Villas and Cottages; A Series of Designs Prepared for Execution in the United States

by Calvert Vaux

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1867 edition. ...belongs is planned on a side-hill overlooking a picturesque glen; and the kitchen in the basement being, in consequence, entire ly out of ground in the rear facing the garden, these offices were somewhat too freely exposed to view from the ornamental grounds in the vicinity of the house. The simple plan here sketched was therefore made and carried out; and as the vines, already grown over the old supporting-posts, were trained to the new trelliswork, and showed to even better advantage than before, no harm was done in this respect, while a greater degree of privacy was certainly arrived at with but little sacrifice of light. The sketch is introduced as similar cases often occur, and a little ingenuity can readily arrange new varieties of pattern to embody the same general idea. DESIGN No. 4. RURAL COTTAGE. This design, erected by Dr. de la Montagnie, of Fishkill Landing, is situated amidst quiet, agreeable home scenery, and commands several beautiful views, both of the Hudson and of the noble hills that rise up at this point from its eastern shore. The approach road near it is picturesquely wooded on both sides, so as to seem more like a wide lane than a common highroad; and all the circumstances suggested an unpretending, but really rural house. As the accommodation required was not extensive, there was no necessity for attic bedrooms, and the cottage is, therefore, planned a story and a half high, as it is called, the roof coming down a foot or two below the ceiling line, not, however, so as to interfere with the occupation of the rooms in any way. Although, by this arrangement, the ceilings of the bedrooms are less elegant than they would be if finished off square, as usual, there is one decided advantage attending it, which was fairly...

Genres: Nonfiction, Design, Architecture

62 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1857

About the author

Calvert Vaux was a British-American architect and landscape designer. He is best known as the co-designer, along with his protégé and junior partner Frederick Law Olmsted, of what would become New York's Central Park. (Source: Wikipedia)