Studio: international art (6.1896)

The Building of a House

FIG. I. — FRONT ELEVATION OF A MODERN HOUSE DESIGNED BY G. LL. MORRIS

finished at both ends by being thickened out and the styles, the bottom rail protected with a sheet
coiled into the form of a scroll. of copper, with the letter-box and door-plate of the

The first-floor is rough cast, finished on the same material. Lead covers the roof, the gutter
projecting moulding, which is of stone. From the being formed in the stone cornice,
ground line to the level of the first floor the house I shall now briefly describe the internal decora-
is built of either stock-brick or stone, with bands tion of the house, commencing with the hall, the
of red tiles laid flat, so that the edges only show treatment of which is severe. This has a plain
in the upper part alternating with the stone, stone segmental ceiling, springing from the top of the
being used round the windows and for the cornice that runs round the hall (Fig. 7), as a finish
moulded portions. The bands of tiles are con- to the flush panelling of oak ; the styles, heads, sills,
tinued across the entrance-porch, which projects and cornices being rosewood. The chests under
sufficiently to protect the entrance-hall. In the the windows have the advantage of being used as
lintel of the doorway bunches of leaves springing seats; they are inlaid with holly of an elliptical
from the bead that forms the lower member break shape, with the heart-shaped centres bog-oak ;
the monotony of the horizontal lines, and give sufficient decoration to take from its otherwise
point and interest to the porch. The door is of severe lines. The electric light fittings are of
oak, unpolished; the upper portion has clear lead wrought iron with gilded shades. The door from
glazing brought to within half-an-inch of the face porch has the top part filled with square glazing,
of the door; the panel below is almost flush with the rail below inlaid with some dark wood. The

reliance on inlay as a means of decoration and an
absence of ornament in relief has emphasised the
wish for a broad and simple effect.

To the left is the living-room, treated somewhat
less severely, but still using inlay as the decorative
medium. The fireplace (Fig. 8) is of Portland
stone inlaid with lead, the sinkings that receive the
lead are splayed inwards to give a key to the lead,
which could be either hammered or run into the
grooves in a molten state, the slight modelling
being worked after the metal had cooled. The
metal projects slightly to permit of this being done.
A severer, and possibly a more suitable treatment
is shown in Fig. 9. The effect of the line drawing
in both designs is hardly satisfactory, giving
the inlaid lead an assertiveness from which in
actual execution it would be free. The grates are

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FIG. 2.—END ELEVATION