Chapter 2 - Ornamenting New Homes

Conditions of locations considered
Secure and improve strongly marked natural features.
Location of buildings.
Architecture of the house.
The cellar and its use.
Heating and ventilating the house.

In establishing and decorating new homes the following important points must be considered: Location, healthful-ness, convenience, elevation and slope of land, good water, kind of soil, strongly marked features, as rock and water, etc.

Location.

Everywhere about us, except in the heart of the large cities, are to be found building lots with more or less land for lawn and garden purposes. On hill and in dale, among the mountains, by the seaside, in the suburbs, and in the remote country, everywhere are places in such profusion that those of the most limited means, the most wealthy and of the most fastidious tastes, may find a location suited to their requirements.

Whether one shall locate a new home in the city, in the suburbs, or in the country is a question that cannot be answered without a complete understanding of all of the conditions involved. Each has its advantage, and every side of the question should be very carefully studied before a decision is made, for not only one's own personal welfare is involved, but in many cases that of others near and dear, and when once located a change cannot be made with-out a great inconvenience and in some cases great loss financially.

Healthfulness of Location.

This is of the first and paramount importance, for -without health no one can enjoy life or do his share toward making his own life or that of others of value. And first of all low and swampy or malarial land should be avoided. While much may be done by underdraining, and other means be employed to make such locations healthful, with so many thousands of acres about us free from these objections there is no necessity for a single dwelling being located on unhealthful ground. Rising land with good drainage, where the surface-water shall quickly pass off, where there shall be an abundance of moving air about the site, and an abundance of sunlight, is the most desirable.

Convenience.

The location should be convenient of access not only for the occupants but for all who may be in contact with them. Many a family have shut themselves out from society almost completely by building a home where friends can only meet them by making a very unusual effort.

The leading idea of modern times is centralization; and the advantages of being near neighbors where social intercourse can be frequent, where the whole family will be brought into close contact with the surrounding world, are many; but it becomes a question if the individuality, the strong characters brought out by the self-reliance acquired by living in more isolated sections, are not worth considering also. The electric railroad, penetrating far into the country, connecting town with town and country with town, will in a measure settle the question of the necessity for centralization and the depopulation of our rural districts.

Nearness to railroad, to school and church must be care, fully considered; but as the cost of building lots remote from these conveniences is much less, those limited in means will continue to locate in the less favored sections.

The main street of the town or village has many advantages, but the cross or side streets have the advantages of greater quiet and allow of more freedom of action, besides being less expensive.

Elevation and Slope.

The height of the land above the sea-level and above the surrounding country should be considered. The higher the land the better and purer the air, the larger and more pleasing the landscape effect, and more perfect drainage may be obtained. There are, however, serious objections to extreme elevation and abrupt slopes which increase the effort needed to get to and from the place, and increase the cost of fitting the land and keeping lawn, walks, and drives in good condition. A southern or southeastern slope will afford much shelter where the prevailing winds during cold weather are from the north or northwest, and, if the landscape effect is equally good, should be selected in preference to a western or northwestern slope.

Good Water.

Nothing can make home life more miserable than an insufficient supply of water or water that is of poor quality, and the most careful investigation of this question should be made before deciding upon a location.    If there are any conditions that may lead to the contamination of the drinking-water, they should have the most rigid investigation. With the modern methods of analysis it is possible to know positively the condition of the water, but analyses should be made at two or three different times to determine if the supply is affected at one season of the year and not at another.

In villages and near old buildings most dangerous sources of contamination may be found in sink-drains, cesspools, stable-yards, etc., and if any of the above are found within from 200 to 300 feet, according to the soil, of a well the water should be regarded with suspicion.

These sources of contamination may not affect the water in a new well for many years, but sooner or later the surface-drainage will find its way down to the deep basins formed by our wells. The safest water-supply is that from a well-constructed and cared for reservoir, brought in suitable pipes to the house. In these open reservoirs the water becomes purified by long exposure to the air, but does not possess the sparkle nor the coolness of water from a deep well.

