International studio (49.1913)

A Residence on Council Crest

red wood sash
frames and flower-
boxes being held in
light cream is most
original. Below
the main story is
concrete finished
with a pebble-dash
effect and painted
cement color. The
exterior above
street level is wood.
The frame is cov-
ered from the water
table up with a wide
spruce siding, hav-
ing also a belt or
wainscot of cedar
carved and scroll
sawed and finished
in the natural color,
with spar varnish;
a similar belt indi-
cates the line of the

BLACK FOREST HOUSE A SIDE VIEW


second story floor
line; this frieze is also of cedar and carved out
of the solid, finished with natural cedar color
and varnish. This treatment of the wood gives
a very pleasing tone to the building—a sort of
sparkle—different from any paint or stain effects.
The gables are finished with a simple board and
battin, also of cedar and finished in natural with
varnish. The cedar is the Pacific Coast red cedar
and takes a beautiful red-brown color when
planed, somewhat more richly colored than Cali-
fornia redwood. The same finish is carried out in
the small gables and dormers in the roof. The
other woodwork on the exterior is painted in a
rich ivory. Every feature is intended for, and
fulfils, a useful purpose.
The Bernoise roof is perfectly adapted to form
a frame around the picture of the mountains
across the valley, as seen from the windows of
the front; besides, in so exposed aposition as this
house occupies, a very useful purpose is served in
sheltering the windows from driving rains and
hard winds.
A living room, dining room, kitchen, pantry,
hall and sun room complete the first story, while
the second, entirely finished in white enamel, com-
prises four bedrooms, living and sewing rooms
and two bathrooms. To the basement belong
two servants’ rooms, with bathroom, a winecellar
and the billiard room.

Oregon spruce, properly treated, was found the
best of all woods for taking a blue-grey tone, and
retaining it. Specially grained spruce was se-
lected, kiln dried, and employed throughout for
all wood finish cases, sideboards, mantels, stairs,
ceiling beams, etc.
The effect of artificial light upon this wood-
work is particularly satisfactory, producing, as it
does, every conceivable variation of tone between
pearl grey and indigo.
Oregon fir was employed for the floors of the
living room and for finishing the billiard room,
while the service parts of the house, the kitchen,
etc., were made into agreeable rooms by the use
of tinted enamel.
It may also be remarked that the furniture,
of blue silk and velvet of various shades, was
designed especially to harmonize with the wood
finish, and sufficient landscape gardening was
resorted to in order to make a good setting to
the house, without interfering more than was
judged necessary with the natural formation of
the grounds. Mr. Kroner and his decorator de-
serve all praise.
In concluding this brief account of the Black
Forest Blouse, it appears undeniable that a good
result has been achieved, which might, with modi-
fications, be utilized in other districts where simi-
lar conditions of scenery obtain.

LXIII