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We present herewith the first of a series of designs for
dwellings not “ Prepared expressly for the Southern Cul
tivator.” All the standard works on Domestic, Archi
tecture, we have had access to, and given a thorough
examination, but while w T e have never found a house in any
of them that would suit us in all respects, yet “ Sloan’s
Homestead Architecture,” from which our present design
is taken, seems to us to afford the best plans, and to be
the most useful w r ork that has yet been prepared on this
topic. We like it, not only from the great beauty of the
exteriors, but still more for the convenience with which
the apartments are arranged.
A large proportion of our readers are, with their pre
sent diminished means, utterly unable to get up a dwell
ing with the expensive finish and “few ornaments” given to
this design; but take away the more expensive features,
give the roof a simple projection of two and a half, or
even two feet, and leave off the brackets; make a simple
rectangular veranda, commencing a foot or a foot and a
half from the corner of the main building; take away
also, to which we have a more serious objection, the bay
window, and we still have from its proportions and ar
rangement of parts a tasteful and convenient dwelling.
But by all means give some tasteful finish to the chimneys,
which are the last thing we should build plain. They are
the most conspicuous feature of a house, and should al
ways be built with a base, and some other simple orna
mentation. We copy the Author’s description:
“|The proportions of this house are good, and the form
pleasing without being complicated ; the impression pro
duced on the observer by its general aspect is, that room,
comfort and convenience arc within its walls, and that the
dignity and hospitality of the gentleman farmer are mani
fested silently yet plainly by its external expression. It
seems, however, in its architectural details to have borrow
ed somewhat from its city neighbor. We readily suspect
that its owner has spent a portion of his life at something
else than tilling the soil; that he has been a merchant or
a physician, for we often hear of such changes of avoca
tion in this country : at any rate, w'e must conclude that
he is a farmer with' some means, and a taste somewhat
refined and cultivated by the company he has kept. Yet
the design looks essentially like a country house—it could
scarcely be recognized as anything else; the few ornaments
SO tTTTTER N C U LTIYATOB.
DESIGN FOR A DWELLING.
that it wears, cannot d ; sguise its native plainness; it has
been born and bred in the country, and all the city polish
that it has received cannot conceal the palpable fact. This
design might be built in any part of the Union, without
reference to the use implied by the appellation of “ farm
house” which We have here given it, and it would always
be ranked as a country house of considerable importance ;
yet there is nothing about it. not strictly in accordance with
the position in life, of a farmer in independent circum
stances.”
“Accommodation. —The ample veranda in front, with its
central feature, is worthy of notice ; it seems to invite
the pasaer-by to walk in and share the repose and comfort
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PRINCIPAL FLOOR.
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