Kind of Soil.

While the location as to surroundings, elevation, water-supply, etc., are matters of first importance, the success and more or less the cost of the ornamental planting depends largely upon the nature of the soil. It will hardly be possible to find a soil perfectly adapted to the best growth of all kinds of trees, shrubs, and plants, yet any ordinarily good soil may be made to grow most of them without very great expense. The best soil for general purposes is a deep sandy loam, though a strong loam with a clay subsoil if thoroughly underdrained will often be satisfactory and, a thin soil, too, may be very much improved by deep working and heavy manuring, but in the two latter cases the expense of preparation and maintenance is very much increased.

Strongly Marked Natural Features, like Rocks and Water, Distant Views, etc.

These prominent natural features often found on building lots and surroundings should always be carefully considered, for they may be made to add wonderful beauty and variety if properly handled.

Kocks.

Large boulders and ledges should be preserved wherever possible, but the small boulders, loose rocks, and cobbles should all be put out of sight in well-kept grounds. The latter may be utilized for foundations for small buildings and for filling in the beds of walks and drives, or otherwise disposed of where out of view. The practice of dumping them along the roadside, which we find in many country places, cannot be too severely condemned, for it renders the destruction of weeds and brush that come up among them almost an impossibility. If all the loose stones and cobbles could be removed from the borders of our roadways throughout the country, weeds and other objectionable growth could be easily kept down and the roadsides be soon covered with grass and desirable trees and shrubs.

Ledges and boulders serve as a nucleus around which to group the ornamental trees, shrubs, and vines, and give an added naturalness and beauty that can be obtained in no other way. Large boulders may often be arranged in such a way as to give a steep embankment the appearance of a projecting ledge as in Fig. 2, and which shows them arranged upon both sides of a cut through which a drive or walk can be arranged with good effect.   Fig. 3 illustrates boulders grouped on one side of a slope with very pleasing results. Fig. 4 shows a very unnatural and inartistic arrangement which would  be greatly improved if trees, shrubs, and plants were planted around and among them. As much of the naturalness about these strong features as possible should be preserved. The trees, shrubs, and vines, the herbaceous plants and grass should be made to grow to greater perfection than in their wild condition, by careful attention and enrichment of the soil, and undesirable things should not be allowed to grow; thus will art and nature be combined and true beauty produced.

FIG. 2—Arrangement Of Rocks.
FIG. 3.—Arrangement Of Rocks.
  FIG. 4.—Arrangement Of Hooks.

Water.

Close proximity to lakes, ponds, or streams may not always be desirable, but where there is open country about the place, with an abundance of sunshine and air, and-the land is somewhat elevated above the water, few natural features can be made to produce so much beauty and pleasure. A vista of water, either moving or silent, through an opening in the shrubbery adds at once a quiet and a charm of which one seldom tires.

Moving water gives more variety, adds life and vivacity to the landscape, while the peaceful lakelet or pond has a quieting effect. In places where there is much of the bold and strong in the decoration the surprise and variety given by the quiet lakelet is very pleasing, while where the quiet, graceful features predominate a little moving, active water is equally valuable. In making confined sheets of water, if the source of supply is abundant, so that there is frequent renewal of the water within the basin, the outlet may be through an underground overflow as shown in Fig. 5. should be made, so that any foul substances that accumulate on the surface may be easily carried off. With the underground outlet it requires a tremendous volume of water to carry such light surface-material down into the culvert even one or two feet below the surface of the water.

FIG. 6—Open Overflow Of Lakelet.

The low murmur of the brooklet, or the dash of the cascade or waterfall, has charms for almost every one and should be made a most prominent feature wherever available. Even if not on one's own grounds, by a little manipulation of shrubbery water-views may often be secured through open vistas.

