be most thought of at starting. The vignette shows a design for partially inclosing a veranda which was made for J. J. Monell, Esq. The country house to which it belongs is planned on a side-hill overlooking a picturesque glen; and the kitchen in the basement being, in consequence, entirely out-of ground in the rear facing the garden, these offices were somewhat too freely exposed to view from the ornamental grounds in the vicinity of the house. The simple plan here sketched was therefore made and carried out; and as the vines, already grown over the old supporting-posts, were trained to the new trelliswork, and showed to even better advantage than before, no harm was done in this respect, while a greater degree of privacy was certainly arrived at with but little sacrifice of light. The sketch is introduced as similar cases often occur, and a little ingenuity can readily arrange new varieties of pattern to embody the same general idea. DESIGN No. 4. RURAL COTTAGE. This design, erected by Dr. de la Montagnie, of Fishkill Landing, is situated amidst quiet, agreeable home scenery, and commands several beautiful views, both of the Hudson and of the noble hills that rise up at this point from its eastern shore. The approach road near it is picturesquely wooded on both sides, so as to seem more like a wide lane than a common highroad; and all the circumstances suggested an unpretending, but really rural house. As the accommodation required was not extensive, there was no necessity for attic bedrooms, and the cottage is, therefore, planned a story and a half high, as it is called, the roof coming down...