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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 r —i N I, 31 V EEEEE3 *r~ “ i* ■F-——!■ ■] PRINCIPAL FLOOR. 105