The location of the -home in the vicinity of stagnant water or where streams or ponds are likely to be contaminated by sewage or undesirable surface-drainage should be avoided unless there is some certainty that the surroundings can and will be improved.

Increase in Value.

No thrifty person will think of locating in any place where, if by change of business or other circumstance they might be obliged to make a change in location, the property will not sell for something near its cost. In a great many localities, where near good railroads and thriving manufactories, property is almost sure to increase in value if a good selection is made and the home is economically built, while in others, more distant from business centres, real estate has gradually diminished in value, until we often find good home farms offered for sale for much less than the cost of the buildings upon them.

Amount of Land to Purchase.

One of the greatest mistakes many people make when establishing a new home is in purchasing too much land, especially if they are persons of small means and little experience in caring for land. The amount that should be purchased ought to be limited to the actual needs of the purchaser. If means are abundant and extensive grounds and a large lawn with choice shrubbery is desired, or if more or less gardening is to be done, more land can be utilized, but even then the quantity should be limited to what can be well cared for.

The home garden is one of the greatest luxuries connected with a comfortable home, provided one has the knowledge and skill to make the work a success and has the time to either do the work or to see that all the operations of planting, cultivation, and harvesting are properly done. To the professional man, the business man, or mechanic of sedentary habit the physical effort necessary to successfully care for a small garden of fruits and vegetables will be invaluable and one of the best means of securing vigorous health, while the products of a well-kept garden have often been made to supplement many a meagre income and provide the most healthful and appetizing food possible to obtain.    (See Chap. XVI.)

But this caution should be observed: Do not undertake this work on a large scale until some skill or experience has been obtained. Small areas well tilled in all lines of agriculture and horticulture generally give the best results, and only so much land should be given to garden purpose as can be cared for in the most thorough manner. If land is abundant, a part of it might be set off to the children for a flower-garden, for the planting of a few trees or vines, or for growing a few vegetables like melons, etc. In no way can so much of nature and her ways be taught to children and a real love for all her products be fostered, as well as a strong love be developed for the home which they have helped to build.

Location of Buildings.

After deciding where to build a home, the first question to decide is where to locate the house. Nothing can be more important. In building a house it is with the idea of permanent occupancy or for a long series of years, and any mistake made at this stage is often irreparable.

Wherever possible the house should be located at some distance from the street; the building will look better, and more natural and beautiful decorations can be made than if it is almost on the street-line. In suburban districts where there are already many houses located, to place the building very much out of the line of those already built sometimes detracts from rather than enhances its beauty. With an abundance of room between the house and street one is less troubled by dust and noise, and better views of the building and grounds can be obtained from the street, and better opportunity is afforded for securing vistas of beauty and variety in looking from the house.

Where the lot is long and narrow and small in extent, say less than one fourth of an acre, greater variety may be obtained by placing the house somewhat at one side as in Fig. 7.    This affords better opportunity for decoration, the use of larger trees and shrubs, and greater extent of lawn. In places of larger area a central location may be more desirable, as the balance of the picture or better symmetry is more readily obtained.

Street
FIG. 7.—Buildings Arkanged On One Side Of Lot.

Elevation of the House.

No more frequent mistake is made by builders than in the elevation of the house. It is very difficult for an inexperienced person to judge how a house will look after the excavation has been made and the soil is brought up to a grade. The elevation should be such that there shall be perfect surface and sub-drainage, that all water shall pass off quickly. The elevation must also be sufficient to secure a perfectly dry cellar.

The view, too, must be considered, and it will be found that this is best when seen from a little above surrounding objects, and the beauty of the house and grounds is much increased if seen from a little below the level.

The cost of excavation and filling is a matter that must be considered, and if the soil taken from the cellar is not sufficient to do the grading it must be obtained from the nearest source of supply of good material.

Exposure of the House.

Whether the house shall be on the north, south, east, or west slope is a matter of great importance in our changeable climate. On the southern, southeasterly, or southwesterly slopes a little under a hill or in the lea of a sheltering grove, the fierce northwest winds, so common throughout the country, are greatly modified, but some of our most lovely views are often lost under such conditions, and it becomes a matter of serious moment which of the two conditions to adopt. Shelter is very easily provided, however, in a short time by planting trees of rapid growth.

The location as related to the principal thoroughfare is a matter that should receive attention. On the north side of a road leading east and west the front of the house will be open to the south, and the front rooms are thus exposed to the sun more fully than the rear rooms. If, however, more sunlight is desired in the rear rooms, a location on the south side of the street would he more satisfactory. Hallways and unoccupied rooms should be placed where there is the least sunlight.

But whatever the exposure, the aim should be to obtain shelter if possible from the prevailing winds, to secure as much sunlight as possible and preserve the most beautiful views.

Character of the Land.

The beauty that may be developed in any place depends largely upon the character of the land. If without character, i.e., if perfectly flat and level, no marked or strong features can be obtained except at a greatly added cost. If, however, the land is uneven, with a valley here, a hill there, a ravine in one place or a mass of bold rocks' in another, much more variety and much more beautiful views may be obtained. Whatever variety is obtained on a level building lot must be made by the contrast between the ornamental trees and shrubs and the architecture.

Architecture.

In building a new house the architecture should be in keeping with the surroundings and within the means of the builder. The most unsatisfactory results are often shown where a large showy house is built in a quiet unpretentious place, or where the owner has put his last dollar into it and can do nothing toward decoration, but must leave the place in an unkempt and slovenly condition. Many a home is built too large to be properly furnished or cared for, and thus becomes a source of anxiety and disappointment.

The simple, plain, well-built structure, with surroundings neatly planted and kept up in a neat and finished manner, has more attractiveness, is more enjoyed by the occupants, and adds much more to the appearance of thrift and comfort of a community than the large showy buildings without tasteful decoration and outside care.

While beautiful trees and shrubs may be grown and artistic arrangement of all of the material for home decoration be just as well made about a dwelling that has no features of beauty in itself, more satisfactory results may be obtained if the buildings harmonize with the natural surroundings.

If the buildings are already established, little can be done but adapt the decorations to their characteristics. Much greater beauty is added to the broad, low house by introducing some slender, spiry trees than by using all low-spreading trees, while with the Gothic or other light, high styles of architecture many of the graceful and low-spreading trees may be grouped with some of the spiry kinds. In every case there must be a blending of the materials used for decoration with the architecture.

Plans of Dwelling-houses.

So much is written at the present time on suburban architecture that no attempt will be made in this volume to give plans for such work. The reader is referred to the numerous works on the subject and to the many careful and well-elaborated plans to be found in our agricultural, horticultural, scientific, and literary papers which, with a fair amount of taste in the decorative art and the assistance of a good builder, will enable one to decide understanding^ what is needed and in many cases dispense with the expensive services of the professional architect.

In cases, however, of extensive buildings of considerable cost it will be found economical to have a full detailed plan made by an experienced architect. With a full understanding of all of the needs of the family which are to occupy the dwelling, the skilled architect will be able to obtain desired results and save many mistakes that the inexperienced would be likely to make, often saving the owner many times the cost of a working plan.

There is, however, a growing taste among our people for amateur architecture which should be encouraged, and many beautiful and well-arranged plans of all kinds of buildings have been produced by those about to build houses; and the pleasure experienced in building a house of one's own planning may more than counterbalance any saving in material or labor that might result from a plan made by a skilled architect.

Cost of the House.

It is the almost universal experience of those who build a house for the first time, especially those with limited means, that the cost largely exceeds the estimate, and this has led to the practice of adding 25 to 50 per cent to the estimate as it is ordinarily made. This deficiency may be accounted for generally by the fact that there are so many little things that go to make up the completed house that are overlooked or that are not incorporated in the builder's contract, and whenever a building is done by contract the most full and complete specifications should be made out.

Where reliable builders can be found who will look to the interest of the employer as well as their own, much more satisfactory results may be obtained if the work is done by day labor than if by contract.

The requirements for a healthful house are, first,

Good Drainage of the Cellar.

A wet or even over-moist cellar is often the case of much sickness and discomfort, for it serves not only as a place for the development of disease-germs, but also those that cause the decay of the woodwork and hastens the corrosion of any metal substances stored therein. It causes contraction and expansion of doors, windows, casings, and floors, and gives no end of trouble in many ways. From its long use for storing vegetables, etc., we have come to think that a cellar is almost a necessity, but it is not so much so at the present time as when almost every family put in a large supply of provisions for winter use. Now the provision-dealer puts in large supplies and is ready to deliver fresh vegetables and fruit in limited quantities every week, or even every day if desired.

The cellar is useful in the modern house, however, not so much for storing winter supplies as for the location of the furnace and the needed fuel. In the "good old times " our houses were heated by burning large quantities of wood in the fireplaces; then came the stove, one in each room; and finally we have come to centralizing all heating apparatus in one furnace or boiler, which, until we come to the condition where all heat can be supplied to our dwellings from outside central stations, either by steam, hot water, or electricity, is by far the most satisfactory arrangement we find now available.
 
A well-drained cellar with a good furnace to dry out surplus moisture is a good place for storing fuel and other necessities, and is easily accessible for regulating the heat-supply.

In every case proper means should be provided for getting the coal and other fuel in and for taking out the accumulating ashes in such a way as not to necessitate crossing long distances of lawn with heavily loaded teams. The bulkhead or entrance into the cellar should therefore be located with this in view.

As far as possible all vegetables and fruit should be stored in the cellar of some outbuilding or in some frostproof vegetable or fruit room above ground, and except for the furnace and the fuel-supply a cellar is not a necessity in building the modern house.

Where perfect drainage can be obtained at little expense, under many conditions the cellar is desirable, and the space provided by its construction is much more cheaply obtained than in any other part of the building. Upon side-hills where basement rooms can be constructed the space becomes still more valuable for kitchen, laundry, and other purposes.

The surface-drainage of all water from the roofs and all surrounding land should be first provided for by proper grading, so that it shall pass off quickly and without washing of the soil. The water from the roof should .never be allowed to fall from the eaves to the ground near the foundations, but should be conducted in pipes and gutters as far away as is possible. Where the slope is very abrupt from the house, underground conduits should be provided to prevent surface-washing. Subdrainage should be provided along the inside of the cellar walls, and deep enough below the bottom to make it perfectly dry. If the soil outside is naturally wet or springy, a line of tile should be placed at such distance and depth as to make this perfectly dry. With a cellar bottom thus drained outside and in, and carefully concreted with cement and sand, the most healthful condition possible will be prodded.

Perfect Ventilation.

This is a very large subject to even touch upon in a work of this character and limit, but is one of so much importance that no one who intends to build a home, however simple, should ignore it.

The first condition to be provided is sufficiently large space for taking in pure and forcing out the impure air in sufficient quantities for healthy respiration of the inmates. This is best provided by having open fireplaces in each of the principal rooms, or by means of separate flues for the inlet of fresh air and egress of the foul air, a draft being created in* the flues by heat produced by a gas-jet, a coil from steam- or hot-water pipes of the boiler, or from a separate stack heater.

Economy of fuel demands a close construction of the building by lining the walls with some non-conducting material like paper, building-felt, etc., and in very cold weather it is a matter requiring serious consideration how to heat the necessary amount of cold fresh air that we must have for health. The single thickness of window around which so much fresh air would enter we cover with storm-sash, our doors we make close with weather-strips, and the only source of fresh-air supply must be through the cold-air box that leads into the furnace or ventilating flues. If this is sufficiently large and properly regulated, and a quick draft is made by the flue being heated with a fire, gas-jet, or hand-lamp in the grate or open fireplace, or a coil or other heating appliance in a separate flue, pure air will be constantly supplied; but if the cold-air box is kept closed and no adequate escape is provided, the closely built house becomes a place for the generation of disease and ill health. The most approved method of arranging the heat-supply and foul-air escape is to have the former enter the room near the ceiling and the latter to pass oat near the floor on the same side, thus causing a full sweep and circulation of air in all parts of the room. If the heat enters on one side and passes out on the opposite side, the current of heated air may go directly across the room in a narrow current and the air at the sides of the room be imperfectly renewed.

Heating the House.

Steam, hot water, and hot-air furnaces are all largely used for heating dwellings, and each has strong advocates among practical and scientific men, but which of them will give the best results depends upon so many conditions that no attempt will be made to decide the question here. With either steam or hot water enclosed in coils or radiators separate systems of ventilation should be provided by the open fireplace or the separate flue.

Convenience in Arrangement of Booms.

In many homes the loved inmates are often in a few years forced to travel many unnecessary miles or suffer great inconvenience because of the poor arrangement of the important rooms of the house. The house should be adapted in every way to the conditions of the inmates.  If the housework is to be done by members of the family, the kitchen and dining-room should be easily accessible to the sitting- or living-room, and every possible arrangement for comfort and ease of doing the work should be provided. If servants are to be employed, and such often becomes a necessity, then the kitchen should be as remote from the sitting-room as is possible to avoid odors and noise, but both kitchen and sitting-room should be easily accessible to the dining-room.

It is the practice of most of our people to build too high. The house with most of the rooms on the first floor has a hominess and brooding character that is especially adapted to country life, and much time and effort is often saved to the inmates by this style of building, though perhaps the cost of building a given number of rooms may be somewhat increased. In locations where the land is low and fogs and dampness are prevalent and where land is expensive the two- or even three-story building may be advisable.

An abundance of shelf- and closet-room should be considered as important as large rooms. Neatness, order, and economy of time are thus encouraged in all of the inmates by having a convenient place for everything and keeping everything in proper condition in its proper place. There should be an abundance of shed- and storage-room in the outbuildings for the general comfort of all and for keeping up the necessary outside work of the home.

Sunlight in every room of the house is necessary for good health and should be provided for by the location and architecture of the house.

In the square-box house, though undoubtedly the cheapest  to build, some  of  the rooms will receive but little sunlight. But by arranging the rooms in more or less of the cross form, or by the addition of wings, bay windows, etc., the fullest amount of sunlight can be obtained.

The recent improvements in styles of dwellings and the adoption of large or numerous windows are steps in the right direction. With the present low price of glass, and sash and doors made so cheaply as they are in our large factories, large windows and many of them to provide an abundance of light need not add materially to the first cost of a dwelling, and by the use of storm-windows during the winter little or no increase in cost of heating need be experienced.

Plumbing.

Every possible attention should be given to the plumbing and sanitary arrangements of the house and outbuildings; the limits of this book, however, will not allow of an extended discussion of the subject. The reader is referred to the many books written by practical men and women on this subject, such as " Home Sanitation," by Mrs. Ellen M. Richards and Marion Talbot; "Sanitary Drainage of Houses and Towns" and "Principles and Practice of House Drainage," and other works of Geo. E. Waring, Jr.; "Women Plumbers and Doctors," by Mrs. II. M. Plunket; and many other works on the subject of house-drainage and plumbing should be carefully studied.

The work of plumbing requires much skill and patience, and only skilful and practical men should be employed to do this very important work. The "plumber's bill" is proverbial,  and  the  complaint often made against their exorbitant charges are in some cases founded upon facts, but there probably are as many honest men in the plumbing business as in many other lines of work. To have a nice, thoroughly fitted job of plumbing done requires time and the best of material, together with skill on the part of the workmen, all of which are expensive.

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